Latest news with #Post-Pahalgam
Mint
26-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
PM Modi's fierce message to Pakistan post Operation Sindoor: ‘Sukh chain ki zindagi jio, roti khao, varna meri goli…'
India-Pakistan conflict: On his first visit to Gujarat following Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted, that 'people of Pakistan must come forward and end terrorism.' 'Sukh chain ki zindagi jio, roti khao. Varna meri goli to hai hee,' added PM Modi, which loosely translates to: 'live a happy and peaceful life and have your meal. Otherwise, my bullet is there for you,' reported PTI. PM Modi's address comes days after the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, which escalated following India's Operation Sindoor — in retaliation to the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22 — that left 26 people, majorly tourists dead. PM Modi warned that if the people of Pakistan do not choose the path of peace, they will face the wrath of the Indian Army. The PM, who on Monday (May 26) completed 11 years in office, also highlighted India surpassing Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy and asked Pakistani citizens to mull where their country stands. "While India believes in tourism, Pakistan considers terrorism as tourism, which is very dangerous for the world. I want to ask the people of Pakistan -- what they have achieved? Today, India is the 4th largest economy in the world. But what is your situation? Those who promoted terrorism ruined your future," emphasised Modi. PM Modi made the comments while addressing a gathering in Bhuj town of Kutch district of Gujarat, which shares land as well as maritime borders with Pakistan, after launching projects worth over ₹ 50,000 crore. "Terrorism is a way of making money for your (Pakistan) government and Army. The people of Pakistan must come forward to end terrorism. Live a happy and peaceful life and have your meal. Otherwise, my bullet is there for you (sukh chain ki zindagi jio, roti khao. Varna meri goli to hai hee)," said the PM in a message to people across the border. "Post-Pahalgam attack, I waited for 15 days hoping Pakistan will take action on terrorism, but it seems it is their bread and butter. On the night of May 9 when Pakistan tried to attack civilians, our military attacked with double force and decimated their air bases," PM Modi told the gathering.
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: New North-East link to Kolkata via sea; life and loss along LoC; Final Destination Bloodlines movie review
Good morning, Had a buzzing week? Finding reasons to wind down? Well, we've got you some good news! Three years after coming within 6cm of the 90m mark, Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra finally breached the barrier, with his javelin travelling the farthest any Indian had ever thrown — 90.23m. The landmark throw came on his third attempt, at the Doha leg of the Diamond League, thus becoming only the 25th javelin thrower to cross the 90 m mark. Although he did not win the League despite the giant throw, the distance he coveted became the central focus. All questions about him crossing the 90-mark, which sometimes threatened to overshadow his other achievements, took a backseat on Friday. And he isn't satisfied just yet. 'It was just the first competition of the year. I believe that I am ready to throw further. It's just a beginning.' With that, let's move on to the top 5 stories from today's edition: 🚨 Big Story Post-Pahalgam effect: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the anti-smuggling body under the Finance Ministry, has begun blocking in-transit goods originating from Pakistan routed through third countries such as the UAE. The increased scrutiny by the Customs authorities follows an immediate government ban on the import and transit of all goods originating in, or exported from, Pakistan, in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. To take India's message after Operation Sindoor to the world, the government plans to send all-party parliamentary delegations to several countries in the coming days. The Ministry of External Affairs is working with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats to prepare lists of MPs who will be part of the exercise. Many opposition MPs have received calls from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, inviting them to be part of the delegations in 'national interest.' India hits back: In response to Bangladesh interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus's remark in Beijing this March that North-East India is 'landlocked' and Dhaka is the 'only guardian of the ocean for all this region,' India chose to hit back, not only in words but also in action. The proposed highway from Shillong in Meghalaya to Silchar in Assam will now become an extension of a key multi-modal transport project in Myanmar, eventually leading to an alternative link via sea between the North-East states and Kolkata. ⚡ Only in Express Lives on the Line: Since India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, access to the village of 50 households and 260 people along the Line of Control has been largely restricted over the last few days. From Pallanwala, Akhnoor on the Zero Line, to Rajouri and Poonch, a few kilometres away from the LoC, the heavy shelling from the Pakistan side has left the lives of the residents in shambles. Some who took shelter elsewhere, far from their homes, amid sirens, blackouts, advisories and artillery attacks, are headed back to their hometowns, even as they continue to count their losses after a week of brewing tensions between the two countries. 💡 Express Explained Drama: While United States President Donald Trump wraps up his Gulf tour, an unprecedented meeting between him and the de facto President of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the telephone, has become the talk of the town. What tops this meeting is the US' plan to lift its 46-year-old sanctions on the country that the previously sanctioned al-Qaeda terrorist now leads. What are the takeaways from Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE? What are his priorities for the Middle East, and where do they leave Iran, Israel, and Syria? We explain. ✍️ Express Opinion 'Once in a lifetime moment': As the United States proposes unprecedented budget cuts towards the field of science, Vikram Patel underlines opportunities and strategies that could benefit India as it pursues the country's ambition to become a world-leader in science. Patel writes: 'To do so, India would need to recognise that high-quality science is the result of the confluence of several key factors, the most important being the scientists themselves, equipped with the right skills and driven by the hunger to generate knowledge.' 🎥 Movie Review Wondering what to watch this weekend? We've got you covered! Bloodlines – the sixth film in the horror franchise, Final Destination, that includes several novels and comic books – is alive and kicking. 'At least at the start,' as Shalini Langer writes in her review. 'At the heart of it is an extended family, a racially mixed bunch of aunts, uncles and cousins, who come together with surprisingly genuine warmth. The thought that Death may be coming for one or the other, reaching out across half-a-century to get them, gnaws at us,' Langer describes. That's all for today. Have a lovely weekend! Until next time, Ariba
Scroll.in
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Indus Water Treaty: India needs a dynamic approach that centres Kashmir, balances concerns
While the Indus Waters Treaty has survived three India-Pakistan wars, the pattern of interaction between the two countries on sharing the waters of the Indus Basin has been conflictual rather than cooperative. Post- Operation Sindoor, it is pertinent how India recalibrates the link between water and terrorism. Some claim India has weaponised the Indus Waters Treaty by putting it in 'abeyance', an action that can have regional ramifications. There are also claims that India will now expedite projects on both the western and eastern rivers of the Indus system and that putting the treaty in abeyance can be seen as a political signal rather than legally enforceable action. Rivers, however, can be actors with agency and not mere pawns in a bargaining game. Climate change, water scarcity, deteriorating quality of the springs that feed the basin and melting glaciers are significantly overlooked in the Indus Waters Treaty. The treaty perhaps needs to take these factors into account for its future survival. However, its survival itself may now be in doubt. Pakistan depends on the Indus system for almost 80% of its total irrigation water requirement. No legal groundwater framework binds India and Pakistan and this has impacted nutrition security in both Indian and Pakistani Punjab. Up to now, India undertook projects permitted by the treaty, using water to which it was legally entitled. After the Pahalgam attack, India can claim that it is not accountable to Pakistan for any project it initiates in the Indus Basin. This will create uncertainties for Pakistan. Post-Pahalgam, the fast-tracking of five hydel projects in Jammu and Kashmir has raised concerns about the securitisation of rivers and the neglect of environmental clearances, potentially harming the geological landscape and disrupting the hydrological regime. These projects are: the 800-megawatt Bursar, 260-MW Dulhasti II, 1856-MW Swalkote, 240-MW Uri Stage II, and 930-MW Kirthai II. Uri II faced delays due to objections from Pakistan in 2010. Putting the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance also highlights New Delhi's frustration with several run-of-the-river projects: Kishanganga, Baglihar, Ratle, and Tulbul, which were stalled in the past by Pakistan. With the Treaty on hold, India also does not have to share hydrological data or flood information with Pakistan and can withhold critical details regarding exceptional reservoir discharges and flood flows. Pakistan has responded to Indian action by announcing that it will target any structures built on the Indus River that violate the treaty. Will these actions lead to conflict escalation? Two scenarios emerge. First, in the face of Pakistan's refusal to admit to and curtail terrorism directed at it, India might scale up the conflict, and develop a legal case for the material breach citing past practices of Pakistan where the Dispute Resolution Mechanism was not respected. This was done in January 2023. Second, if the situation escalates, New Delhi can spin the narrative to leverage the situation, claiming that the treaty in its current form is unacceptable and needs modification. However, will India succeed and will Pakistan relent? First, Pakistan's politics is dominated by the Army. Its Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, also known as Hafiz-e-Quran (someone who has memorised the entire Islamic holy book), has of late been emphasising Pakistan's Islamic identity on both international and domestic fronts. His statements leave little room for improved relations at least for now. Second, Kashmir is often described by Pakistan as its jugular vein, referring to its strategic importance as the country's weakest point, as also the source of its water and a Muslim-majority region, which it believes should have been a part of its territory after the Partition. Any renegotiating of the Indus Waters Treaty would disrupt this narrative and weaken it by admitting India's right over J&K and the use of its rivers. Third, acknowledging a link between water and terrorism challenges Pakistan's portrayal as a victim of terrorism and its distinction between 'good' and 'bad' terrorists. Any effort by Pakistan to moderate its stance would suggest that it has previously supported terrorism in India, a claim it has publicly rejected. Given the complexity of the challenges, a more dynamic solution is needed. A networked response that weaves geo-strategy with geo-ecology could offer an alternate perspective. A networked approach addresses geological sensibilities, aiming to position the ecosystem as a hub for the engagement of various actors. Local people and communities become important nodes in this engagement, where knowledge systems and interests can create new configurations. Scientific data and affected ecosystems can also be considered allies in this framework. Geological sensibilities suggest that nature has agency and should be recognised. India's primary objective should be establishing a holistic set of actions to shape the Indus system, while also combating terrorism and ecological degradation. Rivers significantly influence the environmental landscape of the Himalayas and are not merely resources to be exploited. Recognising this, one needs to take note of the geological and ecological fault lines of the Indus Basin. The Indus Basin is prone to significant seismic risks affecting water infrastructure, including dams, barrages, and the Indus system. It also experiences considerable sediment erosion, which can influence hydrological regimes and groundwater quality, which may be disrupted if surface water infrastructure does not consider groundwater aquifers. An adaptive strategy that views the Indus Basin as a network of rivers, sediments, wetlands, aquifers and biodiversity must be prioritised. The ecosystem should serve as the hub for gathering information, where the Kashmiri voice and agency are equally important. Thus, positioning Kashmir as the central stakeholder, while balancing ecological, national security and local development needs, is essential. Critical steps may include reviving traditional knowledge, understanding disaster risk exposure, and addressing the vulnerabilities of horticulturalists and fishing communities. Contrary to the logic of weaponisation and securitisation, discussions around water governance reforms on the eastern and western rivers of the Indus Basin are also needed. Problematising the current nature-politics divide is important. In the long run, this will help address complex problems in a non-linear manner, rather than relying on coercive tactics, which may offer tactical advantage but risk alienating moderate voices over time.
Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: The (caste) numbers game
Big Story The last caste-wise data for India was taken in 1941, during the Second World War, but it was never published. Post-Independence, successive governments stuck to enumerating only Scheduled Castes and Tribes, leaving a yawning data gap. This led to a decades-long demand for caste enumeration in the national census. The reasoning was simple: the numbers are needed for welfare activities. Shyamlal Yadav traces the history in this explainer. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained cagey on the subject for long. It has routinely dismissed state-led caste surveys, most notably in Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka—all under Opposition governments—as divisive stunts. But now, in a striking volte-face, the BJP seems ready to champion the cause it once derided. Why now? As my senior colleagues Vikas Pathak and Liz Mathew report, the timing is no accident. Post-Pahalgam attack, the government, enjoying public and the Opposition's support, is on its surest footing yet. The move also steals the thunder of the Opposition, mainly the Congress, which has long made it the mainstay of their demands, just in time for the Bihar elections. Questions: Hailing the move as a victory of their vision, the Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP, Rahul Gandhi, says it shows that they can pressure the government. His agenda now would be pushing the government to remove the 50 per cent quota cap. Gandhi said that while he welcomed the move, he also had a pertinent question: When will this exercise begin, given that the 2021 Census has already been delayed? Pahalgam aftermath 📌 Tensions have been flying high between India and Pakistan ever since the April 21 Pahalgam attack. The United States called upon the neighbours to 'de-escalate' the situation. Speaking to State Secretary Marco Rubio, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that the perpetrators must be brought to justice. 📌 In a routine weekly call between the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan, the former strongly objected to multiple ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC. 📌 India has also closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft, days after Islamabad made a similar move against Indian airlines. However, this may not amount to much, as Pakistan has a limited international footprint, unlike India's booming aviation sector. 🎧 You can also tune in to today's episode of the '3 Things' podcast for the latest updates on the hunt for the terrorists. Must Read Express Adda: 'I can stand up to my govt… I am in the alliance, but I am not with the BJP.' In the run-up to the Bihar elections, Chirag Paswan, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries and one of the youngest political leaders in Bihar, joined us for the latest edition of Express Adda. He discusses identity politics, alliance governments and why caste still matters in the state. Game of chicken: The halt in trade between the world's largest economies, China and the US, in the face of steep tariffs on both sides, is untenable in the long run. The trade war must end, but who will blink first? Amid inflation concerns and empty retail shelves, Washington seems to be the ripe candidate. And Finally… Eleven Bihar revenue officials have been camping in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur for months. They have an unusual task: to identify, measure, and meticulously record details of tracts of land in UP that belong to the Bettiah Raj, a zamindari estate dating back to the 17th century. The land, spread across the Champaran region, was once owned by Harendra Kishore Singh, the last king of Bettiah Raj, who died heirless in 1893. In this fascinating, long read, we trace how the land exchanged hands and finally ended up with the Bihar government.
News18
28-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
News18 Afternoon Digest: Omar Abdullah's Big Statement On Statehood, Pakistani YouTube Channels Banned & Other Top Stories
Last Updated: We are also covering: Centre Objects To BBC's Description Of Terrorists As 'Militants', and After Shahid Afridi's Post-Pahalgam Rant, Danish Kaneria Renews 'Conversion' Charge. In today's afternoon digest, News18 covers the latest updates on the J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saying that he will not seek statehood at the cost of 26 lives lost in the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government has banned several Pakistani YouTube channels and other top stories. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he will not seek statehood at the cost of 26 lives lost in the Pahalgam terror attack. He said his government will raise the issue on any other day, but not today. Read More In yet another move against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government has banned several Pakistani YouTube channels, including that of former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, in the country. Read More The political slugfest over the Pahalgam terror attack is showing no signs of ending, with yet another controversy erupting over the killings of tourists. The BJP slammed Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar for questioning the legitimacy of the victims' revelations of being targeted on religious lines. Read More
