India flexes air power, Pakistan warns of retaliation

Massive India air force drills, civil defence sirens, and water war deepen standoff between India, Pakistan

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI (MNTV) — Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached one of their highest points since the 2019.

Following a terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists last month, India has mobilised militarily, politically, and diplomatically—sparking fears of escalation.

On Wednesday, India will begin a two-day mega military air exercise involving its entire frontline fighter fleet—Rafales, Su-30 MKIs, Mirage 2000s, MiG-29s, Tejas jets, and AWACS aircraft—across key sectors of its western and southern borders with Pakistan.

Defence sources in New Delhi told media the exercise aims to “simulate and neutralise” both ground and aerial threats with full-spectrum precision.

The Indian air force’s mobilisation is backed by civil preparations.

Nearly 300 sensitive districts across India—housing nuclear plants, refineries, cantonments, and dams—will conduct coordinated mock air-raid drills, civilian evacuation rehearsals, and blackout procedures.

These measures are part of a national directive to enhance “civil defence readiness” in light of “new and complex threats” stemming from the regional crisis.

“The entire architecture of defence preparedness, including civilians, is being reactivated to withstand any form of hostile action,” said a senior official in India’s Ministry of Home Affairs.

India blames cross-border terror networks for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, though Pakistan has denied any involvement and has called for a neutral investigation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held a high-level security meeting on April 29, granted the armed forces “complete operational freedom” to choose the “mode, timing, and target” of India’s response.

In addition to the air drills, India’s navy and army are also reportedly on high alert, with readiness assessments underway in the Arabian Sea and Himalayan border regions.

Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh have briefed Modi sperately on operational scenarios.

India’s civil drills extend to schools, hospitals, metro networks, fire services, disaster response units, and involve youth organisations like NCC, NSS and NYKS. Authorities say the exercise is being conducted down to the village level, creating a nationwide mobilisation unseen in peacetime.

Pakistan on alert

In Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) headquarters and inaugurated the National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre (NIFTAC).

The centre integrates over 50 federal and provincial security agencies into a single counterterrorism platform.

The visit, attended by military chiefs and top national security officials, focused on conventional military threats and hybrid warfare strategies.

“The entire national leadership reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to defend its sovereignty against all threats,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Pakistan has already conducted two missile tests in a matter of days, signaling its readiness. The military is reported to have activated defence posts in Rawalpindi, particularly around sensitive garrison zones, and has called for heightened vigilance.

“Pakistan Army is one of the most professional and disciplined forces in the world,” Sharif said, while praising the ISI’s intelligence capabilities. He described the evolving situation as “complex” and requiring “seamless inter-agency coordination.”

Compounding the military build-up is a looming water crisis.

Pakistan’s Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has warned of a 21% water shortage during the ongoing Kharif cropping season due to a “sudden and concerning” drop in Chenab River inflows at Marala, attributed to India.

India’s decision to halt provisions of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty—in the wake of the Pahalgam attack—has raised regional alarms.

In Jammu’s Akhnoor region, locals reported that the Chenab, which once flowed at 30 feet, is now barely 2 feet deep.

Residents have vocally supported the Indian government’s move, calling for a complete stoppage of water to Pakistan.

The Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, allocates 80% of the water of the Indus system to Pakistan.

India is allowed limited agricultural and hydroelectric use. However, the recent withholding of Chenab flows, including closure of Baglihar and Salal dam gates, is being seen in Islamabad as a strategic pressure tactic.

“Pakistan faces not just military provocations but now environmental aggression,” said a senior IRSA official.

Diplomatic backchannels

While both countries have mobilised their armed forces, backchannel diplomatic efforts continue. Pakistan has taken its case to the United Nations Security Council, warning of “unprovoked aggression” and India’s alleged misuse of the Pahalgam tragedy.

India, meanwhile, maintains that it will pursue the attackers and their planners “to the ends of the earth” and is within its sovereign rights to prepare and retaliate.

Opposition parties in India have raised questions over intelligence lapses. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that Prime Minister Modi had received intelligence warnings three days before the Pahalgam attack but cancelled his visit instead of acting.

This is not the first time tensions have erupted after a militant strike in Kashmir. The Pulwama attack of 2019 led to India’s controversial Balakot airstrikes and retaliatory aerial dogfights.

Analysts warn that the pattern may repeat, but this time with greater risk due to wider civil mobilisation, regional water pressures, and ongoing international crises that may limit external mediation.

With both India and Pakistan flexing their military and civil preparedness muscles, the South Asia stands on edge.