 Indian Army and Air Force during a drill in Uttar Pradesh state. (Photo: PTI) |
This announcement came hours after India conducted airstrikes on nine locations within Pakistan with the aim of punishing terrorists.
According to the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, the exercise will include activating air defense sirens, providing instructions to civilians, students, and youth, educating the public on civil defense measures to protect themselves from potential attacks, implementing emergency power cuts, camouflaging key facilities, planning evacuations, and establishing hotlines with the Indian Air Force.
400,000 volunteers from the Directorate General of Civil Defense, a unit of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, have been mobilized to participate in the exercise.
Amidst rising tensions, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday that Islamabad will respond forcefully to what he termed an "act of war" by India.
Pakistani sources say Pakistan’s National Security Council will meet Wednesday to decide on retaliatory measures. Observers say Pakistan is likely to take military action against India in the near future.