Amritsar

A sweeping wave of blackouts across more than 15 Indian cities on Thursday evening, including Chandigarh, Amritsar, Pathankot, and Srinagar, marked a sharp escalation in Indo-Pak tensions following cross-border drone and missile attacks. Pakistan’s attempted strikes on Indian military installations prompted immediate retaliation and enhanced defensive posturing by Indian forces. Civilian areas were urged to switch off lights and stay indoors amid sirens and emergency alerts.

In response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, India’s government announced a series of retaliatory measures, including the shutdown of the Attari land-transit post. This decision, coupled with the expulsion of Pakistani military attaches and the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, has received strong backing from Amritsar’s business and trade community. Local traders, including those in the dry fruit sector, have voiced unwavering support for the government’s actions, emphasizing national security over cross-border trade.