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India's home ministry has declared the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, saying the group recruits young people and local criminals to smuggle arms, explosives and narcotics from across the border. The designation was made in a notification dated 16 September 2026 and published in the Gazette of India. It adds the group as entry 46 in the First Schedule of the Act. Under the Act, a "terrorist organisation" is any organisation listed in that schedule, or one operating under the same name as a listed organisation. Representational Image source: @AmitShah on X Amit Shah, India's home minister and minister of cooperation, announced the decision in a post on X through the handle of the Home Minister's office. "Pursuing PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's vision of zero tolerance against terror, the MHA declares the Shahzad Bhatti Network as a terrorist organisation under the UAPA," h...

India on Monday issued a pointed advisory to its citizens transiting through Chinese airports, following a reported incident of arbitrary detention involving an Indian national at Shanghai.  Image Source: Raksha Samachar on X In a sharp response, Randhir Jaiswal , Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), urged Chinese authorities to uphold international norms and “ensure that Indian citizens are not selectively targeted or harassed.”  He further advised Indian nationals to exercise “due caution” when travelling to or through China.  The briefing, part of the MEA’s weekly public engagement, touched on a range of flashpoints across India’s diplomatic landscape, from border violence in Afghanistan and rising insecurity in Myanmar, to energy trade with Russia and counter-terror cooperation with the US. Responding to questions from reporters, Jaiswal welcomed recent action by the UK government against pro-Khalistan actors, including Gurpreet Singh Rih...

India and the United States have called for expanded global sanctions against key Pakistan-based terror outfits and their proxies, marking a significant step forward in bilateral counterterrorism cooperation.  File Photo/Representational Image Source: Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff  At the 21st meeting of the India-US Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and the 7th Designations Dialogue held in New Delhi on December 3, both sides sharpened focus on operational coordination and designations of groups responsible for cross-border attacks. Led by Dr. Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Ms. Monica Jacobsen, Senior Bureau Official at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, the high-level engagements reinforced the counterterrorism pillar of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Against the backdrop of recent attacks in Pahalgam and near Delhi’s Red Fort, both delegati...

Meeting under the shadow of recent attacks in India, the Quad’s Counterterrorism Working Group (CTWG) convened for its third high-level session in New Delhi this week. The gathering signaled a sharpened joint resolve to confront evolving terrorist threats across the Indo-Pacific region.  Senior officials from India, Australia, Japan, and the United States gathered on December 4–5, 2025, to reinforce the framework of cooperation that has come to define the Quad’s expanding security agenda. Image Source: Gemma Huggins, Australia's Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism The talks, hosted by India as part of its rotation ahead of the next Quad summit, marked a substantial push to operationalize counterterrorism measures beyond political declarations.  Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary (West) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, opened the meeting with a pointed call to strengthen the Quad’s collective capabilities.  “The time has come to forge a common resolve within the Q...

The investigation into the Red Fort car bomb attack that killed 13 people on November 10 has revealed a white-collar, transnational terror network led by radicalised doctors, with digital trails linking the plot to Turkiye, Kashmir, and Haryana . Image Source: PM NaMo Key accused Dr Umar Un Nabi , a Kashmiri medical graduate, drove the explosive-laden Hyundai i20 that detonated near the Red Fort Metro station. His co-conspirators --  Dr Muzammil Ganaie , Dr Shaheen Shahid , and others -- allegedly operated from a covert cell at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, dubbed “ Room 13 ,” according to security officials. Authorities say the module was inspired and coordinated via encrypted apps like Threema and Signal, with instructions allegedly emanating from a Turkish-based handler codenamed ‘Ukasa’. CCTV footage and seized “Room 13 Diaries” revealed detailed plans for serial IED attacks in at least four Indian cities, including Ayodhya and Delhi, using modified vehicles and ammoni...

The Indian Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday passed a formal resolution condemning the car bomb explosion near Delhi’s historic Red Fort as a “heinous terror incident” and stated India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. During the Cabinet meeting, members observed two minutes of silence in memory of the people who were killed and several others injured in what the government officially termed an act of terrorism.  Image Source: skt_bharatwasi The explosion occurred on the evening of November 10 , at a traffic signal near Gate 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, in the heart of the national capital. In the resolution, the Cabinet conveyed its “profound grief” and extended condolences to the families of the victims.  It also expressed appreciation for emergency and medical personnel who responded swiftly at the scene and for the outpouring of global solidarity, with messages of support and concern from multiple foreign governments. The...

At least 13 people were killed and over two dozen injured when a powerful car bomb detonated near the Red Fort in India's Capital New Delhi on Monday evening, shaking a 3-km radius of India’s capital and prompting high alerts nationwide.  Image Source: PragyaLive on X The blast, which ripped through a slow-moving Hyundai i20 at a traffic signal outside the Red Fort Metro Station’s Gate 1, has triggered a full-scale national security probe, with authorities not ruling out a terror attack.  The National Investigation Agency is expected to take over the case.  Initial forensic reports puzzled investigators.  There were no craters, shrapnel or pellets. Experts say the absence of a crater could indicate the car was in motion at the time of detonation, or that a high-grade chemical explosive such as a mix of ammonium nitrate and RDX was used.  These theories, however, await confirmation through blast analysis. A possible link to a recent Faridabad arms seizure is also...

A devastating blast has occurred near the Red Fort in Delhi on Monday evening, November 10, 2025, leaving at least eight people dead and 24 injured.  The explosion happened in a parked car near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, triggering a massive response from authorities. Image Source: @AshwiniSahaya on X The blast was powerful, causing three to four vehicles to catch fire and sustaining damage. The windows of nearby vehicles were shattered, and the area was quickly cordoned off.  Seven fire tenders were rushed to the scene, and a team from the Delhi Police Special Cell was also deployed. Breaking दिल्ली ब्लास्ट में अब तक 8 लोगों की मौत की पुष्टि । कई घायल pic.twitter.com/P1ZU86kUYb — Narendra Nath Mishra (@iamnarendranath) November 10, 2025 Important Details: Location: Near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, Old Delhi Time: Monday evening, around 7:05 p.m. Casualties: 8 dead, 24 injured so far. Damage: 3-4 vehicles caught fire, several others dam...

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...

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....