United News of Bangladesh

In a quick escalation of cross-border hostilities, India launched strikes overnight targeting six key Pakistani airbases, marking a military response to a series of recent drone attacks originating from across the border. Amid the growing tensions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level security meeting on Saturday with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the National Security Adviser, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The meeting reviewed the operational status and further response strategies in light of the evolving security situation. According to government sources who talked to journalists, the Indian Armed Forces targeted and inflicted “heavy damage” on military infrastructure and assets at the Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian airbases. The offensive, dubbed Operation Sindoor, is understood to have been initiated after multiple Pakistani drones targeted Indian positions in Jammu in recent days. Pakistan names military operation ‘Baniyan Marsus’: What it means Defence sources said the Indian military also struck terror launch pads and Pakistani military posts in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Neelam Valley and Sialkot region. These sites were reportedly being used to deploy tube-launched drones aimed at Indian territories. In a retaliatory move, Pakistan launched a long-range missile targeting a strategic Indian site. However, the missile was said to have been intercepted and neutralised by India’s Air Defence Systems in the Western Sector, preventing any damage or casualties. A comprehensive battle assessment is underway, and the Ministry of External Affairs is expected to issue an official briefing later today. The latest developments signify a sharp deterioration in Indo-Pak relations, with both sides now actively engaging in high-stakes military manoeuvres amid rising regional tensions. Source: Indian media   

Pakistan has named its retaliatory military campaign against India as ‘Baniyan Marsus’, drawing direct inspiration from Islamic scripture. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) explained the significance of the name in a recent statement. The phrase 'Baniyan Marsus' is derived from the Arabic term "Baniyan-un-Marsus", which appears in the Quran. Found in Surah As-Saff (Chapter 61, Verse 4), the term metaphorically refers to believers who are firmly united and unwavering in their cause, likened to a "wall built with molten lead" — a symbol of impenetrable strength, unity, and discipline. India halts civilian flights at 32 airports until May 15 amid ongoing conflict Pakistan’s military authorities have said the choice of the name reflects their forces' resilience, coordination and unwavering resolve in the face of external aggression. The phrase evokes both spiritual conviction and military discipline — qualities the ISPR claims are embodied by the Pakistani armed forces. Analysts suggest the invocation of religious symbolism in the operation’s name may serve both to bolster domestic morale and send a clear message to regional adversaries. The operation comes in the wake of escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with both sides exchanging accusations and cross-border strikes. While political observers continue to call for de-escalation, the symbolic naming of the campaign underscores how deeply intertwined military actions and ideological narratives have become in the region. Source: BBC Bangla      

The Indian government has suspended civilian flight operations at 32 airports in northern and western regions of the country until May 15, amid intensifying hostilities with Pakistan. The shutdown affects airports in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and the India-administered portion of Kashmir. "The Airports Authority of India and relevant aviation authorities have issued a series of Notices to Airmen announcing the temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and western India for all civil flight operations," said a statement from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation. The conflict has been escalating since Wednesday, following India’s deadly airstrikes on targets located in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In addition to the airport closures, the Airports Authority of India has also suspended operations along 25 Air Traffic Service route segments in the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions, citing operational concerns. Airlines have been advised to adjust their routes according to the latest air traffic advisories."The temporary closure is being managed in coordination with relevant Air Traffic Control units to ensure safety and minimize disruption," the ministry said. According to Indian officials, the recent strikes were in retaliation for the killing of 26 people last month by gunmen in the India-controlled part of Kashmir. India alleges Pakistan targeted religious sites, homes in overnight strikes Since the strikes, both sides have been engaged in intense cross-border attacks, using missiles, drones, and artillery along the Line of Control and other border areas. The airport closures have caused widespread disruption, with hundreds of flights cancelled or rerouted over the past three days.      

India’s Defence Ministry has alleged that Pakistan attacked civilian infrastructure, including religious sites, during a series of overnight assaults under Operation Bunyan Marsoos. “[Pakistan targeted] places of worship like the famous Shambhu Temple and residential areas in Jammu. Multiple armed drones have been sent through the night, endangering civilians and religious sites,” the ministry said in a statement. Shelling kills senior official in Indian-administered Kashmir It added, “The Indian Armed Forces remain vigilant and are committed to defending the sovereignty of the nation.”  

Additional Deputy Commissioner Raj Kumar Thapa has been killed in shelling originating from Pakistan in Rajouri town of Indian-administered Kashmir, according to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. "Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Administration Services," Abdullah posted on X. "Today, the residence of the officer was hit by Pak [Pakistani] shelling as they targeted Rajouri town killing our Additional District Development Commissioner Sh [Shri] Raj Kumar Thappa. I’ve no words to express my shock and sadness at this terrible loss of life." Where have explosions been reported? Government officials informed the BBC that two more civilians were also killed in Jammu city. Source: BBC

Since early Saturday, multiple explosions have been reported along the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing India and Pakistan in the Kashmir region. BBC journalists have heard blasts in Srinagar and Jammu, both located in Indian-administered Kashmir. The origin of these explosions remains unclear. According to local media, similar sounds were also heard in Udhampur, within Indian-administered Kashmir, and in Punjab’s Pathankot — areas that house Indian military facilities which Pakistan claims to have targeted. India halts IPL for a week amid rising tensions with Pakistan Earlier, Pakistan accused India of launching missile strikes on airbases in Rawalpindi — located about 10km (6.2 miles) from Islamabad — as well as in Chakwal and Shorkot. India has not yet responded to these allegations. Source: BBC    

Millions of people in cities along India’s border and in Indian-administered Kashmir are living in fear as blackouts and explosions shake their communities. New Delhi, India — Aqib Parray, a resident of Jammu in Indian-administered Kashmir, was standing at a local shop near his home when the power suddenly went out late on Thursday, May 8. Moments later, loud explosions echoed in the air. Parry recalled the panic that swept through the streets as people rushed to their homes. “From my rooftop, I saw missiles streaking across the sky,” he said, describing the scene. “Then the internet went out. We’ve never seen anything like this in Jammu.” For two generations of Indians and Pakistanis, the sight of missiles in the sky and the threat of war—coupled with blackouts and the looming danger of missiles, even far from the frontlines—was unprecedented. In 1999, the two countries fought over the contested Kargil region, but the conflict was contained. Now, as tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, millions of people in both countries are witnessing a situation they have never experienced before. This includes the 750,000 residents of Jammu, along with millions more in other cities that were struck on Thursday evening, according to the Indian government. The Indian Ministry of Defence reported that eight missiles were fired from drones originating from Pakistan towards Jammu and surrounding areas, including Satwari, Samba, Udhampur, and even targets in Pathankot, Punjab. India claims all missiles were intercepted, and no casualties were reported. However, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denied any attacks on Indian-administered Kashmir or across the international border. India and Pakistan trade fire and accusations as fears of a wider military confrontation rise Despite official statements, the growing anxiety is palpable in cities near the frontier, particularly in Indian-administered Kashmir, following the death of 26 civilians in Pahalgam and two days after India launched missile strikes on several Pakistani cities. The threat of war looms heavy, especially in communities close to the border. ‘Sleepless Nights’ In Indian Punjab, authorities imposed blackouts in multiple districts, including Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Pathankot, and Mohali, after dusk. Sabarpreet Singh, a 46-year-old businessman from Amritsar, said he is struggling to cope with the situation. “Things are changing so fast. I haven’t been able to sleep. I’m thinking of leaving the city with my family—my wife and children are terrified when the sirens go off,” he said. On the evening of Wednesday, a similar blackout was enforced in parts of Gujarat’s Kutch region and in border areas of Rajasthan, where the India-Pakistan frontier cuts through the Thar Desert. The situation is even more dire along the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing disputed Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Both sides have exchanged heavy artillery, resulting in civilian casualties. India has evacuated thousands of residents, who now sleep in shelters at night. “There were attempts to target military sites in Jammu, including the defense airport,” a local intelligence officer told Al Jazeera, requesting anonymity. “While we have confidence in our defense systems, the security situation is worsening. We are closely monitoring the situation.” Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, explained that India's current unease is understandable. “After India struck deep inside Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir on May 7, killing at least 31 people—whom India labeled terrorists, but Pakistan called civilians—Pakistan is under immense pressure to retaliate,” he said. “The government and civil society in Pakistan were unwilling to de-escalate without a response.” ‘Senseless Belligerence’ On Thursday, New Delhi accused Pakistan of attempting to target military sites in several cities, including Srinagar and Amritsar, using drones and missiles. While Indian officials claimed to have “neutralized” these attacks, India retaliated by targeting Pakistan’s air defense systems in multiple locations, including Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city. Pakistan’s military, however, stated that its air defense system brought down 25 Indian drones overnight, including in Lahore and Karachi. Pakistani officials confirmed at least one civilian death and five injuries. Pakistan says it intercepted 25 Indian drones; India claims it neutralised attacks Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reaffirmed that any future Pakistani attack would be met with a swift response from New Delhi. He insisted that India was merely acting in self-defense after the escalation initiated by Pakistan, which he identified as stemming from the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied any involvement in attacks on India or Indian-administered Kashmir and warned that any escalation based on false pretenses would be met with “full resolve and determination.” Political scientist Sumantra Bose emphasized the urgent need for international intervention. “The situation requires immediate diplomatic action to prevent further escalation,” he said. “This conflict is senseless and has been poorly managed. It should never have escalated to this point.” Bose warned that the situation was quickly spiraling out of control. “It is a continuous loop of retaliations from both sides. If this goes on, it could lead to an even greater conflict.” US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed on Thursday that the US is actively engaged with both India and Pakistan at multiple levels. She acknowledged Pakistan’s call for an independent investigation into the Pahalgam attack, adding that the US supports efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable. However, Indian Foreign Secretary Misri had already rejected calls for an independent investigation, citing a lack of confidence in Pakistan’s willingness to cooperate. Praveen Donthi observed that the Trump administration, until May 7, appeared to be allowing the situation to play out without significant interference. He warned, “Unless the US and other global powers intervene more actively, the situation could spiral into a full-scale war.” Tensions escalate as India, Pakistan exchange drone and missile strikes Bose, for his part, argued that “it is already a state of war.” He added, “Things are quickly getting worse. The key decision-makers in both India and Pakistan must be compelled to stop this senseless belligerence and end the cycle of escalation before it’s too late.” Source: With inputs from Al Jazeera

India fired attack drones into Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least two civilians, the Pakistani military said. India, meanwhile, accused its neighbor of attempting its own attack, as tensions soared between the nuclear-armed rivals. India acknowledged that it targeted Pakistan’s air defense system, and Islamabad said it shot down several of the drones. India said it “neutralized” Pakistan’s attempts to hit military targets. It was not possible to verify all of the claims. The exchanges came a day after Indian missiles struck several locations in Pakistan, killing 31 civilians, according to Pakistani officials. New Delhi said it was retaliating after gunmen killed more than two dozen people, mostly Hindu tourists, in India-controlled Kashmir last month. India accused Pakistan of being behind the assault. Islamabad denies that. Both sides have also traded heavy fire across their frontier in disputed Kashmir, and Pakistan claimed it killed scores of Indian soldiers. There was no confirmation from India. Late Thursday, in Indian-controlled Kashmir, residents of the city of Jammu reported explosions and sirens, followed by a blackout. India’s Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff, a central coordinating arm for all Indian armed forces, said military stations in Jammu, Udhampur and Pathankot were targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. It said the attacks were repelled and no casualties were reported. Shesh Paul Vaid, the region’s former director-general of police, told The Associated Press that the Jammu Airport likely was also under attack and that some of the 50 loud explosions he heard likely were because “our defense system is at work.” Jammu and Udhampur are close to the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. Pathankot is in India's Punjab state. Sirens were also heard in some parts of the region’s main city of Srinagar, residents said. It was followed by a blackout in the city and other parts of the region. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement rejected the Indian claims that Pakistan launched attacks on Pathankot, Jaisalmer and Srinagar, saying “these claims are entirely unfounded, politically motivated, and part of a reckless propaganda campaign aimed at maligning Pakistan". Pakistan says it intercepted 25 Indian drones; India claims it neutralised attacks It added that “such actions not only further endanger regional peace but also reveal a disturbing willingness to exploit misinformation for political and military ends”. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to avenge the deaths in India's missile strikes, raising fears that the two countries could be headed toward another all-out conflict. Leaders from both nations face mounting public pressure to show strength and seek revenge, and the heated rhetoric and competing claims could be a response to that pressure. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke Thursday to the Pakistani prime minister and India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, urging both sides to de-escalate the situation, the U.S. State Department said. The relationship between countries has been shaped by conflict and mutual suspicion, most notably in their dispute over Kashmir. They have fought two of their three wars over the Himalayan region, which is split between them and claimed by both in its entirety. With tensions high, India evacuated thousands of people from villages near the highly militarized frontier in the region. Tens of thousands of people slept in shelters overnight, officials and residents said Thursday. About 2,000 villagers also fled their homes in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. Mohammad Iftikhar boarded a vehicle with his family on Thursday as heavy rain lashed the region. “I am helplessly leaving my home for the safety of my children and wife,” he said. India fires drones at Pakistan India fired several Israeli-made Harop drones at Pakistan overnight and into Thursday afternoon, according to Pakistani army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif, who said 29 were shot down. Two civilians were killed and another wounded when debris from a downed drone fell in Sindh province. Tensions escalate as India, Pakistan exchange drone and missile strikes One drone damaged a military site near the city of Lahore and wounded four soldiers, and another fell in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near the capital, according to Sharif. “The armed forces are neutralizing them as we speak,” he told state-run Pakistan Television. In Lahore, local police official Mohammad Rizwan said a drone was downed near Walton Airport, an airfield in a residential area about 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the border with India that also contains military installations. India’s Defense Ministry said its armed forces “targeted air defense radars and systems" in several places in Pakistan, including Lahore. Blackout in Gurdaspur district New Delhi, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of attempting “to engage a number of military targets” with missiles and drones along the Line of Control that divides Kashmir and elsewhere along their border. “The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations,” it said. At a news briefing, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday rejected India’s claim that Islamabad carried out any attack in Indian Punjab. “These accusations are an attempt to incite anti-Pakistan sentiment among the Punjabi Sikh population in India,” he said. Seated alongside Dar, the military spokesperson, Sharif said Pakistan shot down 29 Indian drones after they violated its airspace. Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told parliament that so far Pakistan has not responded to India’s missiles attacks, but there will be one. Later Thursday, Indian authorities ordered a night-time blackout in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, which borders Pakistan. The Harop drone, produced by Israel’s IAI, is one of several in India’s inventory, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Military Balance report. Pakistan claims it destroyed 12 Indian drones According to IAI, the Harop combines the capabilities of a drone and a missile and can operate at long ranges. The two sides have also exchanged heavy fire over the past day. Tarar said that the country’s armed forces have killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers in the exchanges along the Line of Control. India has not commented on that claim. Earlier, the army said one Indian soldier was killed by shelling Wednesday. Sikh Temple in Kashmir Tarar denied Indian accusations that Pakistan had fired missiles toward the Indian city of Amritsar, saying in fact an Indian drone fell in the city. Neither claim could be confirmed. India’s Foreign Ministry has said that 16 civilians were killed Wednesday during exchanges of fire across the de facto border. Pakistani officials said six people have been killed near the highly militarized frontier in exchanges of fire over the past day. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri denied that New Delhi has targeted civilians and a key dam, as Pakistan has alleged. He, in turn, accused Pakistani forces of targeting civilians, including at a Sikh Temple in Kashmir, where he said three Sikhs were killed. Flights remained suspended at over two dozen airports across northern and western regions in India, according to travel advisories by multiple airlines. Pakistan resumed flights nationwide after a suspension at four airports, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.

Pakistan's military has claimed that it has intercepted 25 Israeli-made Herop drones allegedly launched by India. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing, said, “So far, 25 Israeli-made Herop drones have been shot down by the Pakistani military,” citing the use of technical equipment and weapons. “Debris from Israeli-made Herop drones is being recovered from various areas of Pakistan,” the statement added. Pakistan shoots down Indian drone in the city of Lahore, officials say “Pakistan forces are giving a befitting reply to the enemy and are destroying all its intentions,” it concluded. Meanwhile, a BBC report says India has stated it thwarted Pakistani attempts to target military sites with “drones and missiles” in the northern and western regions during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. Sources: Al Jazeera and BBC

Tensions between South Asia’s two nuclear-armed neighbours have surged following a deadly exchange of drone and missile attacks, with both India and Pakistan claiming to have repelled cross-border assaults while accusing each other of unprovoked aggression. Pakistan’s military announced on Wednesday that it had downed 25 Indian drones in various regions along the eastern border, asserting the attacks were deliberate violations of its airspace. The military described the operation as a "firm and calibrated response" to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty. Meanwhile, India reported thwarting a coordinated Pakistani drone and missile strike targeting one of its key military installations in the northern region. Indian defence officials said the attempted incursion was “aggressively neutralised,” preventing any major damage or casualties. Malala Yousafzai calls on India, Pakistan to reduce tensions The flare-up follows a deadly Indian offensive on Tuesday that reportedly killed at least 31 people and injured dozens more in Pakistan’s Punjab province and parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Islamabad has condemned the attack as an "act of brutality." Speaking at an emergency press briefing, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed retaliation. “We will avenge the blood of our innocent martyrs,” he declared. “India’s unprovoked aggression will not go unanswered.” India, however, maintains that its actions were in response to “continued infiltration attempts and militant threats emanating from Pakistani territory.” Pakistan shoots down Indian drone in the city of Lahore, officials say The cross-border hostilities have prompted international concern, with calls from the United Nations and regional partners urging both nations to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. As of Thursday morning, military activity was reported to be ongoing in some border areas, with residents in both countries fearing a deeper conflict may be imminent. Source: With inputs from Al Jazeera