
Raids in 10 places in Kashmir, including Srinagar, as part of anti-terror ops
In the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, security forces have intensified their operations in specific areas of south Kashmir, killing six terrorists over the past three days, officials said.Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, VK Birdi told news agency PTI that "security agencies reviewed their strategy in light of recent terror activities, and our operations were intensified accordingly."Encounters took place in the Keller area of Shopian on Tuesday and in the Nadar area of Tral in Pulwama on Thursday. Three terrorists were killed in each operation.Among the six slain militants, the most prominent was Shahid Kuttay, who had been involved in several major attacks. These include the killing of a sarpanch in Shopian's Heerpora on May 18 last year and a firing incident at the Danish Resort on April 8 last year, in which two German tourists and a driver were injured, officials said.On April 22, a group of terrorists -- including both Pakistani nationals and local operatives linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba -- opened fire at tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. While security officials have identified the perpetrators, they remain at large and are yet to be traced after fleeing the scene.Tune InMust Watch
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India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Pak's anti-India rocket force to be built on Chinese template
Following its drubbing by Indian forces during the four-day conflict, Pakistan has announced the creation of a new Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC), which is reportedly inspired by China's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF). Unveiling the plan on the eve of Independence Day, Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on August 13, announced the creation of the new military force, which he said, "will prove to be a milestone in strengthening the combat capability of Pakistan's army".advertisement"It will be equipped with modern technology," Sharif ARFC aims to bolster Pakistan's missile combat capabilities in conventional warfare, reported news agency Reuters. The move by Pakistan comes three months after the four-day military conflict with India. Indian missiles and defence systems decisively outperformed Pakistan's Chinese-supplied four-day mini-war in May was dominated by aerial missile combat, with both India and Pakistan deploying drones, missiles, and loitering munitions. While India pounded terror-heavens in Pakistan with its domestically developed BrahMos and Akash systems, along with the Russian-origin S-400, Pakistan relied on Chinese-made PL-15 missiles. All the Pakistani missiles failed to make impact, as they were successfully intercepted and neutralised by India's layered air defence network. One of them fell on a farmland in development also underscores Pakistan's deepening military alignment with China. According to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China accounted for 81% of Pakistan's arms imports between 2020 and 2024, up from an average 74% in the past five Pakistan has announced a new military force modelled on China's PLARF, which manages China's land-based missile arsenal, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, both nuclear and are five key takeaways on the move and what it could mean going forward.1. FALLOUT OF OPERATION SINDOOR DROVE PAK'S MISSILE COMMANDThe announcement follows the four-day mini-war, during which Indian forces repulsed all cross-border attacks on Indian military and civilian setback has prompted a structural rethink of Pakistan's missile command, which has now been reimagined with Chinese inspiration.A senior Pakistani security official, quoted by news agency Reuters, said that the ARFC is "obviously meant for India", signalling Pakistan's intent to counter India's demonstrated missile defence new force aims to centralise and enhance Pakistan's missile capabilities to prevent a repeat of such setbacks.2. PAKISTAN'S ARFC MIRRORS CHINA 'S PLARFPakistan's ARFC is explicitly patterned after China's PLARF, the fourth branch of the People's Liberation Army, which manages Beijing's vast arsenal of land-based ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles for both nuclear and conventional in 1966 as the Second Artillery Corps and renamed in 2016, the PLARF is a cornerstone of China's strategic to Group Captain MJ Augustine (Retired) in the Eurasian Times, Pakistan's ARFC will adopt a similar structure, with a dedicated command for missile deployment, leveraging Chinese technology transfers to enhance precision and alignment suggests strengthening of the China-Pakistan "all-weather friendship".3. STRENGTHENING THE CHINA-PAKISTAN MILITARY AXISAnalysts view the ARFC as yet another sign of deepening military ties between Islamabad and Beijing. Pakistan's defence cooperation with China now goes beyond arms Operation Sindoor, China supported Pakistan with intelligence, satellite surveillance, and advanced weapons, including the J-10 fighter jets and AI-backed the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Computing (CENTAIC) of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, during his speech in Parliament on July 29, claimed CENTAIC aims to "integrate the Pakistani Air Force with the Chinese Air Force and transform the PAF into a network-centric air force".He claimed CENTAIC, established in Pakistan in 2020, apparently with Chinese assistance, is a key part of a growing effort to transform the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) into a network-centric force that could be seamlessly integrated with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force using AI and real-time data exchange.4. EMPHASIS ON CONVENTIONAL MISSILE COMBATUnlike the Army Strategic Forces Command that manages Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, the newly formed ARFC will focus solely on conventional missile ARFC will oversee platforms such as the Babur cruise missile, the Shaheen ballistic missile series, and Fatah guided rockets, with an emphasis on executing swift, coordinated strikes to challenge India's air dominance and missile defence force's technology could include Chinese-supplied systems like the A-100 multiple launch rocket systems and Fatah-IV cruise missiles, according to Captain ARFC is likely a new corps-level command, headed by a Lieutenant General reporting directly to the Army Chief Asim Munir.5. REGIONAL, STRATEGIC EQUATIONS ON PAK'S MINDIndia currently holds the edge with systems like BrahMos, Akash, Prithvi, and PL-15 missiles were largely ineffective during the May military ARFC now set to be in place, Islamabad appears to be trying to close that gap by leveraging Chinese expertise and tech in March at the India Today Conclave 2025, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi sounded a strong warning about the growing military cooperation between China and Pakistan, describing it as a "high degree of collusion" that New Delhi can no longer afford to now Pakistan moving ahead with a separate missile command, that too, with Chinese assistance and collaboration, Pakistan has its vulnerabilities in mind. And it is in pursuit of that very gap that Islamabad is betting big on missiles.- Ends advertisement


News18
an hour ago
- News18
Putin Surprises Trump With English Invite. Here's How Many Languages The Russian President Knows
Last Updated: Putin usually relies on translators in formal settings but occasionally speaks English informally to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere The highly awaited meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin opened with a warm exchange and a dramatic jet flyover at a US military base in Alaska. However, the talks ended without any breakthrough, as both leaders admitted they could not agree on steps to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In an unusual move, Putin switched from his native Russian and addressed Trump directly in English during their joint press conference, extending an invitation to visit Moscow. With the words, 'Next time in Moscow," Putin broke from his usual reliance on interpreters, adding a striking moment to the otherwise unproductive summit. Putin's rare use of English quickly caught global attention. More than just an invitation, it carried political weight. His choice of words and Trump's casual response sparked global curiosity, how many languages does Putin actually speak, and is he fluent in English or just comfortable enough to use it informally? Here's an insight into the linguistic skills of both leaders. Putin's Linguistic World Russian is President Vladimir Putin's mother tongue, and he is naturally fully proficient in it. Additionally, Putin is fluent in German, a skill acquired during his posting in Dresden (East Germany) as a KGB officer in the 1980s. He is still capable of conversing directly with German journalists. Regarding English, reports suggest that Putin can understand it well and occasionally corrects interpreters. Why Did Putin Invite Trump In English? Putin rarely uses English on formal platforms, relying instead on translators. However, in informal settings, he sometimes speaks English to create a more comfortable atmosphere. His comment, 'Next time in Moscow," to Trump could be seen as a friendly, light-hearted gesture. Putin likely found it more effective to communicate directly without an interpreter, showcasing his command over the English language. How Many Languages Does Trump Speak? In contrast, the linguistic abilities of Donald Trump are straightforward. He speaks only English and has never claimed proficiency in any other language. Although he has jokingly mentioned knowing a few words in Spanish or French, he has not demonstrated this as a skill. This means that, in terms of language, Trump remains limited to English, while Putin shows a wider linguistic range. Style Expressed Through Words This brief exchange between Putin and Trump has become a global topic of discussion, highlighting a more human aspect of their interaction than politics. With just one sentence in English, Putin demonstrated that style can sometimes matter more than words. Trump, who speaks only English, responded with a natural smile. Observers of global diplomacy note that this small linguistic incident shows how even a single sentence can make significant headlines. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Lawrence Bishnoi gang members held for ‘Independence Day terror plot', police say
The Rajasthan Police have detained some people who had allegedly planned to carry out terror activities in Delhi and Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, on the occasion of Independence Day, August 15. Additional Director General of Police (Crime Branch) Dinesh MN said that Jitendra Chaudhary, a native of Tonk, Sanjay, a native of Hanumangarh district, and Sonu alias Kali, from Kapurthala, Punjab, apart from three minors, were picked up from Jaipur and Tonk districts last week and handed over to Special Operation Cell, Amritsar, Punjab Police. The accused were wanted in connection with a July 7 blast in Nawanshahr, Punjab. The ADG said that in order to spread terror and extort money, the henchmen of Lawrence Bishnoi gang had thrown a grenade in front of a liquor shop in Nawanshahr and fled to Rajasthan. The Punjab Police had lodged a case under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) sections 49 (abetment outside India for offence in India), 55 (abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life), 61 (2) (Criminal conspiracy) as well as sections of the Arms Act. He said that a team led by Siddhant Sharma, Additional Superintendent of Police, Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), was sent to Jaipur Range and Ajmer Range, following the Nawanshahr blast. 'The team concealed its identity and, without caring for their lives, worked hard to collect intelligence about the wanted and arrested them on August 10,' the ADG said. 'Upon interrogation, it was found that they are associated with Lawrence Bishnoi gang and that their handler is Zeeshan Akhtar, who lives in Canada and had taken responsibility for the murder of Baba Siddique in Mumbai,' he said, adding that Zeeshan Akhtar, Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti, Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Manu Agwan and Gopi Nawanshahria are all allegedly connected with each other. 'They carry out criminal activities in different parts of the country and contact local youth by luring them with money to commit the crime. The accused in the present case are connected with Zeeshan Akhtar through Instagram and other online apps. Zeeshan Akhtar had also provided grenades to the accused for the Nawanshahr blast. He used to give instructions to them through online applications. He had also instructed them to carry out blasts in Delhi and Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, on Independence Day, August 15,' the ADG said. In June, Mumbai police had said that Zeeshan Akhtar, who is one of the main accused in the murder case of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, has been detained in Canada. However, there has been little clarity on the case or Akhtar's whereabouts since then.