Rajasthan Seals Borders with Pakistan, Punjab Police Cancels Leaves Amid Escalating Tensions
Jaipur/Amritsar, India – May 8, 2025
Rajasthan has sealed its borders with Pakistan, and Punjab Police have canceled all officer leaves in response to heightened tensions following India’s “Operation Sindoor,” a retaliatory strike on terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province. The operation, launched early Wednesday, May 7, was India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. The moves signal a state of high alert across India’s northwestern frontier as fears of further escalation with Pakistan grow.
According to posts on X and reports from NDTV, Rajasthan’s border districts, including Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Kishangarh, and Jodhpur, have been placed under strict security measures. Schools in these areas have been shut, and airports in western Rajasthan, such as Jodhpur, are on high alert. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma held a critical meeting with Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant, Director General of Police U.R. Sahu, and other senior officials to issue directives for border districts. The state police have also canceled leaves for all personnel, with officers ordered to report to headquarters immediately, as per a post by @AnkitVrmaa on X.
In Punjab, the police force has taken similar measures, canceling all leaves until further notice to ensure full deployment amid the crisis. This follows the complete closure of the Attari-Wagah border crossing on May 1, after Pakistan refused to allow its nationals to return, leaving dozens stranded. The Punjab Police’s heightened readiness is part of a broader effort to secure the state’s 553-km border with Pakistan, which has been a flashpoint for cross-border tensions.
The sealing of Rajasthan’s 1,048-km border with Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces aims to curb potential infiltration and smuggling, issues that have plagued the region. A Times of India report from July 2024 noted that Rajasthan has become a primary entry point for narcotics smuggled via drones from Pakistan, with over 48 kg of heroin seized in recent months. The state’s border security has been bolstered with new police stations, checkposts, CCTV installations, and anti-drone systems, as outlined by Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant in a recent committee meeting.
India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror sites, has drawn a sharp response from Pakistan. Pakistan Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry reported 31 deaths and 57 injuries in the strikes, prompting Pakistan to authorize a military response. This has raised global concerns, with U.S. President Donald Trump offering mediation, stating, “If I could do anything to help, I will be there,” according to NDTV.
The situation remains volatile, with both states on edge. Rajasthan’s border sealing and Punjab’s police mobilization reflect India’s resolve to strengthen security, but the risk of retaliation looms large. International calls for de-escalation continue, as the India-Pakistan border—described by Foreign Policy in 2011 as one of the world’s most dangerous—faces another test of stability.
Sources: NDTV (,), Times of India (), X posts (@ndtv, @WIONews, @YSJFansCampaign, @thefirstindia, @AnkitVrmaa, @Bharat24Liv, @Onmanorama) (,,,,,,,)