Latest news with #Pakistan-based
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- The Hindu
Terrorist killed recently in Basantgarh was top JeM commander Haider: Jammu and Kashmir DGP
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) said the terrorist eliminated in an encounter in Dudu-Basantgarh forest in Udhampur district was a topmost commander of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit who was active in the area for the last four years. Asserting that the security forces are continuing their operations to neutralise terrorists, he highlighted the good relations between police and public and said the police cannot be successful without the support of the people. "The anti-terror operations are taking place continuously, and recently, we got a very big success in Dudu-Basantgarh, where a senior and top JeM commander, who was active in that area for the last four years, was killed. The operations are taking place and all the terrorists will be eliminated one by one," the police chief told reporters at the Akhnoor police station near Jammu. On June 26, JeM terrorist Haider, code-named Maulvi, from Pakistan, was killed in a gunfight while three of his associates managed to escape, taking advantage of inclement weather, challenging topography and dense forest in the Basantgarh area. However, the DGP declined to give the exact number of terrorists active in the forest areas of the Jammu region and said "that number cannot be given in the public domain". The DGP, along with Inspector General of CRPF Gopal Sharma; Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti; and Deputy Inspector General of police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua range, Shiv Kumar, visited Akhnoor police station to felicitate the personnel for receiving the prestigious 'Award of Excellence' from the Ministry of Home Affairs in the annual ranking of police stations in J-K for 2024. Handing over the award to the police station, the DGP hailed the officers and men posted at the police station for their rapport with the public and said the successful operation in the Akhnoor sector early this year was the result of timely input received from the public. "Police cannot be successful without the support of the public. The public support makes all difficult tasks easy, otherwise there will be challenges," he said, lauding the Jammu police for their outstanding performance against the drug menace, bovine smuggling and gangsters. He also lauded the exceptional performance of the then station house officer (SHO) Tariq Ahmed, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Mohan Sharma and Superintendent of Police Brijesh Sharma for their outstanding leadership and dedication in 2024. He extended his best wishes to incumbent SHO Sanjeev Chib and SDPO Varinder Gupta for continuing the legacy of excellence.
India Today
20 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Pahalgam terrorists fired in air to celebrate after killing 26: Eyewitness
In the ongoing investigation into the recent Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, it has been revealed that terrorists were seen firing in the air to celebrate their heinous within the security apparatus said that the three terrorists who carried out the Baisaran valley attack were seen resorting to celebratory firing immediately following the carnage, indicating a brazen display of their violent breakthrough in the probe has come from a crucial eyewitness, described by officials as a valuable source of intelligence for the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The eyewitness, a local service provider who was confronted by the terrorists moments after the attack, has provided vital information that is helping to piece together the sequence of events. According to the eyewitness, two locals arrested by the NIA for providing logistical support to the terrorists were present at the valley during the attack. These individuals were reportedly managing the belongings of the three terrorists on the mentioned terrorists is a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander named Sulaiman, who is a dreaded operative wanted in connection with three other terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, including a high-profile attack on the Z Morh tunnel construction April 22, Pakistan-based terrorists opened fire on tourists in the scenic Baisaran Valley, killing 26 people. Most of the victims were tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the the attack, India imposed several sanctions on Pakistan by suspending several strategic deals with the neighbouring country. These included suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, expulsion of Pakistani diplomats, shutting down of the Attari-Wagah border and more.- Ends
India.com
21 hours ago
- India.com
J-K: Properties Worth Crore Belonging To Pakistan-Based Terrorist Handler Seized In Budgam
The Jammu and Kashmir Police has seized three immovable properties worth crores of rupees belonging to Pakistan-based terrorist handlers in Budgam district. The properties were attached in the areas of Khag, Chewa Beerwah, and Harwani Khansahab in Budgam district. This action was executed under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to disrupt terror networks by targeting assets linked to terrorist activities. Budgam police in a handout said, 'In a major crackdown on terror operatives and their support structures, Budgam Police have attached three properties belonging to Pakistan-based terrorist handlers located in Khag, Chewa Beerwah, and Harwani Khansahib in presence of concerned Executive Magistrates. The action was carried out in connection with case FIR No. 58/2024 U/S 7/25 Indian Arms Act, 18, 20, 23 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of Police Station Khag, and under proceedings-initiated U/S 25 of UAPA for attachment of properties used in terrorist activities. The properties attached belong to the following accused persons presently operating from across the border: 1. Manzoor Ahmad Chopan @ Rayees S/O Gh. Mohi-ud-din Chopan, R/O Harwani Khansahib (Double-storied residential house with premises at village Harwani Khansahib, Budgam under Khasra No. 763). 2. Mohammad Yousuf Malik @ Molvi S/O Ab. Rahim Malik, R/O Chewa Budgam (Double-storied residential house along with 05 Kanals, 13 Marlas of land at village Chewa Budgam under Khasra No. 151). Ahmad Wani @ Umer S/O Gh. Ahmad Wani, R/O Nagbal Khag (Land measuring 19.5 Marlas situated at Khag under Khasra Nos. 1093 and 1094). Police added, 'These terrorist handlers, operating from Pakistan, have been actively orchestrating and facilitating terrorist activities in the region for several years. The attachment of their properties is a part of the ongoing efforts to dismantle the logistical, financial, and operational networks of terror outfits and their cross-border sponsors. This operation aligns with ongoing efforts by Jammu and Kashmir Police to dismantle terror support structures, which include seizing assets acquired through proceeds of terrorism or used to harbor terrorists. These efforts reflect a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism and its support networks.
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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
How Op Sindoor oversaw the trailer of China-Pakistan two-front threat
Beijing as a major player will prefer to remain invisible, and it is in this grey zone that India will witness greater Pakistan-China collusivity, which will get compounded in times to come read more China's official responses to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack mirrored Pakistan's narrative—advocating a 'quick and fair investigation' of the Pahalgam attack and expressing 'full understanding' of Islamabad's 'legitimate security concerns'. While the Chinese Foreign Office spokesperson termed the May 7 response by India on terrorist targets in Pakistan as 'regrettable', China also collaborated with Pakistan in diluting the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Press Statement, excising any direct reference to The Resistance Front—a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and the group behind the Pahalgam attack. More recently, it also prevented an inclusion of the terror attack in the draft Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) communique, resulting in the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refusing to sign the document on June 25, as it would have weakened India's position on terrorism and regional security. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Chinese media also played an active role in shaping perceptions by amplifying Pakistan's propaganda. The digital landscape also underscored China's active alignment with Pakistan's strategic messaging, which included celebrating the alleged success of Chinese-origin military platforms deployed by Pakistan. A recurring theme was the concern that the crisis could escalate into a nuclear conflict, prompting calls for international diplomatic intervention to prevent further escalation. However, the Chinese role is now no longer restricted to the dimensions of diplomacy, economy, supply of military hardware, and strategic communications. It has metamorphosed to a degree where a conflict with Pakistan now openly involves China, as Pakistan's military capability in terms of weapons and technology has been boosted by China. It is well known that Pakistan is the biggest buyer of Chinese military hardware, but it is now the 'military software', as evidenced during Operation Sindoor, which is concerning. Deputy Army Chief's Remarks On July 04, the Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, while speaking on Operation Sindoor, reinforced this important aspect of the China-Pakistan nexus when he stated that China was an ever-present factor bolstering Pakistan's military efforts through unprecedented battlefield collusion during Operation Sindoor. Drones, cyber operations, and net-centric warfare elements employed by Pakistan showed unmistakable imprints of the 'Chinese military playbook'. The Deputy Chief also said that Chinese Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems provided real-time data, situational awareness, and surveillance capabilities to the Pakistani forces. Even civilian assets such as the Chinese fishing fleet were reportedly leveraged to monitor Indian naval deployments, while Pakistan's Navy remained coastal-bound. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He stated that Pakistan had full visibility into Indian military deployments, which was made evident during the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO)-level talks by disclosing that 'When the DGMO-level talks were going on, Pakistan actually was mentioning that 'we know that your such-and-such important vector is primed and ready for action. I would request you to perhaps pull it back'. It is apparent that Pakistan was getting these inputs … from China'. Operation Sindoor was also a test bed for China's defence industry, validating its platforms and collecting performance data in real combat. As per him, 81 per cent of Pakistan's military hardware acquired in the last five years is from China. He said that China was using Pakistan as a 'live lab' to test its weapons against various other weapon systems. To quote Siemon Wezeman of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 'Any state producing or buying weapons is keen to see how the product does in real conflict. Tests and exercises can tell most about the capabilities of weapons, but the ultimate test is often combat.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This in turn allows the Chinese to improve and upgrade their product for the next conflict. These upgrades will probably be available to Pakistan, which will be better prepared in the future. Lieutenant General Singh revealed that during Operation Sindoor, India faced not just Pakistan but effectively three adversaries on one border. 'Pakistan was the front face. We had China providing all possible support … Turkey also played a very important role in providing the type of support that was there.' He also disclosed that Turkey provided substantial support to Pakistan, including Bayraktar drones and trained personnel. 'Turkey also played a very important role in providing the type of support that was there. Bayraktar, of course, has been there. We saw numerous other drones also coming in during the war, along with trained sorts of individuals who were there,' he revealed. This brings out Turkey's active role in supporting Pakistan against India, indicating a broader geopolitical alignment that extends beyond traditional Pakistan-China cooperation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China Downplays Remarks On July 7, China downplayed the deputy chief's remarks, and its foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a media briefing, 'I am not familiar with the specifics you mentioned. Let me say that China and Pakistan are close neighbours who enjoy traditional friendship. Defence and security cooperation is part of the normal cooperation between the two countries and does not target any third party.' At the same time, Mao said the India-China relationship is in a 'critical moment of improvement and development' and Beijing would like to promote steady growth of bilateral ties with New Delhi. When it was pointed out that China's active support in providing live inputs to Pakistan during the conflict was contrary to her assertion that the close ties do not target any third party, Mao said, 'I am not sure how that allegation came about. Different people may have different perspectives.' In sync with these remarks, the Pakistan Army Chief, General Asim Munir, now 'Field Marshal', in an address to graduating officers at the National Defence University in Islamabad, said, 'Insinuations regarding external support in Pakistan's successful Operation Bunyanum Marsoos are irresponsible and factually incorrect.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan-China Collusivity The handing over of Shaksgam Valley in Gilgit–Baltistan by Pakistan to China in 1963 was a defining moment in Pakistan-China relations. In 1964, Pakistan became the first non-communist country to begin its flights to China. In March 1965, Pakistan denounced the 'Two China policy' of the US. China now began to regard Pakistan as a trustworthy partner in South Asia. The 1965 India-Pakistan war proved to be a real catalyst in cementing these ties, as China fully supported Pakistan. In 1971, the US used Pakistan to reach out to China, and in recent years China has always stood by Pakistan at all international forums and provided them all possible support, including the transfer of advanced missile and nuclear technologies. During Operation Sindoor, Chinese-origin systems were employed by Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force's deployment of Chinese J-10C fighters armed with PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles, alongside HQ-9 air defence systems, and the operational integration honed over years of joint exercises such as the Shaheen series were visible. This interoperability was not just symbolic. It was translated into tactical advantages in real-time combat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China's BeiDou satellite navigation system played a critical role, including in missile guidance for the PL-15, reaffirming the direct integration of Chinese systems into Pakistani battlefield operations. The Chinese satellite network Baidu continuously searched, identified, and tracked targets on the Indian side, and thereafter the data was fed to the fire control systems of the aircraft that were being tested by China through the air force of its autonomous region—Pakistan. Therefore, the air-to-air missiles could have found a target on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC). On May 12, Air Marshal A K Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, presented visual evidence of missile remnants and named China-supplied weapons in the Pakistani arsenal used against the Indian Armed Forces. 'You can see the pieces of it on the screen,' he said, showcasing debris of the PL-15 long-range missile that fell inside Indian territory, including a relatively intact rear section recovered from Hoshiarpur in Punjab. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reports also indicate the fusion of the Swedish Saab 2000 Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform alongside Chinese systems to target Indian aircraft, reflecting a sophisticated convergence of multi-origin platforms, many of which are enabled or integrated by Chinese technologies. Pakistan's announcement on June 6 of China offering it its fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighters, the KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft, and the HQ-19 ballistic missile defence system reinforces its position as the foremost recipient of Chinese frontline military hardware. China and Pakistan have a shared enmity with India, and Pakistan, with its geostrategic location, is integral to China's transformation to a global power, as it provides Beijing connectivity through both the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Maritime Silk Route. Conclusion The fact is that India is dealing with the legacy of the unsettled borders with both China and Pakistan on the LoC, Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), and LAC. This has resulted in the deployment of forces to safeguard our territorial sovereignty. Post the June 2020 Galwan crisis, while disengagement has taken place, the deinduction of troops has not. The ceasefire along the LoC has also effectively collapsed post Operation Sindoor. The collusion is no longer in the realm of fantasy; it is a fact. The lessons from Operation Sindoor should guide India's threat assessments, force modernisation, and operational thought process. This fundamentally changes India's strategic calculus and defence planning, as it confirms the two-front collusive threat is not a theoretical construct for the Indian military but an operational reality. We therefore need to secure ourselves and promote our national interests by building on our economy and strengthening our military capabilities. While speaking at an event hosted by the Observer Research Foundation on 08 July, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said, 'There is a possible convergence of interest we can talk about between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh that may have implications for India's stability and security dynamics.' Operation Sindoor has demonstrated that conflicts will not be fought as per the previous templates. The focus, though shifting to multi-domain operations, is on non-contact kinetic attacks using long-range vectors and air to facilitate precision strikes apart from cyber, economic, legal, information, and proxy wars. In such a scenario China as a major player will prefer to remain invisible, and it is in this grey zone that we will witness greater collusivity, which will get compounded in times to come. The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
SCO summit: EAM Jaishankar flags conflicts, competition, coercion
In a reference to China restricting the supply of critical minerals, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday expressed India's concerns over 'conflicts, competition and coercion' as well as economic instability, underlining the need to stabilise the global order and address longstanding challenges that 'threaten our collective interests'. Addressing his Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) counterparts in Tianjin, China, Jaishankar urged the grouping to remain true to its founding objective of combating terrorism and extremism, and to take an 'uncompromising' stance on these issues. He also elaborated on India's rationale for Operation Sindoor, defending the country's response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, in which 26 people were killed. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar, along with other foreign ministers of SCO member states, called on Chinese President Xi Jinping. Jaishankar called for improved transit facilities and better connectivity among SCO member states. 'Deepening collaboration within the SCO naturally requires more trade, investment, and exchanges. For that to move to the next level, it is imperative that we address some current issues,' he observed. 'One of them is the lack of assured transit within the SCO space. Its absence undermines the seriousness of advocating cooperation in economic areas. Another is the need to ensure the promotion of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC),' he said. The INSTC is a 7,200-kilometre-long multi-modal transport project for moving freight among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe. India has consistently supported the project. Jaishankar's comments on terrorism — made in the presence of his counterparts from Pakistan, China, and other SCO member nations — come amid India's concerns during and after Operation Sindoor over Beijing's assistance to Islamabad. China has also blocked India's efforts at the United Nations Security Council to sanction Pakistan-based terrorists. On June 26, at the SCO defence ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had refused to sign a draft joint communiqué because it omitted the Pahalgam terror attack and did not explicitly address India's concerns over Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism. While Singh had demanded that the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam be mentioned in the communiqué, the Pakistani delegation insisted that the document include a paragraph on militant activities in Balochistan. 'India wanted concerns reflected in the document, which was not acceptable to a particular country. As such, the joint statement was not adopted,' Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said. On Tuesday, alluding to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has faced criticism, Jaishankar said in Tianjin that India will continue to approach new ideas and proposals positively, but such cooperation must be based on 'mutual respect', 'sovereign equality', and in accordance with the 'territorial integrity and sovereignty' of member states. Jaishankar said the Pahalgam attack was 'deliberately conducted' to undermine Jammu & Kashmir's tourism economy and sow religious discord. The SCO foreign ministers' meeting will decide on the agenda for the SCO Summit in Tianjin later this year, which Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is expected to attend. Jaishankar also held separate meetings with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, focusing on bilateral cooperation and the situation in West Asia. Among other topics, Jaishankar and Lavrov discussed the evolving regional security scenario. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India later this year for the annual India-Russia summit. In his speech at the SCO foreign ministers' meeting, Jaishankar said, 'Economic instability is also visibly on the rise. The challenge before us is to stabilise the global order, derisk various dimensions, and, through it all, address longstanding challenges that threaten our collective interests.' He argued that the SCO's ability to shape world affairs will depend on how well it unites behind a shared agenda. 'That means taking everybody on board,' he said. 'The world is today moving towards greater multi-polarity. This is not just in terms of redistribution of national capacities, but also the emergence of effective groupings like the SCO.' The external affairs minister also urged the grouping to step up development assistance to Afghanistan. The SCO — comprising India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus — is an influential economic and security bloc that has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations. The Congress on Tuesday expressed hope that PM Modi will 'finally agree' to a discussion on China during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, pointing out that if Parliament could debate the border situation during the 1962 Chinese invasion, then there is no reason it can't do so now. Tagging a media report on Jaishankar meeting Xi Jinping and apprising him of recent developments in India-China ties, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the EAM, saying he is 'now running a full-blown circus aimed at destroying India's foreign policy'. 'I guess the Chinese foreign minister will come and apprise Modi about recent developments in China-India ties. The EAM is now running a full-blown circus aimed at destroying India's foreign policy,' Gandhi said in a post on X.
