At least 10 satellites are operating round the clock for strategic purposes to ensure the safety and security of Indian citizens, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan informed citizens on Sunday.
Addressing the 5th convocation ceremony of the Central Agricultural University (CAU) in Imphal, Narayanan highlighted the critical role of India’s satellite network in maintaining national security amid escalating tensions with Pakistan.
"At least 10 satellites are continuously working round-the-clock for the strategic purpose to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the country," the ISRO chief said.
He stressed the importance of monitoring India’s extensive maritime borders and northern frontiers to safeguard the nation.
"You all know about our neighbours. If we have to ensure the safety of our country, we have to serve through our satellites. We have to monitor our 7,000 km seashore areas. We have to monitor the entire Northern part continuously. Without satellite and drone technology, we can't achieve that," Narayanan said.
His remarks come amid ongoing hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) following recent cross-border strikes and intense military exchanges.
According to the Indian Army, the intervening night of May 11 and May 12 marked the first calm period in recent days, following several nights of shelling and drone intrusions along the northern and western borders. The Army reported that no violations of the cessation of hostilities were observed, offering a brief respite after a week of intense exchanges.
The Indian Armed Forces have been on high alert since launching Operation Sindoor on May 7, a series of precision strikes targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. The strikes dismantled several key terror camps and significantly degraded the operational capacity of Pakistan-based militants.
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For the past few days, border regions in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Gujarat have been targeted by heavy Pakistani shelling and drone incursions aimed at disrupting peace. However, Indian air defence systems have reportedly neutralised the majority of these attempts.
In a joint press conference on Sunday, Lieutenant General Rajeev Ghai, Director General Military Operations, Vice Admiral A N Pramod, Director General Naval Operations, and Air Marshal A K Bharti, Director General Air Operations, outlined the significant outcomes of Operation Sindoor.
Lieutenant General Ghai recounted his conversation with his Pakistani counterpart, which led to the temporary cessation of hostilities. "My communication with the Pak DGMO was conducted at 15:35 hrs yesterday and resulted in cessation of cross-border firing and air intrusions by either side with effect from 17:00 hrs, May 10, after he proposed that we cease hostilities. We also decided to further speak on May 12 at 12:00 hrs to discuss the modalities that would enable the longevity of this understanding," Ghai told reporters.
However, Ghai noted that the ceasefire was quickly violated by Pakistan, resulting in further cross-border shelling and drone incursions. "However, disappointingly, expectedly, it took only a couple of hours for the Pakistan Army to violate these arrangements by cross-border and across the Line of Control (LoC) firing, followed by drone intrusions last night and in the early hours of today. These violations were responded to robustly," he added.
Operation Sindoor was launched as a decisive response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead. The operation targeted nine key terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK, significantly degrading militant capabilities and disrupting logistical networks.
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