Soldier dies after debris from intercepted Pak drone hits him at Udhampur Air Base
A soldier was killed when he was hit by a fragment of a Pakistani drone, which was successfully intercepted by the Army Air Defence at an air base in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Saturday, officials said.India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire along the Line of Control and International Border on Saturday. Tension between India and Pakistan soared after the Indian Armed Forces hit terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) last week in response to the Pahalgam attack.advertisementThe solider was on duty at the Udhampur air base, which came under Pakistani drone attack on Saturday.
The Indian Air Defence successfully intercepted the drones in the air, but a jawan was hit by a fallen debris resulting in critical injuries to him, the officials said, adding that he later succumbed to his injuries.Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma paid rich tributes to the soldier and expressed sympathies with his family.'The news of the martyrdom of Shri Surendra Singh Moga ji, a son of Rajasthan, a resident of Jhunjhunu, a soldier of the Indian Army, who attained martyrdom at Udhampur Air Base while performing his duty of national security is extremely sad,' he wrote on X.Tune InMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#India-Pakistan#Pakistan#Operation Sindoor
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India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Shehbaz Sharif is right. Pakistan has an elite-problem
Years after then-Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the nation was a victim of "elite capture" in 2021, his successor and political rival, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, now appears to agree with that. Ahead of the presentation of Pakistan's annual budget on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sharif questioned the extent of the "elite's contribution" to the national Pakistani economist Kaiser Bengali has long argued, the country's economic distress, political dysfunction, and social decay can be traced back to its entrenched elites. The real problem of the Islamic Republic is its privileged gentry, with the all-powerful, Army-led Establishment at the it's this elite capture of Pakistan which has pushed the country onto the metaphorical ventilator where it's barely surviving on bailouts and donations. Ironic, isn't it? Just before the budget, Sharif took aim at the elites, only for the same budget to hand a 20% hike to defence spending, presumably with a nod from the elite army brass. But then, Pakistan has been a nation of DID SHEHBAZ SHARIF SAY ABOUT PAK'S ELITES?On Tuesday, ahead of the FY26 budget presentation, Shehbaz Sharif questioned the contributions made to the national exchequer by the country's economic elite."The sacrifices the common man has made, the burden the salaried class has borne in the previous budget. They say 'we are salaried [class] but still gave Rs 400 billion to the treasury. What have the elite and the wealthy groups contributed compared to us?'," said Sharif, who belongs to a wealthy family of industrialists from is a question that the elite, including me, have to answer," he Sharif's speech sounded optimistic on the surface, beneath it ran a clear undercurrent of frustration with a system where the privileged few evade fiscal has left the salaried and lower-income groups to shoulder the burden of economic reforms tied to the billions of dollars Islamabad is seeking from various institutions, including the ARE PAKISTANI ELITES, HOW PAKISTAN ARMY MILKS THE ELITE TAGPakistan's elite class is a complex nexus of wealthy industrialists, feudal landlords, politicians, senior bureaucrats, judiciary members, and, most significantly, the military establishment, which calls the shots elite problem can be traced back to the failure to implement meaningful land reforms after Partition, which allowed feudal landlords to retain control over vast resources and political power. This entrenched dominance later merged with military and bureaucratic elites, creating a powerful nexus that continues to resist structural change and equitable economic in Pakistan are the top 1% who control the country's wealth and earn an annual revenue of at least $100 million, a definition offered by political scientist Rosita Armytage in her 2020 book, Big Capital in an Unequal World: The Micropolitics of Wealth in in Pakistan, accurately assessing the income and assets of individuals and families is challenging, given that much of the economy is informal and wealth is often moved overseas, which is also facilitated by dual citizenship provisions Pakistan Army, which is a state within a state, holds unparalleled influence over the country's political, economic, and social spheres. The military's elite status is reinforced by its vast economic empire, which includes businesses, real estate, and stakes in industries ranging from cement to agriculture through entities like the Fauji Foundation and Army Welfare fascination with 'protocol' in Pakistan, (official courtesies, privileges, and security arrangements) is also part of the ruling elite, including politicians, civil and military bureaucracy, and their allies, benefit from subsidies and privileges worth approximately $17.4 billion annually, according to a 2021 UNDP include tax breaks, free housing, luxury vehicles, subsidised utilities, and prime land allotments. The military, in particular, enjoys significant perks, with senior officers receiving generous pensions, plots of land, and access to exclusive army's economic dominance distorts Pakistan's resource allocation, and prioritises defence over critical sectors like education and health, which have even received less than 1% of GDP THE ELITE PROBLEM IMPACTS PAKISTANThe Pakistani elite's disproportionate control over resources has exacerbated Pakistan's economic and social crises. The country's tax-to-GDP ratio, currently at 10.6%, is among the lowest in the region, with the government aiming for 14% to meet IMF loan tax-to-GDP ratio measures how much tax a country collects compared to the size of its elites, including feudal landlords and industrialists, often evade taxes through loopholes or political influence, leaving the salaried class and poor to shoulder the fiscal burden. For instance, agriculture, dominated by powerful landlords, remains largely untaxed, despite contributing significantly to GDP."The rich can still live luxurious lives in poorer countries, but the situation for the poor masses is becoming increasingly intolerable. Such is the situation in Pakistan today," political scientist and international development expert Syed Mohammad Ali wrote in an 2024 editorial piece in the Karachi-based The Express argued that institutions such as the World Bank and IMF have facilitated elite capture in developing elite problem has also perpetuated the economic dependency of himself admitted earlier this month that Pakistan's allies, including China and Saudi Arabia, no longer expect Islamabad to approach them with a "begging bowl" but to engage in trade and innovation. Yet, Pakistan's reliance on bailouts and failure to curb elite privileges, such as the billions of dollars in annual subsidies for the richest 1%, hinders same elites collectively own 9% of the country's overall income, while the feudal land-owning class, which makes up just 1.1% of the population, owns 22% of all arable the dire economic indicators and repeated bailouts, Pakistan's ruling elite, civil, military, and corporate, remain unwilling to loosen their grip. Islamabad's refusal to confront elite dominance, particularly the military's unchecked economic and political power, lies at the heart of Pakistan's persistent crises and its failure to chart a sustainable future, underlined Salman Rafi Sheikh, a scholar from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).Economist Kaiser Bengali, who was tasked with recommending structural reforms, and suggested abolishing 17 divisions and 50 departments, had to resign in a few months, after he saw the Sharif government going against the Sharif's critique of Pakistan's elites may not be rare, but is at least an acknowledgement of the systemic issue that has long undermined the country's stability. Pakistan's FY26 budget's prioritisation of defence spending over social welfare suggests that Sharif's admission may not be followed by meaningful InMust Watch
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
After Operation Sindoor exposed Pakistan, why is Islamabad turning to German defence?
After India's Operation Sindoor exposed Pakistan's air defence gaps and Chinese weapons failed to deliver, Islamabad is now eyeing Germany's IRIS-T missile system to counter India's BrahMos. Despite economic distress, the country is prioritising defence upgrades. Why does Germany's system appeal to Pakistan? read more People walk past a cut-out of BrahMos missile as they arrive to attend the roadshow of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad, India, May 26, 2025. File Image/Reuters In the aftermath of India's assertive military response, Pakistan is reassessing its air defence capabilities. Operation Sindoor, conducted from 7 to 10 May 2025, demonstrated the effectiveness of the Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missile in penetrating and crippling existing Pakistani air defence infrastructure. With India's supersonic precision-strike capabilities now proven in operational settings, Pakistan has turned its attention to advanced Western systems — particularly Germany's IRIS-T SLM — hoping to neutralise future threats from weapons like the BrahMos. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The BrahMos not only exposed the vulnerabilities in Pakistan's Comprehensive Layered Integrated Air Defence (CLIAD), but also left 11 out of 13 of Pakistan's Air Force bases compromised. The missile, with speeds reaching up to Mach 3 and a range between 450 to 800 km, overwhelmed Pakistan's Chinese-supplied HQ-9B and HQ-16 missile defence systems. The accuracy and velocity of BrahMos, combined with its stealth and low radar cross-section, made it a particularly difficult target. In this context, Islamabad is now reportedly evaluating two advanced air defence options — the German-developed IRIS-T and the Italian CAMM-ER. However, Pakistan is showing a clear tilt towards the IRIS-T system, manufactured by Diehl Defence, which has seen operational success in Ukraine against Russian cruise missiles. Why does Pakistan want Germany's IRIS-T? The IRIS-T (InfraRed Imaging System – Tail/Thrust Vector Controlled), particularly its surface-launched medium-range version IRIS-T SLM, has garnered attention for its ability to tackle fast-moving cruise missiles and drones. The SLM variant offers a maximum engagement range of 40 km and can target threats up to 20 km in altitude. Reports from the Ukrainian frontlines suggest that the system successfully intercepted over 60 aerial targets — including missiles similar to India's BrahMos — since its deployment began in October 2022. Originally designed for Egypt, the IRIS-T SLM batteries were partly redirected to Ukraine during the ongoing conflict, where they have been used to counter Russian P-800 Oniks missiles — an earlier technological sibling of the BrahMos. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukrainian officials revealed that in one engagement, the IRIS-T system intercepted eight Russian cruise missiles in just 30 seconds, safeguarding critical infrastructure from damage. According to the Indian Defence Research Wing, the Oniks, like the BrahMos, flies at low altitudes at high speeds, making it a difficult target. Though the interception rate of the Oniks remains in single digits, the IRIS-T's relative success has reportedly impressed Pakistani military planners. Each IRIS-T SLM unit comprises a radar, command and control centre, and a set of launchers, all mounted on compact frames for swift deployment. The entire system is modular and transportable, enhancing battlefield flexibility. At an estimated cost of €178–200 million per battery, the system is expensive, but its proven performance and adaptability make it appealing to Islamabad, which is racing to upgrade its defences despite significant economic pressures. Can Pakistan afford German defence? Despite being in the midst of a fiscal crisis, Pakistan has sharply raised its defence expenditure. This year, the defence budget was increased by almost 20 per cent, even as development projects worth 1,000 billion Pakistani rupees were shelved. In the same time frame, Islamabad secured nearly $1.8 billion in financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Criticism has followed. New Delhi raised objections to Islamabad's rising military spending while continuing to receive international loans, pointing out that 'the loan amount would be used for terror financing rather than their intended use for development.' One complicating factor is Diehl Defence's existing collaboration with India. The company, along with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, is involved in supplying the Interactive Defence and Attack System (IDAS) for India's Rs 70,000 crore Project 75I submarine initiative. If Germany chooses to proceed with arms sales to Pakistan, it could trigger diplomatic friction with New Delhi, which may view it as undermining India's strategic edge. Nevertheless, Germany and Pakistan have a history of defence and economic cooperation. The 2011 Pak-Germany Strategic Dialogue and a bilateral trade volume of €3.3 billion in 2023 form the backdrop for discreet German outreach to Islamabad through the European Security and Stability Initiative (ESSI). Why is Islamabad leaning towards Germany? While Italy's CAMM-ER system, developed by MBDA, is also under consideration by Pakistan, it appears to fall short in key operational parameters when compared to the IRIS-T. The CAMM-ER has a maximum range of 45 km and is designed to engage aircraft and cruise missiles at altitudes up to 20 km. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It uses a 'fire-and-forget' guidance system with a two-way datalink for mid-course correction, making it robust against electronic jamming. According to Resonant News, Its vertical launch capability reduces thermal signatures, offering a level of survivability. However, the CAMM-ER's interception capabilities may be insufficient against the BrahMos's supersonic speed and sea-skimming trajectory. While more affordable and compatible with Nato-standard systems, the Italian system has not undergone the same level of combat testing as the IRIS-T, particularly against missiles sharing the BrahMos' performance envelope. Moreover, geopolitical alignment plays a role. Italy's close ties with Nato and a stronger relationship with India could complicate any direct sale of CAMM-ER systems to Pakistan. In contrast, Germany's strategic balancing and economic focus are seen as more conducive to defence dealings with Islamabad. There are also reports that Pakistan might explore options to locally produce or assemble the IRIS-T system, which could alleviate stockpile concerns and potentially lower long-term costs. Why does Pakistan think it is a necessary move? For Pakistan, acquiring a robust, modular, and combat-proven system like the IRIS-T is not just about replacing obsolete defences — it's about restoring deterrence in the face of India's growing missile capabilities. India's deployment of the BrahMos Extended-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (BrahMos-ER LACM) has significantly altered the regional power dynamic. With a range now extended to 450 km and beyond, and with pinpoint accuracy of under one metre, the BrahMos has emerged as a cornerstone of India's offensive capability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indian Army's Brahmos missile system showcased at New Delhi, India. File Image/AFP Pakistan's military establishment sees the IRIS-T SLM as one of the few systems capable of responding to this threat. Its infrared seeker and thrust-vector control allow for agile interceptions of fast, evasive threats. Its multi-layered variants (SLS, SLM, SLX) offer integration options with Pakistan's Chinese and Western air defence components, giving Islamabad the flexibility it seeks. However, acquisition comes with both strategic and financial risks. Each system would only cover a limited area, necessitating multiple deployments to safeguard key military and civilian infrastructure. Even if deployed, the IRIS-T's 40 km range would still require supplementary systems — such as the longer-range HQ-9B — to offer a more comprehensive shield. And yet, in the current post-Sindoor landscape, it appears that Pakistan is prioritising its defence over its growing economic crisis. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
News18
an hour ago
- News18
India Thwarted 2 Lakh Pakistani Cyber Attacks On Power Infra During Op Sindoor, Says Khattar
Last Updated: Khattar He pointed out India's strong hydropower potential in J&K, particularly on the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, and said the govt is actively exploring new projects in the region India thwarted 2 lakh cyber attacks by Pakistan on the nation's power infrastructure during Operation Sindoor, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Thursday. 'We saw what happened during Operation Sindoor — our power infrastructure was targeted. Around two lakh cyber attacks were attempted, but we successfully foiled them all," said Khattar, who holds the Union Power Ministry portfolio. In Operation Sindoor, India carried out precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK on May 7, two weeks after the deadly Pahalgam attack, where 26 people lost their lives. Pakistan retaliated by launching drones and missiles that were shot down by India's air defence system. The conflict went on three days in which India inflicted heavy damage to Pakistan military installations and airbases until the ceasefire was announced on May 10. Highlighting that India has kept the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, the minister said Pakistan will feel the impact of this move. He pointed out India's strong hydropower potential in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly on the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, and said the government is actively exploring new hydroelectric projects in the region. When asked about Pakistan's objections to new hydropower projects, Khattar said, 'Let Pakistan do whatever it wants — we have already responded to them. Earlier, we had left the Wullar project due to their objections. Now, we will restart that project and issue a Detailed Project Report (DPR) soon." He also remarked that Article 370 had long acted as a barrier to the region's development, and praised Prime Minister Modi for working hard to bring progress across various sectors in Jammu and Kashmir. First Published: June 12, 2025, 13:47 IST
