Amid the escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has taken a proactive approach to ensure that India’s national security apparatus remains robust and vigilant. As military confrontations intensify, especially along the border regions and key infrastructure zones, the Union Home Minister held crucial conversations with the top brass of the country's paramilitary forces on May 8, 2025.

Amit Shah personally reached out to Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), Daljit Singh Chaudhary, and the Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to discuss operational preparedness and preventive security measures. This meeting comes at a critical juncture when cross-border tensions have reached alarming levels following Pakistan’s missile and drone strikes targeting various Indian states.

Key Directives Issued

During these strategic consultations, Amit Shah issued clear instructions:

• To the BSF DG, he emphasized the need to fortify the International Border, especially in volatile sectors across Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan, where frequent ceasefire violations and missile intrusions have raised red flags.

• The CISF DG was directed to tighten security at all airports across India, given the increased risk of aerial threats, including drone-based attacks and sabotage attempts.

The Home Minister's initiative reflects an assertive response by the Indian government, demonstrating its preparedness on both the military and civilian protection fronts.

Pakistan’s Escalated Offensive and India’s Response

According to official sources and on-ground reports, Pakistan launched a massive coordinated missile and drone assault on the evening of May 8, 2025, around 8 PM. The attack began in the border areas of Jammu, rapidly expanding to Punjab and Rajasthan. In total, over 100 missiles were fired by Pakistan, including a concentrated barrage of 70 missiles on Jaisalmer, Rajasthan alone.

Despite the aggressive scale of the attack, India’s air defence system performed remarkably, intercepting and neutralizing all incoming drones and missiles in mid-air. The efficiency of the indigenous missile shield systems including Akash, Spyder, and the S-400 Triumf played a critical role in neutralizing the threat.

India's Decisive Counterstrike

India's response to this aggression was swift and calculated. The Indian Air Force retaliated strongly, targeting multiple Pakistani military installations. Defence sources confirm that air defence systems in Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, and Sargodha were completely neutralized. These installations were vital for Pakistan’s air surveillance and ground-based missile interception systems.

In an aerial skirmish that followed, three Pakistani fighter jets were shot down. This included two JF-17 Thunder aircraft and one F-16 fighter jet. One of the Pakistani pilots from a JF-17, which crashed in Lathi, Rajasthan, was captured alive by Indian forces. The identity of the captured pilot is yet to be officially confirmed, but his condition is reported to be stable and he is currently in Indian custody under high security.

Losses on the Pakistani Side

Initial intelligence assessments and visual reconnaissance suggest that Pakistan suffered significant damage in the retaliatory strikes. Apart from the loss of air defence systems and aircraft, several military storage depots and radar systems were also reportedly hit. Unconfirmed reports indicate possible casualties among Pakistani airbase personnel, though official numbers have not yet been released by either side.

India’s retaliatory operations are described by the Defence Ministry as "strategically precise", aimed at neutralizing terrorist infrastructure and military threats without causing civilian casualties. However, with both air and naval forces engaged, and ongoing heavy exchanges along the LoC, the situation remains precariously volatile.

Political and Strategic Implications

Amit Shah's engagement with BSF and CISF heads underscores the Indian government's multi-layered approach in dealing with the crisis — involving both military retaliation and internal security enhancement. Ensuring the protection of civilians, critical infrastructure, and transportation hubs, especially airports and border checkpoints, has now become a top national priority.

Meanwhile, international pressure is mounting, with the United States, United Nations, and European Union urging both nuclear-armed nations to exercise restraint. Diplomatic backchannels are reportedly being used to communicate and avoid further miscalculations that could escalate into a full-scale war.

The United Nations Secretary-General has issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue, highlighting the catastrophic potential of the situation spiralling out of control. The Indian government, however, maintains that its actions are defensive and aimed at protecting national sovereignty and civilian lives.

The Role of Internal Security Forces Going Forward

In light of these developments, the BSF’s role along the border and the CISF’s role in safeguarding civilian establishments have become even more significant. Airport security has been enhanced, with passenger and cargo screening intensified. Surveillance drones and facial recognition technology have also been deployed at major transit hubs.

The BSF has increased its patrolling, especially in sensitive border belts across Punjab and Rajasthan, and night vision monitoring equipment has been activated. Checkpoints have also been reinforced, with additional forces moved to strategic posts.

The Indian government is expected to hold high-level security review meetings in the coming days, with inputs from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, and National Security Council Secretariat. Amit Shah is likely to visit some of the sensitive regions to personally oversee the situation and boost troop morale.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Integrity Belrise Industries, Integrity Infrabuild Developers, Accretion Pharmaceuticals, Wagons Learning.

The Current active IPO are Virtual Galaxy Infotech.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.