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Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a tightly choreographed two-day state visit. This marks a significant reaffirmation of the India–Russia strategic partnership at a time of deepening geopolitical rifts and growing divergence between India and the West over Ukraine.  Image Source: PM NaMo As Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Putin with a warm embrace at Palam Airport, the visit--Putin’s first to India since 2021 and his first anywhere in the region since the invasion of Ukraine--set in motion a high-stakes diplomatic engagement that signals India’s intent to maintain and expand its historical ties with Moscow despite rising pressure from Western capitals. The visit comes at a time when India–US relations have faced visible strain, with tensions emerging around Ukraine diplomacy, defence alignment, and global leadership postures.  Against this backdrop, the Putin-Modi summit on Friday is expected to focus on expanding bilateral de...

India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Beijing after a UK-based Indian woman, originally from Arunachal Pradesh, was reportedly detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport by Chinese immigration officials who refused to recognise her Indian passport.  The episode has escalated tensions between the two countries, with New Delhi asserting that Arunachal Pradesh remains an integral and inalienable part of India. Image Source: Romita Romi on X The traveller, Pema Wangjom Thongdok, was en route from London to Japan with a transit stop in Shanghai on November 21 when Chinese officials flagged her Indian passport as “invalid” due to her Arunachal Pradesh birthplace.  She described the ordeal as deeply distressing, noting that she was held without formal documentation and was unable to contact her embassy or family due to China’s ban on social media platforms and search engines. PTI: An Indian woman hailing from Arunachal Pradesh has said that sh...

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...

India and the United States have signed a 10-year framework agreement to expand and deepen their defence cooperation, signalling a new phase in their strategic partnership. The deal was formalised during a bilateral meeting between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur. The agreement lays out a unified vision for advancing military collaboration across all domains, including interoperability, joint technology development, intelligence sharing, and coordination with regional allies.  Both leaders held cordial & constructive discussions on strengthening the India-US defence partnership. Via:Pete Hegseth It is expected to provide long-term policy direction across the entire spectrum of defence ties between the world’s largest democracy and its most powerful military. “It is a signal of our growing strategic convergence and will herald a new dec...

In a symbolic assertion of India’s maritime rise and military self-reliance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali this year aboard the Indian Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant , off the western seaboard near Goa and Karwar.  Addressing sailors on the indigenous vessel, Modi described the experience as a deeply personal one, framing the Navy not only as a strategic arm of national defence but also as an embodiment of modern Indian resolve. Prime Minister Narendra Modi aboard INS Vikrant with Indian Navy personnel during Diwali.  Image: PM NaMo “This is my family,” Modi said, referring to the personnel onboard, “and I have come home for Diwali.” His remarks blended patriotic fervour with policy clarity, anchoring India’s naval capability to its larger strategic shift -- from regional balancing to active global maritime engagement. Witnessed an awe-inspiring Air Power Demo on INS Vikrant, showcasing precision and prowess. The take-off and landing of MiG-29 f...

In a move aimed at deepening strategic ties in North Africa, India has opened a dedicated Defence Wing in Rabat and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Morocco to formalize and expand military cooperation. Image Source: Defence Minister Singh The agreement, signed by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi, lays the foundation for a broad-based security partnership covering counter-terrorism, defence industry collaboration, joint training, cyber defence, peacekeeping, and maritime security. Key Strategic Shift The decision to establish a permanent defence presence in Morocco signals a calibrated shift in India’s West Africa and Mediterranean outreach.  It is the first such defence wing India has opened in the Maghreb region, reflecting New Delhi’s intent to forge long-term military and industrial linkages with Rabat. Focus Areas Under the MoU: Joint military exercises and officer training Defence industry collaborati...

✍️ 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's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held talks in New Delhi with the Political and Security Committee (PSC) of the Council of the European Union. This marked the PSC’s first visit to Asia.  The 30-member delegation, led by Committee Chair Delphine Pronk, included ambassadors of EU member states and senior officials from the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS). Misri was joined by Deputy National Security Adviser Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West) Sibi George, and other senior Indian officials. Trade Deal between India and EU likely by year end. Via MEAIndia The two sides discussed security cooperation across multiple sectors including defence, cyber governance, maritime security, and counter-terrorism. They welcomed the pace of recent high-level engagement and ongoing sectoral dialogue.  Both parties committed to concluding the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership and the Security of Information Agreement at the earliest. The India-EU Free T...

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 ...