Latest news with #PakistaniState
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
India's 'Mahasagar' vision acquire special significance amid changing equations in sub-continent
The geopolitical equations in the Indian sub-continent have undergone a rapid change over the past month and India's maritime security priorities need special focus. As India's maritime vision evolves to 'MAHASAGAR' (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), the need to build on it has become all the more important in the context of the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, which has significantly changed the security context of the Indian Ocean Region . It has not only exposed the deep nexus between the Pakistani State (Military) and the terror network, but has also demonstrated India's firm resolve to fight against terror. In this context the Chintan Research Foundation organised a day-long conference on 'The MAHASAGAR INITIATIVE IN THE CURRENT SECURITY CONTEXT' in New Delhi on Friday. With panels comprising domain experts, the conference shed light on the intricacies related to maritime security, especially in the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. In his keynote address, Admiral (retd) RK Dhowan, former Navy Chief emphasised on the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, particularly in the context of the turbulence in neighbouring countries. He highlighted the rising threats in the region, including maritime terrorism , illegal and unregulated fishing, and other evolving non-traditional challenges that require multi-dimensional responses. Addressing the security outlook post recent India–Pakistan conflict, he said, 'Armed forces alone don't go to war — nations do. What we saw recently was a whole-of-nation response and India is fully prepared to defend itself if required.' He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strategic vision, linking it to the MAHASAGAR Initiative. He particularly called out the need for a cleaner, safer maritime future, extending the spirit of Swachh Bharat to the oceans through what he termed as 'Swachh Sagar' — a cleaner sea for future generations. 'Garbage dumping has had a detrimental impact on Indian Ocean. Collective action is needed to combat ocean dumping, plastic waste, and pollution-induced global warming,' he added. In his welcome address, Shishir Priyadarshi, President, Chintan Research Foundation, highlighted the growing importance of the maritime sector in the future growth strategies of nations. 'We should focus on peace and stability in the Indian Ocean, because this is what will lead to economic and sustained growth. And that is what the 'G' in MAHASAGAR stands for - sustained and holistic growth, just as the 'R' stands for the region, reminding us of the shared responsibility we hold across the Indian Ocean and the Global South,' he said. With the objective of developing actionable recommendations for strengthening India's maritime strategies by engaging in dialogue and collaboration among policymakers, academics, and experts, the conference was able to successfully achieve its goal through engaging sessions and takeaways from both experts and audiences. From exploring India's evolving maritime strategy and leadership in the Global South to India's economic and strategic partnerships under MAHASAGAR, the sessions covered areas which have assumed immense strategic importance in the backdrop of sustained hostile environment in the Indian sub-continent. Though there is acceptance of India's leadership where India has effectively balanced its role as a 'net security provider' and 'first responder' along with its commitment to regional inclusivity, more strategic adjustments are needed, according to Dr Cchavi Vasisht, Associate Fellow, Chintan Research Foundation The panelists for the sessions comprised Amb. Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Gateway House; Swati Ganeshan, Visiting Fellow, Chintan Research Foundation; SK Tripathi, former R&AW Chief; Nitin Gokhale, Founder, StratNews Global; Dr. Shalini Chawla, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies; Col. Vivek Chadha, Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses; Brig. Rahul Bhonsle, Director, Security Risks Asia; Prof. Chintamani Mahapatra, Founder and Honorary Chairman, Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies; Captain Sarabjeet S Parmar, Distinguished Fellow, Council for Strategic and Defence Research; Mr. Jayant Mishra, Member, Executive Council, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses; Prof. A Subramanyam Raju, Centre for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry University; Dr. Pragya Pandey, Research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA); Prof. Gulshan Sachdeva, Centre for European Studies, JNU; Amb. Preeti Saran, Former Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs and Ruchita Beri, Senior Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF).
News18
14-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Strategic Sovereignty Vs Dependency': Amrullah Saleh Decodes Op Sindoor Against Pak Offensive
Last Updated: Saleh, who had backed India's Operation Sindoor strikes last week, said India was thankful for strategic sovereignty, while Pakistan was indebted to strategic dependency. Afghanistan's Acting President-in-Exile Amrullah Saleh offered his insights into the recent military conflict between India and Pakistan, calling it a battle between strategic sovereignty and strategic dependency. Saleh, who had extended support to India's Operation Sindoor strikes last week, said, 'India is thanking its forces, its system, its economy, its people, and its leaders for engendering a new deterrence and elevating the challenge too costly for Pakistan to dare another adventure." 'Pakistan, on the other hand, is thanking ever country and organisation except India for 'defusing the tension" and ending the blackout in Pakistan. One is thankful for strategic sovereignty, and the other is indebted to strategic dependency," he added. Saleh had earlier lauded India's airstrikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 tourists were killed. He called the step 'bold, unprecedented, and true to its promise, tightening the rope by nine knots." advetisement He also criticised Pakistan's Army and its proxies for having supported the Taliban for decades, saying that they were emboldened by their success in Afghanistan and decided to carry out the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam last month. 'India shredded the notion that terrorists are separate from terrorist backers and thus targeted both. The notion that certain powerful rogue officers of Pakistani State authorize terrorist attacks was also shredded. This is a new paradigm. Another type of deniability must be invented," he said in another post. He further said Pakistan's 'Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos' had failed to take off the way it was propagated and the May 10 ceasefire had actually saved Pakistan's skin. For the first time, said Saleh, India shredded the notion that terrorists are separate from terrorist backers and thus targeted both. Operation Sindoor On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a military operation targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was a response to a deadly attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam in which 26 civilians, including one Nepali national, were killed. Following the successful targeting of terror hideouts under Operation Sindoor, the Pakistani Army sent drones, missiles, UAVs and engaged in cross-border shelling and firing, targeting the military and civilians alike, as they intervened to save the terrorists India targeted to avenge the Pahalgam carnage. After four days of hostilities, India and Pakistan announced reaching an understanding on May 10 to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with effect from 5 pm that day. However, the Indian government made it clear that any future attack would see a strong response on India's own terms. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Amrullah Saleh india pakistan conflict Operation Sindoor First Published: May 15, 2025, 00:00 IST
India Gazette
13-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Pakistan's escalation during Op Sindoor targeting of civilian population, Gurudwaras in J-K showcases blatant disregard for international law
New Delhi [India], May 13 (ANI): Rattled by India's precision strikes on terror infrastructure it nurtures in its territory and that under its control in response to Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan made noise about its rights under the UN Charter but Islamabad has itself shown scarce respect for International Law as evidenced by its by its indiscriminate shelling against unarmed civilians which killed over 20 people (mostly Muslims) in Jammu and Kashmir. Many civilians have been injured in Pakistani shelling and those killed include four children. Pakistan's targeting of a Gurudwara, temple, and Madarsa exemplify which playbook they follow. Pakistan launched a targeted attack on the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir, hitting a Gurdwara in Poonch and the homes of Sikh community members. At least three individuals were killed in this attack. Pakistan's escalatory action following India's precision strikes under Operation Sindoor caused huge suffering to civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani shelling caused panic among villagers and damaged several houses. Visuals showed damaged civilian infrastructure, shattered window panes, cracked walls, and debris scattered across the lanes of villages. The disinformation by Pakistan claimed that they did not target any religious place. Instead of owning up to these attacks, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it was the Indian Armed Forces were targeting cities like Amritsar and trying to put the blame on Pakistan. 'This is nothing but a desperate attempt by Pakistan to disown its acts of aggression. But it is also true to type in its effort to deceive and mislead the world. It will not succeed. The Gurdwara in Poonch in particular was attacked by Pakistan and some local members of the Sikh community, including Ragi of the Gurdwara, lost their lives in this incident,' Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said in his media briefings. 'In addition, that we would attack our own cities is the kind of deranged fantasy that only the Pakistani State can come up with. Perhaps they do it because they are well-versed in such action, as their history would show,' he added. He said Pakistani State machinery is again resorting to duplicity, plumbing to new shelling also targeted a school and two students lost their lives. If there were students inside, there could have been a heavy loss of innocent lives. During heavy shelling across the Line of Control in the early morning of May 7, a shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind the Christ School, run by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, a congregation in Poonch. The shell fired from Pakistan hit the home of two students of the Christ School. Both students unfortunately lost their lives and their parents were severely injured. Another Pakistani shell struck a Christian Convent of Nuns belonging to the congregation of the Mother of Carmel, damaging water tanks and destroying solar panel infrastructure. Several priests, nuns, school staff and local residents took refuge in an underground hall beneath the Christ School during the shelling by Pakistan. 'The school happened to be closed at the time, fortunately. Otherwise, more losses would have occurred. We have seen the Pakistani side targeting and shelling places of worship with a particular design. This includes Gurdwaras, these convents, and temples. This is a new low, even for Pakistan,' Misri said. President of Poonch District Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee Narinder Singh said on May 7 that Pakistan Army's shelling has caused huge damage in civilian areas of Poonch, leading to several deaths and a shell hit a corner of Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara, He said one shell hit Geeta Bhawan and one shell hit a mosque also, killing a teacher in the mosque.'Our neighbour has no sense at all, has made a huge attack on civilians. Civilians have suffered huge damage,' Narinder Singh said in a self-made video. He urged the Jammu and Kashmir government and the Centre to make efforts so that situation Singh said locals were in panic and many had left their residences. 'Nearly 12 people have died in Poonch district due to cross-border shelling... In Poonch proper five people of the Sikh community and rest from the Muslim community have died. A shell hit one corner of our Gurudwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, because of which one door and a few glasses were it is a congested area, one shell has hit Geeta Bhawan and one shell hit a mosque also, killing one teacher in the mosque,' Narinder Singh said. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal strongly condemned the inhuman attack by Pakistani forces on the sacred Central Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch. Condemning the inhuman attack, Badal stated that three Sikhs have lost their SAD leader expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and demanded adequate compensation to support them in their time of grief. 'Strongly condemn the inhuman attack by Pakistani forces on the sacred Central Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch, in which three innocent Gursikhs, including Bhai Amrik Singh Ji (a raagi Singh), Bhai Amarjeet Singh and Bhai Ranjit Singh lost their lives. The Shiromani Akali Dal expresses complete solidarity with the families of the deceased Gursikhs and prays for peace for the departed and courage for their friends and loved ones,' he had said in a post on X. 'We demand that the martyrs be honored for their sacrifice and that the bereaved families receive adequate compensation to support them in their time of grief. The Sikhs have always been, and will continue to be, the sword arm of the country. We stand like a rock with our armed forces. Although the Shiromani Akali Dal and our country stand for peace, if our honor is challenged by the enemy, we need no reminder to fulfill our patriotic duties,' Badal added. After Operation Sindoor, the Pakistan Army continued its series of ceasefire violations by targeting civilian areas in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Officials said the shelling caused panic among villagers and damaged several houses. India's precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure came in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. The government had said that the perpetrators will face severe punishment and over 100 terrorists were killed in Operation Sindoor. Pakistan Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had claimed India had violated Article 51 of the U.N. Charter. Indian Armed Forces effectively repelled Pakistan's subsequent military aggression and pounded several airbases in Pakistan. The two countries have now reached an understanding to stop firing and military action after the Pakistan DGMO reached out to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)
United News of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Op Sindoor only suspended, India will hit hard if provoked again, N-blackmail won't work: PM Modi
New Delhi, May 12 (UNI) Two days after the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan was announced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight said that 'Operation Sindoor' has only been suspended and if Islamabad resorts to any further provocation, the reaction will be severe and the 'Nuclear blackmail' will no longer be tolerated. In a televised Address to the Nation, which marked his first public comments after the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7, PM Modi said that 'Operation Sindoor had resulted in the killing of over 100 terrorists and ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan or a rethink on suspension of the Indus Water Treaty until Islamabad ends support to terrorism. He said India agreed to the ceasefire after causing substantial destruction to the terror infrastructure in Pakistan, which pleaded with the world for safety and 'assurance was given to us that it will no more indulge in any terrorist act or military misadventure'. Declaring that "'Operation Sindoor is now India's policy against terrorism', he said, 'We have only suspended our retaliatory actions against Pakistani terrorist and military installations. In the coming days, we will assess Pakistan's actions.' Maintaining that the Pahalgam terror attack was an assault on the soul of India as many women were widowed, Modi said after the cross-border surgical strikes of 2016 and Balakot airstrikes of 2019, 'Operation Sindoor' is a 'new policy' of India against terrorism and all the Armed forces of India continue to be on alert. 'India's stand has been clear. Terror, trade and talks cannot go together…. Trade and talks cannot go together and also, blood and water cannot flow together,' he asserted. He added that the only issues on which India can talk with Pakistan are 'terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK)'. Invoking the apostle of peace Gautam Buddha on his anniversary today, Modi said, 'Lord Buddha has shown us the path of peace. But the path of peace also passes through power.' He said, 'this certainly is not the era of war, but it is also not the era of terrorism. Zero tolerance against terrorism is the guarantee of a better world.' Warning Pakistan, he said if it wants to be 'spared', it will have to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and stop supporting it. The Prime Minister said India no longer differentiates between terrorists and the Pakistani State, considering the way top officials of the Pakistan Army attended the funeral of the terrorists killed in the Indian attacks. 'There cannot be a bigger proof of State-sponsored terrorism… The whole world saw the dirty truth of Pakistan when its high-ranking officers of its army attended the funeral of the slain terrorists." Talking about 'Operation Sindoor' which was to avenge the Pahalgam attack, the Prime Minister said India targeted the camps of terrorists and over 100 of them were killed in the air strike of May 7. Pakistan 'panicked' because of the Indian action but instead of acting against the terrorists, it started attacking India's schools, colleges and military installations, Modi said. This evoked a sharp military response from India and within three days, Pakistan's military infrastructure, along with the terror infrastructure, was destroyed to a large extent, he said. Watching its increasing destruction and 'totally defeated', Pakistan went around the world seeking help to save itself. 'In such desperation, Pakistan's military contacted our DGMO on May 10. By then, we had caused substantial destruction to Pakistan's terror and military infrastructure, which was reduced to debris. So, when Pakistan made an appeal and we were assured that it will no longer indulge in terrorist attacks or military misadventure, we considered their request (for ceasefire),' Modi said. But he went on to warn, 'Any further terrorist attack on India will get a befitting response on our terms… Nuclear blackmail will no longer be tolerated.' He said if Pakistan wants to be spared, it must dismantle terror infrastructure and stop supporting terrorism. UNI AKK RBE RN
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IMF's Pakistan loan: When financial aid becomes ammunition across the border
The IMF's recent financial aid to Pakistan raises concerns for India, given Pakistan's history of supporting terrorism. The author criticizes the IMF for not conditioning the aid on curbing Pakistan's military spending and support for terrorist activities. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of .) The IMF Executive Board's approval on May 9 to the release of the first $1 billion of the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility for Pakistan has a dystopian air to it as far as India is concerned. To be frank, it conjures up the image of a patient in an ICU receiving a lifesaving blood transfusion while holding a pistol in his the eyes of a next door neighbour that has endured Pakistani State sponsored terrorism this is not just bad timing but also bad policy. The argument that mandates of international organisations are cast in stone, and blind to real world realities is plain wrong. From the FATF to the WHO, and from the G7 to the BRICS, political and security considerations have played central roles in decision making. While the IMF seemingly has its own timelines and inexorable logic, so do some others in is apparent since the launch of " Operation Sindoor " is that among the various complex and copybook conditionalities imposed by the IMF on Pakistan, its defence spending and support to terrorism are not one of them. This is a pity. The most egregious actor in Pakistan is getting away scot-free. The Pakistan Army , the state within a state, does not countenance limits to its freedoms of action. It is leading the people of Pakistan down an abyss, leaving the civil leadership, in this case the hapless Sharif brothers, to the mercy of international IMF approval is of course an unpleasant reminder of Pakistan's economic power normally rides on economic power. Not in this case. Pakistan's most recent economic meltdown coincides with the beginning of Imran Khan's term as Prime Minister in 2018. Its currency today is one third the value of the Indian of its other indicators such as GDP, foreign exchange reserves, saving and investment rates, tax collections and debt are worse than those of Bangladesh. Pakistan is surviving on continuous IMF arrangements since 2019, and more than twenty others before that. A conflict of the kind its Army seems to be choosing with India is a death Pakistan lives a charmed life. There are not many examples in the world of countries who wear their nuclear weapons on their sleeves and brandish the threat with such ease. As the days go by, despite repeated Indian assertions that the matter stood closed after the careful targeting of terror infrastructure on May 7, since there was no other intention, the Pakistan Army has raised temperatures to attract international G7 is the latest to issue a statement calling for restraint, de-escalation and dialogue. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has separately spoken to both countries. At this point, the least helpful approach would be to repeat past mistakes of drawing an equivalence between victim and perpetrator. This has led to the same result every few years. Whether we like it or not, there is no other way but an absolutist one if terrorism worldwide has to be defeated. Kashmir or any other issue cannot be its time, the international community, including the G7 and countries such as Saudi Arabia and UAE, can make a difference by throwing the full weight of their power on Pakistan, just as has been done with other nations who have threatened peace and stability. To begin with, this is the time to issue a stern warning in private and in public to General Asim Munir to avoid any loose talk of the nuclear option and leave him in no doubt about the dire consequences that would current Chief of the Pakistan Army believes he can hold the world to all the dysfunctionality in big power relations, it is very much possible for them to speak, if not act, in a single voice to stop escalation and save the people of Pakistan from the tyranny of one man's is former Deputy National Security Advisor
