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Taliban border forces on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday (October 11 and 12) confirmed that "heavy clashes" had erupted with Pakistani troops along multiple points of the Afghanistan–Pakistan border.  The fighting, reportedly spread across Kunar, Dangam, Birkot, and Paktia provinces, came just after the Taliban government accused Pakistan of conducting cross-border airstrikes, which they claimed targeted a civilian market in Paktika and breached Afghan airspace. Image Source: Visegrad24 “In retaliation for the air strikes by Pakistani forces, Taliban forces engaged in heavy clashes against Pakistani posts in various border areas,” the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement quoted by AFP.  Though no specific casualty figures were officially confirmed by either side at the time of reporting, multiple unverified reports suggested casualties on both sides.  Pakistan’s military has yet to issue a statement, though its officials had earlier denied report...

✍️ Written by Saket Suman Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on September 17 formally inked a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement , committing that any aggression against one will be treated as aggression against both.  The accord, signed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh, pledges joint deterrence, enhanced military cooperation, and cemented defense ties. Mohammed bin Salman receives Shehbaz Sharif For India, the deal registers as more than a diplomatic development--it alters the security calculus along its western front. India has long accused Pakistan of supporting terrorist networks whose actions sow violence across India's Kashmir and elsewhere.  Earlier this year, India launched Operation Sindoor , targeting nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and illegally Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including camps of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians . HRH the Crown Prince and th...

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a formal Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement , pledging to treat any attack on either nation as an attack on both.  The pact, signed in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, represents the most significant military commitment between the two countries to date. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Sign Mutual Defense. Via: Official Diplomatic Channels According to a statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office, the agreement underscores “a shared commitment to enhance security and achieve peace in the region and the world.”  The accord aims to bolster defense cooperation, joint deterrence capabilities, and military coordination between the two longtime allies. The deal follows a bilateral meeting in Jeddah , during which both leaders emphasized their commitment to expanding cooperation across trade, investment, energy, and regional security.  In a post on social media, Sharif praised the Kingdom’s “...

In a direct address to India’s top military leadership, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the urgent need to prepare for wars that are increasingly unpredictable in nature, duration, and domain.  Speaking at the Combined Commanders’ Conference 2025 in Kolkata on September 16, he stated, “Wars of today are so sudden and unpredictable… It can be two months, a year, or even five years. We need to ensure that our surge capacity remains sufficient.” Combined Commanders’ Conference 2025 in Kolkata The Defence Minister called on the Armed Forces to move beyond traditional concepts of warfare and prepare for invisible threats--ranging from information and ideological attacks to ecological and biological warfare.  He asserted that a “technology-friendly” and “self-reliant” defence architecture is essential for India’s long-term strategic autonomy. Rajnath Singh underlined the strategic priority of self-reliance in defence, calling it “a necessity, not a slogan.” He credited in...

India and France have agreed to intensify counter-terror cooperation with a sharper focus on cross-border terrorism, radicalisation, and emerging threats from terror-linked technology misuse.  The decision was taken at the 17th meeting of the India–France Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism , held in Paris on 11 September. 17th India–France Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism via @serecharlet The Indian delegation was led by K.D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter-Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs. France was represented by its Counter-Terrorism Ambassador, Olivier Caron.  The meeting came less than five months after the 22 April attack in Pahalgam , Jammu and Kashmir, which both sides unequivocally condemned . In a detailed threat assessment, both countries discussed state-sponsored terrorism, with India flagging persistent cross-border risks.  There was also a shared concern over regional and global threats, including militant activity in the Middle East ...

India and the European Union held the 15th Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in Brussels and stated their shared resolve that terrorism in all its forms requires sustained global action. The meeting was co-chaired by Maciej Stadejek, Director for Security and Defence Policy in the European External Action Service, and K.D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter-Terrorism) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs. India - European Union Strategic Dialogue File Photo via EAM Jaishankar According to an official statement , both sides strongly condemned the 22 April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam , with the EU reiterating its condolences to India for the killing of civilians.  They stressed that “terrorism is a global phenomenon and needs concerted action in a sustained and comprehensive manner,” highlighting the need to coordinate in multilateral fora including the United Nations , the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) , and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) . The dialogue also covered...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a forceful message on terrorism at the 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin on Monday, warning against what he called unacceptable global double standards in dealing with terror.  Citing India’s long-standing exposure to cross-border violence and referring directly to the recent attack in Pahalgam, the Prime Minister said terrorism was no longer a local threat, but a shared crisis of conscience for the international community. Image Source: PM NaMo video screengrab Modi expressed gratitude to friendly nations for their solidarity following the Pahalgam attack, calling it an assault not just on India’s sovereignty but on the principles of humanity itself. While not naming Pakistan directly, the Prime Minister challenged the permissiveness with which some states continue to support terrorist networks, asking whether such conduct can ever be accepted in a rules-based international order. He stated that no society or citizen can consider themselves ...

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reaffirmed New Delhi’s vision for a harmonious global order rooted in care, equity, and collective progress during an address at the World Leaders Forum in New Delhi on August 22, 2025.  Citing India’s civilisational ethos, Singh said the country’s rise is guided not by the ambition to dominate, but by the commitment to the global good. “In our tradition, the measure of strength is not in the ability to command, but in the capacity to care,” he said. Image Source: Defence Minister Framing India as a key architect of an evolving and inclusive global order, Singh contrasted India’s developmental trajectory with that of its western neighbour.  Responding to a recent remark by Pakistan’s Army Chief, who likened India’s economy to a sports car and Pakistan’s to a dump truck, Singh said the comparison was “not a joke, but a confession.”  He added, “If two nations gained independence at the same time, and one flourished while the other fell...

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his annual Sandesh to Soldiers on the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day, described Operation Sindoor as a balanced and precise military response to global asymmetric warfare; hailed it as a demonstration of a new vision for modern warfare, built on cutting-edge technology, accurate intelligence, and indigenous capability; stressed that India remains tolerant but will unite and act decisively when its safety and dignity are challenged; and vowed that no matter how deep terrorism’s roots, its complete destruction will be ensured. Image Source: HQ IDS INDIA Singh said the operation, executed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, integrated drone warfare, layered air defence, electronic warfare, and network-centric operations to strike nine terror training camps -- including the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed -- within minutes, avoiding civilian and Pakistani military targets, without crossing the Line of C...

India's Home Minister Amit Shah told Parliament on Tuesday that the three terrorists responsible for the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam have been eliminated in a swift, coordinated joint operation. Speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, Shah said Suleman, Afghani, and Jibran--all top operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba--were neutralised on Monday by Indian security forces. Image Source: Sansad TV “These are the same terrorists who killed civilians in Baisaran Valley. Suleman was a key commander responsible for both Pahalgam and Gagangir attacks,” Shah said, adding that multiple layers of forensic and human intelligence confirmed their identities.  He also detailed the recovery of Pakistani documents, weapons, and ammunition from the site. The Indian Army officially confirmed the operation through its Chinar Corps, stating that it was carried out jointly by the Army’s elite para units, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Mulnar area near Dachigam National Park....

India's Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has bluntly demanded accountability following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed innocent lives, primarily tourists.  "If it is an intelligence failure, then who is responsible?... It is not possible that 26 people lost their lives and there is no response from our side," Abdullah told reporters, pointing to a severe lapse in national security. Image Source: PM NaMo on X Abdullah insisted that clear answers were due—to the victims, their families, and all grieving citizens—warning that without accountability, "justice remains a distant promise."  His remarks echo a mounting concern over the absence of perpetrators and unanswered questions surrounding the region's intelligence and security systems. Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, on July 10, acknowledged the depth of the community’s pain, but stressed that Kashmir's response—its unity against terror and Pakistan—shows that “terrorism will no...

India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday publicly has unequivocally confirmed that the Indian Air Force carried out precision strikes on nine terrorist targets deep within Pakistani territory under the now-revealed military operation codenamed Operation Sindoor . The strikes, executed on the night of May 7 , were in direct retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam , Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 Indian citizens dead, including women and children. Image Source: IndianSinghh on X Speaking at the 62nd Convocation of IIT Madras, Doval declared that all nine intended targets were successfully neutralized with pinpoint accuracy.  The targets, he stressed, were not near the border, but deep inside Pakistan’s territory, including urban sectors under tight military surveillance.  The entire operation lasted just 23 minutes, commencing at 1:05 a.m., and was conducted using indigenously developed technology, including BrahMos missiles, battlefield surveillan...

Maj Gen Humaid Mohammed Abdullah Alremeithi, Commander of the United Arab Emirates Naval Forces (UAEN), is in India on an official visit from July 7 to 9, 2025. Image Source: PIB India on X On July 8, the UAE Navy Chief commenced his engagements by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, honouring Indian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of the nation.  He was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour, followed by a formal meeting with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff. According to an official statement from the Indian Navy, both sides held discussions aimed at enhancing naval interoperability, expanding structured training exchanges, and deepening collaboration in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region.  Maj Gen Alremeithi also met with India’s Chief of Defence Staff for further deliberations on regional security and joint capabilities. The visit underscores the growing strategic relationship between India and the UAE...

The Indian Navy concluded its eighth Annual Safety Review at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on July 3, 2025. Held in a hybrid format over two days, the apex-level meeting brought together senior officers from Naval Headquarters, all Command HQs, and Safety Class Authorities to evaluate safety practices and strengthen the Navy’s safety framework. Image Source: PIB India on X Vice Admiral V. Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, delivered the keynote address, while Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral K. Swaminathan presided over the proceedings in his capacity as Chairman of the Indian Navy’s Safety Committee. A key highlight of the event was the launch of the Safety Trend Analysis Tool (STAT) — a data-driven application developed jointly by the Indian Naval Safety Team (INST), Kochi, and the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N). STAT aims to enhance safety oversight by enabling pattern recognition a...

In a sharp address at the United Nations, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday urged the international community to unite against terrorism in all forms, warning against impunity, state sponsorship, and nuclear blackmail.  He was speaking at the inauguration of the exhibition “The Human Cost of Terrorism” at the UN headquarters. The External Affairs Minister underscored India’s zero-tolerance approach in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Image Source: MEA/FM on X Without naming Pakistan, Jaishankar made it clear that terror proxies and state-backed extremism must be called out and confronted.  “Any state sponsorship must be exposed and countered,” he said, referencing India’s swift retaliation under Operation Sindoor that targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir two weeks after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. The exhibition opened a day ahead of Pakistan assuming the rotating presidency of the UN S...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted coordinated searches at 18 locations across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh in connection with a recent grenade attack on the residence of former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar. File Photo Source: Ravneet Singh Bittu The raids were part of the NIA’s probe into the April 7 attack, which investigators believe is linked to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) network.  The agency seized digital devices, documents, and other incriminating material during operations targeting associates of BKI operative Kulbir Sidhu and US-based gangster Manish alias Kaka Rana, among others. The search teams focused on suspected hideouts and contacts of the accused in districts including Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Tarn Taran, Mansa (Punjab), Kurukshetra, Ambala, Karnal, Yamunanagar (Haryana), and Amroha (Uttar Pradesh). Kulbir Sidhu, originally from Yamunanagar in Haryana and currently based in Germany, is consider...

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a decisive stance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meet in Qingdao, China on Thursday, refusing to sign the joint statement after India objected to diluted language on terrorism.  Image Source: Khushi Ram on X The SCO, comprising ten member states including China, Russia, Pakistan and India, eventually scrapped the declaration altogether, underscoring the depth of the divergence. Singh’s move reflected India’s consistent, uncompromising position on terrorism and strategic autonomy.  In his address, he warned against the use of terrorism as a state policy—without naming Pakistan, but clearly referring to its continued support for cross-border terror.  Citing the recent Pahalgam attack, which bore the signature of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Singh demanded that nations backing such acts face consequences. He stated bluntly that there could be no tolerance or double standards when it comes to terrorism, and c...

In a forceful message at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Conclave, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a stern warning to nations using terrorism as statecraft. He declared that India will not tolerate double standards in the global fight against terror. Image Source: Saroja Singh on X “Those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for selfish ends must face consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy. There must be zero tolerance,” Singh said in Qingdao. Citing the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians were gunned down based on religious profiling, Singh said the pattern was consistent with previous Lashkar-e-Taiba operations. He confirmed that India’s swift Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, had targeted and dismantled cross-border terror hubs. “India has made it clear—epicentres of terror are no longer safe. We will not hesitate to act decisively.” Singh called on SCO member st...

✍️ Written by Saket Suman Our world is getting increasingly messy and unpredictable with every passing day but there is something rather simple about India’s messaging right now: ENOUGH.  Enough of outside meddling.  Enough of unsolicited advice.  Enough of selective outrage.  And more importantly, enough of being treated like a bargaining chip in someone else’s great game. The latest provocations didn’t come from across the border in Pakistan, or from Turkey’s sanctimonious lectures on Jammu and Kashmir. This time it was from Washington itself — led, unsurprisingly, by President Donald Trump, whose need for attention has become the defining trait of his second term. Image Source: PM NaMo on X After the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, where innocent Indians were killed by terrorists harboured and trained inside Pakistan, India struck back with precision under Operation Sindoor. India dismantled terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmi...

On June 6, the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Delegation met senior German lawmakers, including Mr. Armin Laschet, Chairman of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Ralph Brinkhaus, and Mr. Hubertus Heil, to deliver a clear message: India stands united against terrorism—and refuses to be coerced by nuclear threats. Image Source: MEA/FM on X During the talks, the delegation asserted India’s zero-tolerance policy on cross-border terrorism, highlighting the urgency for democratic nations to speak in one voice against state-sponsored extremism. “Terror cannot be excused, and deterrence must not be diluted,” a delegation member said, underlining India’s posture in the aftermath of the Bahalgam attack. The two sides acknowledged growing synergy in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, especially in upholding rules-based international order and collective security frameworks. The Berlin stop is part of India’s wider diplomatic offensive to counteract global ambiguity on terrori...