NEW DELHI, India: India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a major tri-services military exercise, named Exercise Trishul, to be conducted along its western border with Pakistan from October 30 to November 10, 2025.
According to Indian media reports and satellite imagery, airspace up to 28,000 feet has been reserved for the drills, which will involve coordinated operations by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The Indian Ministry of Defence has stated that the drill will involve the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force in coordinated offensive manoeuvres. The exercise will also incorporate multi-domain operations in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare and cyber capabilities, according to Indian media.
The chosen operational zone — from the marshy region of the Sir Creek area in Gujarat through desert zones towards Rajasthan — is “unusual” in both scope and location for such a large-scale exercise.
India has issued a notification for a Tri-Services Exercise along its western border with Pakistan, the chosen area & scale of activity are unusual
Date | 30 October- 10 November 2025 pic.twitter.com/IsDdLs0x0k
— Damien Symon (@detresfa_) October 24, 2025
Regional context and Pakistan, India tensions
The announcement comes in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this year. In April 2025, a militant attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir killed 26 people.
India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the attack without presenting any evidence. Pakistan condemned the attack and strongly rejected the Indian allegations as baseless. Pakistan had also repeatedly offered to conduct a neutral and independent international investigation into the incident. However, India failed to respond to Pakistan’s offer and continued with its aggressive posture.
On 7 May, India launched unprovoked aggression against Pakistan, targeting civilian infrastructure in Kashmir and Punjab. Pakistan responded with full force and caused heavy losses to the Indian military.
Pakistan also claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales. Many international experts have backed Pakistan’s claim of shooting down Indian fighter jets. However, New Delhi had maintained official silence on its losses.
In its aftermath, Pakistan’s military announced that 40 civilians — including women and children — and 11 Pakistani servicemen were killed during a four-day confrontation. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan never contemplated a nuclear response but affirmed its conventional forces were prepared.
