Mick Ignis

Poonch endured intense Pakistani bombardment, unlike anything experienced even during the 1971 war, prompting widespread fear and displacement. Shelling damaged religious sites and homes, resulting in casualties, including a tabla player, a kirtan singer and a maulvi. Residents are now fleeing, seeking safety as they express the urgent need for civilian bunkers amidst escalating tensions.

Tensions escalate between India and Pakistan as India launches 'Operation Sindoor' targeting terrorist camps in response to the Pahalgam attack, neutralizing over 100 terrorists. Pakistan retaliates with drone and missile strikes, prompting India to counter-attack key military bases. Blackouts, curfews, and air raid warnings grip the region, with the IPL suspended amidst the ongoing conflict.

Pak army chief, wannabe heir of Zia and Jinnah, is a toxic version of his idols. His need to manufacture external threats to consolidate internal control is what’s escalating conflict with India

Pakistan's parliament witnessed heated debates as ministers clashed over the government's handling of the escalating conflict with India. MP Shahid Khattak criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his perceived inaction and failure to condemn India and Prime Minister Modi. This occurred after India conducted precision strikes in PoK following terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

The BCCI has suspended IPL 2025 for one week, effective immediately, due to recent events. This decision, impacting matches like Lucknow Super Giants versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru, follows concerns from franchisees, broadcasters, and sponsors. The board expressed solidarity with the nation, armed forces, and the government amidst ongoing challenges, prioritising national interest above all else.

Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, the defence ministry has granted the Army Chief expanded authority to mobilise the Territorial Army. This decision, enabled by Rule 33 of the Territorial Army Rules 1948, allows for the deployment of Territorial Army units to bolster security and support regular army operations across various commands.

Thursday [May 8] was a day of intense fighting between the two nuclear-armed neighbours with attacks and counter-attacks using drones and missiles. India took out Lahore air defence in response to Pak’s foiled bid to hit 15 sites in north and west. By evening, skies in multiple Indian cities, including Jammu, Jaisalmer and Amritsar, lit up with India’s air defence system intercepting and destroying swarms of Pakistani drones and missiles

X (formerly Twitter) has received orders from the Indian government to block over 8,000 accounts, including those of international news organizations and prominent users, citing violations of local laws. X has complied by withholding the accounts in India but disagrees with the government's demands, viewing it as censorship and a violation of free speech.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has made a bizarre claim that Pakistani forces deliberately avoided intercepting Indian drones to conceal strategic military locations. This justification follows India's 'Operation Sindoor,' precision strikes on terrorist spots, and the thwarting of Pakistani drone and missile attacks.

Tensions escalate as the Indian Armed Forces defuse a projectile in Amritsar following reported Pakistani air strikes along the western border in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. The Indian Army responded to ceasefire violations and drone attacks, asserting its commitment to national sovereignty. These events follow heightened tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent Operation Sindoor.