India plans civil defence drills amid tensions with Pakistan

India is set to carry out its largest civil defense drills in over five decades on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, as tensions with neighboring Pakistan reach a critical point following a deadly terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The government has ordered officials across 244 districts — including major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai — to execute comprehensive emergency preparedness exercises.

The move comes in the wake of the April 22 attack in the tourist town of Pahalgam, which left 26 Hindu pilgrims dead and dozens injured.

Indian authorities have blamed the attack on Pakistan-based militant groups, heightening fears of a potential military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Pakistan has denied any involvement.

The planned civil defense drills will test India’s ability to respond to wartime scenarios.

These exercises will involve testing air raid warning systems, practicing blackout procedures in urban areas, conducting evacuation drills in schools, offices, and residential zones, camouflaging vital infrastructure such as bridges, power stations, and rail networks, and training civilians in emergency first aid and shelter management.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has said the drills aim to ensure "civilian readiness and national resilience in the face of emerging security threats."

"We cannot afford to be caught off guard. The safety of our citizens is paramount," said a senior official involved in planning the operation.

In a parallel development, Pakistan conducted two missile tests, including the Fatah missile with a 120-kilometer range, which it described as a routine exercise.

However, the timing has added to the already fraught atmosphere in the region.

India has increased surveillance along its borders and raised military alert levels, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Air Force has also reportedly increased sorties near the Line of Control.

The United Nations Security Council has urged both countries to exercise restraint and resume diplomatic dialogue.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he is "deeply concerned" about the escalating situation and has called for immediate de-escalation.

Other global powers, including Russia and Iran, have echoed the call for calm.

Iran has even offered to mediate between the two sides, highlighting the international community’s unease over the potential for a larger regional conflict.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since gaining independence from British rule in 1947, two of which were over Kashmir.

The current standoff has revived memories of the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot crisis, during which both countries conducted airstrikes across the Line of Control.

As India prepares to stage these massive drills, the eyes of the world are once again fixed on South Asia, watching to see whether diplomacy can prevail over the drums of war.