(Image source from: ANI)
Sources have reported that India is set to undertake significant air maneuvers near its International Border with Pakistan. A ‘notice to airmen’ has been issued for May 7 and 8, primarily affecting the western border area, particularly in Rajasthan, which falls under the jurisdiction of the South Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force. The International Border extends approximately 2,400 kilometers from Gujarat to Akhnoor in Jammu. The issued NOTAM indicates that these operations will commence at 9:30 PM on Wednesday, May 7, and will last for 5.5 hours. Consequently, all air traffic for departures or arrivals in the specified region will be halted during this time.
This development arises as ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces persist in various sectors along the border that India shares with Pakistan, particularly along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani military has engaged in unprovoked shelling across several areas, prompting a decisive and measured response from the Indian Army.
Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the April 22 terrorist incident in Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 fatalities. The recent surge in cross-border firing has raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of the ceasefire agreement established in February 2021, which is now perceived as compromised due to continuous breaches by Pakistan along the 740-km LoC. Initial violations were reported in the northern districts of Kupwara and Baramulla within the Kashmir Valley, subsequently extending to Rajouri, Poonch, Akhnoor, and the Pargwal area adjacent to the International Border in Jammu. These hostilities have adversely affected five border districts: Baramulla, Kupwara, Poonch, Rajouri, and Jammu. Following the night of April 24, in the wake of India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistani forces have persistently targeted Indian positions along the LoC, starting in the Kashmir Valley and swiftly moving towards the Jammu region.
The border shared by India and Pakistan spans 3,323 kilometers and comprises three distinct sections: the International Border (IB), which is about 2,400 kilometers long from Gujarat to Akhnoor in Jammu; the 740-km Line of Control (LoC) that extends from Jammu to Ladakh; and the 110-km Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), which delineates the Siachen Glacier area from NJ9842 to Indira Col.
