IAF to Hold Major Combat Drills Near India-Pakistan Border; NOTAM Issued

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to conduct a large-scale combat exercise near the southern sector of the India-Pakistan International Border in Rajasthan from Saturday, June 7 to Sunday, June 8, for which a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued.

The drill is part of the IAF's routine operational preparedness and will be held in the airspace close to the border.

According to the NOTAM, the aerial exercise will begin at 3:30 p.m. on June 7 and will conclude by 9:30 p.m. on June 8. During this timeframe, airspace over the designated region will remain restricted to facilitate safe and uninterrupted air operations.

An IAF official confirmed that the exercise will involve a variety of advanced aerial platforms, including frontline fighter aircraft such as Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Sukhoi-30, along with surveillance assets and logistical support systems.

Although the Ministry of Defence has not officially linked the drill to recent geopolitical developments, the timing and location are significant.

The southern border sector has recently come under the spotlight due to heightened tensions following a deadly cross-border terror attack in Pahalgam, which led to reciprocal airspace restrictions by both India and Pakistan.

India had barred Pakistani-registered and military aircraft from entering its airspace between April 30 and May 23, in response to Pakistan’s earlier decision to block Indian flights from its territory — a move that marked a sharp escalation in diplomatic and military friction.

The situation remains fragile along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, where continued ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces have led to strong retaliatory measures from Indian troops.

The upcoming combat drill also comes in the wake of India’s launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, a response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians lost their lives.

With inputs from IANS