A paramilitary trooper mans a gun atop a vehicle as he keeps guard during a media tour of the Karachi Port, Pakistan, May 9, 2025. / REUTERS/Shakil Adil

We bring you a curated selection of headlines from major Indian newspapers related to the events on Friday, May 9, 2025, till Saturday early morning (IST) in the ongoing Pakistani escalation and Indian reaction across the international border:

THE HINDUSTAN TIMES

Multiple attacks on Indian cities, Islamabad claims missile attacks on three bases

Multiple explosions were heard in several Indian cities, including Jammu, Srinagar and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, early on Saturday even as Pakistan claimed that its three airbases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones. The explosion was also heard in Kangniwal village of Jalandhar district in Punjab.

Pakistan claimed early Saturday that its Nur Khan, Murid and Rafiqui airbases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones. However, the Pakistan military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry did not provide any evidence to back his claims.

The ministry of civil aviation on Saturday also announced that now 32 airports will be closed till 5:29 am on May 15 for all civil flight operations. The Airports Authority of India also extended the temporary closure of 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions (FIRs) due to operational reasons.

Earlier on Friday night, Indian defence forces once again tackled Pakistan's fresh wave of drone attacks targeted at 26 locations. Several districts of Punjab were under complete blackout, with the complete no power protocol being extended in Sangrur city and Barnala till 5 am. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired a high-level security meeting at his residence in the national capital with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the chiefs of the armed forces -- Army, Navy and the Air Force.

INDIAN EXPRESS

Pathankot, key base in north, under attack again, braces for long night

Pakistani drones attacked Pathankot in a swarm for the second consecutive night Friday, leading to intense counter engagement by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force air defence units.

The attack, which began around 8.45 pm, lasted close to half an hour during which multiple loud explosions were heard and anti-aircraft firing was observed in the night sky. A blackout had been imposed across the city at 7 pm by the district administration.

The Army said that around the time Pathankot came under attack, similar drone attacks were underway in Samba and Jammu.

There was little vehicular movement on the roads as the explosions grew louder — cars and trucks moved with their headlights switched off. Some residents were standing atop rooftops, observing the firefight. Gradually, the firing and explosions abated and an uneasy calm descended as people for a long night ahead.

Yet the mood of the local populace is upbeat. People have followed the instructions of the district administration to shut down business establishments and to stay off the roads by 7 pm. The roads are almost deserted by 7.30 pm — the last customers are sent away as shutters are downed and lights switched off.

THE TRIBUNE

ADC Rajouri Raj Kumar Thappa killed in Pakistan Army strikes

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thappa, has been killed during Pakistan Army strikes in response of Indian non-stop aggression.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on X: “Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the J&K Administration Services. Just yesterday he was accompanying the Deputy CM around the district & attended the online meeting I chaired. Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling…”

Many civilian areas have been hit by Pakistani artillery shelling in Rajouri town, Poonch town and Jammu.

A woman identified as Rashida Bi from Mendhar in Poonch killed in Pakistan shelling at 7 am Saturday.

As Pakistan attacked multiple locations in India, parts of a drone were recovered after a blast in Kanganiwal village in rural Jalandhar of Punjab on Saturday. Surjeet Kaur, a local whose house was affected due to a Pakistani drone attack, said, "A red coloured flash came above our house and there was a huge explosion. We got scared. Everything was dark. We came out of our houses after a short while and saw that the water tank above our houses and our neighbours' houses had exploded. There was a blackout at that time, and all the lights were off." 

Explosion-like sounds were heard in Pathankot district of Punjab early Saturday morning, amid the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan. The blast sounds were heard around 5 am. There was no official word in this regard.

Multiple blasts were heard in Srinagar city early Saturday morning, hours after the Indian military thwarted drone attacks by Pakistan at several places here late last night. According to officials, the blasts were heard near vital installations, including the airport. As soon as the blasts were heard, sirens went off in the city. Power has also been snapped in the city and most other parts of the valley, the officials said.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

Pakistani drone attack on Pokhran foiled; Rajasthan border on red alert, blackout enforced

For a second night of grave anxiety on the Rajasthan border, Pakistan launched a drone attack on Pokhran on Friday night.

Though loud sounds of explosions were heard and flashes of light were seen in the sky, sources say the Indian air defence system intercepted and neutralised the Pakistani drone. While the Indian forces have foiled the attack, a red alert has been issued in Jaisalmer, Barmer and Sri Ganganagar districts, and residents have been urged to stay indoors.

A blackout has been enforced in all districts along the border. There are growing worries that Pakistan may target other areas also through drone attacks.

THE TIMES OF INDIA

G7 condemns Pahalgam attack, urges India and Pakistan to exercise restraint

The G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU High Representative have strongly condemned the "egregious terrorist attack" in Pahalgam on April 22.

In a joint statement, they urged both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint, warning that further military escalation could seriously threaten regional stability.

The ministers called for immediate de-escalation and encouraged both countries to pursue direct dialogue, reaffirming support for a swift and lasting diplomatic resolution.

THE TIMES OF INDIA

Footfall dips at Golden Temple as tourists avoid Amritsar

Golden Temple has seen a sharp drop in footfall in past two days, with visitors preferring to stay away from Amritsar, a border district, amid the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict, reports. The holy Sikh shrine gets over a lakh pilgrims daily on an average, but its corridors have been noticeably empty after India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. Partap Singh, secretary of SGPC, said the number of pilgrims travelling from outside Amritsar had declined due to the military conflict, but the arrival of local devotees remained steady. The decline in number of visitors has, in fact, affected the entire tourism economy of Amritsar. Hotels are largely vacant, and places like Heritage Street and Jallianwala Bagh memorial are nearly deserted.

THE HINDU

No need for panic buying: Oil companies assure public of ample fuel stocks

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation's largest oil firm, on Friday (May 9, 2025) said ample stocks of petrol, diesel and cooking gas LPG are available in the country and there is no need for panic buying of fuel.

The statement comes after social media was flooded with posts and videos showing people queuing at petrol pumps to stock fuel as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated. "Indian Oil has ample fuel stocks across the country and our supply lines are operating smoothly," IOC said in a post on X.