India-Pakistan war: Two drones shot down near Jammu University
India-Pakistan war: Tensions escalated as two Pakistani drones were shot down near Jammu University. Air raid sirens blared across Jammu as India's defence systems sprang into action. Power was temporarily cut in parts of the city as the S-400 air defence system was activated.
According to security agencies, Pakistan launched eight missiles targeting Jammu Civil Airport, Samba, RS Pura, Arnia, and nearby regions. All incoming threats were successfully intercepted and neutralised by the S-400 system, preventing any damage.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Maximum boasts, minimum achievements: Cong slams Shah's 'peace' remark
The Congress on Tuesday said it was "bizarre" of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to claim that peace had been established in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, alleging that his assertion was meant to divert attention from his own "colossal failures." The opposition party also said that never has India had a Union home minister whose tenure has been one of "maximum boasts, minimum achievements." In a post in Hindi on X, Shah had on Monday said that the 11 years of the Narendra Modi government was a "golden period" of resolve, endeavour and dedication towards public service. "Naxalism is on its last legs, peace has been established in Jammu-Kashmir and the Northeast, India now responds to terrorist attacks by entering the homes of terrorists. This shows the changing picture of India under the Modi government," he said. Responding to the remarks, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh on X said Shah's claim was "bizarre" since Manipur continues to burn and Pahalgam attackers were still at large. "They are meant to divert attention from his own colossal failures," he said. "The terrorists responsible for the brutal April 22, 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam have still NOT been brought to justice. According to some reports that have not been denied, these very terrorists were also involved in the December 2023 terror attacks in Poonch and the October 2024 terror attacks in Gagangir and Gulmarg," Ramesh said. "Manipur continues to burn. The much-delayed President's Rule has been a miserable failure. Law and order is in a perilous condition," he claimed. Ramesh said the frustration, agony, and anger of the people of the state at the condition of their daily lives and livelihoods is unmistakable, Ramesh said. "The Union Home Minister has failed miserably in bringing the Pahalgam terrorists to justice. He has failed monumentally in bringing about normalcy in Manipur," the Congress general secretary said. With fresh violence rocking parts of Manipur, the Congress has targeted Modi and Shah, accusing the two of mishandling the situation in the northeastern state. "Never has India had a Union Home Minister whose tenure has been one of Maximum Boasts, Minimum Achievements unless what he has been able to do for his son can count for that," Ramesh said. In his remarks on Monday, Shah said that during the "11 years of seva", the speed and scale of the country's development have been changed by 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Pakistan to give its military more money, ignoring its real tension: Economy, not India
Despite facing record-high debt and a struggling economy, Pakistan plans to raise its defence budget by nearly 18 per cent in 2025–26, taking it over Rs 2.5 trillion (around $14 billion). The move comes after its military setback in a recent four-day conflict with India read more Pakistan has never come out of the notion that by spending more on military, it can eventually be able to counter India in the battlefield. Reports from Pakistani media say that the country is set to increase its defence budget by nearly 18 per cent in the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year. This would raise its defence spending to over Rs 2.5 trillion (about $14 billion), despite facing its highest-ever public debt and deepening economic challenges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The decision to hike military funding comes against the backdrop of the battering the Pakistani forces received during the f our-day conflict with India in May in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were massacred by Pakistan-backed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in April. The decision also follows multiple bailout fundings by international loan agencies to aid Pakistan in dealing with its fiscal and economic challenges. That came under stringent conditions. And those agencies would be monitoring Pakistan's military budget hike as historically such moves have meant more funding to terror outfits. Budget increase and security context Media reports from Pakistan say that the coalition government, led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has agreed on the significant defence outlay increase. They cite a 'war-like situation' with India. The 2024-25 defence budget stood at Rs 2,122 billion, already up nearly 15 per cent from the previous year. This year's budget hike would mean close to 35 per cent incremental hike in two years. Reports quoting sources also said the actual defence spending may rise even higher in the final quarter of the current fiscal year due to heightened military activity. Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal confirmed the hike, linking it to India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and 'water aggression' through upstream dam projects. He also said work on the $14 billion Diamer-Bhasha Dam — a strategic infrastructure project with the help from China — would be expedited. Soaring debt and fiscal risks This comes against a ballooning public debt that reached a record level of PKR 76 trillion — the highest for Pakistan — as of March, according to its Economic Survey. It has nearly doubled from Rs 39.8 trillion in 2020-21 and increased five-fold over the past decade. The debt includes PKR 51.5 trillion in domestic liabilities and Rs 24.5 trillion in external borrowings. The Economic Survey warns that excessive debt and poor management pose serious risks to fiscal sustainability and economic security. Despite securing a $3.5 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier this year, Pakistan faces skepticism from international observers, including India, which questions whether IMF funds might indirectly support military spending rather than economic recovery. Pakistan's finance ministry officials argue that the defence budget increase was communicated to the IMF and Asian Development Bank (ADB) before the bailout and that the government is balancing security needs with fiscal responsibility. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan's real tension: Economic and social challenges Economists warn that the rising defence expenditure, combined with ambitious infrastructure projects like Diamer-Bhasha, could crowd out social spending and derail economic reforms. Inflation remains high, threatening to touch 40 per cent (over 38 per cent), and Pakistan continues to struggle with unemployment and poverty. Pakistan observers have been cautioning against diversion of funds for defence establishment. They argue that diverting funds to defence and megaprojects risks leaving ordinary citizens to bear the economic burden, potentially exacerbating social inequalities. Pakistan's upcoming 2025-26 budget clearly reflects a mis-prioritisation of the military establishment in the name of security while leaving concerns about fiscal prudence and long-term economic stability unaddressed. India and international financial institutions will closely monitor Pakistan's budget execution and debt management in the coming months. Pakistan's argument has been that its security threat emerges from India, a narrative that suits its military establishment to corner a huge chunk of the country's national budget while keeping the population in abject poverty. But if Pakistan's narrative is accepted, its defence spending would still be no match to India's. While Pakistan is pushing more money into its military establishment, the core backer of terrorism for decades, India remains the world's fifth-largest military spender at around $86 billion annually — nearly nine times Pakistan's outlay. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan's defence spending surge is bound to cause more economic strain on its social welfare programmes and fuel regional tensions as India would definitely take into account the growing military push in its neighbourhood, which is also the source of terrorism on its land.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Under strict jail manuals, court allows 26/11 plotter Rana one phone call to family
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Monday granted permission for Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, to speak to his family members via a one-time phone call. Special Judge Chander Jit Singh of the Patiala House Courts allowed the request under strict conditions. The call must follow the jail manual and will take place under the supervision of Tihar Jail authorities. The court also requested a fresh report on Rana's health, which must be submitted within 10 days. In addition, the judge directed jail authorities to file a report clarifying whether Rana should be allowed regular phone calls going forward. Rana, a 64-year-old businessman of Pakistani origin who holds Canadian citizenship, is currently in judicial custody. He was extradited to India after the US Supreme Court, on April 4, rejected his review plea against the extradition order. Rana is known to be a close associate of David Coleman Headley (also known as Daood Gilani), the main conspirator behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and a US citizen. The Delhi Legal Services Authority appointed Advocate Piyush Sachdeva to represent Rana in the proceedings. According to the NIA, David Coleman Headley, the key conspirator, had shared details of the entire plan with Rana before coming to India. Expecting possible problems, Headley had also emailed Rana with information about his personal belongings and assets. The agency further claimed that Headley told Rana about the role of two Pakistani nationals, Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman, who are also accused of being part of the plot. On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistani terrorists entered Mumbai by sea and carried out a deadly coordinated attack. They targeted a railway station, two luxury hotels, and a Jewish centre. The attack lasted nearly 60 hours and killed 166 people. The court has imposed stringent conditions on the custody of Rana, as the NIA had pressed forward with its explosive claim: that Rana may have conspired to orchestrate terror attacks in cities beyond Mumbai.
