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NDTV
4 days ago
- NDTV
Historic Ferozepur Fort In Punjab Opened For Public After 200 Years
Ferozepur: In an initiative to boost tourism and align the local populace with the military heritage in this border region, the Army's Golden Arrow Division has opened the historic two-century-old Ferozepur Fort to the public. It is for the first time in over 200 years that this significant architectural and historical site has been made accessible to the public. The move reaffirms the government's commitment to preserve national heritage and promote responsible border tourism, said Major General R S Manral, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Golden Arrow Division. "Strategically positioned near the Indo-Pakistan border, Ferozepur Fort is a remarkable example of 19th-century military architecture from the Sikh empire" said the GOC, adding that its unique hexagonal design and robust defensive features showcase the strategic ingenuity of its time. "The reopening of Ferozepur Fort not only reconnects the region with its storied past but also reaffirms its identity as a symbol of valour, resilience and national pride, firmly placing it on Punjab's cultural and heritage tourism map," said Major General Manral. Brig Bikram Singh, Station Commander, said Ferozepur holds a special place in India's freedom movement, having produced numerous martyrs and revolutionaries who bravely resisted colonial rule. This fort and its surroundings have borne witness to pivotal historical events, which continue to symbolise national pride and sacrifice, he added. Once a critical outpost in the Sikh empire frontier defence network, the fort holds enduring tales of courage and resistance and also features prominently in narratives of the First War of Independence in 1857. This fort was converted into a British Garrison in 1839 under the instructions of the Duke of Wellington. Later, the British converted this fort into an arsenal (Weapon Store) in 1858 and subsequently, the dry gun cotton store, the powder magazine and ammunition stores were also constructed here. This fort served as the mother depot for the supply of guns, ammunition, trained horses and bullocks. About 10,000 bullocks and as many horses and even 150 camels were tethered at any time in this fort. The fort continued to play the role of arsenal till 1941, when the ammunition was shifted to Kasubegu as a tactical move by the British at the beginning of World War-II.
News18
4 days ago
- General
- News18
Punjab: Ferozepur fort thrown open to public after 200 years
Ferozepur, Jun 2 (PTI) In an initiative to boost tourism and align the local populace with the military heritage in this border region, the Army's Golden Arrow Division has opened the historic two centuries old Ferozepur Fort to the public. It is for the first time in over 200 years that this significant architectural and historical site has been made accessible to the public. The move reaffirms the government's commitment to preserve national heritage and promote responsible border tourism, said Major General R S Manral, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Golden Arrow Division. 'Strategically positioned near the Indo-Pakistan border, Ferozepur Fort is a remarkable example of 19th-century military architecture from the Sikh empire" said the GOC, adding that its unique hexagonal design and robust defensive features showcase the strategic ingenuity of its time. 'The reopening of Ferozepur Fort not only reconnects the region with its storied past but also reaffirms its identity as a symbol of valour, resilience and national pride, firmly placing it on Punjab's cultural and heritage tourism map," said Major General Manral. Brig Bikram Singh, Station Commander, said Ferozepur holds a special place in India's freedom movement, having produced numerous martyrs and revolutionaries who bravely resisted colonial rule. This fort and its surroundings have borne witness to pivotal historical events, which continue to symbolize national pride and sacrifice, he added. Once a critical outpost in the Sikh empire frontier defence network, the fort holds enduring tales of courage and resistance and also features prominently in narratives of the first war of Independence in 1857. This fort served as the mother depot for the supply of guns, ammunition, trained horses and bullocks. About 10,000 bullocks and as many horses and even 150 camels were tethered at any time in this fort. The fort continued to play the role of arsenal till 1941 when the ammunition was shifted to Kasubegu as a tactical move by the British at the beginning of World War-II. PTI COR CHS AS AS First Published: June 02, 2025, 19:00 IST
India.com
4 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Operation Spider's Web': How Ukraine's Daring Drone Assault On Russia Could Shape Peace Talks
New Delhi: As smoke still rises from scorched Russian airbases, two delegations make their way to Istanbul - not with olive branches, but with blueprints and battle scars. Ukraine's drone strikes, a long-range assault code-named 'Spider's Web', have sent shockwaves through Russia's strategic air command just hours before peace negotiators sit down for an important second round of talks. The timing is no coincidence. Targeting Russian aviation strongholds as far as 4,000 kilometers from Ukraine's borders, Sunday's drone blitz was hailed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "brilliant result" and a historic milestone. Ukraine claims it knocked out over 40 aircraft, including bombers and early-warning planes - the aircraft believed to be central to attacks on Ukrainian cities. But this was no spur-of-the-moment counterstrike. It was the climax of 18 months of covert planning, drone smuggling and precise execution by Ukraine's Security Service. Zelenskyy called it Ukraine's longest-range operation so far and one that 'will be in history books". And now, with the smoke still settling and the world watching, both Kyiv and Moscow are set to meet again in the halls of diplomacy, not the theater of war. What Ukraine Is Bringing to the Table for Peace Talks As the Istanbul negotiations resume today, the mood is anything but hopeful. Ukraine arrives with a detailed peace roadmap, a document obtained by Reuters that lays out a multi-stage path to a ceasefire and, potentially, to an endgame in Europe's most devastating war since the World War-II. Ukraine is going to offer a 30-day ceasefire to halt hostilities and allow humanitarian actions such as prisoner exchanges, the return of Ukrainian children and a proposal for a direct Zelenskyy-Putin summit - a meeting that has long been theorised but never realised. The proposal also aims to expand the scope of diplomacy by involving the United States and European powers and framing the resolution not just as a Ukraine-Russia matter, but a continental turning point with global stakes. But Kyiv is not backing down from its red lines. It reiterates demands for no restrictions on Ukraine's post-war defense capabilities, no recognition of Russian territorial control and full reparations for war damages It can further propose current front-line positions serve as a starting point for territorial talks - a suggestion that could further complicate already fragile diplomacy. Russia's Silence, Medinsky's Hint Russia has so far formally responded to the Ukrainian proposal. Asked about the drone strikes and whether they would impact Monday's discussions, Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky replied, 'Wait for tomorrow.' It signals anything from quiet preparation to explosive retaliation. The Kremlin's recent rhetoric has hinted at openness to a second round of Istanbul talks, even as it grapples with the embarrassment and potential military fallout of Ukraine's drone offensive. For Moscow, Sunday may go down as a 'black day for aviation", as one pro-Russian military blog put it. For Kyiv, it is something closer to a warning shot - a message that Ukraine's hand at the table is not weak and that its reach, both militarily and diplomatically, is growing. Diplomacy in Drones' Shadow It is hard to miss the symbolism. Just as diplomats prepare to exchange paper in Istanbul, unmanned drones, smuggled and hidden in trucks, have delivered a different kind of message across Russian skies. The Istanbul summit is not only about peace terms, it is about leverage. And with Operation Spider's Web, Kyiv is making the case that battlefield innovation can balance political inequality and that even a besieged nation can dictate terms when it plays its cards right. Whether the second round of talks ends in progress or deadlock, the world will be watching. Not just for what is said behind closed doors but for what happens next in the skies above.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Kursk region for first time since ejecting Ukrainian forces
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the western Kursk region for the first time since Russian forces ejected Ukrainian troops from the area last month. The Kremlin said that during the visit on Tuesday (May 20, 2025), Mr. Putin met volunteer organisations in the region and visited the Kursk-II nuclear power plant. Russia ready to work toward ending fighting in Ukraine: Putin after call with Trump State television showed Mr. Putin meeting volunteers and local officials in the region including acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein. Mr. Putin was accompanied by Sergei Kiriyenko, Kremlin first Deputy Chief of Staff. Russia said in late April that it had ejected Ukrainian troops from Kursk region, ending the biggest incursion into Russian territory since World War-II. Trump announces Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks will begin immediately following call with Putin Just over two years after Russia's 2022 invasion, Ukraine on August 6 launched its boldest attack, smashing through the Russian border into the Kursk region, supported by swarms of drones and heavy Western weaponry. At its height, Ukrainian forces claimed nearly 1,400 square kilometres of Kursk.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
The Hindu Huddle 2025: Ranil Wickremesinghe moots idea of India taking a lead in ensuring emergence of South Asia as most powerful region
Maintaining that 'regionalism' is going to be important in the emerging world order, former president and prime minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe has mooted the idea of India taking a lead in ensuring the emergence of South Asia as the 'most powerful region'. Participating in a session titled 'In the hood: The new forces shaping subcontinental geopolitics' at the fifth edition of The Hindu Huddle organised by The Hindu Group, in Bengaluru, Mr. Wickremesinghe observed that the South Asian region would account for a population size of 2.7 billion in the total world population of 9.8 billion while its combined economy would be around 43 billion dollars. 'You will have three nuclear powers in this region. This is going to be the most powerful region in the world,' he said, while adding a rider that: 'We can do so if get out of the traditional mindset.' The former Sri Lankan president said geopolitics was witnessing a great shift, while pointing out, 'We had a unipolar world at the end of the World War-II that later became bipolar (with USSR and US being major players) and then unipolar again. It is becoming bipolar again (with US and China being the major players).' He wondered if it could become tripolr by 2050 where US, China and India would be the major players, particularly with India expected to be the third biggest economy by then. Mr. Wickremesinghe observed that the South Asian region would be a larger commonwealth than British commonwealth and it had several common threads in terms of religion, culture, civilisation, literature and philosophy among other things. Referring to the present global scenario, he said: 'We are seeing a world in which US President Donald Trump has disrupted the WTO. He has challenged the global order made by the US itself. It is like a cat eating the kitten. We all look upto the US as the growth engine. But it is shaken now. So regionalism is going to be more and more important, he said, while stressing the need for emergence of South Asia as the powerful region under the leadership of India. Referring to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, he argued that the transformation of economy should go on even amidst such issues. 'Development should go on despite terrorism as it is a phenomenon we need to live with,' he said. Welcoming such an idea, Mr. T. S. Tirumurti, former permanent representative of India to the United Nations, said: 'India should take a geopolitical role that goes beyond the sub-continent. The sooner we do it, the more important it will be.' Pointing out that democracy had become more stronger in the last 15 years in the South Asian region despite problems in a couple countries including Bangladesh, Mr. Tirumurti said the youth were playing a key role. This would help in the process of emergence of South Asia as the major regional power, he felt. Stating that security and geo politics are the two sides of the same coin, he argued that India needs to factor in security issues like conflict with Pakistan in its economic development. He stressed the need for India to become a net provider of prosperity to the region by opening up its economies to others. 'It is unrealistic for India to even talk of economic development without taking on the geo-political role or securing neighbourhood and being a net security provider not just for the neighbours, but for the larger region. Former National Security Advisor to India, M. K. Narayanan, too hailed the idea of South Asia becoming a powerful region as the single most important idea that he had heard in the last decade. Mr. N. Ram, director, The Hindu Group, observed that Mr. Wickremesinghe's vision for South Asia was full of hope. However, he expressed concern that, there were democratic deficits. Particularly referring to India, he said: 'There is a huge democratic deficit with India. The states are being attacked, Media is being intimidated. We have a serious problem of authoritarianism.' The Hindu Huddle 2025 is presented by Sami-Sabinsa Group Co-powered by: Government of Karnataka, Government of Telangana Associate Partners: ONGC, Presidency University, TAFE, Akshayakalpa Organic Energy Partner : Indian Oil Corporation Limited Realty partner: Casagrand Knowledge partner: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham State partner: Meghalaya tourism and Haryana government Luxury car partner: Toyota Radio partner: Radio City Gift partner: Anand Prakash Broadcast partner: Times Now Outdoor media partner: Signpost India
