How Indian stock exchanges, BSE and NSE, took preventive measures after Operation Sindoor

Leading stock exchanges BSE and NSE implemented precautionary measures by restricting access to their websites for international users after India's missile and drone strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under 'Operation Sindoor', PTI reported on Wednesday, citing people aware of the matter.

"BSE, being a critical market infrastructure institution (MII), proactively and continuously monitors risks at domestic and international levels for potential cyber threats," PTI quoted a BSE spokesperson as saying.

"Based on such monitoring of cyber traffic, as a precautionary and protective measure, websites and locations are blocked to protect users and systems. The monitoring is dynamic, and access is restored on a case-by-case basis, subject to an assessment of the threat," the spokesperson added.

The measures come amid heightened tensions following India's 25-minute-long "measured and non-escalatory" strikes early Wednesday, targeting nine terrorist facilities, including those of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

The operation, conducted between 1:05 am and 1:30 am, neutralised targets in Muridke, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Barnala, and Muzaffarabad with "clinical efficiency," military officials said.

Despite the heightened tensions, the benchmark stock indices closed higher in a volatile session. The BSE Sensex gained 105.71 points to settle at 80,746.78, while the NSE Nifty rose 34.80 points to 24,414.40.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the strikes as "proportionate" and in line with the UN Security Council's stance on holding perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of the Pahalgam attack accountable.

The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure to "deter and pre-empt" further attacks, with no Pakistani military facilities hit, the defence ministry said.

JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar confirmed the deaths of 10 family members and four associates in Bahawalpur. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted Islamabad's right to a "befitting reply," while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed readiness to de-escalate if India reciprocates.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval briefed counterparts in the US, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE on the operation.