Latest news with #Zakir
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
The four-day India-Pakistan crisis and why civilian safety can't remain an afterthought
At the crack of dawn on May 10, Zakir Hussain had just one prayer on his lips -- that he be able to rescue his young children from the intense Pakistani shelling targeting his village of KheriKeran. Located in the Bantalab area, approximately fourteen kilometres from the Kanachak sector of the India-Pakistan international border, KheriKeran falls in one of the transitional zones where the international border begins to give way to the Line of Control. Zakir's home was among those hit as over thirty shells rained down on the village, which lies deep in the interiors. The 45-year-old sadly would go on to become one of at least twenty-one civilians killed in the cross-border shelling, with most casualties reported south of the Pir Panjal range. The escalation followed the launch of Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory military campaign initiated by India in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of twenty-six civilians. The intensity of the shelling was not confined to forward posts. In the interior region of Surankote in Poonch district, around 25 kilometres from the LoC, Pakistani shelling reached unprecedented levels. Residential buildings sustained significant damage and civilian injuries rose. Among the wounded was a young girl with a fractured rib caused by shrapnel. Even more heart-wrenching was the story emerging from Kulani village in Poonch near the Line of Control, largely ignored by national media. There, a young couple mourned the loss of their 12-year-old twins, Zoya and Zain, who were killed in the shelling on May 10. These accounts reflected the unseen and underreported dimensions of the current crisis. While strategic analysts and political commentators focus on military maneuvers, international posturing and diplomatic fallout, the human toll has been dangerously overlooked. In the wider discourse on the India-Pakistan military confrontation, these ground-level tragedies deserve far more attention. A clinical, dispassionate bottom-up assessment of the four-day crisis is essential, not merely to understand the operational dynamics or strategic calculus, but to reflect on the lived experiences of border residents. Their stories must be central to any credible evaluation of the conflict, lest policy be shaped by distortion, political expediency, or selective empathy. Poonch bore the brunt again First, the toll of at least fifteen civilian deaths in Poonch during the recent India-Pakistan military escalation raises urgent and uncomfortable questions. No other region experienced casualties on this scale. Poonch town, a historical settlement nestled along the Line of Control (LoC), has once again borne the brunt of cross-border hostilities. Historically, Poonch was a princely state (or jagir) under the suzerainty of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. Though subordinate to the Dogra rulers, it enjoyed a notable degree of internal autonomy. Its strategic location rendered it geopolitically significant. In 1947, with the first India-Pakistan war, the state of Poonch was bisected by the newly-drawn ceasefire line, which would later become the LoC. Since then, the town has remained one of the most vulnerable civilian centers in any India-Pakistan military flare-up, both for its geography and its tragic geopolitical inheritance. Anyone familiar with Jammu and Kashmir's topography and the cycles of crisis knows that Poonch is among the worst exposed. Sitting in a low-lying bowl, surrounded by Pakistan-held heights, the town is perilously positioned. Having observed intermittent border tensions for over four-decades, I was nevertheless struck by the sheer absence of civil preparedness this time. If retaliation, such as Operation Sindoor, was on the table, why weren't defensive precautions in place? Why were no functioning civilian bunkers available? Why was civil defence not preemptively activated? Locals are asking these very questions, and rightly so. A crisis of this magnitude demands more than military precision. It demands comprehensive protection for civilian populations who are routinely caught in the crossfire. The failure to implement even the most basic protective measures reflects a chronic governance gap: an inability to map known vulnerabilities and build resilience along the LoC.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Moradabad Police bust illegal arms manufacturing racket, 9 held
In a major crackdown on illegal arms trade, Moradabad Police on Friday arrested nine individuals accused of manufacturing and distributing country-made firearms. A significant cache of weapons, ammunition, and tools used to produce arms, including, 5 country-made pistols, 2 partially assembled pistols, 54 live cartridges, 1,200 cartridge primers, 2 kilograms of gunpowder, one live bomb, multiple tools and equipment used for weapon manufacturing were recovered from their possession. A joint team of local police, surveillance cell and special operation group, had been tracking the gang's activities for some time. Acting on an intelligence, the team raided multiple locations, and arrested the key gang members. Superintendent of police (SP) City Kumar Ranvijay Singh said, 'The racket was running at one of the accused Zakir's house, where he, along with Idrees and Rizwan, was engaged in assembling country-made pistols. Another member, Javed, used to make cartridges at his own residence. The finished weapons and ammunition were then distributed across Moradabad and other parts of the region by four other members of the gang —Ankit, Arun, Anshuman, and Tushar.' Kumar said that each pistol was being sold for approximately ₹5,000. The gang had established a well-organized supply chain spanning across various districts in the region. The arrested accused have been booked under the sections of the Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Airbus highlights deepening defence partnership with Malaysia at Lima 2025
LANGKAWI: Airbus Defence and Space has reinforced its long-standing commitment to Malaysia at Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (Lima 2025), highlighting deepening defence cooperation and its role as Malaysia's top international aerospace partner. Malaysia remains Airbus' third-largest market in Asia-Pacific, after China and India. For Airbus Defence and Space, a cornerstone of this partnership is the A400M programme, where Malaysia has played a pioneering role as the first export customer in the world. Airbus Defence and Space Asia-Pacific head Zakir Hamid said: 'This year marks 10 years of A400M operations with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), a milestone that reflects the aircraft's reliability and versatility. With over 13,000 flight hours, the RMAF is currently the most active A400M operator globally.' Malaysia's fleet of four A400Ms has supported missions ranging from military deployments and peacekeeping to humanitarian relief during events such as the 2018 Palu earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic. The aircraft can carry up to 37 tonnes over 2,400 nautical miles, operate from unpaved runways, perform aerial refuelling, and is undergoing capability upgrades to meet future mission needs. Zakir confirmed that Indonesia is on track to receive its first A400M in fourth quarter 2025, with the aircraft already painted and progressing through fuel and ground tests. The second is in structural assembly. These aircraft will bolster Indonesia's strategic airlift and disaster response capabilities. He said: 'With rising demand for versatile air mobility solutions in Asia-Pacific, the A400M is gaining traction across the region. We're in discussions with several governments and are confident the aircraft's footprint will continue to grow.' Airbus is exploring options to expand the RMAF's A400M fleet, in line with its growing operational tempo and integration of advanced fighter aircraft. At Lima 2025, Airbus announced a new milestone with the RMAF – an expanded in-service support contract for the air force's A400M fleet, which includes increased spare parts provisioning, enhanced services and future upgrades to ensure continued operational readiness. In parallel, Airbus is keen to offer the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) as a solution to enhance the RMAFs operational efficiency. Already in service in the Asia-Pacific region in Australia, Singapore and South Korea, the A330 MRTT combines strategic airlift capability with advanced aerial refuelling, significantly extending the range of fighter aircraft and strengthening national defence readiness. Airbus is also exploring the introduction of the C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) to enhance Malaysia's border protection. In service across Southeast Asia, the C295 MSA offers advanced mission systems, search and rescue capabilities and long-endurance patrols. Zakir said: 'As regional partners assess future airlift, refuelling, and surveillance capabilities, Airbus is ready to deliver advanced, mission-ready solutions. We're proud to deepen our partnership with Malaysia and support defence and security operations across Asia-Pacific.'
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Airbus Sees Increasing Demand For A400M Fleet
REGION - NORTHERN > NEWS Airbus Defence and Space sees that its A400M is gaining traction across the region, driven by rising demand for versatile air mobility solutions in Asia-Pacific. LANGKAWI, May 21 (Bernama) -- Airbus Defence and Space sees that its A400M is gaining traction across the region, driven by rising demand for versatile air mobility solutions in Asia-Pacific. Its head of Asia-Pacific Zakir Hamid said the company is currently in discussions with several governments and is confident the aircraft's footprint will continue to grow. He said Malaysia remains Airbus's third-largest market in Asia-Pacific, after China and India. bootstrap slideshow 'For Airbus Defence and Space, a cornerstone of this partnership is the A400M programme, where Malaysia has played a pioneering role as the first export customer in the world. 'This year marks 10 years of A400M operations with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), a milestone that reflects the aircraft's reliability and versatility. With over 13,000 flight hours, the RMAF is currently the most active A400M operator globally,' he told a media briefing in conjunction with the 2025 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) here today. Malaysia's fleet of four A400Ms has supported missions ranging from military deployments and peacekeeping to humanitarian relief during events such as the 2018 Palu earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. Zakir also confirmed that Indonesia is on track to receive its first A400M in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the aircraft already painted and progressing through fuel and ground tests. Airbus is also exploring options to expand the RMAF's A400M fleet, in line with its growing operational tempo and integration of advanced fighter aircraft. At LIMA, Airbus announced a new milestone with the RMAF for an expanded in-service support contract for the air force's A400M fleet, which includes increased spare parts provisioning, enhanced services, and future upgrades to ensure continued operational readiness.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Airbus sees increasing demand for A400M fleet
LANGKAWI: Airbus Defence and Space sees that its A400M is gaining traction across the region, driven by rising demand for versatile air mobility solutions in Asia-Pacific. Its head of Asia-Pacific Zakir Hamid said the company is currently in discussions with several governments and is confident the aircraft's footprint will continue to grow. He said Malaysia remains Airbus's third-largest market in Asia-Pacific, after China and India. 'For Airbus Defence and Space, a cornerstone of this partnership is the A400M programme, where Malaysia has played a pioneering role as the first export customer in the world. 'This year marks 10 years of A400M operations with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), a milestone that reflects the aircraft's reliability and versatility. With over 13,000 flight hours, the RMAF is currently the most active A400M operator globally,' he told a media briefing in conjunction with the 2025 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) here today. Malaysia's fleet of four A400Ms has supported missions ranging from military deployments and peacekeeping to humanitarian relief during events such as the 2018 Palu earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. Zakir also confirmed that Indonesia is on track to receive its first A400M in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the aircraft already painted and progressing through fuel and ground tests. Airbus is also exploring options to expand the RMAF's A400M fleet, in line with its growing operational tempo and integration of advanced fighter aircraft. At LIMA, Airbus announced a new milestone with the RMAF for an expanded in-service support contract for the air force's A400M fleet, which includes increased spare parts provisioning, enhanced services, and future upgrades to ensure continued operational readiness. In parallel, Zakir said Airbus is keen to offer the A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) as a solution to enhance the RMAF's operational efficiency further. Already in service in the Asia-Pacific region in Australia, Singapore, and South Korea, the A330 MRTT combines strategic airlift capability with advanced aerial refuelling, significantly extending the range of fighter aircraft and strengthening national defence readiness. Airbus is also exploring introducing the C295 maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) to enhance Malaysia's border protection. In service across Southeast Asia, Zakir said the C295 MSA offers advanced mission systems, search and rescue capabilities, and long-endurance patrol, which are ideal for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). 'As regional partners assess future airlift, refuelling, and surveillance capabilities, Airbus is ready to deliver advanced, mission-ready solutions. 'We are proud to deepen our partnership with Malaysia and support defence and security operations across Asia-Pacific,' he added.
