India was on high alert yesterday fearing a Pakistani backlash after its military carried out surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC).
Amid anger in India over a recent deadly assault on one of its army bases in Kashmir, officials said troops had conducted "surgical strikes" several kilometres inside the Pakistan-controlled side of the disputed territory to prevent attacks being planned on major Indian cities.
The strikes aimed at "neutralising the terrorists" had caused "multiple casualties", according to Indian officials.
As the tensions escalated, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reviewed his country's defence preparedness, holding talks with army chief Raheel Sharif and other top aides.
Raheel apprised the premier over the firing incidents at the LoC, the sources said, adding that the army chief told him that Indian claims of surgical strikes were "baseless". Sharif told the army chief that the entire nation had high morale and was committed to defend the motherland along with the armed forces.
Reports said Sharif has shown satisfaction on the level of preparedness of Pakistani armed forces to match any "provocation" by Indian security forces.
In India, Officials said the Border Security Force (BSF) has issued orders to all its units along international border in Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat to step up vigil and bolster their numbers at the posts by bringing in all personnel who are in the reserve.
The ceremonial beating retreat ceremony at Attari border has also been closed for public yesterday, officials said.
People living within 10km of the border with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have been asked to shift to safer places and schools ordered to be shut till further notice in the wake of surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army across the LoC.
Stepping up India's diplomatic offensive, foreign secretary S Jaishankar yesterday met envoys of 22 countries, including five permamanet members of the United Nations Security Council, and briefed them about the surgical strikes.
To mount international pressure on Pakistan, India has already opted out of the Saarc summit, which was to be held in Islamabad. After India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also followed suit, leading to postponement of the Saarc summit.
Meanwhile, Union home minister Rajnath Singh briefed leaders of major political parties on the situation. Singh chaired the hurriedly called all-party meet after DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh announced that surgical strike on terror launch pads were conducted last night.