logo
16 May 2025: Rajnath Targets Pakistan, Bholari Airbase Strike Confirmed, Nirav Modi Bail Rejected

16 May 2025: Rajnath Targets Pakistan, Bholari Airbase Strike Confirmed, Nirav Modi Bail Rejected

India Today16-05-2025

India Today Podcasts Desk
UPDATED: May 16, 2025 18:56 IST
In today's News at 7, we cover the latest developments in India-Pakistan relations, as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accuses Pakistan of rebuilding terrorist networks post-Operation Sindoor and urges the IMF to reconsider its bailout. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Chief Minister confirms the Indian airstrike on Bholari Airbase, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expresses a willingness for peace talks. We also dive into the Enforcement Directorate's fresh raids in Tamil Nadu as part of the ongoing money laundering investigation involving TASMAC, and the rejection of Nirav Modi's 10th bail plea in the UK court. Lastly, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar holds the first political-level conversation with Afghanistan's Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister, condemning the recent Pahalgam attack. Stay tuned for these stories and more, only on News at 7.
Produced by Prateek Lidhoo
Sound mix by Rohan Bharti

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hafiz Saeed Living In Luxury Under Govt Protection, Pakistan Won't Hand Him Over To India, Says Son Talha
Hafiz Saeed Living In Luxury Under Govt Protection, Pakistan Won't Hand Him Over To India, Says Son Talha

India.com

time31 minutes ago

  • India.com

Hafiz Saeed Living In Luxury Under Govt Protection, Pakistan Won't Hand Him Over To India, Says Son Talha

Islamabad/New Delhi: In a sensational revelation that tears the mask off Pakistan's counter-terror claims, Talha Saeed, son of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, has declared in a new video that his father is safe, protected by the Pakistani government and will not be handed over to India ever. As speculation mounted over the fate of the Lashkar-e-Toiba founder, Talha broke his silence in an interview, dispelling rumours about his father's deteriorating health or imprisonment. Instead, he painted the image of a man who is 'peacefully spending his time writing Quranic commentary and offering prayers' – not languishing in any prison cell, as Pakistan would have the world believe. 'He is absolutely safe, well and living a peaceful life. The idea of handing him over to India is out of the question,' Talha said defiantly. The statement comes amid rising demands from India for Hafiz Saeed's extradition, especially with the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks approaching. The UN-designated terrorist, Saeed is accused of orchestrating the bloodbath that left 166 people dead and scores wounded. Yet, his son's words suggest that Pakistan's 'house arrest' may just be a smokescreen for international optics. The New Face of Anti-India Rhetoric? Talha Saeed has been increasingly active in Pakistan's public and media space, frequently spewing venom against India and rallying Islamist sympathisers. Many analysts believe that with Hafiz Saeed aging and reportedly unwell, Talha is now being groomed to take over his father's ideological and operational mantle within the Lashkar-e-Toiba. His interviews are being seen as a calculated PR move – not only to reassure LeT's rank and file but also to send a message to India and the global community: Hafiz Saeed is not going anywhere. Talha's confession is damning for a country that publicly claims to fight terrorism but is safeguarding its most notorious terrorist. Despite assurances given to global watchdogs like FATF, Pakistan appears to be offering VIP treatment to a man responsible for one of the worst terror attacks on Indian soil. India has repeatedly presented evidence of Saeed's involvement in the Mumbai attacks, demanding his extradition. But as Talha's statements now make clear, Islamabad never intended to act on those demands – a stance that undermines its credibility on the world stage. With Talha's open admission now in the public domain, Indian intelligence and diplomatic channels are closely monitoring the developments. The revelations strengthen India's position that Pakistan continues to harbour terrorists under state protection, even while demanding legitimacy and aid from international allies.

India's ‘Chenab Trap' Chokes Pakistan's Terror Route; Even China On Edge – Here's How
India's ‘Chenab Trap' Chokes Pakistan's Terror Route; Even China On Edge – Here's How

India.com

timean hour ago

  • India.com

India's ‘Chenab Trap' Chokes Pakistan's Terror Route; Even China On Edge – Here's How

New Delhi: In a moment that may go down as a masterstroke in India's strategic playbook, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6 unveiled the world's tallest railway bridge – the Chenab Bridge – along with a series of infrastructure marvels in Jammu & Kashmir. While hailed as engineering triumphs, these structures hide within them a fierce geopolitical message – India is silently fortifying its Himalayan frontier, and Pakistan and China are not happy. At 359 metres tall, taller than the Eiffel Tower, the steel-arched Chenab Bridge is part of the 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link (USBRL) and connects the Kashmir Valley to the Indian rail grid for the first time. But beyond the awe and applause, it is the military and counter-terror implications that have sent shockwaves across the border. Why Pakistan, China Should Be Worried The bridge sits near the treacherous Pir Panjal Range, a mountainous region that has for decades acted as a gateway for Pakistani infiltrators, including ISI-backed terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed. From Poonch and Rajouri to the lush forests near Pahalgam, this route has seen some of the most notorious attacks in India's history. Now, with the Chenab and Anji bridges completed and the valley more accessible to India's armed forces year-round, this infiltration corridor is on the verge of collapse. 'This is not just a bridge. It's a steel-fisted message to our enemies,' said a top defence expert, requesting anonymity. The bridge does not only deter Pakistan. It tightens India's grip over the Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh axis, critical to countering Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Troops, weapons and surveillance units can now move seamlessly – no more seasonal delays or logistical gaps. Hidden Checkmate This 'Chenab Chakravyuh' – as called by military strategists – is a geo-strategic snare apart from being about connectivity. With 24/7 surveillance cameras, anti-corrosion technologies and blast-resistant materials, the bridge is built to withstand earthquakes of 8.0 magnitude and even terrorist bombing attempts. 'They tried to divide us by using religion and terror. We are responding with steel, resolve and railways,' said a senior Indian Army official deployed in the region. Built with inputs from Indian Institute of Technology and the Defence Research, the Development Organisation (DRDO) and global experts, the Chenab Bridge uses high-tensile steel and advanced cable-crane systems. It is designed to last 120 years even under wind speeds of 260 kmph. And with two Vande Bharat trains flagged off from Katra to Srinagar, civilian integration of the region is now irreversible. What rattles Rawalpindi most is that this is blocking terrorists and rendering their long-game obsolete. For years, Pakistan has exploited difficult terrain and porous routes to fuel unrest in the valley. That door just slammed shut. Even Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir must now contend with the fact that Pir Panjal no longer favours infiltration, it favours India.

Delhi Confidential: Mission Possible
Delhi Confidential: Mission Possible

Indian Express

time2 hours ago

  • Indian Express

Delhi Confidential: Mission Possible

Most multi-party delegations sent abroad as part of India's diplomatic outreach after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor are back in the Capital, but they have not been able to go back to their states. The MPs after their return have had meetings with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during which they are learnt to have candidly expressed their views on what needs to be done. Jaishankar, sources said, was happy that every delegation accomplished their mission without any major hitches. The MPs are now waiting for their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is likely to be held on June 10, sources said. Film Festival Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale was in New York this week as one of the guests to inaugurate the Indie Film Festival Awards. The event, organised by producer Mukesh Modi, was also attended by New York's Mayor Eric Adams, Indian Consul General in New York Binay S Pradhan and Prasar Bharati chairman Navneet Kumar Sehgal. Athawale is known to be a film enthusiast. He also acted in a Marathi film — Anyayacha Pratikaar — in 1993 and did a cameo in another Marathi movie — Joshi ki Kamble — in 2008. More Statues WITH AN eye on 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday promised that when his party will come to power in the state, a statue of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj sitting on a 'golden chair' will be installed at the Gomti riverfront. He made the promise at a function organised by the SP to mark the anniversary of the Maratha King's coronation. Earlier last month, he had promised to install the statue of Raja Suheldev at the same Gomti riverfront. He also promised that the sword in the hand of the Shravasti King will be made of 'ashtadhatu (alloy made of eight metals) mixed with gold'. Akhilesh's promises of installing statues has surprised many in the party as SP leaders in the past were critical of former CM Mayawati's decisions of building memorials and installing marble statues in Lucknow and Noida.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store