Latest news with #Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Shashi Tharoor Blasts China for Shielding Pak Terror Group at UN
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has slammed China for backing Pakistan in removing a key terror reference from a UN Security Council statement. During his visit to Brazil as part of an Indian delegation, Tharoor criticized Beijing for helping shield the Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked Resistance Front. He revealed that India had repeatedly flagged the group with the UN Sanctions Committee, but China's support to Pakistan ensured that RF's name was removed from the final press statement. In a sharp remark, Tharoor said, 'We are not on the Security Council, and neither are you. We have to change that.' Watch the full video for the explosive details from Brazil, diplomatic fallout, and what this means for India's global anti-terror efforts.#shashitharoor #chinapakistan #unscterrorshield #resistancefront #lashkaretaiba #unpressstatement #indiabrazildelegation #crossborderterrorism #tharoorchinacriticism #pakistanterrorlinks #unscpolitics #tharoorlatestspeech #chinablocksunaction #terrorisminsouthasia #unitednationsnews #toi #toibharat
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Business Standard
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Pahalgam attack to Trump mediation: Complete timeline of India-Pak conflict
India and Pakistan agreed to cease all military operations following a surprise understanding brokered by the United States. The de-escalation, announced after intense overnight talks led by US President Donald Trump's administration with both New Delhi and Islamabad, brought the two nuclear-armed neighbours back from the precipice of full-scale war. The verbal agreement was said to be effective from 5 pm on May 10. This truce followed nearly 20 days of escalating conflict, sparked by the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists. India blamed Pakistan 's deep state and associated the attack with the Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked group, The Resistance Front—charges Pakistan denied. As both sides retaliated militarily and diplomatically, fears of a wider conflict mounted. Here's a complete timeline on how the crisis unfolded and what is known so far. April 22: Pahalgam terror attack A brutal terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, left 26 dead, including 25 Indians and one Nepali tourist. Terror group The Resistance Front claimed responsibility, but later denied their role in the incident. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the group has links to Lashkar-e-Taiba and confirms 'established' Pakistan connections. India accused Islamabad of doing nothing to dismantle the terror infrastructure. April 23: India suspends Indus Waters Treaty April 24: Pakistan suspends Simla Agreement Pakistan responded with its own countermeasures: Closure of airspace to Indian flights Suspension of the 1972 Simla Agreement Shutting the Wagah border for trade Expulsion of Indian military diplomats SAARC visa exemption revoked for Indian citizens April 25 – May 6: Ceasefire violations across LoC Pakistan engaged in frequent low-intensity cross-border firing across multiple sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian forces responded in kind with proportionate use of small arms. Early morning, May 7: India launches Operation Sindoor In the wee hours of May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting precision strikes on nine terror training camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Foreign Secretary Misri clarified that the strikes were a focused and measured exercise in self-defence, avoiding any Pakistani military installations. x May 7 night: Pakistan retaliates with 15 missile firings in J&K Later that same day, Pakistan launched 15 missiles at Indian territory, with eight aimed at locations in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian air defences intercepted the attacks and launched a retaliatory drone strike, which successfully disabled several of Pakistan's air defence units, including sites in Lahore, the government said. May 8 night: Pakistan launches 300-400 drones Pakistan initiated a second wave of retaliation by deploying between 300 and 400 drones across 36 western Indian towns and cities. Many of the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard SONGARs. The Indian military reported that around fifty drones were shot down, while others were neutralised through radio jamming. May 9: Third wave of drone attacks from Pakistan The night of May 9 witnessed a third wave of missile and drone attacks from Pakistan. Indian air defences remained active into the morning of May 10, as drone sightings were reported over Amritsar and Jaisalmer. May 9: IMF approves $1 bn funding to Pak, India abstains The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $1 billion disbursement to Pakistan under the Extended Fund Facility, bringing total disbursements under the programme to $2.1 billion. Additionally, $1.4 billion was cleared under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility, ostensibly to help Pakistan address climate-related vulnerabilities. India abstained from voting at the IMF Executive Board meeting, sharply criticising the decision. The Finance Ministry issued a statement saying the IMF's processes 'lacked moral safeguards' and warned that such fungible inflows could easily be diverted to fund military or terrorist activities. May 10 morning: India accuses Pak of attacking 26 urban centres On the morning of May 10, the Ministry of External Affairs publicly accused Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. The government said this represented a clear and unacceptable escalation. A senior government official was confirmed dead in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, and civilians were injured in Ferozepur, Punjab. India also reported that Pakistan had targeted twenty-six urban centres, including military bases near Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, Adampur and Pathankot in Punjab, and Bhuj in Gujarat. May 10 afternoon: India and Pakistan agree to a conditional ceasefire Amid warnings of yet another night of sirens, blackouts and incoming strikes, unexpected news emerged that the United States had successfully mediated a ceasefire. Initially announced by President Trump on his Truth Social platform, the understanding of a ceasefire was later confirmed by joint statements from both Indian and Pakistani officials. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri revealed that the DGMO of Pakistan had called his Indian counterpart at 3:30 pm and agreed to cease all hostilities—on land, air, and sea—effective from 5 pm that day. One of the conditions discussed in this case was that India would not reactivate the Indus Waters Treaty. May 10 night: Explosions heard over J&K Just hours after the agreement took effect, explosions were reported in Srinagar. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on social media, 'This is no ceasefire,' adding that air defence units in Srinagar had opened fire and explosions were being heard across the city. Later that evening, Foreign Secretary Misri admitted that there had been repeated violations of the military understanding reached earlier that day. It must be noted that an official ceasefire was not in place - an understanding of a ceasefire was reached. A formal ceasefire is a legally binding agreement between conflicting parties, often documented and sometimes mediated by third parties. In this case, the third party could possibly be the United States. It includes clearly defined terms, official signatories, and mechanisms for monitoring compliance. The 1972 Simla Agreement is one example. It converted the Ceasefire Line into the LoC and established that all disputes would be resolved bilaterally. In contrast, an "understanding" of a ceasefire is typically informal, lacks legal enforceability, and is often communicated verbally, as was the case here.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Houses Of Five Terrorists Demolished Across J&K Days After Pahalgam Attack
In a powerful retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian security forces have demolished homes of multiple Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked terrorists across Jammu & Kashmir. Major operations were carried out in Shopian, Kulgam, and Pulwama, targeting key suspects accused of coordinating anti-India terror activities. The crackdown comes amid India's pledge to eliminate terrorism and those backing it. Watch
News18
26-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pahalgam Attack: Pakistan's Desperate Attempt To Disrupt Peace In Kashmir
Last Updated: After this despicable attack, the message is unmistakable: this is war. India will not cower, nor will it let the blood of innocents stain its soil without retribution. The horrific terror attack on tourists, the first in years to shatter Kashmir's fragile peace, turned Pahalgam's serene Baisaran meadows into a scene of carnage on April 22, 2025, claiming at least 26 lives, including a newlywed Navy officer. These Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked attackers, dressed in military gear and recording their brutality with body cameras, slipped out of the forests to gun down innocent people—men, women, elderly—who had come to soak in the valley's beauty. Survivors describe a living nightmare: a gunman demanding victims' names and religions before shooting a man in the head, his wife's cries drowned by gunfire; bodies scattered across the grass, some still holding snacks, others lying beside loved ones pleading for help. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed this slaughter, citing 'demographic changes" while leaving behind broken families and a death toll that may rise as the wounded cling to life. The gall of this massacre in a place known as 'mini-Switzerland" sparks raw fury. These killers didn't just strike—they hunted, firing at close range to ensure no one escaped. A 26-year-old Navy lieutenant, married just six days, saw his future erased, leaving his bride to mourn a love destroyed. An 83-year-old from Tamil Nadu and a 65-year-old woman from Odisha were among the injured, their joyful trip twisted into a blood-stained tragedy. The images sear your mind: locals rushing the wounded on ponies down rocky paths, helicopters circling a valley now drenched in grief. This wasn't just an attack—it was a deliberate blow to hope, a cruel wound to a Kashmir striving for peace, orchestrated by those who thrive on chaos and division. Kashmir, for years a cauldron of unrest, has been clawing its way toward normalcy, a transformation that Pakistan's terror machinery cannot stomach. The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 marked a turning point, dismantling the legal barriers that fuelled separatist dreams and opening the region to integration with India. Tourism, a barometer of stability, has soared: in 2024 alone, 3.5 million visitors, including 43,000 foreigners, flocked to the valley, a stark contrast to the numbers in 2018 before the revocation. The first quarter of 2025 saw 500,000 tourists, a 30-year high, drawn to Pahalgam's meadows and Srinagar's tulip gardens. Cinemas, shuttered for decades, are flickering back to life—Srinagar's INOX multiplex welcomed 250,000 moviegoers in 2024. Malls and shopping complexes, like the gleaming Sara City Centre in Srinagar, buzz with locals and visitors, while homestays in remote villages thrive, signalling economic revival. Life is being celebrated again—weddings, festivals, and markets pulse with joy, a defiant rejection of the fear that once gripped the region. Local Kashmiri Muslims, long caught in the crossfire of competing narratives, are increasingly seeing their future tethered to India's stability, not the crumbling mirage of Pakistan's promises. Pakistan, a nation buckling under economic ruin and internal strife—its GDP growth limping at 2.4 per cent in 2024, inflation soaring to 12 per cent—offers nothing but chaos. The 2024 Jammu and Kashmir elections, with a 63 per cent voter turnout, the highest in decades, reflect a shift: Kashmiris are voting for development, jobs, and peace, not for a failed state that fuels rebellion from afar. This awakening terrifies Pakistan, whose decades-long strategy of bleeding India through proxy terror is losing its grip. The separatist narrative, once a rallying cry, now rings hollow against the backdrop of a resurgent Kashmir, where locals welcome tourists with warmth, not suspicion. Pakistan's desperation is palpable—it cannot bear the sight of a Kashmir slipping from its grasp, embracing a future aligned with India's pluralistic promise. This attack, meticulously planned, is Pakistan's venomous retort to Kashmir's revival. The Baisaran meadow, accessible only by foot or horseback, is no random target—its remoteness demands weeks of reconnaissance, local intelligence, and cold-blooded precision. Intelligence agencies point to LeT/TRF commander Saifullah Kasuri and two Rawalkot-based Lashkar operatives as the masterminds, with six terrorists, backed by a local sleeper cell, executing the strike after detailed scouting. The timing is no coincidence: US Vice President JD Vance's visit to India, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Saudi Arabia, placed global eyes on India, amplifying the attack's impact. Pakistan's aim is clear—to scream to the world that Kashmir remains a tinderbox, to choke its tourism-driven economy, and to derail the narrative of normalcy. By targeting tourists, a soft and symbolic target, Pakistan seeks to instil fear, disrupt the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage looming weeks away, and tarnish India's image as a stable destination. After this despicable attack, the message is unmistakable: this is war. India will not cower, nor will it let the blood of innocents—tourists, a young Navy officer, elderly travellers—stain its soil without retribution. The perpetrators, skulking under the shadow of Pakistan's terror machinery, will face a reckoning. Pakistan, a nation that speaks only the language of violence, will be answered in kind. The audacity in orchestrating such a slaughter in Pahalgam, a meticulously planned strike to maximise fear, demands a response that leaves no doubt about India's resolve. The Lashkar-e-Taiba and its venomous spawn, The Resistance Front, backed by Pakistan's ISI, have overplayed their hand, and the cost of their barbarity should be steep. Simultaneously, a subtler but no less vicious war rages—the battle for narrative, waged in newsrooms, social media, and literature festivals. Pakistan peddles an insidious lie: that India and Pakistan share equal blame for Kashmir's turmoil, a false equivalence that whitewashes decades of Pakistani aggression. The truth is stark—India has been the victim, its cities scarred by Pakistan's terror campaign. From the 2001 Parliament attack to the 2008 Mumbai massacre, where 166 lives were snuffed out by ISI-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba, to the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault, Pakistan's fingerprints mark every wound. Just days before the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir spewed divisive bile, invoking the two-nation theory to declare Muslims and Hindus irreconcilable. His words were a prelude to this bloodbath, a calculated signal to his proxies to target Hindu civilians. Worse, Pakistan's propaganda subtly prods India's Muslim communities, sowing discord with dog-whistle messages that fall flat but reveal its communal agenda. The ideological thread is unmistakable—Pakistan's terror and its rhetoric are two sides of the same coin. India will not let this narrative war be hijacked. The myth of moral parity must be shattered, for Pakistan is no equal; it is the aggressor, its hands dripping with the blood of thousands. While Pakistan's economy crumbles—its debt-to-GDP ratio at 70 per cent in 2024, its streets roiled by protests—India stands tall, a rising power hosting global events and conferences like the G20. Kashmir's revival, with its booming tourism and vibrant local support for integration, is a story Pakistan seeks to drown in fear. But India will fight on both fronts. On the battlefield, it will hunt down those who planned and executed this horror, ensuring justice for the fallen. In the war of ideas, India will expose Pakistan's duplicity, countering its lies with the truth of a Kashmir embracing peace and progress. This is not just a fight for territory—it is a battle for the soul of a region, and India will prevail, undaunted by the shadows Pakistan casts. The writer takes special interest in history, culture and geopolitics. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Kashmir terror Lashkar-e-Taiba Pahalgam attack Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: April 25, 2025, 15:27 IST News opinion Opinion | Pahalgam Attack: Pakistan's Desperate Attempt To Disrupt Peace In Kashmir
News18
25-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
'No Help For 40 Mins, No Security Measures': Pahalgam Victim's Wife Narrates Traumatic Ordeal
Last Updated: Karnataka-based businessman Manjunath Rao, who was shot dead in Pahalgam in front of his wife and son, was cremated with full state honours on Friday. Pahalgam Terror Attack: Karnataka-based businessman Manjunath Rao, who came to Kashmir for a vacation with his wife and son, was among the 26 victims of a devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam that has shaken India and prompted the Army to intensify anti-terror operations across the valley. Rao's wife Pallavi had earlier shared chilling moments when a terrorist belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked (LeT) the Resistance Front (TRF) gunned down her husband in front of her and their son Abhijay. The wife and son had demanded that the terrorist kill them as well, but he refused and instead coldly said, 'Tell this to Modi." Speaking to CNN-News18, Pallavi recalled her traumatic ordeal on how the terrorists targeted men, asked them about their religion and shot them dead. 'I have seen a lot of bloodshed. I cannot share my trauma. We were enjoying the scenic beauty, then suddenly we heard gunshots," she said. Pallavi said her family initially thought there was some Army training going on after they heard gunshots and ignored the noises. They also assumed that there would be enough security as CRPF personnel patrolled the route leading to Pahalgam from Srinagar. 'My husband was shot and lying down in a pool of blood. If there had been security there, this would not have happened. No security was there at the location," she further told News18. Recalling the incident as a 'bad dream", Pallavi further said people who survived the attack were going around asking for help. 'No help arrived for at least 40 minutes to one hour. Our mobiles were dead. We asked for help from the locals, who called the Army for help," she said, adding that she and her son were traumatised and did not know what to do till they were taken away by security forces. 'Manjunath was very friendly… I have lost everything," she added. Manjunath Rao was a real estate businessman and a resident of Shivamogga, and his death sparked condemnation from Karnataka government leaders. Manjunath's body, as well as that of another Bengaluru victim Bharath Bhushan, reached the city on early Thursday morning at around 3:45 am. Pradeep, Manjunath Rao's brother-in-law, and Vinutha, a relative of Bhushan's wife Sujatha, were at the airport to receive the mortal remains, as per reports. His final rites were conducted with police honours in the presence of family members, elected representatives, and senior officers of the Shivamogga district administration, according to The Hindu. Hundreds of people paid their respects to the deceased and took part in the procession. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi was also present to offer his condolences. The Karnataka government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each of the three tourists from the state who were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.
