Nuclear signalling to ceasefire: Misri addresses Oppn queries in Parliamentary panel meet
India's Foreign Secretary revealed to the Parliamentary Standing Committee that the recent conflict with Pakistan was limited to conventional warfare and there was no nuclear threat. The ceasefire was a mutual decision and the US was not involved. Opposition members questioned India's actions against the terrorists. Misri also admitted that Pakistan was not informed before Operation Sindoor.
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Hans India
38 minutes ago
- Hans India
Pakistani army acts as custodian of ideologies, religion: Former diplomat DP Srivastava
Former Indian diplomat D.P. Srivastava stated that Pakistan's Army challenges the concept of sovereignty by acting as a custodian of ideologies and religion, rather than focusing on national frontiers like the military forces of other nations. Srivastava also slammed the radical Islamist ideology in Pakistan, which pits the nation against its neighbouring countries, including India. In an interview with IANS, the former diplomat also talked about Pakistani Army's Field Marshal General Asim Munir's April 16 speech, just days before the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 innocent people lost their lives at the hands of terrorists belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. He hailed Operation Sindoor and said that it reflected a major shift in India's security doctrine. He also commented on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's G7 invite. The following are the excerpts from the interview: IANS: Could you tell us something about your book "Pakistan -- Ideologies, Strategies and Interests"? D.P. Srivastava: My postings took me to Karachi, Pakistan, and the early 1990s. I dealt with Pakistan, among other issues, in the UN division of the Ministry of External Affairs for eight years in the '90s, and during this, I dealt with Kashmir talks to the Pokhran nuclear test and Kargil. The inspiration for the book came from my posting to Karachi, where I heard the phrase 'Nazaria-e-Pakistan', which means the ideology of Pakistan. This is the very phrase used by Gen Munir, who mentioned this in his speech on April 16, days before the Pahalgam terror attack. My book traces the interpretation of ideology and elite interest in the making of Pakistan's domestic and foreign policy. IANS: What is the ideology of Pakistan? Gen Asim Munir mentioned "superior ideology" and the two-nation theory in his speech on April 16. What is this ideology? D.P. Srivastava: The ideology of Pakistan remains vague due to various influential factors within the country. In 1972, two provincial governments were dismissed, and the principal opposition party, the National Awami Party, was banned after the Supreme Court of Pakistan stated that the party was contrary to the ideology of Pakistan. Notably, this occurred before the formation of the country's new constitution, indicating that the ideology preceded the Constitution in Pakistan. There are different views of what this ideology is. Iqbal, who is known as the best explainer of Pakistani ideology, said that in Islam, religion and state are integral to each other, so he ruled out the idea of secularism, and he also opposed the idea of nationalism. Iqbal also stressed the concept of Umma, which is pan-Islamism, and these are the concepts at the root of Pakistan's current trouble where the jihadi groups do not accept the supremacy of the Parliament, the sovereignty of which, is also challenged by the Army. The jihadi philosophy has always pitted Pakistan against its neighbours, including, what they call "the Hindu India, Shia Iran, and Sunni Afghanistan". IANS: What is the mindset of the Pakistan Army? D.P. Srivastava: To understand the mindset Pakistan Army, one should go back to Gen Asim Munir's April 16 speech, where he reminded his Pakistani audience that they belong to a superior ideology. What is this ideology, one may ask? (Former Pakistani President) Ayub Khan described it as Islam. It is very strange that the Pakistani army chiefs talk about ideology and Islam. In other nations, the armies protect the national frontiers, while in Pakistan, the army has become a custodian of ideologies and religion. Seems like Gen Munir has assumed the priest and a general. The Pakistani army has institutionalised its role in the running of the government, where the civilian parties have taken the backseat. This mindset is also reflected in the neglect of socioeconomic indicators. Pakistan's army regards itself as the state, and it has this mindset has led to excessive defensive expenditure to the neglect of economic indicators. IANS: How do you see Operation Sindoor? Is it part of a larger strategic shift in India's security policy against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism? D.P. Srivastava: Operation Sindoor represents a strategic shift in India's security doctrine, as the Prime Minister has underlined. Pakistan has used the threat of escalation to the nuclear level in the case of India's conventional response to subconventional threats like terror attacks. This time, however, there was no statement from the Pakistani side about nuclear escalation during Operation Sindhoor. So Pakistan's bluff has been called, that it cannot escalate a local conflict or deter India from a military response to a terror attack, and this is a major shift in the paradigm. It also sends a message to the global community that India will exercise its right of self-defence, and we have the strength to do so. We did that in a very responsible manner. We avoided escalation. The escalation came mostly from the Pakistani side. India's initial strike was only against the terror camps. We avoided hitting any Pakistani, civil or military installation. It was Pakistan which attacked Indian Air Force bases, and that forced India to attack Pakistani military installations, and that brought Pakistan quickly to its knees. The Pakistani DGMO called his Indian counterpart, begging for a ceasefire. This message has also gone home and has been understood well by the international community. IANS: Prime Minister Modi has accepted an invitation by Canadian PM Mark Carney to the G7 Summit. Do you think this will help mend the strained India-Canada ties? D.P. Srivastava: The Prime Minister has accepted the invitation to go to the G7 summit. So the focus will be on global issues, not on bilateral relations. But, of course, when the leaders meet, they discuss the entire range of issues, and this will be a good opportunity to bring the bilateral relations back on an even keel. We had good relations with Canada, and I believe, there's a better understanding of the Indian position in the new government there, about the impact of terrorism. And, I think the new government is unlikely to use these incidents as an electoral card. So we hope that this visit will bring about a clearer understanding between the two countries.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Op Sindoor feather in cap of Modi government? 100%, says Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday endorsed India's Operation Sindoor, saying it was a feather in the cap for the government and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "global leader".In an exclusive interview with India Today TV's Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, Naidu said PM Modi played a role in halting the military conflict between India and Pakistan, saying his wisdom per cent. This (Operation Sindoor) is a feather in the cap of the Modi government. No other leader can do this so perfectly without precision. The Pahalgam terror attack was unfortunate and husbands were killed in front of their wives," he said. He said PM Modi named India's military operation as Sindoor to fulfill the sentiments of the Indian women and take revenge against terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 25 tourists and a local."Within 20 minutes, we destroyed terror pockets and did not attack civilians and defence installations. The conflict ended at the right time. PM Modi ended the fighting. Is it not our credit? His wisdom prevailed. If the war is prolonged, then we will lose," Naidu Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, India destroyed terror camps at nine locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), killing over 100 terrorists. Pakistan then escalated the situation, by firing a barrage of drones and missiles towards border cities and defence installations in India. However, India hit back and launched a counter-offensive, damaging several Pakistani military bases, before both countries agreed to stop about Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's claim whether India succumbed to the US's pressure, Naidu said there "was no need to surrender to anybody"."We have our own strategies. Who will control Trump? He will talk as he likes. But at the same time, the wisdom of PM Modi prevailed. We are very clear. We won't quarrel unnecessarily. If anybody comes after us, we won't leave them. We are capable of protecting our nation," he Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said while India wants friendly relations with all countries, there was "no need to have any recommendation or support from anywhere"."PM Modi is emerging as a tall leader globally. That is the pride of our nation," he said.
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
Politicising armed forces a tragedy of frequent elections: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Bengaluru, Jun 8 (UNI) Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday launched a scathing critique of India's fragmented electoral calendar, accusing opposition parties —implicitly targeting the Congress —of politicising even national security issues, like Operation Sindoor, for electoral gains. "At a time when our brave soldiers strike against enemies, there are those who raise doubts and seek political mileage," Chouhan said at a public address on One Nation One Election here. 'This is not just unfortunate — it is a tragedy born from the relentless cycle of elections.' Calling for a constitutional amendment to synchronise Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections, the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister urged citizens, civil society, students, and media influencers to begin a nationwide movement for One Nation, One Election. 'Let this campaign begin from the land of Bengaluru,' he said, evoking applause. Chouhan argued that holding elections every six months paralyses governance, derails development, and consumes the energy of the entire administrative machinery. 'When elections are announced, the Model Code of Conduct kicks in. Teachers, ASHA workers, and collectors are pulled off their regular duties to prepare voter lists. Officers are sent as observers across states. Law and order, policymaking, and public welfare all take a backseat.' The Minister detailed his own recent experience: 'Just four months after Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, we had Lok Sabha elections. I had only just taken charge of my Union Ministry when I received a letter from the party assigning me to Jharkhand for the upcoming election. I had to leave everything and head to the campaign.' He also highlighted the economic burden. 'The Election Commission is spending from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 7 lakh crore per cycle. Political parties, independents, and industrial houses incur additional costs. Informal, untracked expenses are ballooning. Why waste so much national wealth on repetitive elections?' Chouhan proposed a simple solution: 'Hold both elections together. One banner, one van, one rally — the MP and MLA candidates can campaign side by side. One polling booth, two buttons. Why not?' Addressing concerns that simultaneous elections may blur the distinction between state and central issues, Chouhan said Indian voters have shown maturity. 'In Odisha, they chose BJP for Parliament and BJD for Assembly. In Delhi, they gave BJP 7 out of 7 Lok Sabha seats, and AAP a landslide in the Assembly. Voters are wise — they can make separate decisions.' He warned that constant elections prevent governments from taking bold, long-term decisions. 'Reform is postponed because someone may get offended. National interest suffers. Even decisions on national security are dragged into political debate.' Chouhan called this a 'systemic crisis' that needs public intervention. 'This is not just the government's responsibility. Students, professors, social media voices — all must join in.' Proposing a five-year cycle with 4.5 years of uninterrupted governance and six months dedicated to elections, he said: 'Let us lift India out of this loop. Let elected governments work without fear. Let the nation move forward.' In a passionate conclusion, Chouhan led the audience in a slogan: "One Nation! One Election!' UNI BDN SSP
