Maha: NCP (SP) supremo defends India's attacks on terrorist bases in Pakistan
Mumbai, May 7 (UNI) NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Wednesday defended India's attacks on nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, terming them as right.
"We are not bringing any politics into this and are firmly standing behind the government," he said and cautioned that India needs to be vigilant against China.
Many countries, including US and Japan, have supported India's Operation Sindoor, he said and noted that China, however, has not supported India.
Pakistan may not have any idea, but both India and China know each other's military capabilities, the former Defence minister said and pointed that India needs to be vigilant against China.
After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the local people of Kashmir remained with people of the rest of India, he said and mentioned that the Kashmir Assembly passed resolution against the terrorist attack at Pahalgam.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is strongly opposed to terrorism, Pawar said.
He also supported the Indian government's policy of crippling Pakistan's economy, saying it is a right move.
The name given to the operation launched by India against terrorists in Pakistan is also indicative and
appropriate, added Pawar.
UNI SP SS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
15 minutes ago
- News18
Sensex Tanks 950 Points, Nifty Below 25,000; Key Reasons Why Market Is Down Today
Last Updated: Indian equity markets witnessed a sharp sell-off across segments on Thursday; Know key reasons behind the crash Stock Market Crash: Indian equity markets witnessed a sharp sell-off across segments on Thursday, June 12, as weak global cues and profit-booking triggered a broad-based decline. Benchmark indices — the Sensex and Nifty 50 — fell nearly 1%, while broader markets followed suit with mid- and small-cap indices sliding over 1% each. The BSE Sensex opened marginally higher at 82,571.67 but soon turned negative, plunging as much as 853 points to hit an intraday low of 81,661.68. It eventually closed deep in the red. Similarly, the Nifty 50, which opened at 25,164.45, slipped below the key 24,900 mark during the session, touching a low of 24,871. The sharp fall wiped off substantial investor wealth. The total market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies dropped to around Rs 451 lakh crore, compared to ₹456 lakh crore in the previous session — a loss of nearly Rs 5 lakh crore in a single trading day. Why is the Indian Stock Market Falling on June 12? 1. Escalating Geopolitical Tensions Global markets, including India, were rattled by renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Asian and European indices fell sharply amid rising fears of a conflict between the US and Iran. According to reports by The Times of Israel, the US is evacuating non-essential personnel from the Middle East due to heightened regional tensions and the deteriorating status of nuclear negotiations with Iran. There is growing speculation that Israeli forces may strike Iran's nuclear facilities, adding to investor nervousness. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has reiterated his stance against allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. The much-anticipated trade deal between the United States and China has failed to lift market sentiment, as investors were expecting a more comprehensive and conclusive agreement. On Wednesday, former US President Donald Trump claimed that China would supply the US with rare-earth minerals and magnets, while the US would continue to welcome Chinese students into its universities. However, the final terms of the deal still await approval from both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. 'Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me," Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, and China is getting 10%… The relationship is excellent!" Despite this optimistic tone, market experts remain skeptical. 'There are reports of a possible agreement between the US and China. But the Chinese haven't officially confirmed anything," said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services. 'Trump is talking about a 55 percent tariff on China and a 10 percent tariff on the US. Given his track record, it's too early to view this as a positive for markets." 3. Global Markets Weaken Amid Risk-Off Mood Global equities extended losses on Thursday, adding pressure to Indian markets as investors grappled with a combination of tepid U.S. inflation data, ongoing trade concerns, and heightened geopolitical tensions. European markets were poised for a subdued start, with futures on Germany's DAX and the UK's FTSE 100 down 0.8% and 0.4%, respectively. U.S. equity futures also indicated a flat-to-negative open, reflecting caution on Wall Street. Across Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.2%, retreating from a three-year high recorded a day earlier. Japan's Nikkei 225 declined 0.5%, while key indices in China and Hong Kong also pulled back, reversing recent gains. 4. Dollar Slides as Fed Rate Cut Bets Rise The U.S. dollar weakened to its lowest level in nearly two months, amid rising expectations that the Federal Reserve could initiate rate cuts later this year. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of major currencies, slipped to 98.246—its weakest since April 22—and was last seen at 98.419, down 0.04%. So far in 2025, the index has lost 10%. The retreat in the dollar followed softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data and lingering doubts over the durability of the recent U.S.-China trade framework. Combined with elevated geopolitical risks, this has prompted investors to scale back exposure to the dollar. According to Reuters, traders are now pricing in two 25-basis-point rate cuts by the end of 2025, and potentially up to 100 basis points by September 2026. 5. Oil Price Volatility Adds to Market Jitters Crude oil prices slipped on Thursday, following a sharp rally in the previous session driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East ahead of planned U.S.-Iran negotiations. Brent crude declined 0.7% to $69.28 per barrel after surging over 4% on Wednesday to hit a two-month high. top videos View all 'The spike in Brent crude to $70 on heightened security risks is a clear negative for oil-importing countries like India," noted Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services. 'Industries such as paints, tyres, aviation, and adhesives may come under pressure, while upstream oil producers stand to benefit." Shares of ONGC and Oil India gained up to 5% on improved realisation expectations, whereas oil marketing companies such as IOC, BPCL, and HPCL fell between 2% and 4.5% on margin concerns. Aviation and tyre stocks also saw declines due to rising input cost pressures, with MRF, CEAT, and IndiGo among the key losers. Stay updated with all the latest news on the Stock Market, including market trends, Sensex and Nifty updates, top gainers and losers, and expert analysis. Get real-time insights, financial reports, and investment strategies—only on News18. tags : Nifty sensex Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 12, 2025, 14:21 IST News business » markets Sensex Tanks 950 Points, Nifty Below 25,000; Key Reasons Why Market Is Down Today
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India-EU FTA nears completion, says Goyal; focus now on non-tariff barriers
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said resolving non-tariff barriers would be crucial for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union. Goyal, who is on an official visit to Sweden to meet his counterpart, made these remarks in Stockholm while addressing the reporters, news agency PTI reported. He further added that both sides are working actively to resolve these issues, adding that the two sides are 'pretty' close to finalising the talks for the proposed free trade pact. Speaking to reporters, Goyal said, 'Significant progress has been made. More than half the chapters are ready. In terms of content, I would say we are almost 90 per cent ready for market access. The important issues to be addressed are non-tariff barriers and how we will make it smoother, easier, and better to do business between the EU and India.' Crucial Indian exports that face high barriers in the EU include chillies, tea, Basmati rice, milk, poultry, bovine meat, fish, and chemical products. He also claimed that talks between the two sides are ongoing to find solutions to make business smooth for companies of both sides. Goyal said, 'Unless countries recognise that over regulation and barriers to trade will be met with reciprocal action, everybody suffers. We are committed to deregulation, to finding solutions to the high cost of regulation, the non-tariff barriers that these regulations cause, and the impediments to free trade. I am quite hopeful that we will find very robust solutions to this problem.'
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
22 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India suffered 3 setbacks from US: Cong blames govt's foreign policy
Jairam Ramesh said the US' recent statements were both a "challenge and a warning" and required serious thinking Press Trust of India New Delhi The Congress on Thursday claimed India has suffered three "huge diplomatic setbacks" from the US which is constantly hyphenating India and Pakistan and that the Modi government's foreign policy has "failed" as it is driven by domestic political considerations. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the US' recent statements were both a "challenge and a warning" and required serious thinking "when the PM is only interested in playing divisive politics". He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should leave aside his "stubbornness" to call an all-party meeting and a special session of Parliament. "Yesterday, Indian foreign policy and diplomacy received three huge, undeniable setbacks. The General of the US Central Command gives a statement that Pakistan is a phenomenal partner in counter-terrorism. What is phenomenal? On May 2, 2011, Osama Bin Laden was found in Abbottabad and you are calling that country a phenomenal partner," Ramesh told PTI. So, the first "setback" is the US general giving a "clean chit" to Pakistan, he said. US Army General Michael Kurilla, Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), has said Pakistan is "in an active counterterrorism fight right now and has been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world". The United States has to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India, and noted that it cannot be a "binary switch" where Washington cannot have ties with Islamabad if it has relations with New Delhi, Kurilla said during a testimony before the US House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Ramesh further said, "Failed Marshal Asim Munir, who gave such inflammatory, incendiary and provocative statements, talked about the two-nation theory, Hindus and Muslims, and there is a direct relation between his statement and what happened in Pahalgam on April 22. Same Asim Munir gets a special invitation to go to America on US Army Day on June 14, which is incomprehensible." The third setback is that the US state department spokesperson again repeated that it was US President Donald Trump who was responsible for bringing about a de-escalation between India and Pakistan, the Congress leader said. He said again the US has hyphenated India and Pakistan while Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are completely silent on it. "He (Modi) meets members of delegations but does not have time for an all-party meeting to meet leaders of political parties. Our democracy is based on political parties not on individuals," Ramesh said. Leaders of opposition parties have written to the PM to call a special session of Parliament but the government has rejected the request and instead announced the monsoon session from July 21. "Is he (PM Modi) going to allow a special debate on our challenges with China and Pakistan, and now our challenge with the US. We thought that we were having an extended honeymoon with the US but it has delivered three huge setbacks to Indian diplomacy yesterday," Ramesh said. This is a "failure" of the government of India, of the PM, of his External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, of his Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and of his drum beaters, Ramesh said. "I am shocked that these setbacks have come two days after the prime minister has met the delegation of MPs," he told PTI. Ramesh accused the PM of playing politics by picking and choosing individuals. "We are saying call an all-party meeting, an all-party meeting where you don't determine who will be there like you did in picking delegations," the Congress leader said. He alleged that the government's diplomacy is "totally domestic oriented". "Whatever we do abroad -- how does it play domestically? It is for domestic consumption. All observers are saying that these delegations were for domestic consumption," he said. Ramesh claimed that the foreign policy of the Modi government is being dictated by domestic political considerations. Earlier, in a post in Hindi on X, Ramesh asserted that decades of diplomatic progress cannot be allowed to be weakened so easily. "It is reported that Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir has been invited to the event organised in Washington DC on the occasion of US Army Day (14 June). This news is a big setback for India from a diplomatic and strategic point of view," Ramesh said. "This is the same person who used provocative and inciting language just before the Pahalgam terror attack - the question arises what is America's intention," the Congress general secretary said. Recently, the head of the US Central Command also stated that Pakistan is a "great partner" of America in the fight against terrorism, Ramesh said. "The Modi government is saying that Operation Sindoor is still going on. In such a situation, the Pakistani army chief's participation as a guest in the US Army Day is definitely a matter of serious concern," he said. Ramesh said the Trump administration is constantly making statements which can only be interpreted to mean that it is "hyphenating" India and Pakistan. "The prime minister is welcoming the delegations that returned after informing the entire world, including the US, about Pakistan's role in supporting terrorism, and at the same time, such news is coming from Washington DC makes India's diplomatic position even more uncomfortable," Ramesh said. "The prime minister should now leave aside his stubbornness and concern for prestige and call an all-party meeting and a special session of Parliament, so that the nation can clearly express its collective will and a concrete roadmap can be presented to the country," he said. The statements from the US come days after an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation visited the country to convey India's strong resolve to combat terrorism emanating from Pakistan in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
