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Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Alaska has been site of the closest US-India strategic embrace
TOI correspondent from Washington: Elmendorf and its companion Eielson AFB are the bases where India and the US have had their most corroborative military embrace over the years. In June last year, the IAF brought a breathtaking array of its air assets to Alaska, when the shoe was on the other foot, and China was in the US doghouse. Flying half-way across the world, an IAF contingent, including a complement of female flyers with Sq Ldr Shivangi Singh, winged their way on eight Rafale fighter jets led by Sq Ldr Mohit Tyagi and Group Captain R.S. Sidhu, the commanding officer of the Rafale Squadron. They were supported by mid-air refueling from two Russian-made IL-78 refuelers and a 250+ member crew on three US-made C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, both of which New Delhi has bought. Neither China nor Pakistan, much less Russia, was in on the exercises, which also had participation from UK's Royal Air Force, the German Luftwaffe, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). Red Flag-Alaska, the USAF crowed at that time, "serves as an ideal platform for international engagement and the exercise has a long history of including Allies and partners." Indeed, Alaska came on the Indian radar (and vice-versa) as far back as 2004 when crew and aircraft from Elmendorf AFB came to Gwalior for the Cope India exercises, flying in on F-15C Eagles while the IAF rolled out its Su-MK, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, MiG 27, and MiG-21 Bison. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Safest Cities Where People can Live in Peace Undo In less than a decade, as the Bush years gave way to the Obama era, there was enough comfort and collaboration that India sent out the more advanced SU-MKI and even deployed two IL-78 aerial refueling tankers and two C-17 transport aircraft for the Red Flag exercises in Alaska in 2016. By the turn of the decade, things looked so hunky-dory that Indian troops were also being sent to Alaska for Yudh Abhas exercises, including cold weather survival and mountaineer training. In 2021, some 350 troops from the 7th Battalion of the Madras Regiment were airlifted to Elmendorf by IAF's No. 81 squadron for two weeks of training. The high point of India's Alaska engagement came in 2024 when India sent Sq Ldr Shivangi Singh and five women officers involved in maintenance and support roles, calling it "a milestone for gender diversity in the IAF." The experience of ferrying long distances while undertaking air-to air refueling en route, New Delhi said, was both an enriching and thrilling takeaway, especially for the younger crew. Although President Trump is letting the air out of the relationship, with the possibility of torpedoing it altogether over trade and tariff issues, Indian officials remain optimistic that it is a passing phase and US-India ties will endure. Adopting a karmic and dharmic attitude of "this too shall pass," a key diplomat maintained that outside of the trade dispute, cooperation was very much on track in all other areas.
India.com
11-05-2025
- India.com
Meet Shivangi Singh, India's first female fighter pilot to fly Rafale jet, she was falsely claimed to...
Meet Shivangi Singh, India's first female fighter pilot to fly Rafale jet, she was falsely claimed to... Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, social media platforms have seen a surge in misinformation and fabricated reports, contributing to public anxiety and uncertainty. One widely circulated falsehood on Saturday allegedly claimed that Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh of the Indian Air Force had been captured by Pakistani forces. The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit has refuted that an Indian Female Air Force pilot has been captured.'Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan. PIBFactCheck. This claim is FAKE,' PIB fact check stated. The false claim quickly went viral across several social media platforms, alleging that Singh was detained near Sialkot following the downing of her fighter jet. To support the hoax, several internet users shared an unrelated video, misleadingly portraying it as footage of her alleged capture. Later, the government's fact-checking arm, PIB Fact Check, debunked this claim. But who is Shivangi Singh? Hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh is India's first woman to fly the French-made Rafale fighter jet. Shivangi Singh's journey began with a childhood visit to the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. 'That's where my adventure started,' she recalled. Standing amid the aircraft displays, she was awestruck by the fighter jets — a moment that sparked a silent but firm resolve: she would one day become a pilot. Shivangi Singh began chasing her childhood dream during her college years at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). She joined the NCC Air Wing, where her love for flying only grew stronger. With dedication, good grades, and a clear goal in mind, she earned a spot at the Indian Air Force Academy in Hyderabad — where she trained hard to become a fighter pilot. As reported by The First Post, Shivangi Singh joined the Indian Air Force in 2017, becoming part of the second group of women ever inducted as fighter pilots. This marked a major breakthrough, especially since the IAF had taken over two decades to begin allowing women in combat flying positions. In 2023, the Indian Air Force reported over 1,600 women officers, including numerous fighter pilots. Singh admitted feeling nervous the first time she stepped into the cockpit. The first time Singh flew a MiG-21 fighter jet, she truly grasped the level of precision and skill required to handle such a powerful machine. In 2020, following a rigorous selection process, she was chosen for advanced training on the Rafale — a prestigious programme that included simulator drills and sessions with French trainers. Shivangi Singh has the distinction of having been chosen as the first female fighter pilot on the Rafale aircraft. Rafale came into the defence forces in 2020 from France and is considered to be the most potent fighter aircraft in the entire Asian region in its class. As per news agency 2023 report, Singh represented the Indian Air Force in the French exercise Orion in France where Air forces of many other major Air Forces including the US, UK, and France along with various other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces. Singh, who hails from Varanasi, was flying MiG-21 Bison before being inducted into the Golden Arrows squadron of the IAF. She joined the force in 2017.
India Today
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
This is how Pakistan targeted India on the internet
With the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, let's look at some of the key items in Pakistan's disinformation campaign in the run-up to the dtente. The campaign provides an insight into what might have been on Pakistan's agenda against India amid its slew of unsuccessful air raids.1. Sowing discordPakistan-based accounts attempted to cause infighting in India through their disinformation campaign. They shared a video of many people gathered on a farm, and claimed that Sikhs in India had turned against the Indian Army in The video, however, predates the recent India-Pakistan military escalations that began with India's Operation Sindoor on May 7. Of course, India's covert operation was in retaliation against the April 22 Pahalgam terror video actually shows a clash between the police and protesters over a biogas plant in Ludhiana's Akhara village on April 26. According to The Times of India, on April 26, the police resorted to lathi-charging protestors opposing the setting up of a biogas plant in Akhara. Villagers had reportedly been protesting it for over a year, citing health concerns.2. Fabricating hostagesPakistan-based accounts overwhelmingly spread lies about an Indian Air Force pilot called Shivangi Singh getting captured across the course, that's untrue. For starters, the Press Information Bureau, while referring to a separate video shared with the claim, refuted this outright. It said that an Indian female Air Force pilot 'has NOT been captured'.Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been capturedPro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.#PIBFactCheckThis claim is FAKE!#IndiaFightsPropaganda@MIB_India PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025advertisementSecond, the photo shared with the claim is also old. In June 2023, an IAF training jet crashed in Chamarajanagar near Karnataka's Bhogapura village. According to The Hindu, on June 1, 2023, an Indian Air Force trainer aircraft, Kiran, crashed — but not before both its pilots ejected safely. The pilots were identified by the local police as Tejpal and Bhumika. They both sustained some injuries and were taken to Bengaluru for treatment.3. Fake wins — in video games'Even Bollywood can't deliver such action that the Pakistan Air Force did in real life to India,' wrote Pakistan-based accounts, as they shared a video of a fighter jet doing some rather impressive video does feel like an action film sequence. Because it's most likely from a video game. Clips from the combat simulator ARMA 3 are often mistaken for real incidents — something we have seen in wars, time and video also predates Operation Sindoor and the subsequent skirmishes between India and Pakistan. It was shared by a YouTube account on April 30.
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First Post
10-05-2025
- First Post
Who is IAF's Shivangi Singh, who was falsely claimed to have been captured by Pakistan?
A PIB fact check earlier debunked a viral claim doing the rounds on social media that an Indian Air Force pilot, Shivangi Singh, has been captured by Pakistani forces as her fighter jet was shot down. Singh is India's first female Rafale fighter pilot. Here's what we know about her read more Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh holds the historic distinction of being India's first woman to fly the French-made Rafale fighter jet. AFP As tensions between escalate, social media has been flooded with fake news and viral misinformation, fuelling confusion and fear among citizens. One such false claim that gained traction on Saturday alleged that Indian Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, had been captured by Pakistani forces. The rumour, which spread rapidly across multiple platforms, falsely stated that Singh was arrested near Sialkot after her fighter jet was shot down. Some users even circulated an unrelated video in an attempt to show her supposed capture. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, the government's fact-checking arm, PIB Fact Check , swiftly debunked the viral claim. Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured🚨 Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.#PIBFactCheck ❌ This claim is FAKE!#IndiaFightsPropaganda@MIB_India… — PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025 The agency also urged citizens to be vigilant, avoid forwarding such unverified content and rely only on official updates. But who is IAF pilot Shivangi Singh? Why was her name caught in the fake news mess? Here's a closer look. Becoming India's first female Rafale fighter pilot Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh holds the historic distinction of being India's first woman to fly the French-made Rafale fighter jet. She is part of the prestigious Golden Arrows Squadron of the Indian Air Force, based in Ambala, Punjab. Her dream of flying began in childhood. A visit to the Air Force Museum in New Delhi with her parents left a lasting impression. She once recalled how she 'gawked' at the aircraft and 'immediately knew that [she] wanted to become a pilot.' Hailing from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Singh took her first steps towards that dream by joining the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Air Wing during her graduation at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). With a strong academic record and unwavering passion, she then made it to the Indian Air Force Academy in Hyderabad, where she underwent rigorous training to become a fighter pilot. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh is part of the prestigious Golden Arrows Squadron of the Indian Air Force, based in Ambala, Punjab. AFP Singh was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2017, as part of the IAF's second-ever batch of women fighter pilots — a milestone in itself, given that it took the force over two decades to induct women into combat flying roles. By 2023, official figures showed that over 1,600 women officers were serving in the Indian Air Force, including many pilots. 'There have been many of us,' Singh told AFP. 'This not only reflects modernisation (of our society) but also the fact that we can now realise our dreams.' Flying Rafale and guarding the borders The first time Singh took the controls of a fighter jet, a MiG-21, was when she 'realised how much skill it takes to control' to fly. In 2020, after clearing a competitive evaluation, she was chosen for Rafale training, an advanced programme that involved simulator sessions with French instructors. 'I learned something new every step of the way, be it flying the MiG-21 Bison aircraft or the Rafale fighter aircraft,' she told India Today. Her training focused on mastering the Rafale's high-tech systems, including its Thales RBE2 AESA radar and precision weaponry. This prepared her for complex missions, including those under Operation Sindoor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Shivangi Singh has represented India at international military exercises, such as the prized Exercise Orion in France in 2023, when the Rafale saw its first-ever foreign deployment by the IAF. File image/ Reuters Singh has since flown missions in sensitive regions like eastern Ladakh and the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where her skills and the Rafale's capabilities were put to the test amid tensions with China. She even represented India at international military exercises, such as the prized Exercise Orion in France in 2023, when the Rafale saw its first-ever foreign deployment by the IAF. Aiming for space Singh was among the first to try the new Rafale jets. But her dreams are even bigger. 'I succeeded in a field that was long reserved for men, and if I succeeded, then women can now work in any sector,' she said. 'I want to be an astronaut,' she told AFP. 'So let's hope.' With input from agencies
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Business Standard
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Fact check: Govt debunks false claims, advises people to verify information
The government stated that most misinformation has surfaced from Pakistani social accounts. PIB debunked nine fake claims amid rising cross-border tensions Swati Gandhi New Delhi The Centre has launched a coordinated effort to counter a wave of misinformation, largely originating from Pakistani media and social media handles. On Saturday, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) dismissed several more fake claims, including the capture of a female Indian Air Force pilot. This comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, a series of coordinated missile strikes by the Indian armed forces on terrorist infrastructure at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes, carried out in the early hours of Wednesday, were in retaliation for the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people at Baisaran Valley. The government stated that most of the misinformation has been surfacing from Pakistani social media accounts. Taking to X, PIB shared several posts debunking these fake claims. Contrary to viral social media posts, the government clarified that Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh has not been captured by Pakistan. Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured???? Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan. #PIBFactCheck ❌ This claim is FAKE! #IndiaFightsPropaganda @MIB_India … — PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025 2. Indian pilot ejected over PoK Social media claimed that an Indian pilot ejected from a fighter jet over PoK. The government termed this fake news and urged citizens to verify before sharing. ???? Indian Pilot Ejected Over PoK? Here's the Truth! Posts on social media claim that an Indian pilot ejected from a fighter jet over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) #PIBFactCheck ❌ This claim is FAKE ???? Don't fall for misinformation. Always verify before sharing… — PIB India (@PIB_India) May 10, 2025 3. S-400 defence system destroyed by Pakistan Wing Commander Vyomika Singh called Pakistan's claims of destroying an Indian S-400 system and airfields in Surat and Sirsa baseless. She said these were part of a 'continued malicious misinformation campaign'. ???? S-400 Destroyed by Pakistan? Here's the Truth! Posts circulating on social media claim that Pakistan has destroyed an Indian S-400 air defence system. #PIBFactCheck ❌ This claim is FAKE. ❌ Reports of destruction or any damage to an S-400 system are baseless.… — PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025 4. Three IAF jets crash in the Himalayas Claims that three Indian Air Force jets crashed in the Himalayas were also debunked. PIB stated the image used in these claims dates back to 2016. ????Did 3 IAF Jets Crash in Himalayas❓???? Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts are falsely claiming that three fighter jets have crashed in different areas of the Himalayan region #PIBFactcheck - This claim is #FAKE - The image being circulated is old, dating back to… — PIB India (@PIB_India) May 10, 2025 5. 70 per cent of India's electricity grid disabled after cyberattack Several social media posts falsely claimed that a cyberattack had disabled 70 per cent of India's electricity grid. The government categorically dismissed this as fake. ???? Attention: False Claim Circulating Online! ???? Social media posts are asserting that a cyber attack by #Pakistan has caused 70% of India's electricity grid to become dysfunctional #PIBFactCheck ❌This claim is #FAKE #IndiaFightsPropaganda — PIB India (@PIB_India) May 10, 2025 6. Delhi–Mumbai airline route temporarily closed While there were reports about the closure of services on the Delhi–Mumbai air route, PIB clarified that 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes in Delhi and Mumbai FIRs were temporarily closed for operational reasons, not the entire route. It is being claimed that there is a temporary closure of services on Delhi-Mumbai airline route. #PIBFactCheck ❌This claim is #FAKE????The Airports Authority of India has extended the temporary closure of 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi &… — PIB India (@PIB_India) May 10, 2025 7. Missile attack on Delhi airport A video falsely depicting a missile attack on Delhi airport was found to be from a gas station explosion in Aden, Yemen (August 2024). ???? Missile Attack on Delhi Airport❓ An old video is being falsely shared as footage of a missile strike on New Delhi Airport! ❌ This video shows a gas station explosion in Aden, Yemen, from August 2024 ✅ It has no connection to the current India–Pakistan situation… — PIB India (@PIB_India) May 10, 2025 8. Bhatinda airfield destroyed Claims about the destruction of Bhatinda airfield were also found to be false. The government confirmed the base is fully operational and undamaged. ???? VIRAL CLAIM ABOUT BATHINDA ON SOCIAL MEDIA! ???? Posts are being artificially spread, claiming that the Bhatinda Airfield has been DESTROYED! #PIBFactCheck ❌ FAKE ALERT❗️ ✅ The Bathinda Airfield is FULLY OPERATIONAL and there is NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER… — PIB India (@PIB_India) May 10, 2025 9. Nagrota air base attacked A digitally altered video being circulated as footage of a Pakistani strike on the Nagrota Air Base was identified to be from October 2024, originally posted on Instagram. Heard of attack on Nagrota Air Base❓BEWARE‼️ An old and digitally altered video is being falsely circulated as footage of a Pakistani attack on the Nagrota Air Base ✅ This video was originally posted on Instagram in October 2024 ???? Watch: Stay… — PIB India (@PIB_India) May 10, 2025 The government has reiterated its appeal to the public and media to verify any sensitive information through official channels and avoid sharing unverified content that may compromise national security or create panic.
