Samba (Jammu and Kashmir): Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s uncompromising stance against cross-border terrorism, residents of Samba’s border villages in Jammu and Kashmir remain on edge, citing continued aggression from Pakistan, including drone-borne explosives and shelling.
On Monday evening, multiple residents in Samba district reported explosions and red streaks in the sky—suspected Pakistani drones intercepted by India’s air defence systems. While Army sources maintained the number of drones was small and being actively engaged, locals voiced alarm over the fragile ceasefire.
Fear Grips Border Villages
Dalbeer Singh, a resident of the affected area, described the scene:
“We were clueless last night, but we heard noises. We saw in the morning that this had happened… The police came later and took stock. There is an environment of fear.”
Another local, Krishan Chand, said the blast shook the village:
“We were sitting outside. We ran inside our house after the blast. The kitchen and the roof were damaged while women were cooking. The government must act—Pakistan is not respecting the ceasefire.”
A third villager, Prakar Singh, said:
“When the drone firing happened, I was trying to calm my kids. There is panic because we don’t know what might happen next.”
PM Modi Reaffirms India’s Policy on Terrorism
The incident comes just as Prime Minister Modi made a stern declaration against Pakistan’s continued support to terror.
In his address to the nation, PM Modi stated:
“Terror and talks, terror and trade—both cannot go together.”
He referenced surgical strikes (2016), the Balakot air strike (2019), and the recent Operation Sindoor (May 2025) in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, describing it as part of India’s clear and firm anti-terror policy.
Further emphasizing this, Modi mentioned that India has put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, a landmark decision meant to send a diplomatic and strategic signal to Pakistan.
“Water and blood cannot flow together,” the PM said.
Ongoing Military Engagement
While India and Pakistan recently engaged in DGMO-level talks to de-escalate tensions, the ground reality in villages like Samba paints a different picture.
Army officials reported Pakistani violations of ceasefire terms within hours of the May 10 understanding. Drone intrusions and cross-border firing have since resumed, prompting India’s military to remain on high alert.
As investigations continue and drone fragments are examined, local residents are urging the government to ensure their safety, saying life near the border remains unpredictable and dangerous.