India Launches Mock Drills in States Near Pakistan Amid Ceasefire

• Haryana will conduct mock drills in 22 districts.
• The drills will simulate critical incidents such as air raids and drone attacks.
• A controlled blackout will be observed near key installations.

ISLAMABAD: India is gearing up to hold extensive civil defense mock drills starting tomorrow (Thursday) in four border states just weeks after both nations reached a ceasefire following military tensions.

According to Indian media sources, the drills will take place in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Punjab, and Gujarat on Thursday evening, as confirmed by authorities.

The Haryana state government has also announced an island-wide emergency preparedness initiative, dubbed “Operation Shield,” to be executed on May 29 across all 22 districts starting at 5 PM local time, focusing on enhancing crisis readiness.

Organized under the auspices of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the exercise will mimic critical scenarios such as air raids, drone strikes, and other wartime conditions due to heightened national security concerns, as reported.

Additionally, a controlled blackout lasting 15 minutes will occur from 8 PM to 8:15 PM near vital facilities, except for essential emergency services like hospitals, fire stations, and police stations.

Dr. Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary of the Haryana Home Department, stated, “The aim of the exercise is to evaluate existing emergency response mechanisms, enhance collaboration between civil authorities, defense forces, and local communities, and identify areas in need of improvement, ensuring a rapid and effective reaction during any crisis.”

Previously, a comprehensive mock drill took place on May 7 shortly after India conducted airstrikes in Pakistan, which affected civilian areas, including mosques, resulting in the deaths of 26 civilians.

The ceasefire was announced by former President Donald Trump following Pakistan’s retaliatory operation known as “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” which responded to India’s unprovoked missile and drone assaults on civilian and military sites in Pakistan.

Pakistan successfully downed six fighter jets, including three Rafale planes, along with several drones. After around 87 hours, the conflict between the two nuclear armed countries ceased on May 10 with a truce brokered by the United States.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a total of 53 individuals, including 13 armed forces members and 40 civilians, lost their lives due to Indian strikes during the recent military escalation.

The conflict was ignited by an attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) last month that led to the death of 26 tourists. India has blamed Pakistan without providing substantiating evidence.