All major cities in India put on high alert after attack on Pakistan air bases: Report

India launched retaliatory strikes on Pakistan after ceasefire violations

All major cities in India have been put on high alert after several Pakistani air bases were attacked by India, as part of its retaliatory strikes on several cities in Pakistan, News18 quoted sources as saying.

Soon after India's retaliatory strikes in Pakistan, security sources, according to News18, have said that Pakistan has now launched an attack against India. The attack by Inida came after India retaliated to repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan, by targeting Pakistani cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore in drone attacks on Saturday.

On Saturday morning, sirens were sounded in Jammu and Kashmir and a complete blackout was enforced after explosions were heard in the area. Similarly, a blackout was also ordered for Jalandhar in Punjab after reports of drone sightings.

In the early hours of Saturday, Pakistan, in an urgent press conference, alleged that three of its air force bases were hit by Indian missiles and drones.

Pakistan military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said that India had carried out attacks on the Nur Khan Airbase (Chaklala, Rawalpindi), Murid Airbase (Chakwal), and Rafiqui Airbase (Shorkot, Jhang district).

Chaudhry further said that India fired air-to-surface missiles using fighter jets. "All assets of the Air Force remain safe," he said during the press conference. He also claimed that Pakistan’s air defense systems intercepted several incoming missiles.

Visuals from Dibber area of Udhampur, showing smoke rising from the explosion site in Jammu and Kashmir surfaced on ANI, shortly after Jammu was put under complete blackout.

Meanwhile, ANI reported that 32 airports in India have been closed as of now, in view of the prevailing security situation, as India faces a military standoff with Pakistan after the deadly Pahalgam attack of April 22 that claimed the lives of 26 people in the Kashmir valley.