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India and Pakistan exchanged lists of civil prisoners, fishermen, and nuclear installations on January 1, 2026, in line with established bilateral agreements aimed at fostering transparency and humanitarian engagement between the two countries.  The twin exchanges, conducted simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad, come amid a largely adversarial bilateral relationship shaped by decades of historical and geopolitical tensions since the 1947 partition. Representational Image: Attari–Wagah Retreat Ceremony. Via: Krishna Rao K As part of the Agreement on Consular Access signed on May 21, 2008, India shared details of 391 civil prisoners and 33 fishermen believed to be Pakistani in its custody, while Pakistan handed over a list containing details of 58 civil prisoners and 199 fishermen believed to be Indian.  The agreement mandates such exchanges on January 1 and July 1 every year and ensures reciprocal consular access, early repatriation upon...

The Indian Army has reported a year of measured stability and strategic recalibration across the country’s sensitive frontiers in 2025, with progress in disengagement talks along the northern borders with China, improved security across the Northeast, and continuing counter-infiltration operations along the western boundary with Pakistan. According to the Ministry of Defence, the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the northern sector has remained “stable yet sensitive” following the 2024 disengagement agreements in Depsang and Demchok.  File Photo: Spokesperson MoD These breakthroughs contributed to a notable reduction in deployment levels by China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2025. However, the PLA continues to maintain a combined arms presence of 10 brigade-sized units in both tactical depth and traditional training areas, with no substantial changes observed in their border management posture compared to the previous year. The Indian Army’s deployment ...

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...

Even as Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s presence at the state dinner for Russian President Vladimir Putin drew national headlines, it is his continued legislative activity in Parliament that continues largely unnoticed in the public discourse. Image Source: Bangalore Lit Fest on X On a day when Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were conspicuously excluded from the guest list at the President’s residence, Tharoor stood out as the sole Congress invitee to the diplomatic event.  His decision to attend drew internal criticism from party spokesperson Pawan Khera, who stated that “those who extended such an invitation raise questions, and those who accepted are also open to scrutiny.” But behind the scenes, Tharoor has been consistently active on key policy matters in Parliament. In recent weeks, he introduced several Private Members' Bills and raised detailed parliamentary questions across sectors ranging from urban development and compe...

India is observing Armed Forces Flag Day 2025 today with military and civilian leadership honouring the nation’s soldiers, veterans, and war widows for their courage, sacrifice and service.  Image Source: Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan led the tributes, calling for national recognition of the “unwavering commitment, exceptional valour, and supreme sacrifices” of the Indian Armed Forces who have “steadfastly safeguarded the Nation’s sovereignty across all frontiers and domains.” On Armed Forces Flag Day, we honour the profound sacrifices of our soldiers, veterans, and their families. Their courage, duty, and devotion safeguard our nation every day. We are forever grateful for their unwavering service and unmatched commitment to India.… pic.twitter.com/5NmfBDH71l — 🇮🇳CRPF🇮🇳 (@crpfindia) December 7, 2025 In a message shared by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, General Chauhan greeted all ranks of the Army, Navy, and A...

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...

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...