IAF Launches High-Intensity Exercise Along Pakistan Border Amid Tensions

In a show of strength and strategic preparedness, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is launching a three-day war exercise from July 23 to 25 along the Pakistan border in Rajasthan. The operations are concentrated near Jodhpur and Barmer, key forward airbases located close to the Line of Control.

The IAF has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting civilian access to airspace in these regions, signalling the commencement of a high-intensity military drill. The exercise comes at a time when Pakistan is also conducting its military manoeuvres and has similarly issued NOTAMs, raising regional alert levels on both sides of the border.

Fighter Jets, Drones, and SEAD/DEAD Operations on Display

This drill will involve a full spectrum of air assets, including fighter aircraft, combat helicopters, surveillance planes, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). While the IAF has not released official details, defence sources suggest that the drill will focus on SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences) and DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defences) tactics—critical capabilities designed to neutralise adversary radar and missile systems.

These operations are increasingly important given the deployment of Chinese-origin air defence systems in Pakistan, including the HQ-9 and LY-80 surface-to-air missiles. These platforms were reportedly targeted and destroyed by Indian anti-radiation drones during Operation Sindoor in May this year, a mission aimed at crippling terror infrastructure and Pakistan’s radar network.

Pakistan on Edge After US Blacklists TRF

The timing of the IAF’s exercise is also significant given recent geopolitical developments. Just days ago, the United States officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) proxy that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, as a global terrorist organisation.

The US labelled TRF as a direct front of Lashkar-e-Taiba and cited its operational and ideological ties with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Pahalgam attack was the deadliest in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks and has reignited international scrutiny of Pakistan’s terror ecosystem.

Amid fears of a retaliatory strike from India following the designation of the TRF, Pakistan has issued airspace restrictions across multiple sectors, from July 16 to 23 in the central zone and from July 22 to 23 in the southern corridor. Speculation is rife that Pakistan could use the pretext of a military exercise to test ballistic or cruise missiles.

China’s Deepening Military Support to Pakistan

Fuelling further tensions, reports have emerged of Chinese military cargo aircraft recently landing in Pakistan, sparking concerns about fresh arms transfers. Defence analysts believe China has supplied new weaponry and radar systems to bolster Pakistan’s depleted air defences, many of which were neutralised during India’s cross-border strikes in May.

The renewed military cooperation appears to be part of a broader strategy by Beijing and Islamabad to counterbalance India’s growing strategic footprint in the region.

ISI’s New Front: Lashkar Rebrands, Shifts Bases

According to intelligence inputs, Pakistan’s ISI has directed Lashkar-e-Taiba to shift its operational base from Muridke to Bahawalpur, likely to create the illusion of dismantling the group amid global pressure. During Operation Sindoor, Indian strikes reportedly targeted Lashkar’s command infrastructure in both locations, causing significant damage.

There is also evidence that ISI is attempting to rebrand Lashkar under a new identity, much like the post-26/11 transformation into Jamaat-ud-Dawa after Lashkar was banned globally. Posters and activity in Bahawalpur suggest Lashkar remains operational despite efforts to mask its presence.

A Strategic Show of Force

As both India and Pakistan reinforce their military postures, the skies over Rajasthan are once again becoming a stage for high-stakes manoeuvring, with implications far beyond the subcontinent.

Huma Siddiqui