FRIDAY LEAVES OF OFFICIALS CANCELLED 09 The Delhi government has decided to cancel all leaves for its officials with immediate effect. The directive will remain in force until further notice, as authorities prepare for emergency situations. “In view of the prevailing situation and preparedness for emergency response systems, the Competent Authority has directed that no leave shall be granted to any Officer/Official of Govt. of NCT of Delhi, till further orders,” an order issued by the services department read. | P3 MAY, 2025 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard TA R I F F TA L K S CHINA EU THREATENS TO TARGET US CARS PoK Awantipura The EU threatened to target US cars and planes among a raft of products worth $107 bn if talks with President Donald Trump’s team fail to avert a trade war. AFGHANISTAN A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 NEW DELHI   J8.00  PAGES 12 Srinagar Jammu Attock Rawalpindi Chakwal Gujranwala Pathankot Amritsar Lahore Bhatinda Interception INDIAN SITES HIT BY PAKISTAN PAKISTAN SITES HIT BY INDIA HOW S-400s NEUTRALISED THE ENEMY The Air Force used the Russian-made S-400 missile defence system to obliterate Pakistan’s escalation bid Long-range surveillance radar OPERATIONAL RANGE 400 km 40N6E missile[3] 240 km 200 km 150 km 48N6DM(E3) missile 48N6M(E2) missile 48N6(E) missile Command vehicle 120 km 9M96M(E2) Engagement radar 40 km 9M96 missile Launch vehicle Engagement radar helps guide missiles towards target INDIA REPELS PAKISTAN DRONE BLITZ Swarms of drones and missiles targeting Jammu airport neutralised; bid to bomb parts of Rajasthan, Punjab and J&K blocked; India follows principle of proportionate response F AYA Z W A N I , H A R P R E E T B A J W A , M AYA N K S I N G H @ Srinagar/ Chandigarh/New Delhi TENSIONS between India and Pakistan escalated on Thursday evening after Pakistani drone attacks were reported across parts of Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan. The Indian air defence system responded swiftly, intercepting multiple drones, triggering air raid sirens and enforcing blackouts in border towns. India’s armed forces followed the principle of proportionate response and negated Pakistan’s bid to escalate the conflict. Intense Pakistan shelling from across the border drew a similar response from India. As the tension ratcheted up in the e ve n i n g , U S s e c re t a ry of state Marco Rubio spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and called for “immediate de-escalation”. He offered “support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications,” US state department said. Jaishankar said India “will firmly counter any attempts at escalation”. The chain of events began with Pakistan launching missiles and kamikaze drones targeting the Jammu airport, which also houses the Indian Air Force station, and the civilian areas around it. All missiles and drones were neutralised. Soon after, explosions were reported in Punjab, followed by Pakistani shelling near Pathankot and Kupwara. Moments later, Pakistani drones were seen being intercepted over Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, with visible explosions and flashes lighting up the sky . The situation quickly escalated as civil administrations across northern India moved into action. Hoshiarpur in Pun- jab declared an immediate blackout after loud explosions were heard. “The blackout will continue till further orders,” said Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain, confirming that it was enforced following instructions from Air Force authorities. Amritsar, Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, and parts of Barmer in Rajasthan soon followed with similar blackout orders. Debris believed to be from missiles was recovered from Kumahi Devi village near Hoshiarpur’s Talwara, officials said. “Military stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary in J&K were targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by #IndianArmedForces as per SoP with kinetic & nonkinetic means,” the Army said. The Centre attributed the success to the jointness of the armed forces. Besides, eight missiles from Pakistan directed at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia were neutralised. Similarly, a bid to attack two ammunition depots in Jalandhar, drone attacks at the Pathankot airbase and the Shahpur Kandi dam were thwarted in Punjab. Earlier in the day, India had targeted Pakistani air defence systems, including one in Lahore, in response to overnight drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan. These strikes came just a day after India carried out Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructures in Pakistan, following the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians. In Gujarat’s Kachchh, border villages plunged into darkness following blackouts. Security agencies remained on high alert, and civil defence protocols were rolled out across states bordering Pakistan. MORE REPORTS ON PAGE 7 & 8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting secretaries of various ministries | PTI PM meets top officials, calls for emergency preparedness RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with top officials from various ministries to review national preparedness and inter-ministerial coordination in light of the escalating conflict with Pakistan. According to sources, several key issues were discussed in the meeting, including strengthening of civil defence, combating misinformation and fake news, and securing critical infrastructure. Gates of two dams opened Himachal IPL match called off The gates of two dams in J&K – Salal hydro project in Reasi and Baglihar hydro project in Ramban – were opened on Thursday allowing flow of Chenab water to Pak. Chenab was among the rivers Pak got as part of the Indus Waters Treaty | P8 The IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday was called off midway following a blackout as Pakistani shelling escalated. The stadium was soon evacuated THE Supreme Court on Thursday heavily criticised BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for his “scandalous” remarks, accusing CJI Sanjiv Khanna of being responsible for a “civil war”. It called his remark “highly irresponsible” and reflective of a penchant for attracting attention. However, the SC refused to initiate contempt proceedings against Dubey after hearing a plea filed by a lawyer, Vishal Tiwari. “The statements of Dubey show ignorance about the role of the constitutional courts and the duties and obli- gations bestowed on them under the Constitution. At the same time, we are of the firm opinion that courts are not as fragile as flowers to wither and wilt under such ludicrous statements,” said a two-judge bench, led by CJI Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar. Reprimanding Dubey for his remarks on judiciary the bench added, “We , do not believe that the confidence in and credibility of the courts in the eyes of the public can be shaken by such absurd statements, though it can be said without the shadow of doubt that there is a desire and deliberate attempt to do so.” The Cabinet secretary senior , officials from the prime minister’s office, and secretaries from key ministries including defence, home affairs, external affairs, information & broadcasting, power, health, and telecommunications attended the meeting, sources said. The secretaries were directed to conduct a comprehensive review the operations of their respective ministries and to ensure the fool-proof functioning of essential systems, with particular emphasis on readiness, emergency response, and internal communication protocols. Jaisalmer Phalodi Bikaner Jodhpur Uttarlai Barmer Umerkot’s Chhor Sindh Karachi Bhuj Map not to scale ABHRA Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile ABHRA is a joint development between India’s DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries. It’s a state-of-the-art air defence weapon system, range 70 km, designed to neutralise aerial threats and drones. It is powered by a dual-pulse solid propulsion system The Akash missile system can engage targets up to a range of 25 km. It is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to protect from air attacks. The Akash system has been showcased for its ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously at this range SPYDER air defence system: A workhorse This air defence system includes the Elta EL/M-2106 ATAR radar, which can control missile firing units up to 10 km. It also includes Python-5 infrared missiles of range up to 12 km and Derby radar-guided missiles up to 50 km IGLA-S: Russian portable air defence A Man-Portable Air Defence System that can hit low-flying aircraft, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, and UAVs within a 6 km range Terrorists killed by Indian strikes being given state funeral in Pakistan ‘IC-814 HIJACKING MASTERMIND RAUF AZHAR KILLED’ M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi ABDUL Rauf Azhar, Jaish-eMohammed founder Maulana Masood Azhar’s brother and the terror outfit’s operational head, was killed in India’s airstrikes under Operation Sindoor, officials said on Thursday . The slain terrorist was considered the mastermind of the IC-814 hijacking in 1999 and involved in the 2001 Parliament attack. Terming it major victory, officials said he was killed in the Indian strikes on the Bahawalpur terror hideout early on Wednesday . Masood Azhar acknowledged that 10 members of his family and four of his close associates were killed J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi AS tensions flare between India and Pakistan, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday called for immediate deescalation during a phone conversation with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He also spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister. “The Secretary emphasised the need for immediate de-escalation. He expressed US support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications,” said a statement. Rubio also offered condolences for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed. “The Secretary reiterated his condolences for the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffir med the United States’ commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism.” Responding to the outreach, Jaishankar conveyed India’s firm but restrained approach. “Deeply appreciate US commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism. Un- S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi US CARDINAL, IS ELECTED NEW POPE Robert Francis Prevost became the first pope from the US on Thursday, picking the papal name Leo XIV after cardinals across the world elected him | P9 in India’s precision air strikes on JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur. Those killed included Masood Azhar’s sister and brother-in-law. “Now we have confirmation from our sources in Pakistan that Rauf was killed along with 10 of Masood’s family members and four close associates,” a senior intelligence official said. “Rauf Azhar’s role in orchestrating the IC-814 hijacking directly facilitated the release of Omar Saeed Sheikh, a key Al-Qaeda operative who went on to kidnap and murder Daniel Pearl, an American-Jewish journalist working with the Wall Street Journal,” the official added. Rubio calls for immediate de-escalation Will respond with firm hand, India tells Saudi Arabia, Iran External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that India will respond with a “very, very firm” hand to any military aggression from Pakistan, even as he emphasised New Delhi’s intent to avoid escalation. His remarks came amid diplomatic engagements with Iranian and Saudi ministers Cash-at-house row: CJI recommends Justice Yashwant Varma impeachment PREVOST, Kapurthala INDIA’S AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM AKASH: Mobile surface-to-air missile SC pulls up BJP’s Dubey for ‘highly irresponsible’ remarks E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi THREAT NEUTRALISED Army said military stations of Jammu, Pathankot and Udhampur in proximity to the International Boundary, in Jammu & Kashmir targeted by Pakistan using missiles and drones. No losses. Threat neutralised by #IndianArmedForces as per SoP with kinetic & non-kinetic means PA K I S TA N Ludhiana Jalandhar FOLLOWING the indictment of Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma in the cash discovery row by a Supreme Court-appointed inhouse committee, CJI Sanjiv Khanna on Thursday sent a letter to the Centre recommending his impeachment, sources told this newspaper. The CJI decided to take the step of recommending Justice Varma’s name for impeachment after receiving the report from the in-house committee that indicted him and after he refused to quit the judgeship. A senior official of the top court, speaking on condition of anonymity said, “Justice Varma , is asked to resign following his indictment, but he refuses.” Earlier on Thursday the CJI, , following in-house procedure, wrote to the President and the Prime Minister, enclosing a copy of the three-member committee report of May 3 and the letter/response of May 6 from Justice Varma. The committee appointed, which probed the March 14 cash recovery at Justice Varma’s house, submitted its report to the CJI on May 4. The CJI asked Justice Varma to resign following the indictment by the committee. The committee indicted Justice Varma after analysing the evidence and recorded statements of over 45 people, including Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and the Delhi Fire Service chief. This newspaper tried contacting Justice Varma through calls and messages for his response, but he did not reply . derlined India’s targeted and measured response to crossborder terrorism. Will firmly counter any attempts at escalation,” he said on X. The diplomatic exchange comes amid a sharp military build-up in the region, following India’s Operation Sindoor— a series of precision strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan. In retaliation, Pakistan attempted drone and missile attacks, which were intercepted by Indian air defences. With both countries on high alert, Washington has urged direct communication to avoid further escalation. EXPRESS READ Prez grants prosecution sanction against Lalu President Droupadi Murmu has granted sanction to prosecute RJD chief Lalu Prasad in the money laundering case linked to the railways land-for-jobs scam, officials said on Thursday. Murmu has accorded the permission under the BNSS, they said. Six killed as helicopter carrying pilgrims crashes A helicopter on its way to the Gangotri temple crashed near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district on Thursday, killing six people, including the pilot, and leaving a man seriously injured, officials said. Barring the pilot, who hailed from Gujarat’s Vadodara, the five other deceased were women.