Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has on Saturday called a meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA) in the wake of escalating hostilities with India.
The move, reported by news agency Reuters, comes just hours after Pakistan launched a coordinated military strike targeting multiple Indian bases.
The National Command Authority is Pakistan’s apex decision-making body on national security and nuclear matters, responsible for formulating and controlling the country’s nuclear policy.
The high-level meeting is expected to discuss the ongoing conflict and potential nuclear postures, signalling a sharp escalation in the standoff between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
The latest flare-up was triggered by Pakistan firing a long-range missile aimed at a strategic Indian location, which was intercepted and destroyed by India’s advanced air defence systems in the Western Sector, according to government sources. In a swift and forceful response, India retaliated overnight, targeting 26 Pakistani sites with precision missile and drone strikes, stretching from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat.
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Four key Pakistani airbases, including Noor Khan in Rawalpindi, Murid in Chakwal, and Rafiqui in Shorkot, were hit, reportedly inflicting significant damage on military assets. The Ministry of Defence said critical Indian infrastructure, including airports and airbases, remained secure, protected by India’s robust air defence network, including S-400 and Akashteer units.
Indian forces also targeted several Pakistani military posts and terror launch pads near the Jammu region, allegedly being used for launching drones into Indian territory. Heavy shelling was reported at dawn in Naushera, accompanied by loud explosions and intense artillery fire.
As tensions continue to mount, India has activated its surface-to-air missile systems in Srinagar and surrounding areas, anticipating further aerial threats. Civilian air traffic has also been severely impacted, with Pakistan closing its airspace until noon on Saturday. India’s Airports Authority has issued NOTAMs suspending operations at 32 airports until May 14.
Meanwhile, casualties are mounting on both sides. In Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri, Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thappa was killed when Pakistani shelling hit his residence. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his condolences, describing it as “devastating news”.
The current crisis traces its origins to India’s precision strikes earlier this week on terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These strikes were in retaliation for the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead.
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