"Operation Abhyaas and Beyond: India’s Civil and Military Response to the 2025 Pahalgam Attack"

 2025 India–Pakistan Standoff: Recent Developments

In 2025, tensions between India and Pakistan reached one of their highest points in recent years, following a devastating terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The brutal Pahalgam attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, sparked a series of military and diplomatic escalations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. 

India swiftly blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for orchestrating the attack, accusing Islamabad of continuing to support cross-border terrorism. In retaliation, India launched targeted strikes on Pakistani territory, prompting a sharp military response from Pakistan. These events have led to fears of a broader conflict, drawing urgent international attention. As both countries continue to exchange airstrikes, drone attacks, and diplomatic threats, the region stands at a critical crossroads, with peace and stability hanging in the balance.

🇮🇳🇵🇰 Escalation Between India and Pakistan – May 2025

🔹 Background: The Pahalgam Attack

On April 22, 2025, one of the deadliest terror attacks in recent years occurred in Pahalgam, a scenic town in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. A convoy of tourist vehicles, primarily carrying Hindu pilgrims and domestic travelers, was ambushed by heavily armed militants.

• Death Toll: 26 civilians were killed, including 25 Hindu tourists and 1 local driver.

• Injured: Over 35 people were injured, many critically.

• Modus Operandi: The attackers used automatic weapons and grenades to target a moving convoy. Initial investigations revealed the use of military-grade arms, and a few explosives were found nearby, suggesting a broader planned operation.

The Perpetrators

• The terror group The Resistance Front (TRF), widely considered a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility.

• The TRF stated the attack was a “response to demographic aggression” in Kashmir—a reference to India's revocation of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status in 2019 and efforts to encourage tourism and development in the region.

Indian Government's Reaction

• Indian authorities swiftly condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly and barbaric act of terror”.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level security meeting and vowed a strong response.

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) were deployed for a full investigation.

Security and Public Response

• The attack sent shockwaves across India, sparking mass outrage and protests.

• The government ordered increased security for all pilgrimage routes, including those for Amarnath Yatra and Vaishno Devi.

• Civilian evacuations were conducted in sensitive areas near the LoC and the Kashmir Valley.

Accusations Against Pakistan

• India accused Pakistan of harboring and supporting terrorist groups responsible for the attack.

• In Parliament, India’s External Affairs Minister described the attack as “Pakistan’s proxy war through terrorism.”

• As evidence mounted pointing toward cross-border coordination, India began preparing a diplomatic and military response.

The Pahalgam attack became the immediate trigger for India’s subsequent airstrikes on Pakistan, leading to the broader conflict in May 2025

Military Engagement and Diplomatic Strain (India–Pakistan 2025)

Following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated rapidly, plunging the region into a serious military and diplomatic crisis. The attack, which killed 26 civilians including 25 Hindu tourists, was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF)—a group India alleges is backed by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Indian Military Response

• On May 7, 2025, India launched precision missile strikes on nine suspected terrorist training camps and infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and adjoining areas of Pakistan.

• The Indian Ministry of Defence stated that the strikes were "pre-emptive and non-military" in nature, aimed solely at eliminating terrorist threats.

• India also increased the deployment of troops along the Line of Control (LoC) and Western International Border, placing the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy on high alert.

Pakistani Military Reaction

• In response, Pakistan claimed that Indian airstrikes caused civilian casualties and targeted areas near military installations, prompting a "measured retaliation."

• On May 10, 2025, Pakistan launched counterstrikes, targeting Indian military infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.

• The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) claimed it had shot down multiple Indian drones and conducted "defensive operations" across the LoC.

• Both sides reported aerial dogfights and artillery shelling in border sectors, though exact casualty figures remain contested.

Risk of Full-Scale War

• As both countries traded strikes and placed nuclear-capable forces on heightened readiness, fears of a full-scale war loomed.

• Civilian populations on both sides of the border were relocated from high-risk zones.

Diplomatic Fallout and Global Concern

• India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a major bilateral water-sharing agreement, and closed the Wagah-Attari border crossing.

• Both countries withdrew senior diplomats, and cross-border trade was suspended.

International Response

• The United Nations, United States, Russia, China, and the European Union called for immediate de-escalation.

• The U.S. Secretary of State and UN Secretary-General offered to mediate, while Saudi Arabia and UAE began backchannel talks with both New Delhi and Islamabad.

• The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session, urging both countries to adhere to restraint and international law.

Diplomatic Channels Still Open

Despite the crisis, diplomatic backchannels reportedly remained open, with Swiss and Omani diplomats acting as intermediaries. India reiterated its stance that it would not negotiate until Pakistan took concrete action against terrorism.

Civil Defence Measures in India – Operation Abhyaas (2025)

In response to the escalating military tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government launched an unprecedented nationwide civil defence exercise named Operation Abhyaas in May 2025. The goal was to prepare civilians for any potential military conflict, including missile strikes, aerial bombardment, or chemical/biological threats.

Scope and Scale

• Operation Abhyaas was initiated on May 7, 2025, and involved 244 districts across India.

• It was the largest civil defence drill since the 1971 India–Pakistan War.

• The operation was coordinated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the armed forces, and state governments.

Key Activities

1. Air Raid and Siren Drills:

   • Cities and towns tested emergency sirens to simulate air raid alerts.

   • People were trained to respond quickly to sirens by seeking shelter in designated safe zones or bunkers.

2. Blackout Exercises:

   • Nighttime blackouts were practiced in border states like Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir to prevent detection by enemy aircraft or drones.

3. Evacuation and Shelter Drills:

   • Schools, colleges, and public buildings participated in mock evacuation drills.

   • Temporary shelters were established in metro cities to accommodate evacuees during emergencies.

4. Public Awareness and Training:

   • Residents were educated on first-aid, chemical attack responses, and how to create emergency kits.

   • Special broadcasts were run on television, radio, and mobile apps to inform the public about safety procedures.

5. Coordination with Armed Forces:

   • The Indian Army and Air Force assisted local authorities in simulating conflict scenarios, especially in vulnerable border regions.

Purpose and Public Response

The exercise aimed to:

• Minimize civilian casualties in the event of a full-scale war.

• Strengthen community-level disaster preparedness.

• Build confidence in the government's ability to protect its citizens.

Public response was largely positive, though some expressed anxiety about the reality of conflict. Nevertheless, Operation Abhyaas was seen as a crucial step in India's comprehensive national security strategy.

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