In the wake of India’s strategic missile strikes targeting locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the recent Pahalgam terror attack, border states have stepped into high-alert mode. Rajasthan and Punjab, both sharing sensitive frontiers with Pakistan, have tightened security measures to prepare for any potential response from across the border.

Rajasthan, which borders Pakistan along a stretch of 1,037 kilometers, has sealed its border completely. The Border Security Force (BSF) has been authorized to open fire on sight if any suspicious activity is detected. The Indian Air Force is maintaining a state of heightened readiness, with fighter aircraft actively monitoring the skies over the western region. All flights from Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Bikaner airports have been temporarily halted until May 9, as airspace security operations continue.

Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets are patrolling between Sri Ganganagar and the Rann of Kutch, reinforcing aerial security. Several districts near the border — including Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Sri Ganganagar — have witnessed school closures, with ongoing examinations postponed as a precautionary step. In addition to the cancellation of police leaves, railway personnel have also been directed to remain on duty without exception.

Evacuation protocols have been prepared in border villages, and anti-drone defense systems have been deployed to monitor aerial threats. In strategic cities like Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, blackout orders have been enforced from midnight to 4 a.m., a tactic used to hinder potential air strikes by reducing visual cues for enemy aircraft.

Punjab has also heightened its readiness, cancelling all police leaves and imposing restrictions on large public gatherings. In response to the rising tension, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has suspended all official public events to focus on the security situation.

These measures reflect the Indian government’s resolve to ensure national security amid escalating cross-border tensions, as military and civilian agencies across western states brace for further developments.