The Indian Air Force's (IAF) Trishul training exercise has been temporarily suspended as ground-based defenses go on high alert to secure the airspace during the upcoming G20 summit. According to IAF officials, fighter aircraft, including the state-of-the-art Rafale jets, will remain on high alert during the G20 Summit.

The Trishul training exercise was initially taking place in the northern sector, near the borders of China and Pakistan. This exercise involved major fighter aircraft fleets like the Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Su-30MKIs, as well as heavy-lift transport aircraft and helicopters such as the Chinooks and Apaches. The Garud Special Forces were also actively participating in these drills.

Originally scheduled from September 4 to 14, the exercise covered areas in the northern sector, including Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab.

In preparation for the G20 Summit, the exercise was put on hold, and surface-to-air missile systems were activated along the border regions with China and Pakistan. All stations were placed on high alert to ensure the summit's security.

Simultaneously, the Indian Army has deployed bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs to enhance security measures in the national capital.

Furthermore, security agencies strategically deployed the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) counter-drone systems within the diplomatic enclave. These systems are designed to protect foreign visitors from potential drone threats and can neutralize such threats from significant distances, according to defense sources.

India is gearing up to host the G20 Summit in New Delhi, with preparations underway to welcome high-profile delegates from around the world. The Summit is scheduled to take place from September 9 to 10 at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan.