As tensions between India and Pakistan remain elevated following the April 22 Pahalgam incident, India’s Home Ministry has announced a nationwide civil defence mock drill scheduled from May 7 to May 9.
The exercises will include air-raid sirens, blackouts, and camouflage of key installations, ostensibly to prepare civilians for wartime scenarios. However, defence experts have raised serious questions about the intent and implications of these drills.
Defence analyst Pravin Sawhney criticized the move, calling it a “joke” and suggesting that the exercises are part of a broader media-driven narrative rather than a reflection of genuine military readiness.
In a recent post, Sawhney pointed out the absence of actual war mobilisation—such as troop movements or operational deployments—which would normally accompany such large-scale drills if there were a credible threat.
He argued that while the mock drills may serve a symbolic purpose, they appear more aimed at fuelling public anxiety and bolstering a political narrative than ensuring practical preparedness.
The timing of the drills, coming shortly after the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives, has further heightened public discourse.
While Indian authorities have blamed Pakistan for the incident without presenting conclusive evidence, Pakistan has categorically denied involvement and called for an international investigation—an offer Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently reiterated in a meeting with the British High Commissioner.
Critics say the drills risk inflaming nationalist sentiment at home without addressing the root causes of regional instability.
