Pakistan Is Bleeding Its Own ‘Jugular Vein’

by Nilesh Kunwar

Master Illusionists

Conditions in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) have never been good. Had it really been so, Islamabad wouldn’t have to take so much effort and spend a fortune on projecting an illusion of its wellbeing and prosperity.

Readers would recall that in 2011, a US court found Kashmiri American Council (KAC) head Ghulam Nabi Fai guilty of running a “decades-long scheme” to influence the US government’s position on Kashmir. He was indicted for concealing receipt of at least $ 4 million from Pakistan army’s spy agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) for promoting Pakistan’s Kashmir narrative amongst US politicians.

But this wasn't an aberration.

Just four years ago, Islamabad sponsored an all-expenses-paid weeklong visit of US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar to PoK. She expectedly reciprocated by making pro-Pakistan statements which Islamabad liberally used to buttress its Kashmir charade. And despite facing a humongous financial crisis , cash-strapped Pakistan spent roughly three times more money than India on hiring lobbying firms during April-May last year.

The Bubble Bursts

By 2023, public anger due to poor governance and the abject apathy of PoK authorities along with undue curbs on basic liberties had reached the tipping point. Exorbitant increase in wheat prices due to withdrawal of subsidy and inflated electricity bills acted as the trigger that forced the helpless people to take to the streets.

The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) which led the PoK protests comprised traders, lawyers, activists and students sans any ideological or political agenda. The 38 demands projected by JAAC concern reforms to address genuine public grievances regarding governance and fiscal issues that are adversely impacting the people of PoK.

Seeing the determination of locals, the federal and PoK governments were forced to negotiate with JAAC and announced measures to pacify the people. However, as this exercise turned out to be mere lip service, and despite official claims that outstanding differences have been resolved PoK saw protests erupting in 2024 as well as 2025 . Protests broke out once again during June this year and are continuing till date, exposing Islamabad’s falsehood about PoK.

Devious Plot

Instead of addressing public grievances, Field Marshal Asim Munir who’s the de facto ruler of Pakistan has sought to tackle this issue by applying his perverse but favourite ‘give a dog a bad name and hang it’ stratagem. So, proscribing JAAC under PoK Anti-Terrorism Act, 2014 to justify use of indiscriminate force against protesters was expected all along.

It’s amply clear that despite this policy’s miserably failure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Field Marshal Munir has still repeated this self-debilitating strategy in PoK. This move has in turn bared Islamabad’s dark underbelly and created yet another battle ground for Pakistan and the repression is so intense that PoK residents have been forced to demand demolition of the Line of Control that divides Kashmir.

Eight years ago, the Director General of Pakistan army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations warned the media saying, "We have the capability to monitor social media as to who is doing what," and ever since the fourth estate has been wary of publishing anything that could annoy the ‘establishment.’ The JAAC's demand for doing away with 12 seats reserved for refugees under the PoK constitution has thus received little balanced coverage. However, some young people have dared to Sha objective analysis of the persisting faceoff regarding reserved refugee seats in PoK Assembly.

Shahid Khalid Madni, a Research and Comms Associate at the Research Society of International Law and the Quran Covenant Research Center, Pakistan writes- “JAAC’s strongest argument is based on territorial accountability. People living inside AJK directly depend on its hospitals, schools, roads, local administration and electricity system. They bear the consequences of decisions taken by the AJK government.”

He adds, “Refugee voters living in Pakistan remain politically connected to Kashmir, but their daily lives are generally governed by Pakistan’s federal and provincial institutions,” and logically concludes that JAAC therefore questions whether they should possess enough electoral influence to decide who governs Muzaffarabad.”

The authorities however maintain that being a constitutional provision contained in Article 22, refugee seats cannot be abolished through executive action. Though this is the correct legal position, nothing prevents Islamabad and the PoK Assembly to consider an appropriate constitutional amendment under Article 33 to meet the justified aspirations of the people.

Madni also reveals that “JAAC did not initially rely only on a demand for total abolition. It reportedly proposed alternative arrangements, including symbolic representation or a reduced number of seats in another institution such as the AJK Council.” He rightly opines that “These proposals show that the dispute is capable of constitutional compromise. The core demand is not necessarily the removal of refugee identity from AJK’s political structure, but the prevention of disproportionate influence over territorial governance.”

It’s no secret that Islamabad relies heavily on the 12 refugee seats in PoK Assembly to manipulate decisions and thereby maintain its iron grip over this illegally held territory, and Field Marshal Munir would be the last person to allow any constitutional amendments that would deprive him of this ace up his sleeve.

Aqueeb Shahid, a student of international relations at the International Institute for Regional & International Studies at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan explains why people of PoK are against 12 reserved refugee seats in PoK Assembly.

He mentions that “According to the 2017 census, Kashmir's total population is about 4 million. Registered voters for the Kashmir legislative assembly number nearly 3.8 million. Of these, registered voters who are actual Kashmiri locals number 3.3 million, making up 88.5 per cent of total voters, and they decide only 33 of the 45 assembly seats. Registered refugee voters number about 0.4 million, or just 11.5 per cent of voters, but they decide 12 seats.

So, it is very unfair that the balance is not equal between these seats. On average, it takes 17,000 to 45,000 votes to decide who wins a seat in Kashmir, depending on the polling station's population. On the other hand, very few votes, sometimes even 100 to 500, can decide who wins a refugee seat. But the ministries that hold real power often go to them, and most importantly, these 12 seats can decide which government forms, causing serious tension among political parties.

He opines that “Refugees should still have a proper right to be represented, but such a large number of seats decided by so few votes will always cause fights, and this issue will not be solved that way” and logically suggests that “The seats need to be brought closer to the number of people they actually represent, not removed out of anger, and not left the same out of habit, but changed through a fair process.”

The Reality

There can’t be a bigger paradox than PoK. Article 7(2) of PoK Constitution stipulates that “No person or political party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) shall be permitted to propagate against or take part in activities prejudicial or detrimental to the ideology of the State’s accession to Pakistan.” Yet, Islamabad refers to PoK as “Azad (independent) Kashmir.”

PoK has a semi-autonomous constitutional framework with its own president, prime minister, legislature, Supreme Court and even a state flag. Yet candidates seeking elected office must pledge allegiance to Pakistan. It may have been named “Azad Kashmir,” but its highest body called “Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council (AJKC) works under the federal government of Pakistan and is chaired by the prime minister of Pakistan.

The brutal manner in which the Pakistani security forces are dealing with peaceful protesters is really appalling. And Islamabad’s indifference towards heeding to their genuine grievances and demand for basic amenities has made the people of PoK finally realise that they’ve been cheated all along. They were told that people in J&K are being persecuted and the conditions there are unbearable, but now it’s evident that the truth is otherwise.

Munir may claim that Kashmir was, is and will remain part of Pakistan and is its jugular vein. But the brutal way in which his forces are treating PoK residents proves beyond any doubts that such hollow statements are mere rhetoric and Pakistan covets Kashmir for its real estate, not its people.

Nilesh Kunwar is a retired Indian Army Officer who has served in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. He is a keen ‘Kashmir-Watcher,’ and after retirement is pursuing his favourite hobby of writing for newspapers, journals and think-tanks. Views expressed above are the author's own

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Pakistan's Drone-Borne RDX Route: Rajasthan Seizure Signals A New Terror Corridor

A Pakistani drone has delivered what officials describe as a ready-to-use terror kit into Rajasthan, marking a shift from the narcotics and weapon consignments that have dominated cross-border drone smuggling.

On the night of 12 October, Rajasthan's Anti-Narcotics Task Force, working with the Border Security Force and local police, intercepted two men in a field near Rawla Mandi in Sri Ganganagar. They had been monitoring the suspects for a month, believing a drug drop was imminent.

Instead, the drone had dropped three packets roughly five kilometres inside Indian territory. The recovery included about 7 kg of plastic explosives suspected to be RDX, improvised explosive devices, a timer, detonation circuits, remote-detonation equipment, two Turkish-made Zigana pistols and several hundred rounds of ammunition.

The two arrested men are from Ferozepur and Jalandhar in Punjab. Investigators say they are also wanted in connection with the grenade attack on Jalalabad police station in Fazilka on 13 September. The National Investigation Agency has joined the probe, alongside other agencies, as officials try to identify the handlers, the intended recipients and the final destination of the consignment.

The seizure has sharpened concern that Pakistan-based handlers may be opening a new route through Rajasthan. For years, Pakistani drones have largely used Punjab, where the Border Security Force has intensified patrols, intelligence gathering and anti-drone deployments.

The results are visible in seizure figures. The Border Security Force recovered 107 drones on the Punjab border in 2023, 294 in 2024 and 272 in 2025. Anti-drone systems, additional patrols and improved intelligence have made Punjab's 553 km border substantially more difficult to exploit.

Sri Ganganagar lies immediately south of Punjab and remains easily accessible to couriers from Punjab's border districts. The Border Security Force has long identified it as the second-most active smuggling stretch after Punjab. Beyond it lies Rajasthan's more than 1,000 km frontier with Pakistan, much of it desert and thinly populated, offering potentially softer ground for drone operators seeking gaps in coverage.

What makes the Rawla Mandi recovery particularly significant is the nature of the cargo. Previous drone drops in the region have largely involved heroin and pistols, consistent with organised criminal networks. This consignment contained ready-to-use improvised explosive devices with remote detonation capability, pointing to a possible terrorist operation rather than routine smuggling.

Investigators believe the explosives may have been intended for an attack during the festive season or ahead of the Punjab elections. No target has been identified, and officials have not confirmed the intended location or purpose.

The timing has added to concern. Pakistan's military is under pressure at home from the Balochistan insurgency, unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A drone-delivered attack executed through Indian couriers would allow Rawalpindi to maintain pressure on India while retaining deniability.

Such a move would nevertheless carry risk. India has stated that Operation Sindoor is paused rather than concluded. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has warned that India's next response could go beyond Sindoor.

The Line of Control has also remained active. Four infiltrators, including Lashkar commander Mohammad Faizan, were killed this week in a minefield in Poonch's KG Sector. Earlier, police recovered two AK rifles, four pistols, 11 grenades and three remote-controlled improvised explosive devices buried in a forest near Sopore. Infiltration attempts typically rise before winter snow closes the mountain passes.

India is racing to strengthen its counter-drone architecture. In May, Home Minister Amit Shah said at the Sanchu border outpost in Bikaner that anti-drone systems would be installed along the border within six months, placing the deadline around the end of November.

The Border Security Force has mapped drone hotspots on the Punjab border with the help of a drone forensic laboratory in Amritsar. The lab examines flight data from captured drones to establish launch points, the number of sorties and the nature of earlier drops. The Punjab Police has also procured anti-drone systems to create an additional layer of protection behind the Border Security Force.

The technology has produced measurable results. Amit Shah said the proportion of drones detected and neutralised on the Punjab border rose from 3 per cent to 55 per cent after laser-equipped anti-drone systems were deployed.

The challenge now is speed and coverage. Even Punjab, the best protected sector, continues to record a significant number of successful drone incursions. Rajasthan's vast desert border will take longer to secure and will demand more sensors, patrols and rapid-response capability.

Pakistani handlers are likely to continue probing for weaknesses, altering routes and flying lower and at night. The Sri Ganganagar operation demonstrates that Indian intelligence and ground coordination can intercept such consignments. The coming months will test whether the expanding anti-drone shield can cover Rajasthan quickly enough to close the emerging corridor.

Agencies

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Warns of Stronger Indian Response To Any Future Pakistan-Origin Terror Attack

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has warned that any future terrorist attack originating from Pakistan will invite an even stronger response from India, signalling what he described as a continuing shift in New Delhi's approach towards combating cross-border terrorism.

Speaking at a defence conclave in New Delhi, Singh said operations such as Operation Sindoor, the Balakot airstrikes and the surgical strikes represented far more than military actions, describing them as markers of a transition from diplomatic condemnation to proactive measures aimed at targeting terrorism at its source.

He asserted that India's counter-terrorism capabilities have significantly improved over the past decade, claiming that since 2014 the "shelf life" of most terrorists has fallen to less than a year, with security forces neutralising many within a year of their taking up arms against the country.

The minister said India's commitment to peace remains unchanged, but stressed that such a position should not be mistaken for weakness or a lack of resolve when national security is threatened.

According to Singh, India's long-standing civilisational values support dialogue, coexistence and the peaceful resolution of disputes, yet preserving peace also requires military strength, preparedness and the ability to respond decisively to aggression.

He reiterated that the country hopes for peace while remaining fully prepared for conflict whenever necessary to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests.

Drawing attention to emerging security challenges, Singh highlighted the growing complexity of modern warfare, describing the current environment as one shaped by hybrid, high-tech and hyper warfare.

He identified what he termed the "5D security threat" comprising disinformation, destabilisation, disruption, deception and destruction, warning that these factors are increasingly influencing national security calculations in the digital age.

Singh noted that terrorism is evolving beyond traditional organised networks, with lone-wolf attacks and what he called "white-collar terrorism" presenting new challenges for intelligence and security agencies.

These developments, he said, make it more difficult to detect radicalised individuals before they can carry out potentially devastating attacks.

Referring to a recent aviation incident, the Defence Minister cited the case of a co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a passenger aircraft but was stopped by Captain Smit Machchhar, whom Singh praised for risking his life and preventing what could have become a major terrorist attack.

He said the episode demonstrated both the danger posed by lone-wolf actors and the critical role that individual courage can play in thwarting extremist plans.

According to Singh, a single vigilant and courageous individual can help foil an entire terrorist conspiracy, making public awareness and responsible citizenship an essential component of national security.

The minister argued that the fight against terrorism cannot rely solely on the capabilities of security agencies and must also involve active cooperation from alert citizens.

He further called for the development of "smart power", combining hard power and soft power, while integrating precision-guided weapons, loitering munitions, artificial intelligence and advanced indigenous technologies with cost-effective and adaptable systems.

Singh described Operation Sindoor as evidence of India's expanding technological capabilities and the armed forces' increasing confidence in indigenous platforms such as the Akash missile system and BrahMos missile, underscoring the growing role of domestically developed systems in the country's defence preparedness.

PTI

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Pakistan Drone Drop Probe Uncovers Ready-To-Use Bomb Near Border, Terror Plot Suspected

What began as a suspected narcotics interception operation in Rajasthan's border region turned into the discovery of a major terror-linked consignment containing high-grade explosives, ready-to-use improvised explosive devices (IEDs), firearms and ammunition.

As per a NDTV report, investigators believe the material may have been intended for a terrorist attack during the festive season or ahead of elections in Punjab, although the intended target has not yet been identified.

The Rajasthan Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), which has frequently dealt with drone-based smuggling attempts along the India-Pakistan border, was tracking what was initially believed to be another cross-border drug consignment in the Sri Ganganagar sector.

Instead, security personnel uncovered a cache of explosives, weapons and remote-detonation equipment that has triggered a multi-agency counter-terror investigation.

According to investigators, three drones reportedly launched from locations between five and 10 kilometres inside Pakistan crossed into Indian airspace during the intervening night of 12 and 13 October. The drones dropped multiple packets in a field near village 12 KD in the Raola area of Sri Ganganagar district, roughly five kilometres from the international border.

Acting on intelligence inputs, ANTF personnel maintained surveillance around the drop zone and intercepted two young men who arrived under the cover of darkness to collect the packages. Both suspects are approximately 19 years old.

The recovered consignment contained three packets carrying a total of 7.75 kg of RDX, sophisticated IEDs, a timer device, detonation circuits, remote-explosion equipment, batteries, two Turkish-made Zigana pistols and 867 cartridges.

ANTF Inspector General Vikas Kumar stated that the devices were effectively complete bombs that only required final circuit connections before use. The explosives were reportedly packed with shrapnel, significantly increasing their destructive potential.

The devices were considered dangerous enough for a specialised bomb disposal squad to be deployed to neutralise them safely. Subsequent reports indicate that explosive material and detonators recovered during the operation were destroyed through a controlled disposal process.

Investigators also found evidence of sophisticated concealment methods. The RDX was packed inside airtight, multi-layered compartments and cushioned with tubes to minimise damage during the drone drop while also making detection more difficult.

The two arrested suspects have been identified as Lakhwinder from Ferozepur and his cousin Sukhwinder from Jalandhar in Punjab.

Investigators allege that the pair are also wanted in connection with a grenade attack on the Jalalabad police station in Punjab's Fazilka district on 13 September 2026. The accused have reportedly told investigators that they were acting on instructions from a relative identified only as RS, who allegedly directed them to retrieve the cross-border consignment.

For more than a month, the two men had reportedly been working at a farm near village 12 KD. Investigators believe they posed as agricultural labourers while monitoring the movements of BSF personnel and other security agencies operating near the border.

Sources indicate the pair may not have known the ultimate destination of the explosives and weapons. Investigators suspect they were being used as couriers within a compartmentalised network designed to conceal the identities of senior operatives and end users.

The suspects had allegedly received basic firearms training and were reportedly instructed to use weapons if required during the operation.

During questioning, the accused reportedly disclosed contact with three Pakistan-based individuals identified as Umar Chacha, Dungar Chacha and Shah Pathan. Investigators believe communications were conducted through social media platforms and conference calls.

Authorities are continuing efforts to identify and locate the Punjab-based handler known as RS, who is believed to be related to both arrested men and may have played a key role in coordinating the operation. Security agencies are also attempting to determine whether the consignment was intended for use in Rajasthan or was destined for another state. At present, investigators say the arrested men did not know the final destination or intended target.

The seizure comes amid growing concerns over the use of drones for cross-border smuggling of narcotics, weapons and explosives along India's western frontier. Security agencies have recorded multiple drone-linked interdictions in Rajasthan in recent years, prompting expanded surveillance and anti-drone measures.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Rajasthan Police's anti-terror task force have now joined the investigation. Authorities are examining the origin, intended destination and wider network behind the operation, while the accused have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act, among other provisions.

Agencies

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Pakistan Army: Disappearing The Living And Raising The Dead

by Nilesh Kunwar

Yarn Spinners

Pakistan army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) is perhaps one of the best sources of unadulterated amusement and its incredulous narratives being so similar to fairy tales invoke nostalgia by reviving childhood memories. While some people inexplicably vanish into thin air without any trace whatsoever, others suddenly appear from nowhere-and it’s this unique twist in the tall stories conjured by ISPR that makes them so addictive.

ISPR’s penchant for coming out with comical statements has been aptly captured in a widely circulated meme on social media. This is a digitally created photo of a pouch of a non-existent brand named Lahori Churan (an herbal appetizer from Lahore) along with a mug-shot of DGISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Shareef Chaudhary and the bye line “Jazbe wali kaum ke liye (For the community full of fervour).” Though it contains no message, yet this meme fittingly drives home the point that ISPR’s statements are so palpably questionable that they just can’t be digested without help of an appetizer!

Curious Disappearance

On February 27, 2019, an aerial combat took place between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Pakistani Air Force (PAF) in which Wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman of IAF who downed a PAF fighter jet was also shot down. After he bailed out and landed in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), he was apprehended by the Pakistan army . However, Director General (DG) ISPR tweeted that PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts” and one Indian pilot (had been) arrested by troops on ground while two (other pilots were) in the area.”

Just a few hours later, DGISPR announced that only two IAF pilots were in custody. He further revealed that “one of them was injured and has been taken to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and will be given proper care, (while) another is in our custody.” Reduction in the number of detained pilots from three to two is understandable as the information about two of them “in the area” could be inaccurate. However, by evening, DGISPR further reduced the number of detained pilots to just one- something that raises a red flag so conspicuous that wouldn’t even escape notice of a novice.

By disclosing the physical location of the two pilots (one being in custody of the Pakistan army and another undergoing treatment at a CMH), DGISPR clearly acknowledged that two pilots had bailed out that day and it's axiomatic that as many aircraft went down that day. While the IAF pilot in Pakistani custody was Wg Cdr Varthaman, there’s no record of the second pilot who DGISPR confirmed as undergoing treatment at CMH. However, that he wasn’t an India pilot is definite because had he been one, Pakistan had no reason to conceal his identity and New Delhi would have certainly sought his repatriation too.

The Pakistan army has no qualms about disowning its rank and file killed in combat and even abandoning their mortal remains as it did during the 1999 Kargil war. More recently, it has even stooped down to a new low by taking no action to secure release of its soldiers captured by Baloch Liberation Army fighters. On the other hand, the “no one left behind” principle is the foundational military ethos and moral commitment within the Indian armed forces. As such, it is inconceivable that the IAF would leave behind a pilot and forget about him.

Hence, acknowledgement that a second unnamed pilot was undergoing treatment in a Pakistan army medical facility is undoubtedly irrefutable proof that a PAF pilot had bailed out that day and this in turn univocally confirms that Wg Cdr Varthaman had indeed shot down a PAF fighter jet during the aerial combat that day. But that's not all.

Another inexplicable ‘disappearance’ occurred in Pakistan a few days later. Replying to a query regarding whereabouts of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar whose terrorist had carried out the Pulwama suicide car bombing, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi admitted that Azhar was indeed present in Pakistan and even gave his health update saying, “He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell."

However, by promptly contradicting Qureshi’s admission and stating that “Jaish-e-Mohammed does not exist in Pakistan,” DGISPR not only ‘disappeared’ the JeM chief, but also made thousands of his henchmen vanish!

Intriguing Appearances

Making someone appear just to prove that he is alive is another field in which ISPR excels. Though details of one such incident that occurred during the 1999 Kargil War aren’t available on the internet, the author vividly recalls viewing the same on Pakistan TV.

During the Kargil conflict, Indian TV channels showed several personal and official documents recovered from captured posts that clearly revealed that the infiltrators weren't mujahideen but members of the Pakistan army.

In one case, after personal letters written by a lady to her husband along with some other documents identifying him as a Pakistan army officer were shown on TV, the then DGISPR Maj Gen Rashid Qureshi promptly paraded a person in uniform before the media and he claimed that he was the army officer whose personal effects were shown on Indian TV.

The funny part about this incident is that while the Indian army had made no claim of either having killed or captured the officer whose documents had been recovered, by presenting a supposed army officer parading on TV, DGISPR demolished his own lie that the infiltrators in Kargil were mujahideen and not Pakistan army regulars.

A similar incident happened just a few days back after the Indian army shot dead a Pakistani national named Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Musa belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). DGISPR Lt Gen Chaudhry held a long drawn media briefing accusing the Indian army of spreading disinformation and in a repeat of the Kargil War incident, even produced a person who claimed that he was the real Mohammad Asif.

However, instead of clearing the air, DGISPR’s confusing barrage of accusations on sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan clearly betrayed Rawalpindi’s desperation on account of its abject failure to restore normalcy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan despite indiscriminate use of force. His attempt to malign the Indian army turned out to be a damp squib for several reasons.

Firstly, the Indian army has never mentioned anything about Musa’s professional background prior to his joining LeT and so the question of it spreading disinformation doesn’t arise. Secondly, security agencies had shared his sketch created through description of several witnesses and this was an exact match of his photograph recovered from the mobile phone of his accomplices. Thirdly, the facial features of the slain LeT terrorist matched perfectly with his sketch and photograph.

Counter Question

DGISPR has cited six reasons to explain why Musa was linked with the Pakistan army, which range from the utterly laughable and absurd to the hallucinatory and even the out rightly bizarre. While the former includes India’s alleged bid to “cover (its) own track of terrorism, oppression in Kashmir” and “Bollywood influence,” his accusation of India’s “obsession with Pakistan” definitely indicates acute hallucination. And “politicisation of military” and “shining India delusion” undoubtedly falls in the bizarre category.

Indian media had been mentioning Musa’s former service in Pakistan army’s Special Services Group (SSG) ever since his role as the Pahalgam massacre mastermind was established in April last year. On April 29, 2025, News9 had mentioned that “Investigations into the Pahalgam terror attack reveal that Hashim Musa, a Pakistani terrorist behind the massacre, is a former para commando of Pakistan’s Special Services Group (SSG). Sources say he was loaned to the LeT by the Pakistani military to target non-locals and security forces in J&K.” But DGISPR maintained a stoic silence all along.

"Why the need for all this drama (by India)," the DGISPR had queried during his media briefing and this raises a counter question for him. When Musa’s link with the Pakistan army was being mentioned by the Indian media for more than a year, why the need for all this drama and presenting a pathetic body-double of the slain LeT terrorist? Could it be because of DGISPR’s fear of the upcoming anti terrorism funding watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting scheduled later this month?

Nilesh Kunwar is a retired Indian Army Officer who has served in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. He is a keen ‘Kashmir-Watcher,’ and after retirement is pursuing his favourite hobby of writing for newspapers, journals and think-tanks. Views expressed above are the author's own

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Top Lashkar-e-Taiba Terrorist Among Four Infiltrators Killed In LoC Minefield Blast In Poonch

Four Pakistani terrorists, including a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander identified as Muhammad Faizan, were killed during an attempted cross-border infiltration along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

The incident took place in the Krishna Ghati (KG) Sector, one of the most sensitive stretches along the LoC, where security forces maintain a robust anti-infiltration grid to prevent unauthorised crossings.

According to official information, the group was attempting to enter Indian territory from across the LoC when it inadvertently triggered a landmine concealed within a heavily fortified forward area. The resulting explosion was powerful and fatal. All four infiltrators were killed at the scene before they could penetrate the security network deployed along the border.

The deceased were identified as Muhammad Faizan, Muhammad Ishtiaq, Muhammad Waqas and Muhammad Asim. Authorities stated that all four individuals were residents of Hajira tehsil in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Muhammad Faizan was reported to be a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, making his death a significant setback for the terrorist organisation's cross-border infiltration apparatus.

The failed infiltration attempt occurred in the Nangi Takri and Satwal-Naki belt of the KG Sector, an area that has historically been regarded as a frequently used route for infiltration attempts. The terrain in this region is characterised by rugged hills, dense vegetation, steep gradients and difficult approaches, factors that have traditionally been exploited by infiltrating groups seeking to evade detection. However, the same area is also heavily protected through multiple layers of security measures.

These include surveillance systems, patrol deployments, ambush positions, physical obstacles and extensive minefields designed to deter and disrupt infiltration attempts. Investigators believe the group entered or approached a mined stretch forming part of the anti-infiltration obstacle system maintained in the forward zone.

The landmine detonated during their movement, immediately exposing and neutralising the infiltration attempt. The blast effectively foiled what security officials described as a significant cross-border intrusion bid.

As a result, the infiltrators were unable to advance further into Indian territory. Security agencies subsequently intensified monitoring throughout the sector. Additional vigilance measures were implemented along the LoC to ensure that no accompanying groups or secondary infiltration teams were operating in the vicinity. Border surveillance assets were reportedly placed on heightened alert following the explosion. The incident once again highlighted the critical role played by minefields and layered security arrangements in countering infiltration attempts originating from across the LoC.

Forward areas in the Poonch sector remain among the most closely monitored regions due to their long history of infiltration activity. The KG Sector, in particular, has witnessed repeated attempts by terrorist groups to exploit difficult terrain and traditional crossing routes.

For this reason, security forces continue to maintain extensive defensive infrastructure throughout the area. Minefields remain an important component of this broader defence posture. Such obstacles are intended to slow, expose and prevent infiltrators from crossing into Indian territory. Officials noted that groups attempting to traverse these dangerous stretches face substantial risks, especially when moving through unfamiliar or heavily fortified zones.

The deaths of the four infiltrators underscore the hazards associated with attempting to breach the anti-infiltration grid along the LoC. The elimination of Muhammad Faizan is considered especially notable because of his reported position within Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Security analysts often view the removal of experienced commanders as disruptive to planning, coordination and operational capabilities within terrorist networks. The incident also reflects the continuing challenge posed by infiltration attempts along the Line of Control despite extensive counter-infiltration measures.

Poonch district remains strategically important due to its location along the LoC and the presence of several routes historically associated with cross-border movement. In recent years, security forces have continuously strengthened surveillance and border management systems across the region. The latest incident demonstrates how those measures continue to act as a significant barrier against terrorist infiltration efforts.

While further operational details may emerge as investigations continue, the immediate outcome remains clear. Four Pakistani terrorists, including top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Muhammad Faizan, were killed in a landmine explosion while attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control in the KG Sector of Poonch.

All four infiltrators were residents of Hajira tehsil in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Their deaths brought the infiltration attempt to an abrupt end and prevented a potentially serious cross-border security breach.

Agencies

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India’s Three Red Lines: Terror Will Cost, Nuclear Blackmail Will Not Work At UN

India delivered a forceful rebuttal to Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly's First Committee on Disarmament and International Security, asserting that nuclear weapons must never be used as routine instruments of statecraft and making clear that New Delhi will not bow to nuclear blackmail.

The remarks were made while exercising India's Right of Reply in response to statements made by Pakistan.

Speaking on behalf of India, First Secretary Anmol Sher Singh Bedi underlined that India's military capabilities are defensive in nature and shaped solely by its own security requirements rather than being directed against any particular country.

Bedi also defended India's response following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. He described New Delhi's actions as measured, targeted and non-escalatory, undertaken in exercise of its right to self-defence.

Setting out India's position in unambiguous terms, the diplomat outlined three principles that would guide the country's response to future security threats.

First, any terrorist attack against India would receive a fitting response.

Second, India would not submit to nuclear blackmail.

Third, India would draw no distinction between those who sponsor terrorism and those who plan or mastermind it.

He stressed that the use of non-state actors as proxies does not absolve a state of responsibility for violence carried out in its name.

According to Bedi, attempts to hide behind proxy groups cannot dilute India's right of self-defence or shield those responsible from consequences.

Addressing concerns about escalation, he argued that actions matter more than rhetoric and warned against the practice of invoking nuclear capabilities to restrict responses to sub-conventional attacks.

He stated that reliance on a nuclear overhang to limit the consequences of such activities increases the risk of escalation rather than promoting restraint.

Drawing attention to recurring regional tensions, Bedi said crises often follow a familiar sequence consisting of provocation, denial of responsibility and subsequent calls for restraint after a response has been delivered.

He further remarked that when decision-makers are not accountable to their population, instability can become a useful political tool and crises can be turned into instruments of power.

On the Indus Waters Treaty, he maintained that the agreement was built upon good faith and mutual goodwill.

He argued that a state cannot continuously undermine trust while simultaneously expecting all benefits arising from that relationship to remain unaffected.

The comments reflected India's broader position that international agreements depend not only on legal provisions but also on sustained confidence between the parties involved.

Bedi also referred to the AQ Khan proliferation network, whose activities contributed to the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540.

He urged all countries and responsible suppliers to apply the highest standards of vigilance in matters relating to nuclear cooperation and military transfers.

Reaffirming India's overall approach, he said the country does not seek conflict and remains committed to peace with all nations.

However, he warned that without accountability for reckless actions, peace risks becoming merely a temporary pause between successive crises.

The exchange came against the backdrop of continuing diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and India's subsequent counter-terror operations, which Indian officials have repeatedly characterised as carefully calibrated measures aimed at terrorist infrastructure rather than broader military escalation.

Separately at the United Nations earlier in the week, India also accused Pakistan of presenting itself internationally as both a victim of terrorism and a frontline state against it while ignoring its long history of nurturing extremist networks.

Speaking in a separate Right of Reply before the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee, First Secretary Raghoo Puri stated that the terrorist organisations created and supported by the Pakistani state had ultimately turned against their own creators.

He said this reality had been acknowledged even within Pakistan's own political leadership and called for stronger international action against states that sponsor terrorism.

Puri further criticised what he described as Pakistan's attempt to simultaneously support and combat extremist groups, warning that such contradictions cannot be sustained indefinitely.

His remarks were delivered in response to comments made by Pakistan's Deputy Permanent Representative Usman Jadoon during proceedings of the UN General Assembly's legal affairs committee, underscoring India's continuing effort to keep the spotlight on terrorism and state accountability at multilateral forums.

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J&K Remains Integral To India, New Delhi Rebukes Pakistan At UN Over False Claims

India strongly rejected Pakistan's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations, accusing Islamabad of misusing the global platform to spread what it described as false and misleading claims regarding the Indian Union Territory.

The response was delivered during discussions on Decolonisation in the UN General Assembly's Fourth Committee by Member of Parliament Mahima Kumari Mewar under India's Right of Reply.

Mewar said it was regrettable that Pakistan continued to use the UN platform to circulate what India termed as lies and falsehoods about Jammu and Kashmir. Reaffirming New Delhi's longstanding position, she stated that Jammu and Kashmir is, and will always remain, an integral and inalienable part of India.

India also turned the focus on territories under Pakistan's control, alleging continuing human rights violations, political repression and the illegal exploitation of local resources. Mewar asserted that residents in these areas had been openly protesting against military rule and restrictions on their freedoms.

She further alleged that Pakistani security forces and associated groups had killed dozens of civilians in recent months during demonstrations related to basic rights, freedoms and essential services.

Criticising Pakistan's domestic political landscape, Mewar pointed to what she described as a history of military rule, disputed electoral processes, imprisonment of popular political leaders, religious extremism and the use of terrorism as a state policy tool. She said such a country should refrain from lecturing others on these issues in international forums.

The exchange formed part of the broader and longstanding disagreement between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir. India maintains that the entire former princely state is an integral part of the country, while Pakistan continues to raise the issue in international forums despite India's position that it is a bilateral matter.

Separately, India called for stronger mechanisms to ensure criminal accountability for United Nations officials and experts on mission during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee.

Representing India, Member of Parliament Priya Saroj reiterated the country's zero-tolerance approach towards criminal conduct and misconduct involving UN personnel. She stressed that accountability is essential to maintaining the credibility, integrity and public trust of the United Nations.

Saroj welcomed the UN Secretary-General's efforts to strengthen accountability systems and noted ongoing work to improve reporting, investigations, referrals and follow-up procedures across the organisation.

She highlighted that between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, the UN Office of Legal Affairs referred 93 cases involving UN officials and experts on mission to their respective states of nationality for investigation and possible prosecution.

According to Saroj, the effectiveness of the accountability framework depends on timely action by member states after such referrals and on close cooperation between national authorities and the United Nations. She encouraged countries to conduct prompt investigations and pursue prosecutions where appropriate while keeping the UN informed of progress.

India also urged states to consider strengthening legal jurisdiction over serious crimes committed abroad by their nationals serving as UN officials or experts on mission, in accordance with their domestic legal systems.

Emphasising the importance of fairness, Saroj said accountability measures must be accompanied by due process protections, respect for the rights of all parties involved, safeguards for victims and witnesses, and preventive measures such as training and awareness programs.

She noted that India's Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 includes provisions relating to certain offences committed outside India by Indian citizens, while the Extradition Act, 1962 provides a legal framework for extradition where applicable.

Saroj also underlined the importance of continued contributions to the UN Secretary-General's Trust Fund supporting victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, while reaffirming India's commitment to working with member states and the United Nations to strengthen accountability, cooperation and effective implementation of international standards.

ANI

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Pahalgam Victims Were Asked About Religion, Not Politics: India Rebukes Pakistan At UN

India sharply criticised Pakistan at the United Nations after what New Delhi described as a provocative intervention by Islamabad during discussions on measures to eliminate international terrorism.

Speaking during India's Right of Reply at the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee, Indian diplomat Raghoo Puri said it was deeply ironic for Pakistan to speak about combating religious hatred when victims of the Pahalgam terror attack were allegedly targeted on the basis of their religion rather than their political beliefs.

Puri's remarks came in response to comments made by Pakistan's representative during the debate. He argued that terrorism cannot be defeated through declarations alone and requires decisive action against perpetrators, organisers, financiers and state sponsors.

Highlighting the Pahalgam attack, Puri said the victims were not questioned about their political orientation but about their religion before being targeted. He used the incident to counter Pakistan's references to religious tolerance and minority rights.

The Indian diplomat also accused Pakistan of attempting to shape narratives at international forums while failing to confront the terror infrastructure operating from its territory. He said Islamabad continued to present itself as both a victim and a frontline state against terrorism, despite longstanding concerns over its record.

Puri further contended that groups allegedly nurtured by Pakistan had increasingly turned against the country itself. Referring to previous statements by Pakistani political leaders, he suggested that even voices within Pakistan had acknowledged the dangers posed by extremist organisations.

He also questioned Pakistan's claims regarding action against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, describing public announcements and reward schemes as insufficient. According to Puri, Pakistan's assertions lacked credibility given previous claims that the organisation had become defunct.

Taking aim at Pakistan's narrative surrounding Operation Sindoor, India's military response following the Pahalgam terror attack, Puri accused Islamabad of relying on misinformation and disinformation rather than addressing concerns over terrorism.

The Indian representative reiterated that the international community had not forgotten major terror attacks including 9/11, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the Pahalgam attack. He argued that victims and their families continue to await justice while those responsible remain unaccountable.

Puri concluded that providing safe havens and political protection to terrorist groups undermines international commitments to counter-terrorism and denies justice to victims across the region.

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French Air Force Studies Operation Sindoor, Citing Air Operations Unseen Since World War II

French Air and Space Force Vice Chief Lieutenant General Dominique Tardif has said France is studying the Indian Air Force’s experience during Operation Sindoor because of the operation’s scale and complexity.

Tardif said the number of aircraft operating simultaneously in the same battlespace had made the operation particularly significant for France and other air forces.

“I think we haven’t seen something like this since, perhaps, World War II. So the Indian Air Force has something very interesting,” he said.

The French assessment is focused on understanding how the Indian Air Force planned and conducted large-scale air operations involving multiple aircraft and systems in a highly contested battlespace.

Tardif said France had already held discussions with the Indian Air Force to examine the operation’s lessons. However, he noted that the information available for exchange was limited because several aspects remained operationally sensitive.

He cautioned against drawing immediate conclusions from the operation. A meaningful assessment, he said, would require the examination of records generated by the different systems involved, followed by a detailed analysis of how those systems performed.

“We are also to analyse what has been done, and it’s a long way, because you need to have all the different records of the different systems, to analyse, to understand, because you can’t draw rapid lessons. It takes time to analyse,” Tardif said.

He added that the French Air and Space Force was seeking to study whatever information the Indian Air Force could share, while recognising that decisions on disclosure rested with India.

“For sure, this is something very interesting for all the different air forces,” Tardif said.

Tardif made the remarks during his visit to India for the second edition of the Indian Air Force’s multinational air combat exercise Tarang Shakti in Jodhpur. The exercise has provided participating air forces with an opportunity to exchange operational practices, test procedures and improve interoperability.

France’s interest in Operation Sindoor also comes as it examines future air-combat requirements, including the possible development of longer-range air-to-air missiles for its Rafale fleet.

The Meteor missile used by both the Indian and French air forces has an effective range of around 150 kilometres, while some Chinese, Russian and American systems are reported to have ranges exceeding 300 kilometres.

Operation Sindoor was launched by India on 7 May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack. The operation involved complex air and missile activity and has since become a subject of study for military planners assessing modern, networked air warfare.

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Former Pakistan Army SSG Commando Hashim Moosa Identified As LeT Operative Killed In Budgam Encounter

Security forces have identified the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist killed during Operation KORAG in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district as Mohammad Asif, alias Hashim Moosa, a former Pakistan Army Havildar with an extensive background in special operations, counter-insurgency warfare and VIP protection duties.

According to security sources, Asif was born on 7 March 1980 and joined the Pakistan Army in 2000 under service number PA-3106947. He later rose to the rank of Havildar before retiring from military service in 2023.

His military career reportedly took a significant turn in 2005 when he was inducted into the Pakistan Army's elite Special Services Group (SSG). He subsequently served with the 4 Commando "Yalgar" Battalion, one of the country's specialist special operations formations.

From 2006 onwards, he was deployed in Balochistan, where he allegedly participated in approximately 10 counter-insurgency operations against Baloch separatist groups. Sources claim he was credited with 13 personal kills during those deployments.

Between 2006 and 2009, Asif was also attached to the VVIP security detail of former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, highlighting the level of trust and specialised training he had received during his military career.

Documents examined by security agencies, including a Pakistani Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) issued on 12 September 2020, reportedly helped establish his identity and military background.

Officials stated that his service record reflected experience in counter-insurgency operations, United Nations deployments, VVIP security assignments and advanced weapons training.

Indian security agencies believe that following his retirement from the Pakistan Army in 2023, Asif was integrated into Lashkar-e-Taiba's operational structure and subsequently infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir.

His death was confirmed by the Army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps after troops recovered his body along with war-like stores during a search operation in the Palmaidan area of Budgam district.

The operation began after intelligence inputs indicated the presence of terrorists in the Yousmarg region. Security forces launched a joint search mission, during which troops observed suspicious movement.

When challenged, the terrorists opened fire, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. During the encounter, Hashim Moosa was neutralised. Search operations in the area continued afterwards to determine whether additional terrorists remained present.

Hashim Moosa had emerged as one of the most wanted foreign terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Security agencies had linked him to a series of attacks across the Union Territory and viewed him as a highly trained operative because of his special forces background.

He was also among the key suspects in the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists, one of the deadliest civilian attacks in Kashmir in recent years.

Following that attack, Jammu and Kashmir Police announced a reward of ₹20 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Pakistani nationals and LeT operatives Adil Hussain Thoker, Ali Bhai and Hashim Moosa.

Investigators had long suspected that Moosa's specialised military training enabled him to conduct complex operations and survive prolonged counter-terrorism manhunts in difficult terrain.

The National Investigation Agency's 1,597-page chargesheet in the Pahalgam attack case named seven accused and detailed the alleged involvement of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and its proxy outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF), both designated terrorist organisations.

The chargesheet also named Pakistani handler Sajid Jatt and described what investigators characterised as a broader cross-border conspiracy to plan, facilitate and execute the attack.

The elimination of Hashim Moosa is therefore being viewed as a significant operational success for Indian security forces, not only because of his alleged role in the Pahalgam massacre but also because of the rare combination of conventional military, special forces and terrorist experience he is believed to have possessed.

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India Warns At UN: Right To Defend Against Terrorism Will Be Exercised: India’s National Statement At UNGA81

India has warned at the United Nations that it will continue to exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism, while asserting that friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with support for terror

 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called for accountability for state-sponsored, cross-border terrorism, safer global shipping lanes and a two-state solution to achieve lasting peace in West Asia.

India delivered a strong message against terrorism at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar warning that New Delhi would not accept attempts to normalise terror or provide immunity to those responsible.

Although he did not name Pakistan directly, Jaishankar appeared to be responding to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address to the UN General Assembly a day earlier. Sharif had raised the Kashmir issue, criticised India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and credited US President Donald Trump with timely intervention during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.

“Yesterday, a serial practitioner of terrorism misrepresented facts before this assembly,” Jaishankar said. He added that arguments had been used to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences.

“That will not stand. Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised,” he said.

EAM Jaishankar underlined that friendship and goodwill could not coexist with terrorism. He said understandings based on support for terrorism would naturally be called into question, adding that it was for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways.

He described state-sponsored terrorism with a cross-border purpose as a direct affront to the international order. Governments involved in such practices, he said, must be held accountable.

The minister called for no dilution in the global zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism. He also stressed the need to expose and counter the financial networks that support terrorist activities.

Sharif had warned in his UN address that any attempt by India to stop, impede or divert Pakistan’s share of the Indus waters would be treated as an “act of war”. He also described the Indus river system as essential to Pakistan and argued that India’s decision to hold the treaty in abeyance had no legal basis.

India has maintained that the treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border and other forms of terrorism. Sharif also revisited the 2025 military confrontation, portraying Pakistan’s response as self-defence and calling for a “just and fair” settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Jaishankar said the international system had become increasingly strained after eight decades of the United Nations. Instead of creating an enabling environment for peace, he said, the world was witnessing the “weaponisation of everything”.

He pointed to intense competition in finance, restricted market access, disrupted supply chains and the withholding of technology. These developments, he said, had created choke points and encouraged countries to pursue de-risking and diversification.

While such measures could protect national interests to varying degrees, Jaishankar said they had weakened the broader atmosphere of trust and goodwill.

The minister also raised concerns over attacks on commercial vessels and the risks facing international shipping lanes. He noted that Indian seafarers, along with seafarers from other countries, had lost their lives in such attacks.

“This is completely unacceptable,” Jaishankar said, stressing that the safety and security of commercial shipping and seafarers must never be compromised.

On the situation in West Asia, Jaishankar said lasting peace required a two-state solution involving Israel and Palestine. He expressed India’s continued support for humanitarian assistance and relief efforts for the Palestinian people amid the conflict in Gaza.

He said tensions and violence in the region continued to be a matter of concern. India, he added, remained committed to supporting humanitarian efforts, while maintaining that a durable peace could be achieved only through a two-state framework.

The recent BRICS summit in New Delhi had also called for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

MEA

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'Serial Practitioner of Terror': Jaishankar Delivers Fiery Rebuke To Pakistan At UNGA

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar used India's national statement at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to deliver a sharp, uncompromising message on cross‑border, state‑sponsored terrorism, explicitly calling Pakistan a "serial practitioner of terrorism" and asserting New Delhi's sovereign right to defend itself.

Speaking a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the Assembly and revived the Kashmir narrative while crediting US President Donald Trump for "timely intervention" during the 2025 India‑Pakistan conflict, Jaishankar said arguments seeking to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences "will not stand".

He stressed that terrorism remains a persistent threat to peace, and when it is state‑sponsored with a cross‑border purpose it becomes a direct affront to the global order, demanding accountability for governments that indulge in such practices.

Jaishankar reiterated India's zero‑tolerance approach, urging the international community to expose and counter the financial networks underpinning terror, and warned that friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism, so any understandings premised on that would naturally be called into question.

He made clear that it is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways, and that India's right to defend itself against terrorism will be exercised, signalling that continued cross‑border terror by Pakistan will carry consequences.

In a separate right‑of‑reply intervention, Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot termed Sharif's remarks "bizarre" and drew the Assembly's attention to Pakistan's record of sheltering high‑profile terrorists, pointing out that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, was found living close to Pakistan's premier military academy.

Gahlot underscored that Pakistan "claims to uphold security by day and perpetrates terrorism by night", and warned that India had demonstrated last year that terrorists would have "nowhere to run and nowhere to hide", reinforcing the message that continued terrorism by Pakistan will have consequences.

The Indian rebuttal also dismantled Islamabad's attempt to credit President Trump for mediating a cessation of hostilities after last year's fighting, with New Delhi maintaining its consistent position against any third‑party intervention in its security affairs.

Contextually, New Delhi undertook Operation Sindoor on 7 May last year, striking terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, a sequence referenced implicitly in India's warnings about consequences for continued cross‑border terror.

India concluded by urging the UN General Assembly to recognise Pakistan and its policies for what they are, rather than what its representatives mendaciously present, while Jaishankar's broader address also touched on ending conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, protecting commercial shipping in international waterways, and the need for reformed, transparent multilateralism.

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India Mocks Shehbaz Sharif’s Victory Claim Over Destroyed Runways And Burnt-Out Hangars

India has sharply rejected Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s claim that Islamabad emerged victorious from the May military confrontation with India.

Exercising India’s right of reply at the United Nations General Assembly, Petal Gahlot, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, accused Sharif of distorting the events surrounding Operation Sindoor.

Sharif had described Pakistan’s military response as a major success and claimed that its armed forces had repulsed India’s operations. He also asserted that Pakistani fighter aircraft had shot down seven Indian jets, sending them to “scrap and dust”.

Gahlot dismissed the Pakistani leader’s account as an attempt to present a military setback as a triumph.

“The intervening event was the destruction caused to multiple Pakistani air bases by Indian forces,” she said, adding that photographs of the damage were publicly accessible.

“If destroyed runways and burnt-out hangars look like victory, as the Prime Minister claimed, Pakistan is welcome to enjoy it,” Gahlot said.

She further stated that Pakistan’s military had directly sought a cessation of hostilities on 10 May, following the damage inflicted on several of its air bases.

The exchange followed a four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan from 7 to 10 May 2025. India launched Operation Sindoor after the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed.

India has said the operation targeted terrorist infrastructure, while Pakistan portrayed its military response as an act of national defence.

Gahlot also criticised Islamabad’s conduct at the UN Security Council, where Pakistan had opposed efforts to hold The Resistance Front responsible for the Pahalgam attack.

India has described the organisation as a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist group. New Delhi accused Pakistan of shielding those responsible for the massacre while attempting to use the UN platform to promote its version of events.

The Indian diplomat also rejected any suggestion that a third party was required to mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad, maintaining that issues between the two countries should be addressed bilaterally.

The sharp exchange at the UNGA underscored the continuing diplomatic dispute over the May confrontation, with both countries presenting conflicting accounts of the military outcome.

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Sharif Warns Any Diversion of Indus Waters Will Be Treated As 'Act of War' At UNGA

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday local time, issued a stark warning that any attempt to stop, impede or divert Pakistan's share of waters from the Indus River system would be treated as an act of war.

Sharif described the shared waters of the Indus River system as the lifeblood not only for the people of Pakistan but for the entire region, emphasising the critical importance of the river network for agriculture, energy and livelihoods across South Asia.

He alleged that India's unilateral decision to hold the existing Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance had no legal basis whatsoever, reiterating Islamabad's position that the 1960 agreement remains valid, binding and fully operative.

Sharif claimed that both India's claims and actions regarding the treaty had been rejected by United Nations experts and, more recently, by the Court of Arbitration at The Hague, stating that Pakistan's legitimate stand had been vindicated beyond any ray of doubt.

Water must never be weaponised, Sharif said, adding that rivers should nourish nations, not divide them, before delivering his firm warning that India must make no mistake about Pakistan's resolve to protect its water rights.

The Indus Waters Treaty, a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, was signed on 19 September 1960 and concerns the utilisation of waters of the Indus system of rivers, allocating the three eastern rivers to India and the three western rivers to Pakistan.

The treaty governs the sharing of river waters between the two countries and was placed in abeyance by India following the Pahalgam attack, marking a significant development in India-Pakistan water-sharing arrangements and triggering international arbitration.

On 31 August 2026, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague unanimously held that India's suspension or termination of the treaty was impermissible under the treaty and international law, ruling that the agreement remains fully in force.

The court found that none of the grounds publicly cited by India could justify suspension or termination of the treaty, and that it remains fully in force, with India obliged to observe its obligations, including those related to the design and operation of hydro-electric projects such as the Kishenganga and Ratle plants.

India has rejected the Hague ruling, accusing Pakistan of misrepresenting facts and spreading falsehoods, and maintaining that the Court of Arbitration has no jurisdiction over its sovereign decisions regarding the treaty.

The dispute comes amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, with Sharif also crediting United States President Donald Trump for timely intervention during the four-day military confrontation in May 2025 that followed India's Operation Sindoor.

Experts have called for modernisation of the Indus Waters Treaty to address contemporary challenges including climate change, population growth and evolving water needs, even as the legal deadlock continues.

The treaty's dispute-settlement mechanisms remain operative, and the court's order concerning interim measures at the Ratle hydroelectric project underscores the ongoing technical and diplomatic complexities surrounding water infrastructure on the western rivers.

Pakistan has circulated letters to the United Nations reaffirming the Court of Arbitration's award and urging the international community to uphold the sanctity of the treaty and the rule of international law.

The Indus River system, fed by Himalayan glaciers and monsoon rains, supports millions of farmers and communities in both countries, making the stable implementation of the treaty vital for regional food security and economic stability.

Sharif's UNGA address framed the water issue as existential for Pakistan, warning that any diversion, stoppage or impediment to Pakistan's share would be treated as an act of war, a formulation that elevates the dispute to the highest level of national security concern.

India maintains that its actions are consistent with the treaty's provisions on run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects and that it has not diverted waters allocated to Pakistan under the agreement. The Court of Arbitration's unanimous decision has been welcomed by Pakistan as a reaffirmation of the treaty's binding nature, while India continues to contest the jurisdiction and findings of the arbitration panel.

As both countries navigate this critical juncture, the Indus Waters Treaty remains a focal point of bilateral relations, with implications extending far beyond water sharing to encompass broader questions of trust, security and cooperation in South Asia.

ANI

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