IAF Launches Major Combat Drill Near Pakistan Border Amid Heightened Tensions

<p><strong>New Delhi, June 7 (IANS)</strong> India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a major Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise scheduled to take place near the southern sector of the India-Pakistan International Border in Rajasthan from Saturday, June 7, to Sunday, June 8.</p>
<p>The exercise is part of the IAF’s regular operational preparedness and will be conducted in airspace near the border.&nbsp;According to the NOTAM, the aerial drill will commence at 3:30 p.m. on June 7 and conclude at 9:30 p.m. the following day.</p>
<p>During this period, airspace over the designated region will be restricted to ensure the safe and seamless execution of air operations.</p>
<p>An official from the Indian Air Force confirmed that the combat exercises will feature a range of advanced air assets, including frontline fighter jets such as Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Sukhoi-30, in addition to surveillance platforms and other support systems.</p>
<p>Although the Ministry of Defence has not officially connected the exercise to ongoing geopolitical tensions, the timing and location of the drill carry notable implications.</p>
<p>This sector has become a focal point amid rising tensions following a deadly cross-border terror attack in Pahalgam. That incident triggered reciprocal airspace restrictions by both India and Pakistan, significantly straining bilateral relations.</p>
<p>India recently closed its airspace to all Pakistani-registered and military aircraft from April 30 to May 23.</p>
<p>This action followed Pakistan’s earlier decision to bar Indian flights from its airspace, marking an escalation in diplomatic and military frictions.</p>
<p>The situation remains tense along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, where frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have prompted firm retaliatory responses from Indian forces.</p>
<p>This comes against the backdrop of India’s ‘<a title=”Operation Sindoor” href=”https://news.abplive.com/topic/operation-sindoor” data-type=”interlinkingkeywords”>Operation Sindoor</a>’, which was launched on May 7, in retaliation to the terror attack in Pahalgam, where terrorists killed 26 innocent people.</p>
<p class=”p1″><em><strong>(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)</strong></em></p>