Red streaks lit up the night sky and loud explosions were heard as air defence systems intercepted Pakistani drones amid a complete blackout in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba sector on Monday. The incident unfolded shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech.
Army sources told news agency ANI that the number of drones entering the Samba sector was “comparatively very small”. The sources added, “They are being engaged, and there is nothing to be alarmed about.”
This came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech where he stated that India had only paused its response, not ended it. “We will assess Pakistan’s every step carefully. Operation Sindoor is India’s policy against terrorism.” He noted that the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force remain on alert to thwart any misadventure.
DGMO Talks on Maintaining Ceasefire
Meanwhile, in a significant diplomatic development, the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan held their first round of talks on Monday. According to PTI, defence sources confirmed that DGMO Major General Kashif Abdullah of Pakistan and his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, communicated via a hotline. No official details of the conversation were disclosed.
The two military officials were expected to address mutual concerns regarding alleged violations of the recent understanding to cease all firings and military operations on land, air, and sea. This hotline conversation marked the first engagement between the two sides since the announcement of the ceasefire agreement, which took effect on Saturday.
Tensions had escalated sharply over the past week after the Indian Armed Forces struck terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation to the terror attack in Pahalgam.
Precautionary Blackout In Rajasthan
As a precautionary measure, a total blackout was enforced across border districts of Rajasthan on Sunday night. In Barmer, residents reported sightings of red lights in the sky, suspected to be drones. The district administration issued an alert on X (formerly Twitter) stating: “Incoming drone activity spotted. Please stay inside your houses and observe blackout,” District Magistrate of Barmer posted.
However, the administration later clarified that reports on social media claiming a drone had been shot down were factually incorrect.
By Monday morning, a sense of normalcy returned to the border regions with people seen gathering at tea stalls and resuming routine conversations. “Things appear to be as usual now. Last night was peaceful,” said Jalam Singh, a resident of Jaisalmer.
The blackout timings varied across districts — Jaisalmer from 7:30 pm to 6 am, Bikaner from 7 pm to 5 am, Ganganagar from 7 pm until sunrise, and Barmer from 8 pm to 6 am. Jodhpur was notably exempted from the measure.
Despite the return of calm, all schools, colleges, and coaching centres in the border areas remain closed as a precaution. An official from the Home Department in Jaipur confirmed, “Security forces are alert and all arrangements to face any situation in the wake of the tension between India and Pakistan are in place across all districts.”
Saturday’s understanding between New Delhi and Islamabad to halt military actions came after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.