Amit Shah reviews border and airport security following Pakistan’s foiled counteroffensive

Home Minister Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on May 8 held discussions with the Directors General of India's border guarding forces to assess the ground situation, following heightened tensions along the border. He also reviewed security protocols at airports with the Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for aviation security across the country.

These meetings came in the backdrop of shutdown of operations at over 20 civilian and dual-use airports across northern and western India. According to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued late night on May 8, three additional airports — Kishangarh in Rajasthan, Bhuntar (Kullu–Manali) in Himachal Pradesh, and Ludhiana in Punjab — were added to the growing list of airports temporarily closed for commercial operations.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is an official notice issued to alert pilots and airlines of potential hazards or operational restrictions in the airspace. Such notices are common during military exercises, natural disasters, or in this case, heightened security situations.

The disruptions come in the immediate aftermath of India’s high-precision military action under Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror hubs inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In response, Pakistan reportedly attempted a counteroffensive aimed at multiple Indian cities on May 8 night.

According to the defence ministry, Pakistani forces attempted to target sensitive locations including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. However, the Indian armed forces thwarted these attempts through swift deployment of the indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile systems and the S-400 Triumf air defence system.

The incoming threats were effectively neutralised, preventing any damage to civilian or military infrastructure.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, acting on security directives, confirmed that commercial operations have been suspended at key airports including Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Patiala, Bathinda, Halwara, Pathankot, Shimla, Gaggal, Dharamsala, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Mundra, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Kandla, Keshod, Bhuj, Gwalior and Hindon. Many of these facilities are located near the border and also support military operations.

The NOTAM is applicable until 0529 IST on Saturday, May 10, suggesting that air travel disruptions could continue for at least the next two days. Estimates from airline operators indicate that nearly 450 domestic flights were cancelled on May 8 alone due to the precautionary shutdown.