Took care of ghost of Balakot: Air Force chief on evidence of Op Sindoor success
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Saturday laid out evidence of the damage India inflicted on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.'In Balakot, we could not get anything from inside, and it became a big issue trying to tell our own people, unfortunately, as to what we had been able to achieve,' he said at an event in Bengaluru. 'We had intelligence of what had gone on inside a very clear picture that there had been huge damage, that so many terrorists had been neutralised. But we could not convince our own people. So I'm very happy that this time we were able to tell the world what we have achieved.'Operation Sindoor, which involved high-intensity strikes over 80 to 90 hours, achieved 'so much damage' that Pakistan sought talks to halt the conflict, Air Chief Marshal Singh said. 'They came forward and sent a message to our DGMO that they wanted to talk. This was accepted on our side.'Backing the government's decision to pause the operation, Singh said, 'People got down to their egos in the war. Our objective was very clear – to teach terrorists a lesson so they think twice before doing anything. Once we achieved that, we should have looked for all windows of opportunity to stop. Some people very close to me said, 'Aur maarna tha'. But can we continue to be at war? Why should we be at war when we can stop it?'Singh also detailed the Air Force's offensive capability during the operation, noting that none of Pakistan's aircraft came close to India's air defence range. 'That night we didn't have any hold bar. We would stretch resources to give him the indication that we can attack deep inside, at will. Bholari, an AEW&C hangar, was attacked and we have a very clear hint there was an aircraft in sight when this attack took place,' he said.advertisementReacting to the Air Chief Marshal's statement, BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the Opposition of undermining the forces. 'Imagine — our brave armed forces risk their lives in #OperationSindoor, deliver a crushing blow to terror, and yet face doubt from within the country. The Opposition and Rahul Gandhi in particular owe an apology,' he said in a post on X.The Balakot strike of February 2019 followed the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. While the government maintained that a large number of terrorists were killed, Opposition leaders at the time sought proof, with some citing conflicting media reports.- EndsMust Watch
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The Hindu
9 minutes ago
- The Hindu
U.S. tariff impact not to last more than six months, says CEA Anantha Nageswaran
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The overall resource mobilisation in the economy is not showing any slackening, the CEA said, asking all to look at banks credit growth, commercial paper issuances, and IPO fundraising together. On China On China, Mr. Nageswaran said "we also need to understand the security dimension and look at the $100 billion trade deficit beyond just the number". As a solution, there is a need to diversify the sources of imports and the CEA stressed that the private sector will have a role to play there. Without naming China, he said only one country supplies critical minerals, which are essential for semiconductors, artificial intelligence tech, and added that the supply is "critically unstable". "We cannot go from crude oil import dependence to critical minerals and ladders import dependence. Understand that crude oil (sources) at least is more diversified," he said. 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Time of India
9 minutes ago
- Time of India
US tariff impact not to last more than 6 months; pvt sector has to do more for India: CEA
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The correct agriculture policies can add 25% to real GDP growth, Nageswaran the US tariffs, Nageswaran said it is the second and third order impacts. The impact will flow once sectors like gems and jewellery, shrimps and textiles have taken the first order brunt,as that will be "more difficult" to government is aware of the situation and conversations with the impacted sectors have already begun, Nageswaran said. One will hear from the policymakers in the coming days and weeks but people have to be patient, he about the upcoming meet in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladmir Putin, he said that the outcome of US officials' visit to India is likely to be asked about the details on the trade negotiations between India and the US, the academic-turned-advisor said things are very fluid at the world stage right now with relations swinging from cooperation to spelled out his expectation of the impact of 50% US tariff on Indian exports. "I do believe that the current situation will ease out in a quarter or two. 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Understand that crude oil (sources) at least is more diversified," he said."Indian policy makers must choose between accepting permanent strategic dependence on adversaries or committing the resources necessary for genuine support to independence," Nageswaran that AI will cause labour displacement, Nageswaran pitched for caution in AI adoption and added that "we will have to choose the areas in which we allow AI to be deployed and harnessed, and also the speed with which we do so".There is a need to create at least 80 lakh new jobs per annum in the next 10-12 years, he added.(With inputs from PTI)
NDTV
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Inside Trump's $175 Billion Golden Dome Missile Defence System
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