Latest news with #ArmyRocketForceCommand
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
On India's Independence Day, Modi vows to punish Pakistan for future attacks
NEW DELHI (AP): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbor if there are future attacks on India as he marked 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. Modi's remarks on Friday come three months after nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense fighting, their worst clash in decades. Modi addressed the country from New Delhi's 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, saying India has established a "new normal' that does not differentiate between "terrorists' and those who support terrorism. He said he would not tolerate what he called Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail." "India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on, but this blackmail will not be tolerated now,' Modi said. There was no immediate response from Pakistan to Modi's remarks. Pakistan has previously rejected India's statements about nuclear blackmail as provocative and inflammatory. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced the creation of a new "Army Rocket Force Command' to bolster the country's defense capabilities. Sharif made this announcement during a speech marking Independence Day celebrations, but gave no further details. India celebrates its Independence Day one day after Pakistan. The two states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead. It triggered one of the largest human migrations in history and some 12 million people fled their homes. India and Pakistan exchanged tit-for-tat military strikes in May that brought them to the brink of war. The fighting between the two countries was sparked by an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Days after the massacre, India launched strikes on Pakistan and said it had hit nine "terrorist infrastructure' sites. "Terror infrastructure was turned to rubble,' Modi said in his speech Friday. Pakistan responded by sending waves of drones into India, as well as missile and artillery bombardments. Dozens of people were killed on both sides until a ceasefire was reached May 10 after U.S. mediation. Pakistan immediately claimed it shot down six Indian aircraft during the clashes, including a French-made Rafale fighter. India acknowledged some losses but did not provide details. Last week, India's air force chief said India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during clashes in the first such public claim by India. Pakistan rejected it, saying both sides should open their aircraft inventories to independent verification. During his Friday speech, Modi also hinted India would continue its unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. The treaty, which India suspended after the April massacre, allows the sharing of the Indus River that runs about 2,897 kilometers (1,800 miles) through South Asia and is a lifeline for both countries. "Rivers from India were irrigating the lands of enemies while my country's farmers and land faced a deficiency of water," Modi said. "India has now decided that blood and water will not flow together." Pakistan has said any effort by India to stop or divert the water from flowing into Pakistan would be considered an "act of war.' Modi did not directly mention US President Donald Trump's tariffs on India in his Independence Day speech, but said he would not compromise on the agriculture sector, one of the main sticking points in trade negotiations with the US. Earlier this month, Trump imposed a 25% penalty on India in addition to 25% tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia. India has resisted US pressure to open its markets to some farm products as Modi's government is unwilling to risk angering farmers, who are a powerful voting bloc. "India will not compromise on the interests of farmers," he said. Modi claimed India's demography was being changed as part of a "conspiracy' through illegal migration and announced what he called a "high-powered demographic mission' to tackle the problem. He did not provide further details. "No nation in the world can hand over itself to infiltrators,' he said. Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has repeatedly described the influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh as a "national security crisis' and claimed that unchecked Muslim infiltration from the country is leading to a demographic shift in India. In recent months, Indian officials have conducted what they call a verification drive, which they say is intended to identify immigrants lacking legal status. Many people, most of them Muslim, have been detained or expelled to neighboring Bangladesh. - AP
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
India's Modi vows to punish Pakistan for future attacks
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbour if there are future attacks on India as he marked 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. Modi's remarks on Friday come three months after nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense fighting, their worst clash in decades. Modi addressed the country from New Delhi's 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, saying India has established a "new normal" that does not differentiate between "terrorists" and those who support terrorism. He said he would not tolerate what he called Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail". "India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on but this blackmail will not be tolerated now," Modi said. There was no immediate response from Pakistan to Modi's remarks. Pakistan previously has rejected India's statements about nuclear blackmail as provocative and inflammatory. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced the creation of a new "Army Rocket Force Command" to bolster the country's defence capabilities. Sharif made this announcement during a speech marking Independence Day celebrations, but gave no further details. India celebrates its Independence Day one day after Pakistan. The two states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead, and triggered one of the largest human migrations in history. India and Pakistan exchanged tit-for-tat military strikes in May that brought them to the brink of a war. The fighting between the two countries was sparked by an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Days after the massacre, India launched strikes on Pakistan and said it had hit nine "terrorist infrastructure" sites. Pakistan responded by sending waves of drones into India, as well as missile and artillery bombardments. Dozens of people were killed on both sides until a ceasefire was reached May 10 after US mediation. Modi did not directly mention US President Donald Trump's tariffs on India in his Independence Day speech but said he would not compromise on the agriculture sector, one of the main sticking points in trade negotiations with the US. Earlier in August, Trump imposed a 25 per cent penalty on India in addition to 25 per cent tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia. India has resisted US pressure to open its markets to some farm products as Modi's government is unwilling to risk angering farmers, who are a powerful voting bloc. "India will not compromise on interest of farmers," he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbour if there are future attacks on India as he marked 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. Modi's remarks on Friday come three months after nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense fighting, their worst clash in decades. Modi addressed the country from New Delhi's 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, saying India has established a "new normal" that does not differentiate between "terrorists" and those who support terrorism. He said he would not tolerate what he called Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail". "India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on but this blackmail will not be tolerated now," Modi said. There was no immediate response from Pakistan to Modi's remarks. Pakistan previously has rejected India's statements about nuclear blackmail as provocative and inflammatory. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced the creation of a new "Army Rocket Force Command" to bolster the country's defence capabilities. Sharif made this announcement during a speech marking Independence Day celebrations, but gave no further details. India celebrates its Independence Day one day after Pakistan. The two states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead, and triggered one of the largest human migrations in history. India and Pakistan exchanged tit-for-tat military strikes in May that brought them to the brink of a war. The fighting between the two countries was sparked by an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Days after the massacre, India launched strikes on Pakistan and said it had hit nine "terrorist infrastructure" sites. Pakistan responded by sending waves of drones into India, as well as missile and artillery bombardments. Dozens of people were killed on both sides until a ceasefire was reached May 10 after US mediation. Modi did not directly mention US President Donald Trump's tariffs on India in his Independence Day speech but said he would not compromise on the agriculture sector, one of the main sticking points in trade negotiations with the US. Earlier in August, Trump imposed a 25 per cent penalty on India in addition to 25 per cent tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia. India has resisted US pressure to open its markets to some farm products as Modi's government is unwilling to risk angering farmers, who are a powerful voting bloc. "India will not compromise on interest of farmers," he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbour if there are future attacks on India as he marked 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. Modi's remarks on Friday come three months after nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense fighting, their worst clash in decades. Modi addressed the country from New Delhi's 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, saying India has established a "new normal" that does not differentiate between "terrorists" and those who support terrorism. He said he would not tolerate what he called Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail". "India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on but this blackmail will not be tolerated now," Modi said. There was no immediate response from Pakistan to Modi's remarks. Pakistan previously has rejected India's statements about nuclear blackmail as provocative and inflammatory. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced the creation of a new "Army Rocket Force Command" to bolster the country's defence capabilities. Sharif made this announcement during a speech marking Independence Day celebrations, but gave no further details. India celebrates its Independence Day one day after Pakistan. The two states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead, and triggered one of the largest human migrations in history. India and Pakistan exchanged tit-for-tat military strikes in May that brought them to the brink of a war. The fighting between the two countries was sparked by an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Days after the massacre, India launched strikes on Pakistan and said it had hit nine "terrorist infrastructure" sites. Pakistan responded by sending waves of drones into India, as well as missile and artillery bombardments. Dozens of people were killed on both sides until a ceasefire was reached May 10 after US mediation. Modi did not directly mention US President Donald Trump's tariffs on India in his Independence Day speech but said he would not compromise on the agriculture sector, one of the main sticking points in trade negotiations with the US. Earlier in August, Trump imposed a 25 per cent penalty on India in addition to 25 per cent tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia. India has resisted US pressure to open its markets to some farm products as Modi's government is unwilling to risk angering farmers, who are a powerful voting bloc. "India will not compromise on interest of farmers," he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbour if there are future attacks on India as he marked 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. Modi's remarks on Friday come three months after nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense fighting, their worst clash in decades. Modi addressed the country from New Delhi's 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, saying India has established a "new normal" that does not differentiate between "terrorists" and those who support terrorism. He said he would not tolerate what he called Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail". "India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on but this blackmail will not be tolerated now," Modi said. There was no immediate response from Pakistan to Modi's remarks. Pakistan previously has rejected India's statements about nuclear blackmail as provocative and inflammatory. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced the creation of a new "Army Rocket Force Command" to bolster the country's defence capabilities. Sharif made this announcement during a speech marking Independence Day celebrations, but gave no further details. India celebrates its Independence Day one day after Pakistan. The two states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead, and triggered one of the largest human migrations in history. India and Pakistan exchanged tit-for-tat military strikes in May that brought them to the brink of a war. The fighting between the two countries was sparked by an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Days after the massacre, India launched strikes on Pakistan and said it had hit nine "terrorist infrastructure" sites. Pakistan responded by sending waves of drones into India, as well as missile and artillery bombardments. Dozens of people were killed on both sides until a ceasefire was reached May 10 after US mediation. Modi did not directly mention US President Donald Trump's tariffs on India in his Independence Day speech but said he would not compromise on the agriculture sector, one of the main sticking points in trade negotiations with the US. Earlier in August, Trump imposed a 25 per cent penalty on India in addition to 25 per cent tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia. India has resisted US pressure to open its markets to some farm products as Modi's government is unwilling to risk angering farmers, who are a powerful voting bloc. "India will not compromise on interest of farmers," he said.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
India's Modi vows to punish Pakistan for future attacks
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbour if there are future attacks on India as he marked 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. Modi's remarks on Friday come three months after nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense fighting, their worst clash in decades. Modi addressed the country from New Delhi's 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, saying India has established a "new normal" that does not differentiate between "terrorists" and those who support terrorism. He said he would not tolerate what he called Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail". "India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on but this blackmail will not be tolerated now," Modi said. There was no immediate response from Pakistan to Modi's remarks. Pakistan previously has rejected India's statements about nuclear blackmail as provocative and inflammatory. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced the creation of a new "Army Rocket Force Command" to bolster the country's defence capabilities. Sharif made this announcement during a speech marking Independence Day celebrations, but gave no further details. India celebrates its Independence Day one day after Pakistan. The two states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead, and triggered one of the largest human migrations in history. India and Pakistan exchanged tit-for-tat military strikes in May that brought them to the brink of a war. The fighting between the two countries was sparked by an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Days after the massacre, India launched strikes on Pakistan and said it had hit nine "terrorist infrastructure" sites. Pakistan responded by sending waves of drones into India, as well as missile and artillery bombardments. Dozens of people were killed on both sides until a ceasefire was reached May 10 after US mediation. Modi did not directly mention US President Donald Trump's tariffs on India in his Independence Day speech but said he would not compromise on the agriculture sector, one of the main sticking points in trade negotiations with the US. Earlier in August, Trump imposed a 25 per cent penalty on India in addition to 25 per cent tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia. India has resisted US pressure to open its markets to some farm products as Modi's government is unwilling to risk angering farmers, who are a powerful voting bloc. "India will not compromise on interest of farmers," he said.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
India's Modi vows to punish Pakistan for future attacks
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbour if there are future attacks on India as he marked 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. Modi's remarks on Friday come three months after nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense fighting, their worst clash in decades. Modi addressed the country from New Delhi's 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, saying India has established a "new normal" that does not differentiate between "terrorists" and those who support terrorism. He said he would not tolerate what he called Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail". "India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on but this blackmail will not be tolerated now," Modi said. There was no immediate response from Pakistan to Modi's remarks. Pakistan previously has rejected India's statements about nuclear blackmail as provocative and inflammatory. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced the creation of a new "Army Rocket Force Command" to bolster the country's defence capabilities. Sharif made this announcement during a speech marking Independence Day celebrations, but gave no further details. India celebrates its Independence Day one day after Pakistan. The two states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead, and triggered one of the largest human migrations in history. India and Pakistan exchanged tit-for-tat military strikes in May that brought them to the brink of a war. The fighting between the two countries was sparked by an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Days after the massacre, India launched strikes on Pakistan and said it had hit nine "terrorist infrastructure" sites. Pakistan responded by sending waves of drones into India, as well as missile and artillery bombardments. Dozens of people were killed on both sides until a ceasefire was reached May 10 after US mediation. Modi did not directly mention US President Donald Trump's tariffs on India in his Independence Day speech but said he would not compromise on the agriculture sector, one of the main sticking points in trade negotiations with the US. Earlier in August, Trump imposed a 25 per cent penalty on India in addition to 25 per cent tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia. India has resisted US pressure to open its markets to some farm products as Modi's government is unwilling to risk angering farmers, who are a powerful voting bloc. "India will not compromise on interest of farmers," he said.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
PM announces formation of force to supervise missiles
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the formation of a new military branch — the Army Rocket Force Command — in a move aimed at strengthening the country's conventional warfare capability in the wake of recent hostilities with India. Speaking at a ceremony marking the country's 79th Independence Day late Wednesday night, the prime minister said the new command, equipped with advanced technology, would enable the armed forces to 'target the enemy from every direction' and represented 'another milestone' in bolstering the nation's defensive posture. The formation of the Rocket Force follows a brief military confrontation with India earlier this year in May, referred to as Marka-e-Haq, or Battle of Truth. The conflict erupted after the 22nd April attack in Pahalgam and concluded with a ceasefire on 10th May. Sharif described the military engagement as a swift and decisive response by Pakistan's armed forces, claiming victory within 'three to four days'. 'India forgot that wars are not won with weapons alone, but with the spirit of the nation,' he maintained. The establishment of the new command comes shortly after the federal budget for 2025-26 fiscal year, announced in June, which included a 20 percent increase in defence spending — a rise widely viewed as part of a broader strategy to modernise country's armed forces. At the Independence Day event — held late on Wednesday night — the prime minister unveiled a digital model of the proposed Marka-e-Haq Monument. The ceremony featured a military parade, a flypast by the Pakistan Air Force Falcons, and participation by personnel from Türkiye and Azerbaijan. Fireworks marked the culmination of the event as the national anthem was played at midnight. Senior officials in attendance included President Asif Ali Zardari, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, as well as Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior civil and military officials. The prime minister praised Field Marshal Munir, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu for their leadership during the conflict, calling it the beginning of a 'new Pakistan'. He also paid tribute to his brother, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, for defying international pressure in 1998 to conduct Pakistan's nuclear tests in Chagai, Balochistan. 'Our nuclear arsenal is not for aggression. It is only for defensive purposes,' he added. In a move aimed at promoting political unity, the prime minister also invited all political parties to join a proposed national charter, Misaq-e-Istehkam-e-Pakistan (Charter for Pakistan's Stability). 'Differences have their own place,' he said, 'but we are all one for the sake of our beloved Pakistan.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
