Op Sindoor Highlights: India abstains from IMF vote on Pak bailout package, cites misuse risks
On Thursday, a blackout was enforced in several districts of Punjab, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, and Chandigarh. Catch all the latest updates here
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India raised serious concerns during the IMF's review of lending programmes for Pakistan, questioning the efficacy and potential misuse of funds. | Photo: Bloomberg
India raised serious concerns during the IMF's review of lending programmes for Pakistan. Citing Pakistan’s poor track record with 28 years of IMF disbursements over 35 years and repeated bailouts, India highlighted failures in programme implementation and monitoring. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the chiefs of all three armed forces, a day after India successfully thwarted Pakistan's drone attacks. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval are also attending the meeting. In a joint press briefing conducted by MEA and the Indian Armed Forces on Friday evening, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told reporters that the purpose of Pakistan drones was to gather intel. She added that Pakistan violated ceasefire multiple times on Thursday (May 8) night.
Missile strike intercepted by Indian air defence in Jammu
On Thursday evening, Pakistan launched eight missiles targeting Satwari, Samba, RS Pura, and Arnia in Jammu and Kashmir, all of which were intercepted by Indian air defence systems, according to defence sources.
Drone activity reported over Jammu, Pathankot, Jaisalmer
Indian forces also detected Pakistani drones and munitions over Jammu city, Pathankot, and Jaisalmer, with air defence and counter-drone systems actively engaging the threats.
Defence sources liken attack tactics to Hamas-style rocket assault
Defence sources likened the situation in Jammu to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which featured “multiple cheap rockets”, and assessed that the Pakistan Army was acting in a similar manner to Hamas — a group designated as a terrorist organisation by several countries.
Operation Sindoor was India’s response to Pahalgam terror attack
India had launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, including one Nepali national, in Baisaran Valley. In the aftermath, diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan were downgraded, leading to rising tensions. Following another attack on May 7, Pakistan responded with intense artillery shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), particularly in border regions of Jammu and Kashmir, causing the deaths of 16 civilians.
Schools closed in border states amid security concerns
Schools and colleges in border states like Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan will remain closed for the coming few days in view of the escalating military tensions with Pakistan. All schools, colleges, and universities in the Union Territory will remain closed for two days as a precautionary measure.
“All schools, colleges and universities in Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed for two days on Friday and Saturday,” PTI quoted UT Education Minister Sakina Itoo as saying.
10:38 PM
I&B minister meets editors; stresses on factual, responsible reporting
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday underscored the importance of factual and responsible reporting, particularly when India is engaged in a military standoff with Pakistan. Vaishnaw interacted with senior editors from the print media and urged them to refrain from relying on unverified sources for information related to the conflict.
10:32 PM
TTD tightens security amid India-Pakistan military conflict
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has beefed up security given the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan, an official said on Friday. TTD in-charge Chief Vigilance and Security Officer (CVSO) Harshavardhan Raju said that during a recent review meeting with district Superintendents of Police, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called for enhanced security at the Tirupati temple.
10:32 PM
Pak's Awami National Party calls for peace amid rising tensions with India
Pakistan's Awami National Party is against all kinds of war, and expects all parties to adopt the "path of peace, dialogue and tolerance", its Central President Aimal Wali Khan said on Friday. His comments came as tensions between India and Pakistan soared significantly following New Delhi's Operation Sindoor, launched early Wednesday in response to the Pahalgam attack on April 22 that had cross-border linkages. Islamabad subsequently made an unsuccessful attempt to target 15 Indian cities.
10:15 PM
Operation Sindoor: Telangana CM donates one month salary to NDF, asks other to follow suit
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday said he would be donating one month's salary to the National Defence Fund and is considering a similar proposal for Congress MLAs and MLCs against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor. As an Indian first, I have decided to make a very modest contribution of one month's salary to the #NationalDefenceFund for the efforts of our country's brave Armed Forces to wipe out terrorism, and safeguard our borders and people, Revanth Reddy said in a post on 'X'.
10:04 PM
India-Pak tension: Railway minister reviews special train services from Jammu, Udhampur
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the arrangements of special train services from Jammu and Udhampur to the different parts of the country for passengers stranded due to the closure of airports in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh amid the India-Pakistan military standoff. Four special trains were operated from Jammu and Udhampur on Friday on Vaishnaw's instructions.
9:41 PM
India raises concerns over IMF aid to Pakistan amid terrorism and misuse risks
India raised serious concerns during the IMF's review of lending programmes for Pakistan, questioning the efficacy and potential misuse of funds under the Extended Fund Facility and the proposed Resilience and Sustainability Facility. Citing Pakistan’s poor track record with 28 years of IMF disbursements over 35 years and repeated bailouts, India highlighted failures in programme implementation and monitoring. It warned that fungible IMF funds could be diverted to support state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, risking global credibility. India also criticised the entrenched role of Pakistan’s military in economic affairs and abstained from the vote, urging IMF to prioritise moral considerations in its processes.
9:16 PM
India-Pakistan conflict: Fire brigade on highest level of preparedness in Punjab
The Punjab government on Friday said it took immediate steps to ensure the highest level of preparedness in the fire and emergency services amid India's ongoing military stand-off with Pakistan. Local Government Minister Ravjot Singh has issued strict directives, cancelling all leaves of fire brigade staff and ordering round-the-clock deployment at sensitive locations across the state.
9:06 PM
Indo-Pak conflict: Gujarat govt cancels leaves of all its employees
The Gujarat government on Friday cancelled the leaves of all its employees with immediate effect as a result of the ongoing India-Pakistan military conflict. A notification issued by the General Administration Department said all types of leave, except those required for unavoidable circumstances, taken by the state government employees have been cancelled with immediate effect.
8:59 PM
Himachal governor reviews state's preparedness amid India-Pakistan conflict
Himachal Pradesh Governor Pratap Shukla on Friday held a comprehensive review of the state's preparedness in the wake of the conflict between India and Pakistan. A meeting was convened at the Raj Bhavan to assess the evolving security scenario and the governor directed all agencies concerned to remain vigilant and fully prepared, a statement issued here said.
8:42 PM
Indo-Pak conflict: Delhi Gurudwara body vows full support to victims of Poonch attack
The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has strongly condemned the recent attack by the Pakistani Army targeting a Gurudwara Sahib and Sikh civilians in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir. Calling the act "cowardly and shameful", DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka and general secretary Jagdeep Singh Kahlon expressed solidarity with the victims' families and assured full support to them.
Topics : Pahalgam attack India Pakistan Chandigarh
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First Published: May 09 2025 | 11:18 AM IST