People who were evacuated from an area near the Line of Control (LoC) between Indian Pakistan following cross-border shelling rest inside a classroom at a college that was turned into a temporary shelter on the outskirts of Jammu, May 8, 2025. / REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

We bring you a curated selection of headlines related to the events on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in the ongoing Pakistani escalation and Indian reaction across the international border from major Indian newspapers:

THE HINDUSTAN TIMES

Pakistan resorts to heavy shelling across LoC after India neutralises its drone, missile attacks

Amid rising tensions, India neutralised drone and missile attacks from Pakistan targeting military installations. 

India said it “neutralised” Pakistani drone and missile attacks targeting several military sites, including in Jammu and Pathankot, on Thursday night, after foiling similar bids at 15 places in northern and western regions of the country, as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider conflict.

Military stations in the northern cities of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur near the border with Pakistan were targeted, the defence ministry said in a post on X. “The threats were swiftly neutralized using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities,” the ministry said, and no casualties were reported.

The renewed attempts and intense shelling by the Pakistani forces on the LoC and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat came after India on Thursday morning targeted Pakistani air defence systems at multiple cities, with one in Lahore being "neutralised".

Indian air defence units successfully intercepted at least eight missiles fired by Pakistan towards the border areas of Jammu, including the strategically important Jammu Airport at Satwari on Thursday evening. The missiles were aimed at key locations, including Satwari (Jammu Airport), Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia.

Blackouts enforced in: Jammu, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia, Srinagar, Baramulla, Uri, Kupwara, Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, Chandigarh, Gurdaspur, Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda, Panchkula, Bamer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Kutch, Sir Creek, Banaskantha, Patan, Udhampur.

THE TIMES OF INDIA

PM Modi asks top officers to ensure 'fool-proof' functioning of essential system

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday directed 20-odd secretaries dealing with critical sectors to remain alert, “fool-proof functioning of essential systems, with special focus on readiness, emergency response, and internal communication protocol”.

He also instructed the top officers to ensure supply, particularly of essential items, and to take proactive action rather than waiting for orders, and to ensure the security of critical infrastructure. Attended the review meeting on national preparedness and inter-ministerial coordination a day after India successfully carried out air-strikes on terror base in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, indicating the preparation for any escalation.

THE HINDUSTAN TIMES

Airlines, airports instructed to enhance security measures

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) instructed all airlines and airports across the country to enhance security measures. All passengers at all airports will undergo Secondary Ladder Point Check (SLPC). Visitor entry to terminal buildings has been banned. Air Marshal will be deployed accordingly, ANI reported, citing ministry of civil aviation sources.

THE HINDUSTAN TIMES

Exodus in Poonch as toll in Pak shelling reached 16

Pakistani artillery and mortar fire along the Line of Control (LoC) left 16 civilians dead, forcing an exodus from Jammu and Kashmir’s border district of Poonch.

INDIAN EXPRESS

Border patrols to evacuation plans: Frontier states step up preparation as India-Pakistan tension escalate

After Pakistan attempted to engage military targets in northern and western India, including sites in Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat, these border states Thursday took precautionary measures, including increasing patrolling at the borders, preparing evacuation plans, and cancelling leaves of police personnel.

Border villages have been put on high alert, and evacuation plans have been put in place in case of an emergency. Mock drills have been conducted in several areas.

Several locations have been identified to be used as shelters in the event of an attack, a government official said. “As always, gurdwaras will come to the rescue of evacuees, if needed. They also serve langar. We have not ordered the evacuation of any border village yet, but we are prepared in case the need arises. Other shelters have also been identified. We will set up temporary camps also if needed,” the official said.

In Rajasthan, the various measures taken by the government to prepare for any eventuality include shutting schools, conducting mock drills, cancelling flights, preparing evacuation plans, monitoring social media, ensuring availability of medicines and doctors, and cancelling leaves. 

Along the western seaboard of Gujarat, police personnel in various districts have begun detailed documentation checks on boats, their owners and fishermen. Random checks of boats’ cargo holds are also being done. Fishermen’s leaders have been asked to immediately report any suspicious activity.

INDIAN EXPRESS

IMF Board should look ‘deep within’ before bailing out Pakistan: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri ahead of key Fund meet

A day before the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to review the financing facilities extended to Pakistan, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Thursday said the Fund’s Board should look “deep within” and take into account the facts before generously bailing out the country. He questioned the efficacy of several bailout packages extended to Pakistan over the last three decades and raised questions on its utilisation by the country.

Misri said India’s Executive Director will put forward its position at the IMF Board meeting on May 9. “We have an executive director at the IMF. Tomorrow there is a meeting of the board of the IMF, and I am sure that our Executive Director will put forward India’s position. The decisions of the Board are a different matter, you know, the process through which they are made. But, I think the case with regard to Pakistan should be self-evident to those people who generously open their pockets to bail out this country…,” he said.

INDIAN EXPRESS

NSAs of India and Pakistan in touch; India maintains heightened security, is fully prepared for any advances

India is in touch with Pakistan through the National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Lt Gen Asim Malik and their High Commissions, even as the military of the two countries are in a face-off situation over the strikes deep inside Pakistani territory.

The Indian Express has learnt that the diplomatic channels are open, although they are in a crisis mode.

The Indian charge d’affaires in Islamabad Geetika Srivastava has been in touch with key interlocutors in Islamabad. She was summoned Wednesday by the Pakistan Foreign Ministry to protest on the Indian strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Sources said the two sides have been in touch, after US Secretary of State and NSA Marco Rubio had spoken to NSA Ajit Doval.

A top Indian official, however, said, “Being in touch doesn’t mean being in talks.” In a way, the official sought to downplay the contacts between the two sides.

THE HINDU

Operation Sindoor killed at least 100, including some hardcore terrorists, Defence Minister Rajnath tells all-party meet

Opposition parties unanimously praise Indian armed forces for Operation Sindoor, reiterate support for the government; Congress chief expresses disappointment over PM’s absence from the meeting.

At least 100 people, including several hardcore terrorists, were killed in the nine cross-border strikes made by Indian armed forces on the night between May 6 and 7, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told an all-party meeting that he chaired on Thursday. All political parties unanimously lauded the ongoing Operation Sindoor and reiterated their support for the government amid the heightened tension between India and Pakistan. 

THE HINDU

Drone found near the Bangladesh border in Assam

Police in southern Assam’s Sribhumi district recovered a drone close to the India-Bangladesh border on Thursday (May 8, 2025).

District officials said the drone was found abandoned in the Charbazar area and was examined at the local police station. 

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

Amit Shah speaks to chiefs of border guarding forces amid heightened tension with Pakistan

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday night spoke to chiefs of the country's border guarding forces, including the BSF that guards India's border with Pakistan, sources said.

During the conversation, the home minister took stock of the situation along the international borders as there has been heightened tension between India and Pakistan following India's strike on multiple locations in Pakistan and PoK on Wednesday.

While the BSF guards the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, the ITBP guards India's border with China and the SSB guards the border with Nepal and Bhutan.

THE TRIBUNE

De-escalation onus on Pak, says MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said the onus was on Pakistan to de-escalate tensions as it rejected demands for a joint probe into the Pahalgam terror attack with Islamabad.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who was speaking at a media briefing on Operation Sindoor, warned the western neighbour of “consequences” if any Indian infrastructure was hit.

“Our intention has not been to escalate matters. We are only responding to the original escalation, “the Pahalgam terror attack was an escalation”, the Foreign Secretary said.

Asked about India’s response if Pakistan escalated, Misri said: “We have made our stance clear, it is Pakistan that escalated on April 22 (Pahalgam attack). Now if there is an attempt to escalate, it will be responded to appropriately. The choice is entirely that of Pakistan to make.”

Mentioning last night’s missile-UAV duel over parts of northern and western India, Misri said it was Pakistan that escalated and attempted to hit multiple targets in India. The Indian forces had only responded.