External Affairs Minister S says India will not overlook terrorism to improve relations with Pakistan
Jaishankar said that there are strong people-to-people ties with Afghanistan
Notably, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier denied the media reports suggesting that PM Modi would not attend the upcoming SCO summit
In a gaffe, New York City Mayor Eric Adams referred to India and its diaspora community as Pakistan' in his remarks at an Indian Independence Day celebration in Queens. Adams was addressing members of the Indian-American community at the Queens 9th India Day Parade on Saturday. The stage from where he addressed the diaspora was decorated with Indian flags, balloons in hues of the tricolour and banners that read Mayor Adams Celebrates the Indian Community'. Adams himself was holding the Indian tricolour and the American flag and was surrounded by members of the Indian diaspora waving Indian flags, wearing tricolour sashes and tricolour-themed attire. However, during his remarks, as he spoke about the diaspora community, Adams mixed up India with Pakistan thrice. "We raised the flag earlier this week at Bowling GreenAnd I think no greater symbol of what you offer to this community than the men and women who are part of the law enforcement community, who are here, the Pakistani office
Pakistan said on Friday that there was a status quo in ties with India post-August 2019 after New Delhi revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, indicating that there were no bilateral talks or trade taking place. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at the weekly briefing that following the development of August 2019 in Kashmir, several measures were taken by Pakistan, including the suspension of bilateral trade. That situation remains intact, and at this point, there are no talks between Pakistan and India with respect to bilateral trade," she said. The ties between the two countries nosedived after India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the State into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019. India has repeatedly told Pakistan that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of the country. India has been maintaining that
Days after Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson raised concerns over seizure of alleged 'radioactive' material in India, the MEA on Friday said relevant Indian authorities have investigated the matter and found "no radioactive substance". The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asserted that those making "baseless comments" are advised to desist from their "propaganda". In response to a question at his weekly briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has a "robust legal and regulatory framework" for safety and security of radioactive material and its non-proliferation track records speak for itself. On August 9, officials said the Bihar Police has arrested three people from the state's Gopalganj district and recovered 50 gm of a "radioactive substance" worth crores of rupees from their possession. Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in a statement on Tuesday had raised concerns over effectiveness of the measures taken by New Delhi to ens
The situation has become so dire that many businesses situated in Pakistan are considering relocating their operations to other countries
Pakistan is now more of a "nuisance" than a strategic threat as India has gained an edge over its neighbour, according to BJP leader and India Foundation founder Shaurya Doval. India's key advantage is its economic growth, he said but stressed on the need to manage relations with its neighbours, including Pakistan and China, to support this growth and gain a strategic edge. In an interaction with PTI editors at the agency's headquarters here, Doval also favoured roping in private players to fight cyberterrorism as he called for a "comprehensive" societal response rather than solely relying on legal and military measures. "We have passed various points in our relationship with Pakistan, and while they still present challenges, they no longer represent a serious threat...Pakistan poses nuisance value to us now but does not pose any strategic threat to us. So, that is one situation solved," he said. He highlighted that similar dynamics are at play along India's eastern front, while ..
Citing security challenges related to China and Pakistan, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged the Centre on Tuesday to take Parliament into confidence and alleged that in its "false bravado and hollow propaganda", it has forgotten that it also has the responsibility to protect India's strategic interests. Kharge said new developments at India's two-front security paradigm have yet again exposed the Narendra Modi government's rank apathy. "Is it not true that China has built and operationalised a bridge connecting the north and south banks of Pangong Lake, which allows it to have a strategic dominance in the sector, close to our LAC?" the Congress chief asked in a post on X. "Is it not a fact that China has started constructing a new village along the LAC in the Demchok sector, which along with Depsang, is a point of standoff, post-Galwan?" he asked. On Pakistan, Kharge asked whether it is not true that since Prime Minister Modi took oath, there have been 25 terror attacks i
An Army personnel was killed and four others, including a captain, were injured as the Indian Army on Saturday foiled an attack by Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) in Kamakari sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, military sources said. A Pakistani intruder was also killed in the exchange of fire, they added. The BAT generally comprises special forces personnel of the Pakistan Army and terrorists. "Action by Border Action Team has been foiled by alert Indian Army troops on Saturday morning in Kamakari sector," one of the sources said. "One Pakistani intruder has been killed," he added. Two intruders managed to return to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) amid the intense gunfight that lasted for hours, the sources said. They said the group of three intruders hurled a grenade and opened fire on a forward post near the Kumkadi post in Trehgam sector of the north Kashmir district. The troops retaliated, triggering a gunfight between the two sides, the sources said, adding
The nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours share an uneasy relationship and India has, for decades, accused Pakistan of backing Islamist militants fighting its rule in Kashmir
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday paid rich tributes to the armed forces personnel who fought valiantly in extremely harsh conditions to defend the nation's territory during the Kargil war 25 years ago. On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army announced the successful culmination of "Operation Vijay", declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle on the icy heights of Kargil in Ladakh. The day is observed as 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan in the war. "Today, on the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, we remember the indomitable spirit and courage of the brave soldiers who fought valiantly in the 1999 war," Singh said in a post on X. "Their unwavering commitment, valour and patriotism ensured that our country remained safe and secure. Their service and sacrifice will continue to inspire every Indian and our coming generations," he said. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and all ranks of the armed forces also recalled the supre
The Pakistan Army on Monday said that an organised political mafia was spreading misinformation about a planned new counter-terrorism operation, Azm-e-Istehkam', aimed to flush out militants and foster economic growth and stability. Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi talked about various pressing issues, including the launch of the operation. A massive illegal, political mafia rose to sabotage the operation and the first move of that mafia was to make the operations controversial through false and fake arguments, he said. Referring to Pakistan's earlier major military operations, Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, which resulted in large-scale displacements, a reporter inquired if similar displacements would occur during the current operation, Azm-e-Istehkam. This is not a military operation but a comprehensive counter-terrorism initiative aimed at fostering economic growth and stability," he said. He referred to the .
CDS Gen Anil Chauhan on Thursday hailed the heroics of Indian bravehearts in the Kargil conflict and said besides recalling memories of a war, it is also important to look at its aftermath and draw the "right lessons" for the future. Speaking at an event held here to mark the 25th anniversary of the Kargil war, he also said "We must not repeat the same mistakes". War and warfare are evolving at a very, very rapid pace. Their character and nature are changing rapidly because of transformation in technology and ongoing geopolitical flux, he said. "The memories of sacrifices made by our soldiers must become a part of our national folklore, as indeed it has become with the Kargil war," Gen Chauhan said. Saga, bravery and fortitude must continue to inspire future generations of the youth as well as soldiers who join the Indian armed forces, the CDS said. Besides recalling memories of war, it is also important to look at its aftermath and draw useful lessons for the future, he said.
Two terrorists were killed as security forces foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday, officials said. Alert security forces foiled the infiltration bid in the Keran sector of the north Kashmir district, they said. Two terrorists have been killed in the exchange of firing. The operation is on, they said.
The Border Security Force has intercepted 125 drones this year along Punjab's border with Pakistan, marking a notable rise from 22 drones intercepted in 2022 and 107 in 2023
Pakistan's opposition parties have opposed the recently announced 'Azm-i-Istehkam' national counter-terrorism campaign, claiming that it will weaken the country instead of securing it
A brief exchange of fire was reported along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, official sources said on Saturday. The firing from across the border was reported on a forward Indian post in Krishna Ghati sector late Friday night, prompting retaliation by the army troops guarding the LoC, the sources said. They said there was no casualty in the firing, which lasted for a brief period. The vigil was intensified to ensure that there is no infiltration by terrorists into this side, the sources said, adding a search of the area is underway.
A Pakistani delegation arrived here on Sunday evening as part of Neutral Expert proceedings to inspect two hydroelectric power projects in Jammu and Kashmir under the Indus Water Treaty, officials said. This is the first visit by a Pakistani delegation to Jammu and Kashmir in more than five years under the dispute settlement mechanism of the 1960 Treaty. India and Pakistan signed the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank being a signatory of the pact which sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two sides on the use of waters of a number of cross-border rivers. A three-member Pakistan delegation inspected the Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai hydroelectric power projects under the provisions of the IWT for the last time in January 2019, before the ties between the two countries froze following the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The officials said the visiting experts including Pakistanis wil
The United States has said it supports direct discussions between India and Pakistan but the pace, scope and character of talks should be determined by the two neighbouring countries. Responding to a question at his daily news conference on Thursday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US values its important relationships with both India and Pakistan. "As we have said, we support direct discussions between India and Pakistan, but the pace, scope and character should be determined by those two countries, not by us," he said. Responding to another question, Miller said the US and Pakistan have a shared interest in combating threats to regional security. "We partner with Pakistan on security through our high-level counterterrorism dialogue, including several counterterrorism capacity building programmes, and we support a series of US-Pakistan military-to-military engagements," he said. "We are in regular communication with Pakistani leaders as a part of our partner