For the first time in over half a century, India has ordered widespread civil defense drills as it prepares for potential escalation with Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir. The Indian Home Ministry announced on May 5 that several states would conduct comprehensive mock security exercises on May 7, reflecting a growing sense of urgency within the government to enhance preparedness among civilians in the event of a hostile attack.

The civil defense measures are sweeping in scope. They include the use of air raid warning sirens, crash blackouts to conceal targets from aerial threats, and emergency evacuation drills. Civilians, including school students, will be trained on protective protocols designed to minimize casualties and maintain order during emergencies. Authorities have also ordered the camouflage of critical infrastructure to reduce their visibility to potential attackers.

These drills mark the first time since 1971-during the Bangladesh Liberation War-that India has held nationwide civil defense exercises. The decision underscores the severity of the current situation, as tensions between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed neighbors, reach their highest point in years.

The immediate trigger for the heightened state of alert was the April 22 terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam in India’s Jammu and Kashmir union territory. The attack claimed 26 civilian lives, sending shockwaves throughout the country and hardening India’s resolve to respond decisively. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the aftermath of the tragedy,

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