After the terror attack in Pahalgam, the Indian government has become alert and serious. As tensions rise along the Line of Control (LoC), the central government on Monday told northern and western states and Union Territories (UTs) to be ready in case of any future attacks.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked states like Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and others to test and improve their civil defence systems. These preparations include organising mock drills on May 7.

Safety drills and blackout training for civilians

According to government sources, states and union territories have been asked to get ready in different ways. They have been told to use air raid sirens, carry out blackout exercises in some areas, and teach people, including school and college students, how to stay safe during an air or ground attack. They should also practice how to evacuate people quickly if there is any danger, and cover or hide important buildings like power stations and military areas. These steps are meant to make the public and administration more aware and prepared.

The MHA’s directions came while top government leaders held important meetings in Delhi to discuss the situation. The Centre is keeping a close eye on the rising tensions and possible responses by the Indian military.

India-Japan defence talks condemn terrorism

In one of the high-level meetings, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Japanese counterpart, General Nakatani San. During the meeting, both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all forms.

According to an official statement, “Singh condemned Pakistan’s state policy of cross-border terrorism against India, perpetrated through state and non-state actors.” He said such terror attacks harm peace and stability in the region and asked for a joint stand against terrorism.

Singh said, “India shares a special, strategic and global partnership with Japan.” In response, General Nakatani “expressed solidarity with India in the wake of the Pahalgam attack and offered full support to India.” Both ministers agreed to work more closely together to maintain peace in the region.

The official statement also mentioned that “both leaders agreed to add new dimensions to the robust maritime cooperation between India and Japan”, especially as China continues to grow its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Singh also warned Japan about the risks of investing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), saying that such investments could be used for terror funding. He spoke about Pakistan’s nuclear programme and cross-border terrorism affecting many countries.

He also pointed out that India’s defence industry is growing and can work with Japan on advanced technologies like tanks and aero engines. Singh explained India’s strengths in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) operations as well.

The statement added, “Both sides agreed to enhance industry cooperation, including exploring collaboration in niche domains such as automation and artificial intelligence. The two ministers also decided to take forward the cooperation in emerging areas like cyber and space.”

PM Modi reviews defence preparedness

Defence Secretary R K Singh also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. In this meeting, they discussed key decisions related to the military. These include policies, procedures, budget matters, and plans for buying new defence equipment.

Sources said the defence secretary briefed the prime minister on possible military responses and reviewed the country’s overall defence readiness.

As the situation remains tense, the government is taking all steps to protect the country and prepare both the people and the military for any threat.

 

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