Danish Rahim, alias Ehsan-ur-Rahim, the official posted at the visa desk in the Pakistan High Commission expelled by India after being declared persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his diplomatic status, was not only involved in luring and trapping Indians to spy for Pakistan but was also taking bribes for issuing visas.&nbsp;&nbsp;Danish used to take a bribe of ₹5,000 to clear a visa application, but the money was directly handed to his conduit, Yamin Mohammad, who has also been arrested.&nbsp;Yamin used to lure people who came to the Pakistan High Commission for visas and would introduce them to Danish.Then, Yamin would collect the bribe from the client on Danish’s behalf.&nbsp;&nbsp;Danish told me to bring people who wanted visas, collect bribes from them: Yamin&nbsp;On being interrogated, Yamin revealed, “I have been to Pakistan twice. I met Danish at the Pakistan High Commission when I went to get my visa. We started talking frequently. Danish then told me to contact people who come here to get visas. He got their visas approved quickly and told me to collect bribe for him.”&nbsp;Danish used a number registered in the name of the Pakistan High Commission to communicate with YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, Ghazala, and Yamin via WhatsApp, Snapchat, and voice calls.&nbsp;He also trapped Ghazala, the woman from Punjab arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan, and even promised to marry her.&nbsp;Promised to marry me, inform his wife: Gazala&nbsp;During interrogation after her arrest, Ghazal told officials, “My husband died due to COVID. I went to the Pakistan High Commission for the first time in February. The first time I went, I met a Pakistani officer named Danish at the visa desk. He took all my details and gave me his mobile number. I completed the paperwork and left.”&nbsp;Danish later called her, saying that some documents were missing, and asked her to visit the High Commission again.&nbsp;“The second time I went, we talked a lot and started staying in regular contact. Danish told me he was married and his wife lived with him, but he wanted to marry me and would inform his wife about it.”&nbsp;“He also gave me money, considering my financial struggles, and sent me around ₹20,000 via UPI through Yamin.”&nbsp;“I did everything he asked me to do. He once asked me whether I had any information related to the Indian Army in Punjab or could arrange it.”&nbsp;On May 13, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared Danish persona non grata for engaging in anti-India activities and ordered him to leave the country within 24 hours.&nbsp;“The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his official status in India. The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Yamin used to lure people who came to the Pakistan High Commission for visas and would introduce them to Danish. Then, Yamin would collect the bribe from the client on Danish’s behalf.

Danish Rahim, alias Ehsan-ur-Rahim, the official posted at the visa desk in the Pakistan High Commission expelled by India after being declared persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his diplomatic status, was not only involved in luring and trapping Indians to spy for Pakistan but was also taking bribes for issuing visas. Danish used to take a bribe of ₹5,000 to clear a visa application, but the money was directly handed to his conduit, Yamin Mohammad, who has also been arrested. Yamin used to lure people who came to the Pakistan High Commission for visas and would introduce them to Danish. Then, Yamin would collect the bribe from the client on Danish’s behalf. Danish told me to bring people who wanted visas, collect bribes from them: Yamin On being interrogated, Yamin revealed, “I have been to Pakistan twice. I met Danish at the Pakistan High Commission when I went to get my visa. We started talking frequently. Danish then told me to contact people who come here to get visas. He got their visas approved quickly and told me to collect bribe for him.” Danish used a number registered in the name of the Pakistan High Commission to communicate with YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, Ghazala, and Yamin via WhatsApp, Snapchat, and voice calls. He also trapped Ghazala, the woman from Punjab arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan, and even promised to marry her. Promised to marry me, inform his wife: Gazala During interrogation after her arrest, Ghazal told officials, “My husband died due to COVID. I went to the Pakistan High Commission for the first time in February. The first time I went, I met a Pakistani officer named Danish at the visa desk. He took all my details and gave me his mobile number. I completed the paperwork and left.” Danish later called her, saying that some documents were missing, and asked her to visit the High Commission again. “The second time I went, we talked a lot and started staying in regular contact. Danish told me he was married and his wife lived with him, but he wanted to marry me and would inform his wife about it.” “He also gave me money, considering my financial struggles, and sent me around ₹20,000 via UPI through Yamin.” “I did everything he asked me to do. He once asked me whether I had any information related to the Indian Army in Punjab or could arrange it.” On May 13, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared Danish persona non grata for engaging in anti-India activities and ordered him to leave the country within 24 hours. “The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his official status in India. The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

Yamin used to lure people who came to the Pakistan High Commission for visas and would introduce them to Danish. Then, Yamin would collect the bribe from the client on Danish’s behalf.&nbsp;

Pak High Commission official Danish took bribes for visas, used Yamin as a conduit

We are living in a time when secrets are just a click away and geopolitical tensions play out not only across borders but also in digital platforms. Spying has found a new sanctuary — the open world of social media and encrypted messaging applications.&nbsp;The arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, a travel blogger from Hisar, Haryana, for allegedly spying and sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives has brought this matter into the light again.&nbsp;Jyoti, met Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, during a visit in 2023. Danish allegedly acted as her handler and introduced her to several Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs).&nbsp;Ehsan-ur-Rahim, the Pakistan High Commission staffer allegedly central to the case, was declared persona non grata and expelled from India on 13 May 2025.&nbsp; The case remains under investigation but suggests a subtle network where digital avatars, diligently crafted digital identities, and encryption messaging protocols become camouflage and avenue for exchange of information.&nbsp; Historically, spying conjured up looks of trench coats, dead drops, invisible ink, and secret meetings in gloomy cafes. But the contemporary spy works differently — with Instagram DMs rather than morse code, burner phones rather than briefcases, and Slack channels rather than safe houses.&nbsp;Jyoti’s situation is the prime example of such a shift. Police reports say Malhotra travelled to Pakistan twice in 2023. After returning to India, she reportedly continued communicating with the operatives through encrypted platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat.&nbsp; “The blogger had saved Shakir’s name with ‘Jatt Randhawa’ so that no one could create doubt on her. After returning from Pakistan in 2023, she remained in touch with all the operatives on encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat,” the FIR read.&nbsp; Social media: The spy's paradise&nbsp; &nbsp;Social media applications provide contemporary spies with something priceless: Access. Access to individuals, their habits, where they are, what they believe, what makes them vulnerable, and most importantly — their trust.&nbsp;Over the past few years, identical episodes have seen the day of the light. These included Navy personnel who were honey-trapped on social media sites and persuaded into sharing sensitive naval deployment information with women they perceived to be romantically interested in them. The women, who were subsequently identified as operatives from Pakistani intelligence, employed social engineering tactics perfected on sites such as Facebook and Instagram.&nbsp;&nbsp;This interaction was then transferred to WhatsApp and Telegram once initial trust had been established — applications that provide encryption and disappearing messages.&nbsp;The art of digital seduction&nbsp; &nbsp;Digital espionage is not just about hacking networks — it's about hacking people. Emotional manipulation, affection, ideology, flattery — all play a role. Over the years, several Indian defence personnel have been trapped via social media by operatives posing as NRIs or global researchers, then exploited for documents, maps, and military plans.&nbsp;Malhotra reportedly visited Pakistan twice in 2023. Just after her Pak visits, Malhotra visited Jammu&nbsp;and Kashmir, as shown on her YouTube channel.&nbsp;Hisar superintendent of police (SP) Shashank Kumar Sawan said, "Her known income sources do not justify her foreign travel. We suspect external funding. On the surface, she was just a travel blogger.”&nbsp;“She had interacted with several high-profile individuals during her visits to Pakistan. Even though her arrest happened recently, intelligence agencies were already monitoring her activities closely.”&nbsp;"They were developing her (Jyoti Malhotra) as an asset. She was in touch with other YouTube influencers, and they were also in touch with the PIOs... She used to go to Pakistan, like on sponsored trips... She was in Pakistan before the Pahalgam attack, and the investigation is on to establish linkages, if there are any. We are also investigating, as we have leads that other people were also involved with her," the SP added.&nbsp;Encryption: Shield and sword&nbsp; &nbsp;Whereas encryption is a fundament of digital freedom and press liberty, it is equally the ideal tool for behind-the-scenes communication. Messaging apps such as Signal, Telegram, Wire, Threema, and even VPN-tunneled chat servers built expressly for a given agency are on the rise in the world of espionage. They offer not only end-to-end secure message transmission but also self-delete messages, screenshot shielding, and anonymous logins.&nbsp;In 2020-2021, the French and Dutch police dismantled into a well-known encrypted messaging service known as EncroChat, exploited by criminal gangs and spies alike.&nbsp;&nbsp;The raid uncovered a secret world of illicit arms trade, narcotics trafficking — and even state-sponsored surveillance operations. Several operatives caught were clean with no past criminal histories and lived double lives — much like the online personas adopted by suspected spies today.&nbsp;The puzzle of attribution&nbsp; &nbsp;One of the main issues with cyber-espionage is attribution. Traditional spying, in which faces, voices, and physical evidence are important, gets done in the mist of metadata, phantom avatars, and encrypted logs these days.&nbsp; Was Jyoti an unwitting pawn or a knowing participant? Was she aware her encrypted communications were with a foreign agent, or was she just chasing a story for content?&nbsp;India is not alone in experiencing this wave of cyber espionage. In America, FBI counterintelligence reports in 2023 indicate an increase in Chinese agents communicating with American academics on Twitter (now X), LinkedIn, and Clubhouse to obtain information about defence technologies and political tactics. &nbsp;&nbsp;MI5 in the UK revealed that a Chinese operative, ‘Christine Lee’, had infiltrated circles of parliament through social networking and donations. She had built connections through online engagement and was identified after various suspicious encrypted messages between her, and foreign diplomats were picked up.&nbsp;The trend is obvious: Online believability is the new disguise, and encryption is the cloak that makes it difficult to detect.&nbsp;The need for digital vigilance&nbsp; &nbsp;As technology advances, so must the counterintelligence infrastructure. Using mere traditional surveillance — CCTV, tapped phones, email intercepts — is no longer sufficient. Agencies now utilise machine learning algorithms to identify anomalous metadata patterns, employ false honeypot accounts to probe for phishing or honey traps, and even track open-source intelligence (OSINT) software for indications of espionage use. The new age &nbsp;&nbsp; Jyoti Malhotra's case is not an accident; it is a reminder of how espionage has changed in the age of digital surveillance. The distinction between influencer and informant, conversation and conspiracy, has blurred. &nbsp;&nbsp; As platforms become brighter and safer, so too do their enemies who leverage them. The age of the cloak-and-dagger has been replaced by selfies and DMs, but the stakes are as high — perhaps higher — as state secrets, defence strategy, and national security march hand-in-hand with hashtags and digital avatars.

How modern spies exploit social media and encryption to evade surveillance

We are living in a time when secrets are just a click away and geopolitical tensions play out not only across borders but also in digital platforms. Spying has found a new sanctuary — the open world of social media and encrypted messaging applications. The arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, a travel blogger from Hisar, Haryana, for allegedly spying and sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives has brought this matter into the light again. Jyoti, met Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, during a visit in 2023. Danish allegedly acted as her handler and introduced her to several Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). Ehsan-ur-Rahim, the Pakistan High Commission staffer allegedly central to the case, was declared persona non grata and expelled from India on 13 May 2025. The case remains under investigation but suggests a subtle network where digital avatars, diligently crafted digital identities, and encryption messaging protocols become camouflage and avenue for exchange of information. Historically, spying conjured up looks of trench coats, dead drops, invisible ink, and secret meetings in gloomy cafes. But the contemporary spy works differently — with Instagram DMs rather than morse code, burner phones rather than briefcases, and Slack channels rather than safe houses. Jyoti’s situation is the prime example of such a shift. Police reports say Malhotra travelled to Pakistan twice in 2023. After returning to India, she reportedly continued communicating with the operatives through encrypted platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. “The blogger had saved Shakir’s name with ‘Jatt Randhawa’ so that no one could create doubt on her. After returning from Pakistan in 2023, she remained in touch with all the operatives on encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat,” the FIR read. Social media: The spy's paradise Social media applications provide contemporary spies with something priceless: Access. Access to individuals, their habits, where they are, what they believe, what makes them vulnerable, and most importantly — their trust. Over the past few years, identical episodes have seen the day of the light. These included Navy personnel who were honey-trapped on social media sites and persuaded into sharing sensitive naval deployment information with women they perceived to be romantically interested in them. The women, who were subsequently identified as operatives from Pakistani intelligence, employed social engineering tactics perfected on sites such as Facebook and Instagram. This interaction was then transferred to WhatsApp and Telegram once initial trust had been established — applications that provide encryption and disappearing messages. The art of digital seduction Digital espionage is not just about hacking networks — it's about hacking people. Emotional manipulation, affection, ideology, flattery — all play a role. Over the years, several Indian defence personnel have been trapped via social media by operatives posing as NRIs or global researchers, then exploited for documents, maps, and military plans. Malhotra reportedly visited Pakistan twice in 2023. Just after her Pak visits, Malhotra visited Jammu and Kashmir, as shown on her YouTube channel. Hisar superintendent of police (SP) Shashank Kumar Sawan said, "Her known income sources do not justify her foreign travel. We suspect external funding. On the surface, she was just a travel blogger.” “She had interacted with several high-profile individuals during her visits to Pakistan. Even though her arrest happened recently, intelligence agencies were already monitoring her activities closely.” "They were developing her (Jyoti Malhotra) as an asset. She was in touch with other YouTube influencers, and they were also in touch with the PIOs... She used to go to Pakistan, like on sponsored trips... She was in Pakistan before the Pahalgam attack, and the investigation is on to establish linkages, if there are any. We are also investigating, as we have leads that other people were also involved with her," the SP added. Encryption: Shield and sword Whereas encryption is a fundament of digital freedom and press liberty, it is equally the ideal tool for behind-the-scenes communication. Messaging apps such as Signal, Telegram, Wire, Threema, and even VPN-tunneled chat servers built expressly for a given agency are on the rise in the world of espionage. They offer not only end-to-end secure message transmission but also self-delete messages, screenshot shielding, and anonymous logins. In 2020-2021, the French and Dutch police dismantled into a well-known encrypted messaging service known as EncroChat, exploited by criminal gangs and spies alike. The raid uncovered a secret world of illicit arms trade, narcotics trafficking — and even state-sponsored surveillance operations. Several operatives caught were clean with no past criminal histories and lived double lives — much like the online personas adopted by suspected spies today. The puzzle of attribution One of the main issues with cyber-espionage is attribution. Traditional spying, in which faces, voices, and physical evidence are important, gets done in the mist of metadata, phantom avatars, and encrypted logs these days. Was Jyoti an unwitting pawn or a knowing participant? Was she aware her encrypted communications were with a foreign agent, or was she just chasing a story for content? India is not alone in experiencing this wave of cyber espionage. In America, FBI counterintelligence reports in 2023 indicate an increase in Chinese agents communicating with American academics on Twitter (now X), LinkedIn, and Clubhouse to obtain information about defence technologies and political tactics. MI5 in the UK revealed that a Chinese operative, ‘Christine Lee’, had infiltrated circles of parliament through social networking and donations. She had built connections through online engagement and was identified after various suspicious encrypted messages between her, and foreign diplomats were picked up. The trend is obvious: Online believability is the new disguise, and encryption is the cloak that makes it difficult to detect. The need for digital vigilance As technology advances, so must the counterintelligence infrastructure. Using mere traditional surveillance — CCTV, tapped phones, email intercepts — is no longer sufficient. Agencies now utilise machine learning algorithms to identify anomalous metadata patterns, employ false honeypot accounts to probe for phishing or honey traps, and even track open-source intelligence (OSINT) software for indications of espionage use. The new age Jyoti Malhotra's case is not an accident; it is a reminder of how espionage has changed in the age of digital surveillance. The distinction between influencer and informant, conversation and conspiracy, has blurred. As platforms become brighter and safer, so too do their enemies who leverage them. The age of the cloak-and-dagger has been replaced by selfies and DMs, but the stakes are as high — perhaps higher — as state secrets, defence strategy, and national security march hand-in-hand with hashtags and digital avatars.

Spying has found a new sanctuary — the open world of social media and encrypted messaging applications

Pakistan's Cabinet on Tuesday (May 20) approved a proposal to promote Army Chief General Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office read. The decision was taken during Pakistan's Federal Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.&nbsp;Th Field Marshal is country's highest military rank. The decision to promote Munir comes days after India and Pakistan were engaged in cross-border firing as tensions rose between the two neighbouring countries.&nbsp;Asim Munir has been serving as the 11th Chief of the Army Staff in Pakistan since 2022. In November 2024, his term as Army Chief was extended from three to five years.&nbsp;This is the first such promotion in Pakistan in over 60 years. The only other individual to hold the rank of Field Marshal was Ayub Khan.&nbsp;Who is Asim Munir?&nbsp;Gen Munir claims to be from a humble background, born to a father who was a school teacher and an imam. He also uses Islamic verses and concepts in his speeches, hinting that he is a scholar of his religion. Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah was born in 1966 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.&nbsp;Asim Munir is married to Syeda Irum Asim, and they have three children. His net worth, estimated at approximately $800,000-$1 million, primarily comes from his salary and allowances.&nbsp;Munir, who was appointed the Army chief on 29 November 2022, started his army career in 1986, when&nbsp; Zia-ul-Haq was at the helm of Pakistan. It is fair to say he was inspired by Zia, who also legitimised his control over the army, and later the nation, on his adherence to Islamic principles.&nbsp;In the 2016-2018 period, Munir served as the Director-General of Military Intelligence. He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 2018,&nbsp; and became the Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Pakistani intelligence agency, from October 2018 to June 2019.&nbsp;Who was Ayub Khan?&nbsp;Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan was the Pakistan Army Commander-in-Chief and was promoted Field Marshal in 1959. His ascendancy, however, was earlier—by a coup in October 1958. With the support of then-President Iskander Mirza, Ayub Khan imposed martial law, suspended the constitution, and within weeks overthrew Mirza himself to become President.&nbsp;Ayub governed Pakistan between 1958 and 1969, the country's first ever direct military rule. Although his rule initially introduced administrative stability and economic development to the country, it was also marked by growing authoritarianism, repression of political opposition, and concentration of power.&nbsp;His foreign policy leaned heavily toward the West—especially the United States—earning Pakistan significant military and economic aid during the Cold War. His management of the 1965 war against India was also criticised domestically.&nbsp;By the late 1960s, public resentment against Ayub's regime grew, with allegations of massive corruption, crony capitalism, and political repression fueling it. Student activism, opposition movements, and public outrage eventually compelled him to resign in 1969, transferring power to General Yahya Khan.

Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir promoted to rank of Field Marshal

Pakistan's Cabinet on Tuesday (May 20) approved a proposal to promote Army Chief General Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office read. The decision was taken during Pakistan's Federal Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Th Field Marshal is country's highest military rank. The decision to promote Munir comes days after India and Pakistan were engaged in cross-border firing as tensions rose between the two neighbouring countries. Asim Munir has been serving as the 11th Chief of the Army Staff in Pakistan since 2022. In November 2024, his term as Army Chief was extended from three to five years. This is the first such promotion in Pakistan in over 60 years. The only other individual to hold the rank of Field Marshal was Ayub Khan. Who is Asim Munir? Gen Munir claims to be from a humble background, born to a father who was a school teacher and an imam. He also uses Islamic verses and concepts in his speeches, hinting that he is a scholar of his religion. Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah was born in 1966 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Asim Munir is married to Syeda Irum Asim, and they have three children. His net worth, estimated at approximately $800,000-$1 million, primarily comes from his salary and allowances. Munir, who was appointed the Army chief on 29 November 2022, started his army career in 1986, when Zia-ul-Haq was at the helm of Pakistan. It is fair to say he was inspired by Zia, who also legitimised his control over the army, and later the nation, on his adherence to Islamic principles. In the 2016-2018 period, Munir served as the Director-General of Military Intelligence. He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 2018, and became the Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Pakistani intelligence agency, from October 2018 to June 2019. Who was Ayub Khan? Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan was the Pakistan Army Commander-in-Chief and was promoted Field Marshal in 1959. His ascendancy, however, was earlier—by a coup in October 1958. With the support of then-President Iskander Mirza, Ayub Khan imposed martial law, suspended the constitution, and within weeks overthrew Mirza himself to become President. Ayub governed Pakistan between 1958 and 1969, the country's first ever direct military rule. Although his rule initially introduced administrative stability and economic development to the country, it was also marked by growing authoritarianism, repression of political opposition, and concentration of power. His foreign policy leaned heavily toward the West—especially the United States—earning Pakistan significant military and economic aid during the Cold War. His management of the 1965 war against India was also criticised domestically. By the late 1960s, public resentment against Ayub's regime grew, with allegations of massive corruption, crony capitalism, and political repression fueling it. Student activism, opposition movements, and public outrage eventually compelled him to resign in 1969, transferring power to General Yahya Khan.

Asim Munir has been serving as the 11th Chief of the Army Staff in Pakistan since 2022. In November 2024, his term as Army Chief was extended from three to five years

Pakistan's Army chief General Asim Munir promoted to rank of Field Marshal

Operation Sindoor: Top 7 amazing facts about Dassault's Rafale fighter jets

Dassault’s Rafale fighter jets led India’s air strikes in Operation Sindoor. Armed with advanced missiles and bombs, these French-made jets hit nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, showing India’s air power at its best

Amid arrest of Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, the Assam government of Himanta Biswa Sarma has apprehended two people on charges of spying. This takes the total number of people arrested for allegedly working as "Pakistani agents" in the state to 73 after the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.&nbsp;Taking to the micro-blogging site X Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday (May 20) said, "Like #OperationSindoor, our mission to track and punish Anti-nationals is going on... 73 Pakistani agents are behind bars now."&nbsp;Sarma had warned that his government would arrest anyone found directly or indirectly supporting Pakistan under the National Security Act (NSA).&nbsp;Last month an MLA of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) - an opposition party in Assam was arrested for anti-India statement. The police after his arrest charged him with sedition for his statement that the Pulwama attack in 2019 and the Pahalgam attack were "conspiracies by the government".&nbsp;“If required, we will impose provisions of the National Security Act on them. We are examining all social media posts, and action will be taken against those who, we feel, are anti-national… There are no similarities between Bharat and Pakistan. The two countries are enemy nations and we must remain that way," CM Sarma had said.&nbsp;Some other arrests made so far in Assam include the names of Md AK Bahauddin and Md Javed Mazumder from Silchar, Md Jabir Hussain from Hailakandi, Md Mahahar Mia from Morigaon and Md Sahil Ali from Sivasagar. Two more arrests, Md Musta Ahmed alias Sahel from Karimganj was made for posting 'Pakistan Zindabad' on social media platform Facebook.&nbsp;Terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam had claimed the lives of 26 people after which the Indian government launched Operation Sindoor. Air raids were carried out on terror camps in Pakistan.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Sarma had warned that his government would arrest anyone found directly or indirectly supporting Pakistan under the National Security Act (NSA).

Amid arrest of Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, the Assam government of Himanta Biswa Sarma has apprehended two people on charges of spying. This takes the total number of people arrested for allegedly working as "Pakistani agents" in the state to 73 after the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. Taking to the micro-blogging site X Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday (May 20) said, "Like #OperationSindoor, our mission to track and punish Anti-nationals is going on... 73 Pakistani agents are behind bars now." Sarma had warned that his government would arrest anyone found directly or indirectly supporting Pakistan under the National Security Act (NSA). Last month an MLA of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) - an opposition party in Assam was arrested for anti-India statement. The police after his arrest charged him with sedition for his statement that the Pulwama attack in 2019 and the Pahalgam attack were "conspiracies by the government". “If required, we will impose provisions of the National Security Act on them. We are examining all social media posts, and action will be taken against those who, we feel, are anti-national… There are no similarities between Bharat and Pakistan. The two countries are enemy nations and we must remain that way," CM Sarma had said. Some other arrests made so far in Assam include the names of Md AK Bahauddin and Md Javed Mazumder from Silchar, Md Jabir Hussain from Hailakandi, Md Mahahar Mia from Morigaon and Md Sahil Ali from Sivasagar. Two more arrests, Md Musta Ahmed alias Sahel from Karimganj was made for posting 'Pakistan Zindabad' on social media platform Facebook. Terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam had claimed the lives of 26 people after which the Indian government launched Operation Sindoor. Air raids were carried out on terror camps in Pakistan.

Sarma had warned that his government would arrest anyone found directly or indirectly supporting Pakistan under the National Security Act (NSA).

'Mission to track and punish anti-nationals': Assam makes two more arrests of 'Pakistani agents'

After around three weeks of India-Pakistan conflict and failed cyberattacks on Indian websites, Pakistan tried to hack Indian news media Zee News. However, the nefarious attempt was foiled by Zee News experts. The attempt was made from Pakistan, on three centres of Zee News in Mumbai, Bhopal and Patna.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-15-mn-cyber-attacks-but-not-even-1-successful-heres-how-india-outsmarted-pakistani-hackers-9065615">Also read: Over 1.5 million cyber attacks, but not even 1% successful | Here's how India outsmarted Pakistani hackers</a> India and Pakistan engaged in a conflict in the first and second week of May after the Pahalgam terror attack, that killed 26 people. Following that, India launched Operation Sindoor, as the army hit nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Notably, during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan banned Zee News in their country. The move was part of the broader crackdown on media outlets that Pakistan accuses of spreading "propaganda".&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mea-briefs-parliament-on-pakistan-s-connection-in-pahalgam-terror-attack-here-s-what-initial-probe-reveals-1747717130376">Also read: &nbsp;MEA briefs parliament on Pakistan's connection in Pahalgam terror attack. Here’s what initial probe reveals</a> Currently, the investigation is ongoing and efforts are being made to understand the purpose behind the attack. The attack is being investigated at the national level and cyber experts are probing which group could be behind this attack. As reported last week, Maharashtra Cyber identified seven Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups responsible for launching over 1.5 million cyber attacks targeting Indian websites after the Pahalgam terror attack. However, only 150 attacks were successful, according to officials, Indian news agency PTI reported. It shows that not even one per cent of these 1.5 million attacks were successful. The Indian Armed Forces launched a report "Road of Sindoor", detailing the cyber warfare launched by Pakistan-allied hacking groups. "Road of Sindoor" was built on an earlier report, "Echoes of Pahalgam", which examined cyber activity following the Pahalgam terror strike. Notably, these cyber-attacks were primarily linked to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Middle East. But, the attacks were thwarted, and the critical infrastructure of India was saved.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/operation-sindoor-pakistan-confirms-11-military-personnel-killed-during-indian-strikes-1747726410483">WATCH | Operation Sindoor: Pakistan confirms 11 military personnel killed during Indian strikes</a>&nbsp;

The attempt was made from Pakistan, on three centres of Zee News in Mumbai, Bhopal and Patna.

After around three weeks of India-Pakistan conflict and failed cyberattacks on Indian websites, Pakistan tried to hack Indian news media Zee News. However, the nefarious attempt was foiled by Zee News experts. The attempt was made from Pakistan, on three centres of Zee News in Mumbai, Bhopal and Patna. Also read: Over 1.5 million cyber attacks, but not even 1% successful | Here's how India outsmarted Pakistani hackers India and Pakistan engaged in a conflict in the first and second week of May after the Pahalgam terror attack, that killed 26 people. Following that, India launched Operation Sindoor, as the army hit nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Notably, during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan banned Zee News in their country. The move was part of the broader crackdown on media outlets that Pakistan accuses of spreading "propaganda". Also read: MEA briefs parliament on Pakistan's connection in Pahalgam terror attack. Here’s what initial probe reveals Currently, the investigation is ongoing and efforts are being made to understand the purpose behind the attack. The attack is being investigated at the national level and cyber experts are probing which group could be behind this attack. As reported last week, Maharashtra Cyber identified seven Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups responsible for launching over 1.5 million cyber attacks targeting Indian websites after the Pahalgam terror attack. However, only 150 attacks were successful, according to officials, Indian news agency PTI reported. It shows that not even one per cent of these 1.5 million attacks were successful. The Indian Armed Forces launched a report "Road of Sindoor", detailing the cyber warfare launched by Pakistan-allied hacking groups. "Road of Sindoor" was built on an earlier report, "Echoes of Pahalgam", which examined cyber activity following the Pahalgam terror strike. Notably, these cyber-attacks were primarily linked to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Middle East. But, the attacks were thwarted, and the critical infrastructure of India was saved. WATCH | Operation Sindoor: Pakistan confirms 11 military personnel killed during Indian strikes

The attempt was made from Pakistan, on three centres of Zee News in Mumbai, Bhopal and Patna.

Cyber attack on Indian media Zee News, experts foil nefarious attempt

Just days after Jyoti Malhotra was arrested for allegedly spying and sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives, new information has surfaced in the case of espionage against Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, which is now raising further suspicions regarding her connection with Pakistani agents.&nbsp;A picture has surfaced that shows Jyoti alongside a man who was seen delivering a cake to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi just two days after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent people.&nbsp;Amid this, a photo has been going viral on social media platforms showing the arrested YouTuber, Jyoti Malhotra with the same individual. It is also reported that during her visit to Pakistan, Jyoti recorded a video of the party she attended, where she was seen meeting this man who had brought the cake to the Pakistan High Commission.&nbsp;An X user (Being Political @BeingPolitical1) shared the post showing Malhotra with that man. "Do you remember this video? When an employee of Pakistan High Commission brought a cake the next day of Pahalgam attack. This is the same person who was seen with Pak spy Jyoti Malhotra," the user said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Do you remember this video? When an employee of Pakistan High Commission brought a cake the next day of Pahalgam attack. This is the same person who was seen with Pak spy Jyoti Malhotra.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JyotiMalhotra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JyotiMalhotra</a> <a href="https://t.co/lgnDBRBjGD">pic.twitter.com/lgnDBRBjGD</a>&mdash; Being Political (@BeingPolitical1) <a href="https://twitter.com/BeingPolitical1/status/1924356305734521192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jyoti Malhotra was arrested by the Hisar police and charged under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).&nbsp;Jyoti Malhotra runs a YouTube channel "Travel with JO" and has travelled to several countries, including Pakistan. She has 3.77 lakh subscribers on YouTube and 1.33 lakh followers on Instagram.&nbsp;She is also now suspected of being part of a larger network that spread across Haryana and Punjab. Investigators believe she played a role in promoting a favourable image of Pakistan through her online platforms while passing sensitive information related to Indian locations.

Jyoti Malhotra link with the man who took cake to Pakistan High Commission after Pahalgam terror attack surfaces

Just days after Jyoti Malhotra was arrested for allegedly spying and sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives, new information has surfaced in the case of espionage against Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, which is now raising further suspicions regarding her connection with Pakistani agents. A picture has surfaced that shows Jyoti alongside a man who was seen delivering a cake to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi just two days after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent people. Amid this, a photo has been going viral on social media platforms showing the arrested YouTuber, Jyoti Malhotra with the same individual. It is also reported that during her visit to Pakistan, Jyoti recorded a video of the party she attended, where she was seen meeting this man who had brought the cake to the Pakistan High Commission. An X user (Being Political @BeingPolitical1) shared the post showing Malhotra with that man. "Do you remember this video? When an employee of Pakistan High Commission brought a cake the next day of Pahalgam attack. This is the same person who was seen with Pak spy Jyoti Malhotra," the user said.

Jyoti Malhotra, was arrested by the Hisar police and charged under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

Jyoti Malhotra's 'link' with the man who took cake to Pakistan High Commission after Pahalgam terror attack surfaces

The Border Security Force (BSF) said the public retreat ceremony, which is held at three locations in Punjab along the Pakistan border, will resume on Wednesday (May 21).&nbsp;While the Jalandhar headquartered Punjab frontier of the force said the ceremony will start today (May 20), it will be exclusive for media persons only. The public can participate in the ceremony tomorrow at 6 pm.&nbsp;The ceremony will begin two weeks after the Indian Armed Forces carried out Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, after which it was stopped.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mea-briefs-parliament-on-pakistan-s-connection-in-pahalgam-terror-attack-here-s-what-initial-probe-reveals-1747717130376">MEA briefs parliament on Pakistan's connection in Pahalgam terror attack. Here’s what initial probe reveals</a>&nbsp;The event, which is held daily in the evening at Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki, will be curtailed as BSF troops will not shake hands with Pakistani Rangers, the officials said. Moreover, the gates will not be opened during the flag-lowering part of the ceremony, as stated earlier.&nbsp;The officials clarified that the flag was being lowered every day by BSF troops despite public entry being stopped at the three locations on May 8 for “public safety” following Operation Sindoor.&nbsp;<h2>Operation Sindoor</h2>&nbsp;On May 7, the Indian Armed Forces carried out airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), targeting terror sites, in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/from-akash-missile-system-to-l-70-air-defence-guns-air-defence-grid-indian-army-used-to-protect-golden-temple-from-pak-s-attack-1747722684740">From AKASH Missile System To L-70 Guns: Air defence grid Indian Army used to protect Golden Temple from Pak's attack</a>&nbsp;The strikes conducted under Operation Sindoor targeted the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba Muridke base. India said over 100 terrorists were killed in the operation, including Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudasir Ahmed.&nbsp;Following this, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes on Indian cities, which led to military confrontations between the two nations. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to stop all military actions.

The ceremony will begin two weeks after the Indian Armed Forces carried out Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, after which it was stopped.

The Border Security Force (BSF) said the public retreat ceremony, which is held at three locations in Punjab along the Pakistan border, will resume on Wednesday (May 21). While the Jalandhar headquartered Punjab frontier of the force said the ceremony will start today (May 20), it will be exclusive for media persons only. The public can participate in the ceremony tomorrow at 6 pm. The ceremony will begin two weeks after the Indian Armed Forces carried out Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, after which it was stopped. Also read | MEA briefs parliament on Pakistan's connection in Pahalgam terror attack. Here’s what initial probe reveals The event, which is held daily in the evening at Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki, will be curtailed as BSF troops will not shake hands with Pakistani Rangers, the officials said. Moreover, the gates will not be opened during the flag-lowering part of the ceremony, as stated earlier. The officials clarified that the flag was being lowered every day by BSF troops despite public entry being stopped at the three locations on May 8 for “public safety” following Operation Sindoor. Operation Sindoor On May 7, the Indian Armed Forces carried out airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), targeting terror sites, in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26. Also read | From AKASH Missile System To L-70 Guns: Air defence grid Indian Army used to protect Golden Temple from Pak's attack The strikes conducted under Operation Sindoor targeted the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba Muridke base. India said over 100 terrorists were killed in the operation, including Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudasir Ahmed. Following this, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes on Indian cities, which led to military confrontations between the two nations. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to stop all military actions.

The ceremony will begin two weeks after the Indian Armed Forces carried out Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, after which it was stopped.

Beating Retreat ceremony at India-Pakistan border to resume for public from May 21, two weeks after Operation Sindoor

The initial investigation into the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people revealed that the terrorists had communication nodes with their handlers in Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told a parliamentary committee on Monday (May 19).&nbsp;The MEA told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, how Pakistan-based “masterminds” coordinated the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.&nbsp;The attackers carried “distinct footprints” similar to previous attacks claimed by the Resistance Front (TRF), a group which the MEA described as another name for the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/operation-sindoor-relocating-won-t-help-find-a-deep-hole-dg-army-air-defence-warns-pakistan-1747716870674">Operation Sindoor | Relocating headquarters won't help, 'find a deep hole': DG Army Air Defence warns Pakistan</a>&nbsp;The officials also discussed the use of sophisticated cross-border communication nodes between terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan. &nbsp;The ministry asserted that Pakistan plays a “well-established” role as a sanctuary for terror groups, which is backed by credible evidence.&nbsp;The MEA also dismissed Pakistan’s attempt to “draw a false equivalence” for alleging Indian involvement in extra-judicial killings on Pakistani soil as baseless and lacking any factual support. It further flagged Pakistan’s continued denial of terror links.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/alleged-spy-jyoti-malhotra-blamed-govt-tourists-after-pahalgam-attack-video-surfaces-1747666608205">Alleged spy Jyoti Malhotra blamed govt, tourists after Pahalgam attack? Video surfaces</a>&nbsp;“Pakistan blames India for the killings of some individuals, labelled as extra-judicial and extra-territorial by the neighbouring country, on its soil, even though its allegations are devoid of any facts or evidence,” the MEA said.&nbsp;“It is meant to draw a false equivalence between the two countries to suggest that both neighbours are victims of cross-border terrorism, which is not the case, it said in the presentation,” it added.&nbsp;The ministry also highlighted that UN-designated terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi continue to roam freely in Pakistan while inciting violence against India.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ic-814-staff-recalls-8-day-nightmare-says-karma-caught-up-with-them-after-planners-killed-in-operation-sindoor-1747658158655">WION Exclusive | Operation Sindoor: As India avenge Kandahar, IC-814 staff recounts harrowing hijack story</a>&nbsp;<h2>Operation Sindoor</h2>&nbsp;On May 7, the Indian Armed Forces carried out airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), targeting terror sites, in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26.&nbsp;The strikes conducted under Operation Sindoor targeted the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba Muridke base. India said over 100 terrorists were killed in the operation, including Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudasir Ahmed.&nbsp;Following this, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes on Indian cities, which led to military confrontations between the two nations. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to stop all military actions. &nbsp;

The MEA told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, how Pakistan-based “masterminds” coordinated the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.


The initial investigation into the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people revealed that the terrorists had communication nodes with their handlers in Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told a parliamentary committee on Monday (May 19). The MEA told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, how Pakistan-based “masterminds” coordinated the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The attackers carried “distinct footprints” similar to previous attacks claimed by the Resistance Front (TRF), a group which the MEA described as another name for the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Also read | Operation Sindoor | Relocating headquarters won't help, 'find a deep hole': DG Army Air Defence warns Pakistan The officials also discussed the use of sophisticated cross-border communication nodes between terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan. The ministry asserted that Pakistan plays a “well-established” role as a sanctuary for terror groups, which is backed by credible evidence. The MEA also dismissed Pakistan’s attempt to “draw a false equivalence” for alleging Indian involvement in extra-judicial killings on Pakistani soil as baseless and lacking any factual support. It further flagged Pakistan’s continued denial of terror links. Also read | Alleged spy Jyoti Malhotra blamed govt, tourists after Pahalgam attack? Video surfaces “Pakistan blames India for the killings of some individuals, labelled as extra-judicial and extra-territorial by the neighbouring country, on its soil, even though its allegations are devoid of any facts or evidence,” the MEA said. “It is meant to draw a false equivalence between the two countries to suggest that both neighbours are victims of cross-border terrorism, which is not the case, it said in the presentation,” it added. The ministry also highlighted that UN-designated terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi continue to roam freely in Pakistan while inciting violence against India. Also read | WION Exclusive | Operation Sindoor: As India avenge Kandahar, IC-814 staff recounts harrowing hijack story Operation Sindoor On May 7, the Indian Armed Forces carried out airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), targeting terror sites, in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26. The strikes conducted under Operation Sindoor targeted the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba Muridke base. India said over 100 terrorists were killed in the operation, including Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudasir Ahmed. Following this, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes on Indian cities, which led to military confrontations between the two nations. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to stop all military actions.

The MEA told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, how Pakistan-based “masterminds” coordinated the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

MEA briefs parliament on Pakistan's connection in Pahalgam terror attack. Here’s what initial probe reveals

YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence, had blamed the government and tourists after the dastardly Pahalgam attack in a video she is said to have posted on Instagram.&nbsp;The video being widely circulated on social media now shows Malhotra suggesting that the terrorist attack was a consequence of smugness on the part of the government, civilians, and tourists, as she put blame on them for not staying alert.&nbsp;She had uploaded the video on her Instagram handle, which has since been suspended, but several users have shared it on X.&nbsp;“Not just the government, this (attack) is the responsibility of every individual who visits these places … and should be watchful. I know J&amp;K has high security; there are Army and police personnel in every corner. If something like this has happened despite that then we are also at fault in some way. Perhaps we weren’t watchful (enough) … which is why this happened. We should be watchful and responsible,” she said.&nbsp;She also expressed shock that some individuals may have supported or assisted the terrorists involved in the attack.“If anyone is supporting these terrorists, then we are not Indian. If we are corrupt or wrong, it is shocking. It’s wrong if anyone supported those terrorists. And we are responsible for that. Our government is also responsible because there was a security lapse,” she said.Malhotra was arrested after a crackdown was launched during which 11 individuals have been taken into custody so far for allegedly spying for Pakistan. Moreover, she was allegedly also in touch with Pakistani handlers during the blackouts when Operation Sindoor was at its peak. &nbsp;She had also visited Pahalgam just three months before terrorists linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) killed 26 civilians in a dastardly terror attack. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Jyoti Malhotra on Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan ko chhod kar sabki hi galati hai, including the victims. <a href="https://t.co/3y93mfdzyZ">pic.twitter.com/3y93mfdzyZ</a>&mdash; Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) <a href="https://twitter.com/AsYouNotWish/status/1924043528222761173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The video being widely circulated on social media now shows Malhotra suggesting that the terrorist attack was a consequence of smugness on the part of the government, civilians, and tourists, as she put blame on them for not staying alert.

YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence, had blamed the government and tourists after the dastardly Pahalgam attack in a video she is said to have posted on Instagram. The video being widely circulated on social media now shows Malhotra suggesting that the terrorist attack was a consequence of smugness on the part of the government, civilians, and tourists, as she put blame on them for not staying alert. She had uploaded the video on her Instagram handle, which has since been suspended, but several users have shared it on X. “Not just the government, this (attack) is the responsibility of every individual who visits these places … and should be watchful. I know J&K has high security; there are Army and police personnel in every corner. If something like this has happened despite that then we are also at fault in some way. Perhaps we weren’t watchful (enough) … which is why this happened. We should be watchful and responsible,” she said. She also expressed shock that some individuals may have supported or assisted the terrorists involved in the attack. “If anyone is supporting these terrorists, then we are not Indian. If we are corrupt or wrong, it is shocking. It’s wrong if anyone supported those terrorists. And we are responsible for that. Our government is also responsible because there was a security lapse,” she said. Malhotra was arrested after a crackdown was launched during which 11 individuals have been taken into custody so far for allegedly spying for Pakistan. Moreover, she was allegedly also in touch with Pakistani handlers during the blackouts when Operation Sindoor was at its peak. She had also visited Pahalgam just three months before terrorists linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) killed 26 civilians in a dastardly terror attack. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.

The video being widely circulated on social media now shows Malhotra suggesting that the terrorist attack was a consequence of smugness on the part of the government, civilians, and tourists, as she put blame on them for not staying alert.

Alleged spy Jyoti Malhotra blamed govt, tourists after Pahalgam attack? Video surfaces

Pakistan’s path to economic recovery just got rockier. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its latest report, has laid out stricter conditions for any future lending to the crisis-hit nation — conditions that go beyond traditional fiscal metrics and delve into politically sensitive reforms. And if that wasn’t enough, rising tensions with India are casting a long shadow over Islamabad’s ability to stabilise its fragile economy. According to Bloomberg, the IMF has demanded sweeping structural reforms as a prerequisite for unlocking more funding. These include securing parliamentary approval for the upcoming federal budget by June, implementing agricultural income tax across all provinces, and rolling out a phased withdrawal of industrial incentives by year-end.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, Pakistan must adjust electricity and gas tariffs in a timely manner, and legislate to restructure debt in the energy sector, aiming to reduce the financial burden on state-owned power firms.&nbsp;The IMF’s insistence on reforms reflects deeper concerns. Pakistan narrowly averted default in 2023, but with more than $100 billion in external financing needed through 2029, the margin for error is razor-thin. Complicating matters are geopolitical risks, especially those stemming from Pakistan’s worsening relationship with its eastern neighbour.&nbsp;India-Pakistan tensions&nbsp;The latest escalation began with the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. India blamed Pakistan-backed militants for orchestrating the assault and retaliated swiftly with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps across the Line of Control. But this was only the beginning. What followed was an aggressive economic retaliation campaign — one that’s proving to be just as damaging as military action.&nbsp;On May 2, India banned all imports from Pakistan, including those routed via third countries like the UAE. While trade between the two has been minimal since 2019 — accounting for just 0.06 per cent of India’s overall trade — the move sends a strong political message. It also hits Pakistan where it hurts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Islamabad relies heavily on Indian raw materials, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, where more than 90 per cent of ingredients are imported. With supply chains severed, Pakistan’s medicine, chemical, and processed food industries are already feeling the squeeze.&nbsp;India’s response extended beyond trade. It closed its airspace to Pakistani carriers, forcing Pakistan International Airlines to reroute flights through longer, costlier paths via Iran and Central Asia. International carriers like Lufthansa and British Airways have also suspended flights over Pakistan due to security risks, cutting into the country’s overflight revenue estimated between $30–50 million annually.&nbsp;Maritime trade hasn’t been spared either. With ports closed to Pakistani-flagged vessels, exporters are forced to rely on more expensive third-party routes. This not only delays shipments but also jeopardizes Pakistan’s export earnings from textiles, rice, and sports goods, worsening its current account deficit.&nbsp;And perhaps the most severe blow came when India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty — a World Bank-brokered agreement that has governed river water sharing since 1960. Given that 90 per cent of Pakistan’s agriculture depends on these rivers, any interruption could cripple farming in provinces like Punjab and Sindh. Already, protests have erupted over water shortages and the threat of massive crop failures looms large.&nbsp;India hasn’t just flexed its economic muscle domestically — it has taken the fight global. New Delhi formally objected to the IMF’s recent $1 billion disbursement to Pakistan, arguing that the funds could be misused in ways that undermine regional security. Bloomberg reports that India lobbied the IMF and World Bank to reconsider aid and credit lines to Islamabad, especially in light of continued terror threats emanating from its soil.&nbsp;The IMF responded cautiously, warning that persistent hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours could derail reform efforts in Pakistan. It also cited reputational risks if the fund is perceived as turning a blind eye to geopolitical tensions or the potential misuse of disbursed funds.&nbsp;Amid the brewing economic cold war, India and Pakistan’s economic trajectories are sharply diverging. According to the IMF, India’s GDP growth is expected to moderate from 8.2 per cent in 2023 to 7 per cent in 2024 and 6.5 per cent in 2025 — still robust by global standards. Pakistan, on the other hand, faces an uphill climb. The IMF has revised its 2025 growth forecast for Pakistan down to 3 per cent from 3.2 per cent, reflecting the economic strain from domestic instability, international isolation, and surging import costs. &nbsp; &nbsp;

IMF's conditions go beyond traditional fiscal metrics and delve into politically sensitive reforms. This comes amid rising tensions with India are casting a long shadow over Islamabad’s ability to stabilise its fragile economy.

Pakistan’s path to economic recovery just got rockier. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its latest report, has laid out stricter conditions for any future lending to the crisis-hit nation — conditions that go beyond traditional fiscal metrics and delve into politically sensitive reforms. And if that wasn’t enough, rising tensions with India are casting a long shadow over Islamabad’s ability to stabilise its fragile economy. According to Bloomberg, the IMF has demanded sweeping structural reforms as a prerequisite for unlocking more funding. These include securing parliamentary approval for the upcoming federal budget by June, implementing agricultural income tax across all provinces, and rolling out a phased withdrawal of industrial incentives by year-end. Additionally, Pakistan must adjust electricity and gas tariffs in a timely manner, and legislate to restructure debt in the energy sector, aiming to reduce the financial burden on state-owned power firms. The IMF’s insistence on reforms reflects deeper concerns. Pakistan narrowly averted default in 2023, but with more than $100 billion in external financing needed through 2029, the margin for error is razor-thin. Complicating matters are geopolitical risks, especially those stemming from Pakistan’s worsening relationship with its eastern neighbour. India-Pakistan tensions The latest escalation began with the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. India blamed Pakistan-backed militants for orchestrating the assault and retaliated swiftly with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps across the Line of Control. But this was only the beginning. What followed was an aggressive economic retaliation campaign — one that’s proving to be just as damaging as military action. On May 2, India banned all imports from Pakistan, including those routed via third countries like the UAE. While trade between the two has been minimal since 2019 — accounting for just 0.06 per cent of India’s overall trade — the move sends a strong political message. It also hits Pakistan where it hurts. Islamabad relies heavily on Indian raw materials, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, where more than 90 per cent of ingredients are imported. With supply chains severed, Pakistan’s medicine, chemical, and processed food industries are already feeling the squeeze. India’s response extended beyond trade. It closed its airspace to Pakistani carriers, forcing Pakistan International Airlines to reroute flights through longer, costlier paths via Iran and Central Asia. International carriers like Lufthansa and British Airways have also suspended flights over Pakistan due to security risks, cutting into the country’s overflight revenue estimated between $30–50 million annually. Maritime trade hasn’t been spared either. With ports closed to Pakistani-flagged vessels, exporters are forced to rely on more expensive third-party routes. This not only delays shipments but also jeopardizes Pakistan’s export earnings from textiles, rice, and sports goods, worsening its current account deficit. And perhaps the most severe blow came when India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty — a World Bank-brokered agreement that has governed river water sharing since 1960. Given that 90 per cent of Pakistan’s agriculture depends on these rivers, any interruption could cripple farming in provinces like Punjab and Sindh. Already, protests have erupted over water shortages and the threat of massive crop failures looms large. India hasn’t just flexed its economic muscle domestically — it has taken the fight global. New Delhi formally objected to the IMF’s recent $1 billion disbursement to Pakistan, arguing that the funds could be misused in ways that undermine regional security. Bloomberg reports that India lobbied the IMF and World Bank to reconsider aid and credit lines to Islamabad, especially in light of continued terror threats emanating from its soil. The IMF responded cautiously, warning that persistent hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours could derail reform efforts in Pakistan. It also cited reputational risks if the fund is perceived as turning a blind eye to geopolitical tensions or the potential misuse of disbursed funds. Amid the brewing economic cold war, India and Pakistan’s economic trajectories are sharply diverging. According to the IMF, India’s GDP growth is expected to moderate from 8.2 per cent in 2023 to 7 per cent in 2024 and 6.5 per cent in 2025 — still robust by global standards. Pakistan, on the other hand, faces an uphill climb. The IMF has revised its 2025 growth forecast for Pakistan down to 3 per cent from 3.2 per cent, reflecting the economic strain from domestic instability, international isolation, and surging import costs.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has laid out stricter conditions for any future lending to the crisis-hit nation, Pakistan.&nbsp;

IMF tightens conditions for Pakistan to get fresh loans amid mounting tensions with India

Pakistan has extended the closure of the only runway at its Rahim Yar Khan airbase till June 6. The runway was damaged following the air strikes by the Indian Armed Forces on May 10.&nbsp;After the Indian airstrike, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice to airmen, or NOTAM, informing that the runway at the Rahim Yar Khan airbase will not be operational for flights for a week. However, according to a new NOTAM, the runway will now be closed till June 6.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/operation-sindoor-6-pakistan-air-force-bases-india-hit-1747646095209/1747646095211">Operation sindoor: 6 Pakistan Air Force bases India hit</a>&nbsp;The extension of closure suggests that the runway needed extensive repairs following India’s precision strikes, which are taking longer than expected. The latest notice mentioned that the closure was due to work in progress on the runway, but did not mention details. It said that the sole runway of the airbase will not be available for flight operations.&nbsp;The notice stated, “RWY NOT AVBL FOR FLT OPS DUE WIP.”&nbsp;Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/operation-sindoor-indian-army-displays-pakistani-missile-debris-watch-1747647949093">Operation Sindoor: Indian Army displays Pakistani missile debris. Watch</a>&nbsp;Rahim Yar Khan, which is located in Pakistan’s southern province of Punjab, has a dual-purpose airport for Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Central Air Command and the Sheikh Zayed International Airport.&nbsp;Following the airstrike, satellite images released by the Indian Armed Forces revealed the extent of damage caused to the runway. A large and deep crater could be seen in the middle of the Rahim Yar Khan airbase runway, while other images showed damage to a building at the airbase.&nbsp;Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-arrested-in-punjab-for-sharing-military-information-during-operation-sindoor-with-pakistan-1747651234836">Two arrested in Punjab for sharing military information during Operation Sindoor with Pakistan</a>&nbsp;<h2>Operation Sindoor</h2>&nbsp;The airbase was among the key Pakistani military targets hit by India amid the conflict between the two nations that led to four days of military actions, before India and Pakistan reached an understanding for a ceasefire on May 10.&nbsp;During a press briefing on Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal AK Bharti said, “...We stuck Chaklala, Rafiq, Rahim Yar Khan bases, sending a clear message that aggression will not be tolerated. This was followed by strikes at Sargodha, Bhulari, and Jacobabad...We have the capability to target every system at these bases and more.”&nbsp;Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/operation-sindoor-indian-army-displays-pakistani-missile-debris-watch-1747647949093">Operation Sindoor: Indian Army displays Pakistani missile debris. Watch</a>&nbsp;Indian strikes came in response to the attempted drone and missile attacks launched by the Pakistani military in response to Operation Sindoor. In the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam attack that killed 26, the Indian Armed Forces launched strikes on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, following which the Pakistani Armed Forces attacked India.

The extension of closure suggests that the runway needed extensive repairs following India’s precision strikes, which are taking longer than expected.

Pakistan has extended the closure of the only runway at its Rahim Yar Khan airbase till June 6. The runway was damaged following the air strikes by the Indian Armed Forces on May 10. After the Indian airstrike, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice to airmen, or NOTAM, informing that the runway at the Rahim Yar Khan airbase will not be operational for flights for a week. However, according to a new NOTAM, the runway will now be closed till June 6. Also read | Operation sindoor: 6 Pakistan Air Force bases India hit The extension of closure suggests that the runway needed extensive repairs following India’s precision strikes, which are taking longer than expected. The latest notice mentioned that the closure was due to work in progress on the runway, but did not mention details. It said that the sole runway of the airbase will not be available for flight operations. The notice stated, “RWY NOT AVBL FOR FLT OPS DUE WIP.” Also read | Operation Sindoor: Indian Army displays Pakistani missile debris. Watch Rahim Yar Khan, which is located in Pakistan’s southern province of Punjab, has a dual-purpose airport for Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Central Air Command and the Sheikh Zayed International Airport. Following the airstrike, satellite images released by the Indian Armed Forces revealed the extent of damage caused to the runway. A large and deep crater could be seen in the middle of the Rahim Yar Khan airbase runway, while other images showed damage to a building at the airbase. Also read | Two arrested in Punjab for sharing military information during Operation Sindoor with Pakistan Operation Sindoor The airbase was among the key Pakistani military targets hit by India amid the conflict between the two nations that led to four days of military actions, before India and Pakistan reached an understanding for a ceasefire on May 10. During a press briefing on Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal AK Bharti said, “...We stuck Chaklala, Rafiq, Rahim Yar Khan bases, sending a clear message that aggression will not be tolerated. This was followed by strikes at Sargodha, Bhulari, and Jacobabad...We have the capability to target every system at these bases and more.” Also read | Operation Sindoor: Indian Army displays Pakistani missile debris. Watch Indian strikes came in response to the attempted drone and missile attacks launched by the Pakistani military in response to Operation Sindoor. In the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam attack that killed 26, the Indian Armed Forces launched strikes on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, following which the Pakistani Armed Forces attacked India.

The extension of closure suggests that the runway needed extensive repairs following India’s precision strikes, which are taking longer than expected.

Operation Sindoor: Under extensive repairs, Pakistan extends Rahim Yar Khan airbase runway closure till June 6

The Indian Army on Monday (May 19) unveiled debris from Pakistani missiles, which were intercepted and taken down by Indian air defence systems during the recent cross-border tensions.<h2>Pakistani missile debris</h2>The fragments were shown in a striking 1-minute-51-second video. The video shows uniformed jawans standing behind a table bearing the remains of Pakistan's failed attack.Watch it here:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Amritsar, Punjab: Indian Army shows debris of Pakistan-launched missiles that were intercepted and taken down by Indian Air Defence systems. <a href="https://t.co/dxH1mDOpHU">pic.twitter.com/dxH1mDOpHU</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1924304972427985305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This comes after the Indian Army's Western Command on Sunday (May 18) released another high-impact video related to Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory mission in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead — most of them tourists. The Sunday video described India as an "impregnable wall of fire".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrongAndCapable?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StrongAndCapable</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpSindoor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpSindoor</a> Planned, trained &amp; executed. Justice served.<a href="https://twitter.com/adgpi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adgpi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/prodefencechan1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prodefencechan1</a> <a href="https://t.co/Hx42p0nnon">pic.twitter.com/Hx42p0nnon</a>&mdash; Western Command - Indian Army (@westerncomd_IA) <a href="https://twitter.com/westerncomd_IA/status/1923945544868569218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Operation Sindoor</h2>In the early hours of May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, where the military carried out cross-border strikes targeting nine specific sites linked to terrorism.Key sites hit include the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi and Rahim Yar Khan airbase, both vital to Pakistan's aerial operations.In an official statement, the Minister of Defence said, "The Indian Armed Forces launched 'OPERATION SINDOOR', hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed."In retaliation, Pakistan shelled civilian areas and launched drone incursions, all of which were thwarted. By May 10, both nations reached a tense cessation of hostilities, avoiding further escalation.Amid rising tensions with neighbour Pakistan, as India cracks down on terror activities, Jyoti Malhotra, a Hisar-based YouTuber, has been arrested on charges of espionage. Malhotra was being groomed by Pakistani intelligence operatives, said Hisar superintendent of police (SP) Shashank Kumar Sawan on Sunday (May 18).As per the superintendent of police, Malhotra had visited Pakistan several times, including once before the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. She had also travelled to China.Sawan also revealed that Pakistan was using a new form of warfare — information warfare — where “influencers are used to manipulate public sentiment, question national policies, or promote divisive ideologies.”

The fragments were shown in a striking 1-minute-51-second video. The video shows uniformed jawans standing behind a table bearing the remains of Pakistan's failed attack.

The Indian Army on Monday (May 19) unveiled debris from Pakistani missiles, which were intercepted and taken down by Indian air defence systems during the recent cross-border tensions. Pakistani missile debris The fragments were shown in a striking 1-minute-51-second video. The video shows uniformed jawans standing behind a table bearing the remains of Pakistan's failed attack. Watch it here:

The fragments were shown in a striking 1-minute-51-second video. The video shows uniformed jawans standing behind a table bearing the remains of Pakistan's failed attack.

Operation Sindoor: Indian Army displays Pakistani missile debris. Watch

In an era of heightened diplomatic tensions, when the threat of nuclear war looms large, there are several countries once in possession of or on the path to nuclear arms chose to disarm, aiming for stability over escalation.

In an era of heightened diplomatic tensions, when the threat of nuclear war looms large, there are several countries once in possession of or on the path to nuclear arms chose to disarm, aiming for stability over escalation.

From Ukraine to South Africa: 5 countries that abandoned their nuclear weapons and why

&nbsp; The Government of India has launched a nationwide operation to identify, detain, and deport illegal immigrants. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given states and Union Territories just 30 days to verify documents of those suspected of being in the country illegally or initiate deportation procedures.As per reports, the MHA has asked states and UTs to invoke their statutory powers to detect, identify and deport illegal immigrants. They have also been asked to establish enough district-level detention centres to hold individuals pending deportation.<h2>GOI's renewed push against illegal migrants</h2>The instructions are a part of GOI's renewed push against illegal immigrants, with a specific focus on undocumented persons from Bangladesh and Myanmar.Previously, in February, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said, "The issue of illegal intruders is also related to national security, and it should be dealt with strictly. They should be identified and deported".30 days or out: What the new instructions sayIssued this month, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked all states and UTs to verify the credentials of people suspected illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar within 30 days. Following that, if still unverified, the immigrants would be deported.District Collectors and DMs have been asked to hold individuals in detention centres during the verification period.Border guarding forces (BSF and Assam Rifles) have been asked to coordinate deportations.Talking to Indian Express, a senior officer in the paramilitary forces said that earlier there was no deadline for sending back illegal immigrants."But now, the Centre has asked states/UTs and district collectors/district magistrates to ensure that an appropriate credential report is sent to the deporting state/UT within a period of 30 days.""The suspected person, for 30 days, should be kept in the holding centres, and if no report is received within that period, the Foreigners Registration Offices should deport them," added the officer.

The instructions are a part of GOI's renewed push against illegal immigrants, with a specific focus on undocumented persons from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The Government of India has launched a nationwide operation to identify, detain, and deport illegal immigrants. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given states and Union Territories just 30 days to verify documents of those suspected of being in the country illegally or initiate deportation procedures. As per reports, the MHA has asked states and UTs to invoke their statutory powers to detect, identify and deport illegal immigrants. They have also been asked to establish enough district-level detention centres to hold individuals pending deportation. GOI's renewed push against illegal migrants The instructions are a part of GOI's renewed push against illegal immigrants, with a specific focus on undocumented persons from Bangladesh and Myanmar. Previously, in February, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said, "The issue of illegal intruders is also related to national security, and it should be dealt with strictly. They should be identified and deported". 30 days or out: What the new instructions say Issued this month, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked all states and UTs to verify the credentials of people suspected illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar within 30 days. Following that, if still unverified, the immigrants would be deported. District Collectors and DMs have been asked to hold individuals in detention centres during the verification period. Border guarding forces (BSF and Assam Rifles) have been asked to coordinate deportations. Talking to Indian Express, a senior officer in the paramilitary forces said that earlier there was no deadline for sending back illegal immigrants. "But now, the Centre has asked states/UTs and district collectors/district magistrates to ensure that an appropriate credential report is sent to the deporting state/UT within a period of 30 days." "The suspected person, for 30 days, should be kept in the holding centres, and if no report is received within that period, the Foreigners Registration Offices should deport them," added the officer.

The instructions are a part of the GOI's renewed push against illegal immigrants, with a specific focus on undocumented persons from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Centre gives states 30 days to identify illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar, deportations to follow

Jyoti Malhotra, the Hisar-based YouTuber arrested on charges of espionage, was being groomed by Pakistani intelligence operatives, said Hisar superintendent of police (SP) Shashank Kumar Sawan on Sunday (May 18).As per the superintendent of police, Malhotra had visited Pakistan several times, including once before the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. She had also travelled to China.Sawan also revealed that Pakistan was using a new form of warfare — information warfare — where “influencers are used to manipulate public sentiment, question national policies, or promote divisive ideologies.”<h2>Pakistan operatives actively recruiting social media influencers: Hisar SP</h2>Addressing a press conference, Shashank Kumar Sawan, the Hisar superintendent of police, revealed that the Haryana police have been informed by central agencies that PIOs were actively recruiting Indian social media influencers to promote soft narratives."She is being interrogated by the Haryana Police, in coordination with central agencies. We are analysing her financial transactions and travel history to determine the sources of her income," said SP Sawan."Her known income sources do not justify her foreign travel. We suspect external funding. On the surface, she was just a travel blogger," he added.<h2>Jyoti Malhotra's contact with Pakistani Information Officers 'alarming'</h2>SP Sawan also confirmed that Jyoti Malhotra, who has been remanded to police custody for five says, was in direct contact with PIOs. These PIOs, he said, included individuals declared persona non grata by India."She had visited Pakistan multiple times and China once. She was in contact with the PIOs. We have taken her on a 5-day police remand. We are analysing her financial details. During the conflict (Indo-Pak), she was in touch with the PIOs... Her travel details are defying her total income..." He said that while Malhotra did not have direct access to sensitive information like that of Indian defence, “, but she was being aligned with other influencers already in contact with foreign operatives.” He also said her communication with PIOs during the periods of heightened tension between India and Pakistan was nothing short of "alarming."&nbsp;"She had interacted with several high-profile individuals during her visits to Pakistan. Even though her arrest happened recently, intelligence agencies were already monitoring her activities closely," said the SP."They were developing her (Jyoti Malhotra) as an asset. She was in touch with other YouTube influencers, and they were also in touch with the PIOs... She used to go to Pakistan, like on sponsored trips... She was in Pakistan before the Pahalgam attack, and the investigation is on to establish linkages, if there are any. We are also investigating, as we have leads that other people were also involved with her," he added.Malhotra, 33, runs a YouTube travel channel called Travel with JO, which has more than 3.77 lakh subscribers. On May 16, she was taken into custody from her home in New Aggarsain Extension, Hisar, and charged under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As per the Haryana superintendent of police, YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra had visited Pakistan several times, including once before the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. She had also travelled to China.

Jyoti Malhotra, the Hisar-based YouTuber arrested on charges of espionage, was being groomed by Pakistani intelligence operatives, said Hisar superintendent of police (SP) Shashank Kumar Sawan on Sunday (May 18). As per the superintendent of police, Malhotra had visited Pakistan several times, including once before the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. She had also travelled to China. Sawan also revealed that Pakistan was using a new form of warfare — information warfare — where “influencers are used to manipulate public sentiment, question national policies, or promote divisive ideologies.” Pakistan operatives actively recruiting social media influencers: Hisar SP Addressing a press conference, Shashank Kumar Sawan, the Hisar superintendent of police, revealed that the Haryana police have been informed by central agencies that PIOs were actively recruiting Indian social media influencers to promote soft narratives. "She is being interrogated by the Haryana Police, in coordination with central agencies. We are analysing her financial transactions and travel history to determine the sources of her income," said SP Sawan. "Her known income sources do not justify her foreign travel. We suspect external funding. On the surface, she was just a travel blogger," he added. Jyoti Malhotra's contact with Pakistani Information Officers 'alarming' SP Sawan also confirmed that Jyoti Malhotra, who has been remanded to police custody for five says, was in direct contact with PIOs. These PIOs, he said, included individuals declared persona non grata by India. "She had visited Pakistan multiple times and China once. She was in contact with the PIOs. We have taken her on a 5-day police remand. We are analysing her financial details. During the conflict (Indo-Pak), she was in touch with the PIOs... Her travel details are defying her total income..." He said that while Malhotra did not have direct access to sensitive information like that of Indian defence, “, but she was being aligned with other influencers already in contact with foreign operatives.” He also said her communication with PIOs during the periods of heightened tension between India and Pakistan was nothing short of "alarming." "She had interacted with several high-profile individuals during her visits to Pakistan. Even though her arrest happened recently, intelligence agencies were already monitoring her activities closely," said the SP. "They were developing her (Jyoti Malhotra) as an asset. She was in touch with other YouTube influencers, and they were also in touch with the PIOs... She used to go to Pakistan, like on sponsored trips... She was in Pakistan before the Pahalgam attack, and the investigation is on to establish linkages, if there are any. We are also investigating, as we have leads that other people were also involved with her," he added. Malhotra, 33, runs a YouTube travel channel called Travel with JO, which has more than 3.77 lakh subscribers. On May 16, she was taken into custody from her home in New Aggarsain Extension, Hisar, and charged under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

As per the Haryana superintendent of police, YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra had visited Pakistan several times, including once before the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. She had also travelled to China.

Pakistan actively recruiting Indian social media influencers to 'manipulate public sentiment' reveals Hisar SP

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/bcci">Indian Cricket Board (BCCI)</a> has withdrawn from all <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/asia-cup">Asia Cup</a> events to isolate Pakistan Cricket in the latest development. Since Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pcb">Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)</a>, heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the BCCI has decided against associating itself with ACC following recent prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan.&nbsp;Per an Indian Express report, the cricket apex body in the country has informed the ACC about its decision to pull its name out from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and the biennial Men’s Asia Cup later this year. &nbsp;A BCCI source close to the information revealed the details, saying India cannot be playing in a tournament headed by a Pakistan minister, adding that the board has verbally communicated its decision to the ACC and is in constant touch with the Indian Government over their teams’ participation in such events in the future. &nbsp;“The Indian team can’t play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC, whose chief is a Pakistani minister. That’s the sentiment of the nation. We have verbally communicated to ACC about our withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our future participation in their events too is on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government,” a BCCI source said, as quoted by the Indian Express.&nbsp;<h2>Will the Asia Cup 2025 take place?</h2>&nbsp;With BCCI’s decision to withdraw its team from the Asia Cup 2025, the question arises whether the tournament will get underway. Considering India was hosting this year’s edition in the T20 format, as decided earlier, their withdrawal would dent the logistics, broadcasters and whatnot. &nbsp;The sources also informed the publication that the India-less Asia Cup event doesn’t look like happening, as most sponsors of international cricket events are from India. Besides, an Asia Cup event, or any ICC event, without an India-Pakistan game would be dead for the broadcasters. &nbsp;Last year, the Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) bagged the Asia Cup rights for a whopping $170m, and should India’s absence lead to this edition getting dissolved, the deal would have to be reworked. &nbsp;Meanwhile, it all began on April 22, when Pakistan-based terrorists killed 22 innocent lives in broad daylight in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, in the deadliest attack on Indian soil since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. In return, India carried out ‘<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/operation-sindoor">Operation Sindoor</a>’, launching precision air strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the wee hours on May 6. Not only this, but India also suspended the Indus Valley Treaty, downgrading diplomatic ties, recalling the Indian officials from Islamabad and closing the Attari border functioning, among others.

India to pull out of Asia Cup events in move to isolate Pakistan Cricket Report

The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has withdrawn from all Asia Cup events to isolate Pakistan Cricket in the latest development. Since Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the BCCI has decided against associating itself with ACC following recent prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan. Per an Indian Express report, the cricket apex body in the country has informed the ACC about its decision to pull its name out from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and the biennial Men’s Asia Cup later this year. A BCCI source close to the information revealed the details, saying India cannot be playing in a tournament headed by a Pakistan minister, adding that the board has verbally communicated its decision to the ACC and is in constant touch with the Indian Government over their teams’ participation in such events in the future. “The Indian team can’t play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC, whose chief is a Pakistani minister. That’s the sentiment of the nation. We have verbally communicated to ACC about our withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our future participation in their events too is on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government,” a BCCI source said, as quoted by the Indian Express. Will the Asia Cup 2025 take place? With BCCI’s decision to withdraw its team from the Asia Cup 2025, the question arises whether the tournament will get underway. Considering India was hosting this year’s edition in the T20 format, as decided earlier, their withdrawal would dent the logistics, broadcasters and whatnot. The sources also informed the publication that the India-less Asia Cup event doesn’t look like happening, as most sponsors of international cricket events are from India. Besides, an Asia Cup event, or any ICC event, without an India-Pakistan game would be dead for the broadcasters. Last year, the Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) bagged the Asia Cup rights for a whopping $170m, and should India’s absence lead to this edition getting dissolved, the deal would have to be reworked. Meanwhile, it all began on April 22, when Pakistan-based terrorists killed 22 innocent lives in broad daylight in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, in the deadliest attack on Indian soil since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. In return, India carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’, launching precision air strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the wee hours on May 6. Not only this, but India also suspended the Indus Valley Treaty, downgrading diplomatic ties, recalling the Indian officials from Islamabad and closing the Attari border functioning, among others.

The BCCI has informed the ACC about its decision to pull its name out from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and the biennial Men’s Asia Cup later this year.

India to pull out of Asia Cup events in move to isolate Pakistan Cricket – Report

Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar is heading to China on Monday (May 19) to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, marking his first foreign trip since the recent India-Pakistan military tensions.His visit comes just days after both countries agreed to a ceasefire following intense cross-border strikes sparked by India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/youtuber-jyoti-malhotra-india-pakistan-tensions-operation-sindoor-1747580097816">‘They were developing her as asset’: How Pakistan used YouTuber&nbsp;Jyoti&nbsp;Malhotra</a><h2>Trilateral talks with China and Afghanistan on the agenda</h2>Dar’s itinerary includes a key trilateral meeting with China and Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, is expected to arrive in China on Tuesday to join the talks.According to Geo News, “The foreign ministers of the three countries are expected to discuss the promotion of regional trade, enhanced security cooperation, and the evolving situation in the region, particularly in the wake of the recent Pakistan-India conflict.”<h2>Ceasefire followed four days of drone and missile strikes</h2>India and Pakistan agreed to end hostilities on May 10 after four days of escalating strikes involving drones and missiles across the Line of Control. The decision to hold Dar’s first diplomatic engagement in China, just days after the ceasefire, has drawn attention.Beijing had earlier welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, stating it was in “the fundamental and long-term interest of both countries” and helped maintain regional peace and stability.<h2>What happened during India’s Operation Sindoor?</h2>Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7 in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. The Indian Armed Forces said they carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK.The Indian military reported killing over a hundred terrorists and hitting the headquarters of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.In retaliation, Pakistan launched attacks on Indian military sites on May 8, 9 and 10. These were successfully repelled by Indian forces using systems such as the Akash Teer surface-to-air missiles.The Indian Air Force also struck Pakistani air bases, including the one in Rahim Yar Khan, reportedly destroying radar systems.

Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar is heading to China on Monday to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, marking his first foreign trip since the recent India-Pakistan military tensions.

Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar is heading to China on Monday (May 19) to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, marking his first foreign trip since the recent India-Pakistan military tensions. His visit comes just days after both countries agreed to a ceasefire following intense cross-border strikes sparked by India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Also read: ‘They were developing her as asset’: How Pakistan used YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Trilateral talks with China and Afghanistan on the agenda Dar’s itinerary includes a key trilateral meeting with China and Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, is expected to arrive in China on Tuesday to join the talks. According to Geo News, “The foreign ministers of the three countries are expected to discuss the promotion of regional trade, enhanced security cooperation, and the evolving situation in the region, particularly in the wake of the recent Pakistan-India conflict.” Ceasefire followed four days of drone and missile strikes India and Pakistan agreed to end hostilities on May 10 after four days of escalating strikes involving drones and missiles across the Line of Control. The decision to hold Dar’s first diplomatic engagement in China, just days after the ceasefire, has drawn attention. Beijing had earlier welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, stating it was in “the fundamental and long-term interest of both countries” and helped maintain regional peace and stability. What happened during India’s Operation Sindoor? Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7 in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. The Indian Armed Forces said they carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. The Indian military reported killing over a hundred terrorists and hitting the headquarters of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In retaliation, Pakistan launched attacks on Indian military sites on May 8, 9 and 10. These were successfully repelled by Indian forces using systems such as the Akash Teer surface-to-air missiles. The Indian Air Force also struck Pakistani air bases, including the one in Rahim Yar Khan, reportedly destroying radar systems.

Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar is heading to China on Monday (May 19) to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, marking his first foreign trip since the recent India-Pakistan military tensions.

'In wake of Pak-India conflict': Pak top diplomat Ishaq Dar to visit China in first trip after Operation Sindoor

What set this operation apart was not just its military precision, but the use of indigenously developed weapons systems, many of which, being deployed in active conflict for the first time.

Operation Sindoor: How made-in-India weapons led the charge during strikes against Pakistan

Operation Sindoor: How India and Pakistan avoid nuclear war: In the days following Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attacks, there were fears that the confrontation could spiral into a nuclear war. Speculation was rife that India hit near Pakistan's nuclear installations, but all that talk was debunked by the government. In this context, it would be interesting to understand how India and Pakistan have established mechanisms to avoid hitting each other's nuclear installations.
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1405_TRUMP_6AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1405_TRUMP_6AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=98&amp;tags=donald trump, usa, cesaefire" title="Donald Trump Repeats India-Pakistan Ceasefire Claim, &lsquo;I Said, Let's Not Trade Nuclear Missiles..' " id="PL_iframe_block-manoohx9-j8ie0kv1-xb9u5v03"></iframe>
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<h2>India and Pakistan: Two nuclear-armed states at striking distance of each other </h2>
Since they declared their status as nuclear-weapons states, India and Pakistan have been described as two nuclear powers within striking distance of each other. To avert any disastrous consequences, the two countries have set up mechanisms to inform each other about their nuclear installations.
Two bilateral agreements are key to reducing nuclear risks in India and Pakistan. The main focus is on ensuring transparency about each other's nuclear installations.&nbsp;
<h2> Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities (1988)</h2>
&nbsp;
&nbsp; This pact was signed on 31 December 1988 in Islamabad between then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Pakistani counterpart, Benazir Bhutto. &nbsp; After the parliaments of both countries ratified it, the treaty came into effect on 27 January 1991.
The 1988 pact prohibits the two nations from attacking or assisting third countries to target each other's nuclear facilities. With the aim of reducing the risk of nuclear escalation, the agreement mandates the annual exchange of lists on nuclear facilities.&nbsp; This has been practised every January 1 since 1992, the last being in January this year. In other words, the exchange of nuclear Installation lists this January was the 34th consecutive one between the two countries.
The 1998 pact aims to enhance transparency and build confidence between the two countries.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/trump-reacts-to-india-pakistan-ceasefire-agreement-operation-sindoor-nuclear-war-pahalgam-terror-attack-9061528">'Could have been a bad nuclear war': Trump reacts to India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement</a>
It established a framework for confidence-building measures or CBMs in order to prevent miscalculations that could lead to nuclear war.
The pact barred the two parties from carrying out surprise attacks or assisting foreign powers to attack each other's nuclear installations and facilities.
It prevents the two countries from "undertaking, encouraging, or participating in, directly or indirectly, any action aimed at causing destruction or damage to any nuclear installation or facility in each country".
&nbsp;
<h2>Lahore Memorandum of Understanding (1999) &nbsp; </h2>
The Lahore Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the Pakistani city of Lahore on 21 February 1999 at a peace summit between then Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. &nbsp;
The pact became effective immediately upon signing.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/operation-sindoor-india-pak-news-us-spokesperson-weighs-in-on-nuclear-leaks-in-pakistan-9066326">US spokesperson weighs in on 'nuclear leaks' in Pakistan</a>
The MoU recognised the need to address nuclear risks, particularly after the 1998 nuclear tests by the two South Asian nations. Stressing on CBMs and arms control, the MoU committed the two sides to notify each other of ballistic missile tests and establish communication channels to avoid misunderstandings during crises. &nbsp; It aims to foster trust through open dialogue and information-sharing, so that accidental nuclear escalation can be avoided.
Lahore MoU set up the critical framework for nuclear dialogue between the two countries, in spite of challenges arising from tensions.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/plans-for-nuclear-power-station-on-moon-shape-up-as-china-and-russia-sign-deal-9066655">Nuclear station on moon will be constructed 'without human help', China-Russia sign deal</a>
As per the Lahore agreement, the two sides decided that their foreign ministers would meet periodically to discuss issues of concern, including nuclear-related ones.
They pledged to &ldquo;take immediate steps for reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons and discuss concepts and doctrines with a view to elaborating measures for confidence building in the nuclear and conventional fields, aimed at the prevention of conflict.&rdquo;
It noted that recognising the nuclear dimension of the security environment of the two countries adds to their responsibility for conflict avoidance.
It commits them to the objectives of universal nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/pahalgam-terror-attack-indo-pak-war-india-pakistan-nuclear-war-latest-comparison-of-nuclear-doctrines-dont-give-flower-to-monkey-9020951">Don't give jasmine flowers to a monkey: Pakistan's nuclear war loose talk and India's no first use policy, compared</a>
<h2>Other nuclear pacts </h2>
Apart from these, the two countries have an agreement on pre-notification of flight testing of ballistic missiles, signed in 2005.
In 2007, India and Pakistan entered into an agreement on reducing the risk from accidents relating to nuclear weapons.

Averting nuclear war after Pahalgam: India and Pakistan have several pacts to avoid atomic disaster | Know about them. India News | South Asia

Operation Sindoor: How India and Pakistan avoid nuclear war: In the days following Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attacks, there were fears that the confrontation could spiral into a nuclear war. Speculation was rife that India hit near Pakistan's nuclear installations, but all that talk was debunked by the government. In this context, it would be interesting to understand how India and Pakistan have established mechanisms to avoid hitting each other's nuclear installations. India and Pakistan: Two nuclear-armed states at striking distance of each other Since they declared their status as nuclear-weapons states, India and Pakistan have been described as two nuclear powers within striking distance of each other. To avert any disastrous consequences, the two countries have set up mechanisms to inform each other about their nuclear installations. Two bilateral agreements are key to reducing nuclear risks in India and Pakistan. The main focus is on ensuring transparency about each other's nuclear installations. Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities (1988) This pact was signed on 31 December 1988 in Islamabad between then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Pakistani counterpart, Benazir Bhutto. After the parliaments of both countries ratified it, the treaty came into effect on 27 January 1991. The 1988 pact prohibits the two nations from attacking or assisting third countries to target each other's nuclear facilities. With the aim of reducing the risk of nuclear escalation, the agreement mandates the annual exchange of lists on nuclear facilities. This has been practised every January 1 since 1992, the last being in January this year. In other words, the exchange of nuclear Installation lists this January was the 34th consecutive one between the two countries. The 1998 pact aims to enhance transparency and build confidence between the two countries. 'Could have been a bad nuclear war': Trump reacts to India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement It established a framework for confidence-building measures or CBMs in order to prevent miscalculations that could lead to nuclear war. The pact barred the two parties from carrying out surprise attacks or assisting foreign powers to attack each other's nuclear installations and facilities. It prevents the two countries from "undertaking, encouraging, or participating in, directly or indirectly, any action aimed at causing destruction or damage to any nuclear installation or facility in each country". Lahore Memorandum of Understanding (1999) The Lahore Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the Pakistani city of Lahore on 21 February 1999 at a peace summit between then Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. The pact became effective immediately upon signing. US spokesperson weighs in on 'nuclear leaks' in Pakistan The MoU recognised the need to address nuclear risks, particularly after the 1998 nuclear tests by the two South Asian nations. Stressing on CBMs and arms control, the MoU committed the two sides to notify each other of ballistic missile tests and establish communication channels to avoid misunderstandings during crises. It aims to foster trust through open dialogue and information-sharing, so that accidental nuclear escalation can be avoided. Lahore MoU set up the critical framework for nuclear dialogue between the two countries, in spite of challenges arising from tensions. Nuclear station on moon will be constructed 'without human help', China-Russia sign deal As per the Lahore agreement, the two sides decided that their foreign ministers would meet periodically to discuss issues of concern, including nuclear-related ones. They pledged to “take immediate steps for reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons and discuss concepts and doctrines with a view to elaborating measures for confidence building in the nuclear and conventional fields, aimed at the prevention of conflict.” It noted that recognising the nuclear dimension of the security environment of the two countries adds to their responsibility for conflict avoidance. It commits them to the objectives of universal nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. Don't give jasmine flowers to a monkey: Pakistan's nuclear war loose talk and India's no first use policy, compared Other nuclear pacts Apart from these, the two countries have an agreement on pre-notification of flight testing of ballistic missiles, signed in 2005. In 2007, India and Pakistan entered into an agreement on reducing the risk from accidents relating to nuclear weapons.

Averting nuclear war : India and Pakistan have several pacts to avoid atomic disaster | Know about them

Operation Sindoor - Who is Dr&nbsp;Sivathanu Pillai, called the 'father of BrahMos Aerospace'? The Brahmos missile played a key role in India's Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, and the subsequent response to Pakistani military actions.&nbsp; Confirming this, the chief minister of the northern Uttar Pradesh state,Yogi Adityanath, said on Sunday (May 11):&nbsp; "You must have seen a glimpse of the BrahMos missile during Operation Sindoor. If you didn't, then just ask the people of Pakistan about the power of the BrahMos missile."
But do you know who is considered the 'father of BrahMos', the scientist-manager behind this lethal weapon? Here is what you should know about Brahmos, and Dr Sivathanu Pillai, the man who was the founding chief of BrahMos Aerospace company, which develops and makes the missile:
&nbsp;
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1105_WION_missile_530pm/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1105_WION_missile_530pm.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=145&amp;tags=India, Pakistan, World News, WION" title="Operation Sindoor: Pakistan admits BrahMos decimated multiple PAF bases" id="PL_iframe_block-makzt9du-ge8tx3mn-bs16o4db"></iframe>
<h2>Dr A Sivathanu Pillai , one of the 'pillars of BrahMos'&nbsp;</h2>
&nbsp;
Dr Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai is the founder-CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya.&nbsp;
The scientist from the southern Tamil Nadu state was the chief controller, Research and Development, of DRDO.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fire-and-forget-all-about-brahmos-missile-used-in-operation-sindoor-india-pak-war-india-pakistan-ceasefire-9057658">'Fire and Forget': All about BrahMos missile used in Operation Sindoor</a>
While working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),&nbsp;Pillai contributed to India's major space research programmes along with legends like Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and A P J Abdul Kalam. At ISRO, Pillai was the core team member of India's space launch vehicle project, the SLV III.&nbsp;&nbsp;
An electrical engineer from Madras University, Pillai studied management at the Harvard Business School.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-ins-tamal-a-russian-built-stealth-frigate-equipped-with-indias-brahmos-missile-know-its-features-firepower-and-capabilities-9051585">Meet INS Tamal: A Russian-built stealth frigate equipped with India's BrahMos missile! Know its features, firepower and capabilities</a>
He joined DRDO in 1986 and was the Programme Director of Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP)&nbsp;under Kalam, who went on to become India's president.
&nbsp;
<h2>Dr&nbsp; Pillai's contribution to BrahMos development</h2>
 According to the Brahmos website, Pillai 'evolved the unique concept of the joint venture BrahMos, which is a world leader in the family of cruise missiles.' He was described as the 'prime force' behind the joint venture from the Indian side in the initial days.
Pillai is a recipient of India's top civilian honours, the&nbsp; Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
<h2>What is the meaning of BrahMos?</h2>
The name 'BrahMos' is a portmanteau, combining the names of India's Brahmaputra river and Russia's Moskva river.
The name is reflective of the initial joint venture between India and Russia for the development of Brahmos.&nbsp;Currently, however, nearly 83 per cent of the Brahmos missile&rsquo;s components are sourced from India.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/yogi-adityanath-confirms-brahmos-use-in-operation-sindoor-says-ask-pakistan-about-its-power-9057506">Yogi Adityanath confirms BrahMos use in Operation Sindoor; &lsquo;ask Pakistan about its power&rsquo;</a>
&nbsp;
<h2>What is special about the Brahmos missile?</h2>
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is a two-stage weapon which launches with a solid-fuel booster that detaches after take-off.
The BrahMos missile is among the most crucial conventional missiles in India's possession. Having a range of nearly 4500 kilometres, Brahmos can carry warheads of 200 to 300 kilograms. Extended range of variants up to 800 km have been reportedly tested.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/from-s-400-to-brahmos-missile-base-india-exposes-pakistans-misinformation-campaign-after-announcing-ceasefire-9055483">From S-400 to BrahMos missile base: India EXPOSES Pakistan&rsquo;s misinformation campaign after announcing ceasefire</a>
The Brahmos missile can fly at a speed of 2.8 Mach, thrice the speed of sound.
Working on the &ldquo;fire and forget&rdquo; principle, Brahmos has&nbsp;an advanced guidance system&nbsp;and employs&nbsp;stealth technology that enables it to evade interceptors and trackers.
<div>Compared to existing subsonic cruise missiles, BrahMos has 2.5 to three times more flight range, up to four times more seeker range, and nine times more kinetic energy.</div>
<div></div>
<div>
<div>Brahmos can be launched from air, land, sea, and submarines.</div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
</div>

Brahmos missile Operation Sindoor India Pakistan war Pahalgam Who is fatehr of Brahmos areospace story of ST Pillai. Trending | India News | South Asia

Operation Sindoor - Who is Dr Sivathanu Pillai, called the 'father of BrahMos Aerospace'? The Brahmos missile played a key role in India's Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, and the subsequent response to Pakistani military actions. Confirming this, the chief minister of the northern Uttar Pradesh state,Yogi Adityanath, said on Sunday (May 11): "You must have seen a glimpse of the BrahMos missile during Operation Sindoor. If you didn't, then just ask the people of Pakistan about the power of the BrahMos missile." But do you know who is considered the 'father of BrahMos', the scientist-manager behind this lethal weapon? Here is what you should know about Brahmos, and Dr Sivathanu Pillai, the man who was the founding chief of BrahMos Aerospace company, which develops and makes the missile: Dr A Sivathanu Pillai , one of the 'pillars of BrahMos' Dr Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai is the founder-CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The scientist from the southern Tamil Nadu state was the chief controller, Research and Development, of DRDO. 'Fire and Forget': All about BrahMos missile used in Operation Sindoor While working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Pillai contributed to India's major space research programmes along with legends like Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and A P J Abdul Kalam. At ISRO, Pillai was the core team member of India's space launch vehicle project, the SLV III. An electrical engineer from Madras University, Pillai studied management at the Harvard Business School. Meet INS Tamal: A Russian-built stealth frigate equipped with India's BrahMos missile! Know its features, firepower and capabilities He joined DRDO in 1986 and was the Programme Director of Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP) under Kalam, who went on to become India's president. Dr Pillai's contribution to BrahMos development According to the Brahmos website, Pillai 'evolved the unique concept of the joint venture BrahMos, which is a world leader in the family of cruise missiles.' He was described as the 'prime force' behind the joint venture from the Indian side in the initial days. Pillai is a recipient of India's top civilian honours, the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. What is the meaning of BrahMos? The name 'BrahMos' is a portmanteau, combining the names of India's Brahmaputra river and Russia's Moskva river. The name is reflective of the initial joint venture between India and Russia for the development of Brahmos. Currently, however, nearly 83 per cent of the Brahmos missile’s components are sourced from India. Yogi Adityanath confirms BrahMos use in Operation Sindoor; ‘ask Pakistan about its power’ What is special about the Brahmos missile? The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is a two-stage weapon which launches with a solid-fuel booster that detaches after take-off. The BrahMos missile is among the most crucial conventional missiles in India's possession. Having a range of nearly 4500 kilometres, Brahmos can carry warheads of 200 to 300 kilograms. Extended range of variants up to 800 km have been reportedly tested. From S-400 to BrahMos missile base: India EXPOSES Pakistan’s misinformation campaign after announcing ceasefire The Brahmos missile can fly at a speed of 2.8 Mach, thrice the speed of sound. Working on the “fire and forget” principle, Brahmos has an advanced guidance system and employs stealth technology that enables it to evade interceptors and trackers. Compared to existing subsonic cruise missiles, BrahMos has 2.5 to three times more flight range, up to four times more seeker range, and nine times more kinetic energy. Brahmos can be launched from air, land, sea, and submarines.

Who is the 'father of BrahMos'? Meet Sivathanu Pillai, a 'pillar' behind lethal missile of India's Operation Sindoor

The Indian Air Force on Sunday (May 11) dismissed claims of an IAF officer being taken hostage by Pakistan during the recent tensions, labelling them 'baseless and false'.&nbsp;
This comes amid social media claims of an Indian Air Force pilot supposedly named Shivani Singh being captured by Pakistan &ndash; fake claims that have already been fact-checked by the Government of India.
<h2>Fake claims of IAF pilot capture</h2>
As tensions between India and Pakistan reached new heights, a propaganda campaign was spreading on social media platforms like X and Instagram. Among the many pieces of misinformation circulating online was the purported claim of an IAF pilot's capture by Pakistan.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-pakistan-ceasefire-what-happened-after-pak-violated-agreement-10-key-points-9056488">India-Pakistan ceasefire: What happened after Pak violated agreement | 10 key points</a>
The claims being propagated by pro-Pakistani social media handles were promptly refuted by PIB, the Indian government's nodal agency, for disseminating information to the media.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-majco913-kgdzohvb-6uxiy4ys">
Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured🚨 Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PIBFactCheck?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PIBFactCheck</a> ❌ This claim is FAKE!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaFightsPropaganda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaFightsPropaganda</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MIB_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MIB_India</a>&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/V8zovpSRYk">pic.twitter.com/V8zovpSRYk</a>
&mdash; PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1921053036698341388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
On 10 May 2025, PIB fact-checked the posts, asserting that "This claim is FAKE!". Despite that, a new video of Al Jazeera correspondent Kamal Hyder is now being widely shared, supposedly confirming speculation that Pakistan captured a female Indian Air Force pilot.
Now, breaking silence, the Indian Air Force has responded to the claims, calling them "baseless and false".
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-majcdtqi-gm7lrs59-u2cpd6nl">
India Pakistan Tensions Indian Air Force dismisses Al Jazeera Story "Baseless and false", says Indian Air Force on Al Jazeera reporter Kamal Hyder in Islamabad claiming that an Indian Air Force Women pilot has been taken into custody by Pakistan <a href="https://t.co/Nf3lwsL65T">pic.twitter.com/Nf3lwsL65T</a>
&mdash; Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1921429340216013091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indo-pak-ceasefire-how-india-pakistan-reached-an-agreement-a-timeline-operation-sindoor-9056965">Indo-Pak Ceasefire: How India-Pakistan reached an agreement | A timeline</a>
<h2>Al Jazeera: A history of anti-India narrative?</h2>
Previously, too, Al Jazeera has got in trouble because of its dubious narratives and claims on India.
In April 2015, the Al Jazeera TV channel was banned for five days after it broadcast disputed maps of India, in which "a portion of the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir (i.e. PoK and Aksai Chin) has not been shown as a part of Indian territory" on some Al Jazeera maps; Lakshadweep and the Andaman Islands were also not shown as Indian territories on some of the maps."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistans-ispr-chief-is-son-of-nuclear-scientist-linked-to-osama-bin-laden-report-9055861">Pakistan&rsquo;s ISPR chief is son of a nuclear scientist linked to Osama Bin Laden: Report</a>
At the time, the channel, in a reply to the show cause notice, said that the maps were generated by software used by global news providers. Later, it claimed it was being penalised for a legacy issue since it had abided by the Indian guidelines since 2014.
Subsequently, in June 2023, an Al Jazeera documentary called "India ... Who Lit the Fuse?" was banned by the Allahabad Court, saying it is likely to create hatred amongst different religious denominations and thereby destroy the secular fabric of India.
Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fake-news-alert-no-indian-air-force-woman-pilot-captured-by-pakistan-india-pakistan-war-9054187">Fake News Alert: No Indian Air Force woman pilot captured by Pakistan | India-Pakistan War</a>
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1005_BREAKING_FAKE_NEWS_10AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1005_BREAKING_FAKE_NEWS_10AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=121&amp;tags=india pakistan war, india, pakistan" title="Fake News Alert: No Indian Air Force woman pilot captured by Pakistan | India-Pakistan War " id="PL_iframe_block-majclx8g-9ka80cl4-5hblnl2i"></iframe>

Indian Air Force debunks claims of a pilot captured by Pakistan, labeling the news as baseless and false amid rising Indo-Pakistan tensions and misinformation.

The Indian Air Force on Sunday (May 11) dismissed claims of an IAF officer being taken hostage by Pakistan during the recent tensions, labelling them 'baseless and false'. This comes amid social media claims of an Indian Air Force pilot supposedly named Shivani Singh being captured by Pakistan – fake claims that have already been fact-checked by the Government of India. Fake claims of IAF pilot capture As tensions between India and Pakistan reached new heights, a propaganda campaign was spreading on social media platforms like X and Instagram. Among the many pieces of misinformation circulating online was the purported claim of an IAF pilot's capture by Pakistan. Also read | India-Pakistan ceasefire: What happened after Pak violated agreement | 10 key points The claims being propagated by pro-Pakistani social media handles were promptly refuted by PIB, the Indian government's nodal agency, for disseminating information to the media. Indian Female Air Force pilot has NOT been captured🚨 Pro-Pakistan social media handles claim that an Indian Female Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, has been captured in Pakistan.#PIBFactCheck ❌ This claim is FAKE!#IndiaFightsPropaganda@MIB_India… pic.twitter.com/V8zovpSRYk — PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 10, 2025 On 10 May 2025, PIB fact-checked the posts, asserting that "This claim is FAKE!". Despite that, a new video of Al Jazeera correspondent Kamal Hyder is now being widely shared, supposedly confirming speculation that Pakistan captured a female Indian Air Force pilot. Now, breaking silence, the Indian Air Force has responded to the claims, calling them "baseless and false". India Pakistan Tensions Indian Air Force dismisses Al Jazeera Story "Baseless and false", says Indian Air Force on Al Jazeera reporter Kamal Hyder in Islamabad claiming that an Indian Air Force Women pilot has been taken into custody by Pakistan pic.twitter.com/Nf3lwsL65T — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 11, 2025 Also read | Indo-Pak Ceasefire: How India-Pakistan reached an agreement | A timeline Al Jazeera: A history of anti-India narrative? Previously, too, Al Jazeera has got in trouble because of its dubious narratives and claims on India. In April 2015, the Al Jazeera TV channel was banned for five days after it broadcast disputed maps of India, in which "a portion of the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir (i.e. PoK and Aksai Chin) has not been shown as a part of Indian territory" on some Al Jazeera maps; Lakshadweep and the Andaman Islands were also not shown as Indian territories on some of the maps." Also read | Pakistan’s ISPR chief is son of a nuclear scientist linked to Osama Bin Laden: Report At the time, the channel, in a reply to the show cause notice, said that the maps were generated by software used by global news providers. Later, it claimed it was being penalised for a legacy issue since it had abided by the Indian guidelines since 2014. Subsequently, in June 2023, an Al Jazeera documentary called "India ... Who Lit the Fuse?" was banned by the Allahabad Court, saying it is likely to create hatred amongst different religious denominations and thereby destroy the secular fabric of India. Watch | Fake News Alert: No Indian Air Force woman pilot captured by Pakistan | India-Pakistan War

Indian Air Force reacts to pilot in Pak custody claims: 'Baseless and false' | All you need to know about the fake news

Pahalgam attack and India Pakistan war - How China equipment helps Pakistan: As the Pahalgam terror attacks of late April in Kashmir led to talk of Indo-Pak war, one country's role is worth mentioning: China. While still keeping a smile similar to the permanent expression of its president Xi Jinping, China made overtures for peace, and mostly took a line similar to Islamabad's in the wake of the Kashmir terror attack.&nbsp; China may be smiling for two reasons: A secret hope that its decades of military cooperation worth billions of dollars with Pakistan would help its aim of checkmating India in the South Asian region; and an expectation that more import orders will follow from Pakistan, for whom Beijing is the largest military supplier. After Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam attack was carried out by India on Wednesday (May 7), China is keeping mum on whether its jets were used by China. See its response in the story below: 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/not-familiar-with-the-matter-china-denies-usage-of-chinese-jets-by-pakistan-amid-tensions-with-india-9048150">'Not familiar with the matter': China denies usage of Chinese jets by Pakistan amid tensions with India</a>
But the truth is different: China uses Pakistan to counterbalance India and secure access to the Arabian Sea. Pakistan relies on China for economic and military support even as its ties with the US and other Western powers, who used to help it with military hardware for decades, have strained over the years.
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<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2904_INDIA_430PM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2904_INDIA_430PM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=313&amp;tags=Pahalgam, India, China, World News, WION" title="Pahalgam attack: China calls on India, Pak to exercise restraint, solve differences through dialogue" id="PL_iframe_block-maaur5z3-gbi43umu-2auh1t83"></iframe>
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<h2>Iron-clad friendship aimed at 'common enemy' India</h2>
Let us set aside the recent India-China peace overtures for the moment and think about the ground situation between China and Pakistan, particularly their iron-clad friendship.
The two countries share an 'all-weather strategic cooperative partnership,' which includes defence hardware, joint production of military equipment, joint drills, and extensive defence trade totalling billions of dollars in value.&nbsp;
Here is a detailed breakup:
<h2> Defence trade: China is Pakistan's largest supplier; Pakistan deals include China's largest to any country</h2>
China dominates Pakistan&rsquo;s defence trade, accounting for 81 per cent of its major arms imports between 2020 and 2024.&nbsp;This is a significant growth from 72 per cent recorded between 2017 and 2021.&nbsp;
From the Chinese perspective, Pakistan is the largest recipient of its arms exports, accounting for 47 per cent between 2017 and 2021.
Much of the data is still hazy, but let us piece together what's available on public domain.
The total arms imports from China between 2019 and 2023 alone is valued at $5.28 billion. This, at the time, accounted for 63 per cent of Pakistan&rsquo;s total arms imports, according to SIPRI Arms Transfers Database and Pakistani defence ministry reports.
 The major deals reported over the years and their estimated total value are below:&nbsp; Submarines, signed in 2015: $5 billion for eight Type-041 submarines Frigates, signed in 2018: $1.4 billion for four Type-054A/P frigates J-10CE Jets, signed in 2022: $1.5&ndash;2 billion for 36 aircraft JF-17 Fighter Jet Programme: Estimated to cost $2&ndash;3 billion since 2007 Wing Loong II Drones, signed 2018: $200&ndash;300 million for 48 units HQ-9 and PL-15 Systems: $650&ndash;900 million approx Z-10ME Helicopters: $150&ndash;240 million (estimate)
China offers low-interest financing and flexible payment terms to Pakistan, which helps it continue to import despite its economic challenges.
<h2>Did China help Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme?</h2>
Like much else in the case of Chinese and Pakistani militaries, a lot of information is shrouded in secret. It was reported by the US intelligence agency CIA that China may have aided Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme in the 1970s and 1980s.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/pahalgam-terror-attack-india-pakistan-standoff-citing-leaked-documents-pakistani-envoy-urges-china-and-russia-to-intervene-9031267">India-Pakistan standoff: Citing 'leaked documents', Pakistan's envoy urges China and Russia to intervene</a>
<h2> How China armed Pakistan to the teeth: From fighter jets to missiles to submarines</h2>
 China is the main supplier of Pakistan's military hardware, which includes fighter jets, submarines, frigates, drones, and missile systems.&nbsp;
 JF-17 Thunder fighter Jet The JF-17 Thunder fighter jet is a flagship project of China-Pakistan military cooperation. The JF-17 is currently a mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force after the US virtually stopped sending its fighter jets to the country. There are reportedly more than 140 JF-17 jets in service as of 2023, at an estimated cost of $25&ndash;30 million per aircraft.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
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Also known as FC-1 Fierce Dragon, the jet is a lightweight, single-engine, multirole fighter aircraft co-developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China&rsquo;s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group.
Production of the jets started in 2007, and deliveries are ongoing, with each delivery introducing improved varieties, including the Block-3 version, which started in 2022.&nbsp;
The total value of the JF-17 jet programme over the years is estimated to be $2&ndash;3 billion.
J-10CE Fighter Jets
The J-10CE jet, an export variant of China&rsquo;s J-10C, is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter. Pakistan is reported to have acquired 36 J-10CE jets in 2022 to counterbalance India&rsquo;s Rafale jets.
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The total value of the jet programme is estimated at $1.5&ndash;2 billion, with each unit costing around $40&ndash;50 million.
The data is from Pakistan Air Force statements and SIPRI&rsquo;s Trends in International Arms Transfers reports.
&nbsp;
Type-054A/P Frigates
At least four Type-054A/P guided-missile frigates were delivered by China to the Pakistan Navy between 2020 and 2023. The deal was signed in 2018 and is valued at approximately $1.4 billion for the four frigates. The costs cover construction, technology transfer, and training as per Chinese state media reports and Pakistan Navy statements.
Type-041 Hangor-Class Submarines:
In 2015, Pakistan ordered eight Type-041 Yuan-class conventional submarines from China, four of which were to be built in China, and four to be made under license in Pakistan at Karachi Shipyard. Delivery schedule for these submarines run from 2022 to 2028, with the deal valued at $5 billion. This is also China&rsquo;s largest single arms export deal with any country. Besides the actual cost of the submarines, the deal also includes training, infrastructure for local production, financed by China at a low interest rate.
 Wing Loong II Drones
China and Pakistan agreed to co-produce 48 Wing Loong II unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) for the Pakistan Air Force in 2018. It is a deal valued at around $200&ndash;300 million, with each unit costing $4&ndash;6 million.
Z-10ME Attack Helicopters
Reports had said earlier that Pakistan was to receive the first batch of Z-10ME attack helicopters from China this year. They are designed for anti-tank and close air support roles. While exact data is hard to come by, similar helicopters in the market are estimated to cost $15&ndash;20 million per unit. The actual value of this deal, if Pakistan orders up to 12 helicopters, would come around $150&ndash;240 million.
HQ-9 Missile Defence Systems and PL-15 Missiles
China has reportedly sent to Pakistan the HQ-9 surface-to-air missile systems and PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles for JF-17 jets.&nbsp;The HQ-9 deal is estimated at $600&ndash;800 million for multiple systems.
The cost of PL-15 missiles is likely to be $50&ndash;100 million for a significant batch, according to SIPRI.
SH-15 Self-Propelled Artillery
Pakistan has received Chinese SH-15 155mm self-propelled howitzers for deployment near the Indian border. Going by the $2&ndash;3 million per unit cost for similar systems, the deal could be worth $50&ndash;100 million for a battalion-sized deployment.
&nbsp;
<h2>Joint Military Drills: Key to 'iron-clad' military cooperation</h2>
 China and Pakistan regularly hold joint military exercises. These drills, planned or already conducted, include areas like the restive Gilgit-Baltistan and Xinjiang. Here is a roundup:
The&nbsp;Shaheen (Eagle) Air Exercises are air force drills held annually or biennially since 2011. The focus is on air combat, joint tactics, and interoperability. These exercises involved the Chinese J-10, J-16, and Y-20 aircraft and Pakistani JF-17 and Mirage fighters. Each of these exercises likely cost $10&ndash;20 million, based on similar international drills.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-pakistan-economy-9033644">Economic crossfire: How India-Pakistan tensions are reshaping South Asia&rsquo;s financial landscape</a>
Sea Guardian Naval Exercises in the Arabian Sea involved Chinese Type-054A frigates and Pakistani F-22P frigates, focusing on anti-submarine warfare and joint patrols. Such exercises typically cost $15&ndash;30 million.
<h2> How Pakistan protects Chinese interests in Belt and Road Initiative, particularly CPEC&nbsp;</h2>
Besides these, the two countries also held Shared Destiny&nbsp;Peacekeeping Exercise in Henan province in September 2021 and Warrior Counterterrorism Drills for eight times since 2019.&nbsp;
The counterterror drills involve China&rsquo;s Western Theatre Command and Pakistani ground forces, with particular focus on protecting Chinese nationals and CPEC projects in Pakistan.
CPEC, or the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, is part of the Belt and Road Initiative, China's ambitious infrastructure development programme, which has military dimensions. Estimated to be valued at $60 billion, the project's security dimension involves protecting Chinese investments and personnel in the project areas.
In 2024, Pakistan approved $162 million for armed forces to protect CPEC projects. Apart from this, an estimated $218 million was set aside for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a counterterrorism operation partly aimed at securing Chinese interests.&nbsp;The cost of this exercise is estimated to be $5&ndash;15 million, and is expected to be shared bilaterally. If you have read through this story till here, you know why the next war between India and Pakistan, whenever it happens, will have a lot of 'made in China' aspects.

Pahalgam terror attack Indo-Pak war news China helps Pakistan with billions of dollars defene deals from fighter jets to frigates . Trending | India News | South Asia

Pahalgam attack and India Pakistan war - How China equipment helps Pakistan: As the Pahalgam terror attacks of late April in Kashmir led to talk of Indo-Pak war, one country's role is worth mentioning: China. While still keeping a smile similar to the permanent expression of its president Xi Jinping, China made overtures for peace, and mostly took a line similar to Islamabad's in the wake of the Kashmir terror attack. China may be smiling for two reasons: A secret hope that its decades of military cooperation worth billions of dollars with Pakistan would help its aim of checkmating India in the South Asian region; and an expectation that more import orders will follow from Pakistan, for whom Beijing is the largest military supplier. After Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam attack was carried out by India on Wednesday (May 7), China is keeping mum on whether its jets were used by China. See its response in the story below: 'Not familiar with the matter': China denies usage of Chinese jets by Pakistan amid tensions with India But the truth is different: China uses Pakistan to counterbalance India and secure access to the Arabian Sea. Pakistan relies on China for economic and military support even as its ties with the US and other Western powers, who used to help it with military hardware for decades, have strained over the years. Iron-clad friendship aimed at 'common enemy' India Let us set aside the recent India-China peace overtures for the moment and think about the ground situation between China and Pakistan, particularly their iron-clad friendship. The two countries share an 'all-weather strategic cooperative partnership,' which includes defence hardware, joint production of military equipment, joint drills, and extensive defence trade totalling billions of dollars in value. Here is a detailed breakup: Defence trade: China is Pakistan's largest supplier; Pakistan deals include China's largest to any country China dominates Pakistan’s defence trade, accounting for 81 per cent of its major arms imports between 2020 and 2024. This is a significant growth from 72 per cent recorded between 2017 and 2021. From the Chinese perspective, Pakistan is the largest recipient of its arms exports, accounting for 47 per cent between 2017 and 2021. Much of the data is still hazy, but let us piece together what's available on public domain. The total arms imports from China between 2019 and 2023 alone is valued at $5.28 billion. This, at the time, accounted for 63 per cent of Pakistan’s total arms imports, according to SIPRI Arms Transfers Database and Pakistani defence ministry reports. The major deals reported over the years and their estimated total value are below: Submarines, signed in 2015: $5 billion for eight Type-041 submarines Frigates, signed in 2018: $1.4 billion for four Type-054A/P frigates J-10CE Jets, signed in 2022: $1.5–2 billion for 36 aircraft JF-17 Fighter Jet Programme: Estimated to cost $2–3 billion since 2007 Wing Loong II Drones, signed 2018: $200–300 million for 48 units HQ-9 and PL-15 Systems: $650–900 million approx Z-10ME Helicopters: $150–240 million (estimate) China offers low-interest financing and flexible payment terms to Pakistan, which helps it continue to import despite its economic challenges. Did China help Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme? Like much else in the case of Chinese and Pakistani militaries, a lot of information is shrouded in secret. It was reported by the US intelligence agency CIA that China may have aided Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme in the 1970s and 1980s. India-Pakistan standoff: Citing 'leaked documents', Pakistan's envoy urges China and Russia to intervene How China armed Pakistan to the teeth: From fighter jets to missiles to submarines China is the main supplier of Pakistan's military hardware, which includes fighter jets, submarines, frigates, drones, and missile systems. JF-17 Thunder fighter Jet The JF-17 Thunder fighter jet is a flagship project of China-Pakistan military cooperation. The JF-17 is currently a mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force after the US virtually stopped sending its fighter jets to the country. There are reportedly more than 140 JF-17 jets in service as of 2023, at an estimated cost of $25–30 million per aircraft. 'We should engage in mutual beneficial cooperation': Jaishankar meets Chinese FM Wang Yi on sidelines of G20 Also known as FC-1 Fierce Dragon, the jet is a lightweight, single-engine, multirole fighter aircraft co-developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group. Production of the jets started in 2007, and deliveries are ongoing, with each delivery introducing improved varieties, including the Block-3 version, which started in 2022. The total value of the JF-17 jet programme over the years is estimated to be $2–3 billion. J-10CE Fighter Jets The J-10CE jet, an export variant of China’s J-10C, is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter. Pakistan is reported to have acquired 36 J-10CE jets in 2022 to counterbalance India’s Rafale jets. Pakistanis against India-Pak war? Imam asks crowd who backs Islamabad against India in viral clip; audience reaction will shock you The total value of the jet programme is estimated at $1.5–2 billion, with each unit costing around $40–50 million. The data is from Pakistan Air Force statements and SIPRI’s Trends in International Arms Transfers reports. Type-054A/P Frigates At least four Type-054A/P guided-missile frigates were delivered by China to the Pakistan Navy between 2020 and 2023. The deal was signed in 2018 and is valued at approximately $1.4 billion for the four frigates. The costs cover construction, technology transfer, and training as per Chinese state media reports and Pakistan Navy statements. Type-041 Hangor-Class Submarines: In 2015, Pakistan ordered eight Type-041 Yuan-class conventional submarines from China, four of which were to be built in China, and four to be made under license in Pakistan at Karachi Shipyard. Delivery schedule for these submarines run from 2022 to 2028, with the deal valued at $5 billion. This is also China’s largest single arms export deal with any country. Besides the actual cost of the submarines, the deal also includes training, infrastructure for local production, financed by China at a low interest rate. Wing Loong II Drones China and Pakistan agreed to co-produce 48 Wing Loong II unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) for the Pakistan Air Force in 2018. It is a deal valued at around $200–300 million, with each unit costing $4–6 million. Z-10ME Attack Helicopters Reports had said earlier that Pakistan was to receive the first batch of Z-10ME attack helicopters from China this year. They are designed for anti-tank and close air support roles. While exact data is hard to come by, similar helicopters in the market are estimated to cost $15–20 million per unit. The actual value of this deal, if Pakistan orders up to 12 helicopters, would come around $150–240 million. HQ-9 Missile Defence Systems and PL-15 Missiles China has reportedly sent to Pakistan the HQ-9 surface-to-air missile systems and PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles for JF-17 jets. The HQ-9 deal is estimated at $600–800 million for multiple systems. The cost of PL-15 missiles is likely to be $50–100 million for a significant batch, according to SIPRI. SH-15 Self-Propelled Artillery Pakistan has received Chinese SH-15 155mm self-propelled howitzers for deployment near the Indian border. Going by the $2–3 million per unit cost for similar systems, the deal could be worth $50–100 million for a battalion-sized deployment. Joint Military Drills: Key to 'iron-clad' military cooperation China and Pakistan regularly hold joint military exercises. These drills, planned or already conducted, include areas like the restive Gilgit-Baltistan and Xinjiang. Here is a roundup: The Shaheen (Eagle) Air Exercises are air force drills held annually or biennially since 2011. The focus is on air combat, joint tactics, and interoperability. These exercises involved the Chinese J-10, J-16, and Y-20 aircraft and Pakistani JF-17 and Mirage fighters. Each of these exercises likely cost $10–20 million, based on similar international drills. Economic crossfire: How India-Pakistan tensions are reshaping South Asia’s financial landscape Sea Guardian Naval Exercises in the Arabian Sea involved Chinese Type-054A frigates and Pakistani F-22P frigates, focusing on anti-submarine warfare and joint patrols. Such exercises typically cost $15–30 million. How Pakistan protects Chinese interests in Belt and Road Initiative, particularly CPEC Besides these, the two countries also held Shared Destiny Peacekeeping Exercise in Henan province in September 2021 and Warrior Counterterrorism Drills for eight times since 2019. The counterterror drills involve China’s Western Theatre Command and Pakistani ground forces, with particular focus on protecting Chinese nationals and CPEC projects in Pakistan. CPEC, or the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, is part of the Belt and Road Initiative, China's ambitious infrastructure development programme, which has military dimensions. Estimated to be valued at $60 billion, the project's security dimension involves protecting Chinese investments and personnel in the project areas. In 2024, Pakistan approved $162 million for armed forces to protect CPEC projects. Apart from this, an estimated $218 million was set aside for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a counterterrorism operation partly aimed at securing Chinese interests. The cost of this exercise is estimated to be $5–15 million, and is expected to be shared bilaterally. If you have read through this story till here, you know why the next war between India and Pakistan, whenever it happens, will have a lot of 'made in China' aspects.

Pakistan's 'made in China' war: Chinese defence equipment, deals worth billions are its borrowed spine | Fighter jets to frigates, see list

As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, Chinese defence stocks are rising, fuelled by expectations of a boost in exports from Chinese defence manufacturing companies.
Over the past decade, China has become the primary supplier of military hardware to Pakistan, including fighter jets, submarines, frigates, drones, and missile systems.
Between 2020 and 2024, China emerged as the largest seller of weapons to Pakistan, accounting for 81 per cent of its imports, followed by the Netherlands at 5.5 per cent and Turkey at 3.8 per cent. From 2009 to 2014, China represented 51 per cent of Pakistan&rsquo;s total military imports, which rose to 73 per cent between 2015 and 2019.
In the case of China, Pakistan has become its largest defence export market, accounting for 63 per cent of its exports in 2020-24 as compared to 41 per cent in 2009-14.
This heavy military dependence of Pakistan has led to rising investor confidence in Chinese defence stocks. China and Pakistan have long-standing political ties, with diplomatic relations established in 1951. China has also been Pakistan's most important defence partner since the end of the Cold War, according to the US Institute of Peace.
CNBC reported that AVIC, through its subsidiary AVIC Chengdu Aircraft, manufactures the J-10C fighter jets reportedly used by Pakistan in the recent conflict. Another subsidiary, AVIC Aerospace, which produces military aircraft and helicopters, saw its Hong Kong-listed shares rise over 6 per cent. And Shenzhen-listed stocks of AVIC Chengdu Aircraft surged as much as over 16 per cent. It last traded 8.31 per cent higher at 11.40 a.m. local time. On Wednesday, its stocks rose 17.05 per cent, marking the most significant gain since last October.
Shares of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, which builds military and civilian vessels, inched up 0.4 per cent.
<h2 dir="ltr">China-Pakistan defence deals</h2>
Over the years, Pakistan has secured several major defence deals with China, with the estimated total value of these agreements spanning billions of dollars. In 2015, Pakistan signed a deal worth $5 billion for eight Type-041 submarines. Three years later, in 2018, it purchased four Type-054A/P frigates for approximately $1.4 billion.
The following years saw further acquisitions, including the purchase of 36 J-10CE jets in 2022 for an estimated $1.5&ndash;2 billion. Since 2007, the JF-17 Fighter Jet Programme has been a significant investment, with an estimated cost of $2&ndash;3 billion. In 2018, Pakistan also acquired 48 Wing Loong II drones, costing around $200&ndash;300 million.
More recently, in 2021, Pakistan bought HQ-9 surface-to-air missile defence systems and PL-15 air-to-air missiles for about $650&ndash;900 million, and in 2022, it purchased Z-10ME helicopters for an estimated $150&ndash;240 million.
Throughout these transactions, China has supported Pakistan with low-interest financing and flexible payment terms, enabling the country to continue these imports despite its ongoing economic challenges.
Pakistan was the fifth largest buyer of arms in 2020-24, its share jumping to 4.6 per cent from 2.8 per cent in 2015-19.
&nbsp;

Business & Economy: Between 2020 and 2024, China emerged as the largest seller of weapons to Pakistan, accounting for 81 per cent of its imports

As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, Chinese defence stocks are rising, fuelled by expectations of a boost in exports from Chinese defence manufacturing companies. Over the past decade, China has become the primary supplier of military hardware to Pakistan, including fighter jets, submarines, frigates, drones, and missile systems. Between 2020 and 2024, China emerged as the largest seller of weapons to Pakistan, accounting for 81 per cent of its imports, followed by the Netherlands at 5.5 per cent and Turkey at 3.8 per cent. From 2009 to 2014, China represented 51 per cent of Pakistan’s total military imports, which rose to 73 per cent between 2015 and 2019. In the case of China, Pakistan has become its largest defence export market, accounting for 63 per cent of its exports in 2020-24 as compared to 41 per cent in 2009-14. This heavy military dependence of Pakistan has led to rising investor confidence in Chinese defence stocks. China and Pakistan have long-standing political ties, with diplomatic relations established in 1951. China has also been Pakistan's most important defence partner since the end of the Cold War, according to the US Institute of Peace. CNBC reported that AVIC, through its subsidiary AVIC Chengdu Aircraft, manufactures the J-10C fighter jets reportedly used by Pakistan in the recent conflict. Another subsidiary, AVIC Aerospace, which produces military aircraft and helicopters, saw its Hong Kong-listed shares rise over 6 per cent. And Shenzhen-listed stocks of AVIC Chengdu Aircraft surged as much as over 16 per cent. It last traded 8.31 per cent higher at 11.40 a.m. local time. On Wednesday, its stocks rose 17.05 per cent, marking the most significant gain since last October. Shares of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, which builds military and civilian vessels, inched up 0.4 per cent. China-Pakistan defence deals Over the years, Pakistan has secured several major defence deals with China, with the estimated total value of these agreements spanning billions of dollars. In 2015, Pakistan signed a deal worth $5 billion for eight Type-041 submarines. Three years later, in 2018, it purchased four Type-054A/P frigates for approximately $1.4 billion. The following years saw further acquisitions, including the purchase of 36 J-10CE jets in 2022 for an estimated $1.5–2 billion. Since 2007, the JF-17 Fighter Jet Programme has been a significant investment, with an estimated cost of $2–3 billion. In 2018, Pakistan also acquired 48 Wing Loong II drones, costing around $200–300 million. More recently, in 2021, Pakistan bought HQ-9 surface-to-air missile defence systems and PL-15 air-to-air missiles for about $650–900 million, and in 2022, it purchased Z-10ME helicopters for an estimated $150–240 million. Throughout these transactions, China has supported Pakistan with low-interest financing and flexible payment terms, enabling the country to continue these imports despite its ongoing economic challenges. Pakistan was the fifth largest buyer of arms in 2020-24, its share jumping to 4.6 per cent from 2.8 per cent in 2015-19.

Rising tensions between India and Pakistan propel surge in Chinese defence stocks

A loud blast was heard in Pakistan&rsquo;s eastern city of Lahore on Thursday (May 8) morning, suggest reports. It is yet to be confirmed whether it was an explosive or something else, but the loud blast has heightened fears of further escalation between India and Pakistan, just a day after India undertook Operation Sindoor.
According to local broadcaster Geo TV and a Reuters report citing an anonymous witness, the blast occurred near Walton Road, triggering panic among residents and a swift response from emergency services.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/operation-sindoor-india-heightens-security-across-all-fronts-amid-concerns-of-pakistans-retaliation-9046438">Operation Sindoor: India heightens security across all fronts amid concerns of Pakistan's retaliation</a>
Police confirmed the blast and said investigations were underway to determine the exact cause and nature of the explosion. Multiple detonations were also reported in the Gopal Nagar and Naseerabad areas, near Walton Airport.
As per the reports, eyewitnesses described seeing plumes of smoke and hearing emergency sirens moments later. Sirens were heard in the area shortly after the explosion, adding to the sense of urgency.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/operation-sindoor-fallout-jammu-srinagar-chandigarh-leh-amritsar-and-other-airports-temporarily-closed-check-list-here-9046865">Operation Sindoor aftermath: Jammu, Chandigarh, Amritsar, and other airports temporarily closed. Check list here</a>
<h2>Lahore airspace closed down</h2>
Pakistan's Geo TV reported that Thursday morning, a NOTAM was issued and key air routes in Lahore and Sialkot were closed to commercial flights until noon. However, the airspace was opened soon after.
Talking to Reuters, Ali Aftab, a resident of Lahore that is about 25 km (around 15 miles) from the Indian border, said he heard a "buzzing sound" followed by an explosion around 7 am local time (0200 GMT).
"Immediately I rushed to the rooftop and saw smoke rising... the area was cordoned off by security forces soon after the incident," he said.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistans-cross-border-attacks-since-2001-exposed-india-lists-three-decades-of-systematically-built-terror-infra-9043525">Pakistan's cross-border attacks since 2001 exposed; India lists 'three decades of systematically built terror infra'</a>
This comes a day after India's Operation Sindoor, in which the Indian military carried out cross-border strikes targeting nine specific sites linked to terrorism.
In an official statement, the Minister of Defence said, "The Indian Armed Forces launched 'OPERATION SINDOOR', hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed." &nbsp; No Pakistani military facilities were struck, the Defence Ministry said, adding that India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and methods of execution.

India News | South Asia | Pakistan | Explore the latest developments in Lahore after a loud blast heightened tensions following India's Operation Sindoor. Investigations are underway to determine the cause.

A loud blast was heard in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Thursday (May 8) morning, suggest reports. It is yet to be confirmed whether it was an explosive or something else, but the loud blast has heightened fears of further escalation between India and Pakistan, just a day after India undertook Operation Sindoor. According to local broadcaster Geo TV and a Reuters report citing an anonymous witness, the blast occurred near Walton Road, triggering panic among residents and a swift response from emergency services. Also read | Operation Sindoor: India heightens security across all fronts amid concerns of Pakistan's retaliation Police confirmed the blast and said investigations were underway to determine the exact cause and nature of the explosion. Multiple detonations were also reported in the Gopal Nagar and Naseerabad areas, near Walton Airport. As per the reports, eyewitnesses described seeing plumes of smoke and hearing emergency sirens moments later. Sirens were heard in the area shortly after the explosion, adding to the sense of urgency. Also read | Operation Sindoor aftermath: Jammu, Chandigarh, Amritsar, and other airports temporarily closed. Check list here Lahore airspace closed down Pakistan's Geo TV reported that Thursday morning, a NOTAM was issued and key air routes in Lahore and Sialkot were closed to commercial flights until noon. However, the airspace was opened soon after. Talking to Reuters, Ali Aftab, a resident of Lahore that is about 25 km (around 15 miles) from the Indian border, said he heard a "buzzing sound" followed by an explosion around 7 am local time (0200 GMT). "Immediately I rushed to the rooftop and saw smoke rising... the area was cordoned off by security forces soon after the incident," he said. Also read | Pakistan's cross-border attacks since 2001 exposed; India lists 'three decades of systematically built terror infra' This comes a day after India's Operation Sindoor, in which the Indian military carried out cross-border strikes targeting nine specific sites linked to terrorism. In an official statement, the Minister of Defence said, "The Indian Armed Forces launched 'OPERATION SINDOOR', hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed." No Pakistani military facilities were struck, the Defence Ministry said, adding that India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and methods of execution.

Loud blasts heard in Pakistan's Lahore amid high tensions following India's Operation Sindoor: Report

In the aftermath of the pahalgam terror attack, the tension seems to be escalating between India and Pakistan. While india has taken a number of strict measures, Islamabad also doesn't shy away from threatening war of situation worsens. 


'Bhishma, BrahMos, Vikramaditya and more': India’s deadliest weapons that instill fear among enemies

Following a series of diplomatic escalations against Pakistan post the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 27 civilians, the Indian Navy has deployed its first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, near the Karwar coast in the Arabian Sea.
This deployment, evokes memories of one of the most decisive maritime episodes in the subcontinent&rsquo;s history&mdash;the sinking of PNS Ghazi in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ins-vikrant-deployed-in-arabian-sea-as-tensions-escalate-with-pakistan-8998843">Also Read- INS Vikrant deployed in Arabian Sea as tensions escalate with Pakistan</a>
<h2>1971: The battle beneath the waves</h2>
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Pakistan launched a covert operation to eliminate India&rsquo;s pride, the aircraft carrier called INS Vikrant. The Indian aircraft carrier, at the time was under repair and maintainance. The Pakistani Navy dispatched its most advanced submarine, a US-leased, PNS Ghazi, with a dual mission: to destroy Vikrant and establish dominance in the Bay of Bengal.
While Pakistan believed INS Vikrant to be anchored off Visakhapatnam, the carrier had been secretly redeployed to the Andaman Islands, away from harm. In its place, the Indian Navy had dispatched its INS Rajput, an ageing yet tactically capable destroyer, to patrol this coastline.
Also Read-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-pakistan-standoff-revisiting-the-1971-war-and-the-legacy-of-the-simla-agreement-9001734">India-Pakistan standoff: Revisiting the 1971 war and the legacy of the Simla Agreement</a>
<img alt="PNS Ghazi" src="https://img-cdn.publive.online/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/25/Mi6YDatrOS7vS3YicTID.jpg" style="width: 1280px;">
<h2>The sinking of PNS Ghazi</h2>
On the night of 3 December 1971, INS Rajput detected an unusual underwater activity near the Visakhapatnam harbour. Depth charges were deployed in suspected zones and within hours a massive underwater explosion was recorded. The following morning, wreckage of PNS Ghazi was found drifting and scattered near the harbour entrance.
Pakistani military, however, maintained that an accidental internal explosion was the cause, Indian naval accounts and subsequent analysis credited INS Rajput with neutralising the threat through deliberate action.
Also Read-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/india-news/5-times-indias-military-has-triumphed-against-pakistans-aggression-9000737">5 times India&rsquo;s military triumphed over Pakistan's aggression</a>
<h2>History echoes in 2025</h2>
Today, as ceasefire violations escalate and the spectre of cross-border conflict looms once more, the Indian Navy has mindfully deployed the latest INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea. Though officially unlinked, its presence is a subtle message: India remains vigilant and ready to defend its sovereignty at sea.

On the night of 3 December 1971, INS Rajput detected an unusual underwater activity near the Visakhapatnam harbour. The following morning, wreckage of PNS Ghazi was found drifting and scattered near the harbour entrance.

Following a series of diplomatic escalations against Pakistan post the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 27 civilians, the Indian Navy has deployed its first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, near the Karwar coast in the Arabian Sea. This deployment, evokes memories of one of the most decisive maritime episodes in the subcontinent’s history—the sinking of PNS Ghazi in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. Also Read- INS Vikrant deployed in Arabian Sea as tensions escalate with Pakistan 1971: The battle beneath the waves During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Pakistan launched a covert operation to eliminate India’s pride, the aircraft carrier called INS Vikrant. The Indian aircraft carrier, at the time was under repair and maintainance. The Pakistani Navy dispatched its most advanced submarine, a US-leased, PNS Ghazi, with a dual mission: to destroy Vikrant and establish dominance in the Bay of Bengal. While Pakistan believed INS Vikrant to be anchored off Visakhapatnam, the carrier had been secretly redeployed to the Andaman Islands, away from harm. In its place, the Indian Navy had dispatched its INS Rajput, an ageing yet tactically capable destroyer, to patrol this coastline. Also Read- India-Pakistan standoff: Revisiting the 1971 war and the legacy of the Simla Agreement The sinking of PNS Ghazi On the night of 3 December 1971, INS Rajput detected an unusual underwater activity near the Visakhapatnam harbour. Depth charges were deployed in suspected zones and within hours a massive underwater explosion was recorded. The following morning, wreckage of PNS Ghazi was found drifting and scattered near the harbour entrance. Pakistani military, however, maintained that an accidental internal explosion was the cause, Indian naval accounts and subsequent analysis credited INS Rajput with neutralising the threat through deliberate action. Also Read- 5 times India’s military triumphed over Pakistan's aggression History echoes in 2025 Today, as ceasefire violations escalate and the spectre of cross-border conflict looms once more, the Indian Navy has mindfully deployed the latest INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea. Though officially unlinked, its presence is a subtle message: India remains vigilant and ready to defend its sovereignty at sea.

'INS Vikrant, Rajput and trapping of PNS Ghazi': How India sank Pakistan's most advanced submarine of its time

India and Pakistan have been at war four times - 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999. Numerous tales of bravery and strategically beating the enemy have come out of these conflicts. But something odd happened during the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971, which proves the skill and tactfulness of the Indian forces. It involved condoms, something one would never associate with war.&nbsp;
A book titled Operation X by Captain MNR Samant and Sandeep Unnithan details the guerrilla operation. It states that the Indian defence forces asked for thousands of condoms for tactical purposes. This was even before the actual war started. The Indian Navy decided to carry out a covert operation to put a dent in Pakistan's plans before a full-blown war started between the two countries.
<h2>Operation targeted Pakistani ships</h2>
So the officials decided on a secret operation targeting Pakistani ships. The Pakistani military had already set up base in Bangladesh and needed supplies, like food, weapons, among other things. Merchant and other ships were used to carry these items to them from Pakistan.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pahalgam-terror-attack-house-of-let-operative-asif-sheikh-accused-in-horrific-kashmir-attack-demolished-8999393" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pahalgam terror attack: Houses of Kashmir LeT operatives Asif Sheikh and Adil Gouri, demolished</a>
The Navy decided to target these ships using naval mines to break the network. However, these mines needed to be stuck to the bottom, and only skilled divers could perform the task.&nbsp;
The Indian force only had a handful of people who could swim for kilometres. At the time, Pakistan was already carrying out atrocities in Bangladesh, leading the residents to enter India. The Indian Navy decided to pick some of them and train them to swim for long durations and help implement their plan of blasting away the ships.&nbsp;
At the time, they had to use limpet mines, an indigenous-made weapon that could blow up ships. So, a team of marine divers was created who were trained to swim with the mines tied to their bodies.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-writes-to-pakistan-about-indus-waters-treaty-decision-highlights-sustained-cross-border-terrorism-8999013" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India writes to Pakistan about Indus Waters Treaty decision, highlights 'sustained cross border terrorism'</a>
Several batches were made, and nearly 300 people per batch were trained to swim for 5-10 km. When the training was over, the Navy was faced with a major dilemma.&nbsp;
<h2>The problem with limpet mines&nbsp;</h2>
The limpet mine had a soluble plug that signalled the mine to blow up within 30 minutes of it touching the water. While brainstorming how to solve the problem, the Indian officers came up with a strange solution - covering the plugs with condoms. At first, it didn't sound convincing. But they gave it a shot and conducted trials. It worked.&nbsp;
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2504_WION_PAKISTAN_EXPORT_930AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2504_WION_PAKISTAN_EXPORT_930AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=132&amp;tags=pahalgam, terror attack, wion" title="Pakistan Braces For Long-term Impact Amid Trade War With India" id="PL_iframe_block-m9whdmfi-3uyb97zj-cu44fau0"></iframe>
They then started sending orders for condoms in bulk. The Naval headquarters became concerned about the mass orders of condoms. The entire situation was explained, and the plan was executed with only a few people in the know.&nbsp;
Each diver would tie four to five mines to his body and stick them to the base of the ships. Pakistan lost several of its ships in this operation, even making other countries hesitant about sending their vessels to the region. This interesting story about the condoms is not quite well-known to the world.&nbsp;

Pahalgam terror attack: A secret operation by the Indian Navy led to mass orders of condoms. It concerned higher officials, but the purpose of the condoms was soon revealed. India News Trending

India and Pakistan have been at war four times - 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999. Numerous tales of bravery and strategically beating the enemy have come out of these conflicts. But something odd happened during the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971, which proves the skill and tactfulness of the Indian forces. It involved condoms, something one would never associate with war. A book titled Operation X by Captain MNR Samant and Sandeep Unnithan details the guerrilla operation. It states that the Indian defence forces asked for thousands of condoms for tactical purposes. This was even before the actual war started. The Indian Navy decided to carry out a covert operation to put a dent in Pakistan's plans before a full-blown war started between the two countries. Operation targeted Pakistani ships So the officials decided on a secret operation targeting Pakistani ships. The Pakistani military had already set up base in Bangladesh and needed supplies, like food, weapons, among other things. Merchant and other ships were used to carry these items to them from Pakistan. Also Read: Pahalgam terror attack: Houses of Kashmir LeT operatives Asif Sheikh and Adil Gouri, demolished The Navy decided to target these ships using naval mines to break the network. However, these mines needed to be stuck to the bottom, and only skilled divers could perform the task. The Indian force only had a handful of people who could swim for kilometres. At the time, Pakistan was already carrying out atrocities in Bangladesh, leading the residents to enter India. The Indian Navy decided to pick some of them and train them to swim for long durations and help implement their plan of blasting away the ships. At the time, they had to use limpet mines, an indigenous-made weapon that could blow up ships. So, a team of marine divers was created who were trained to swim with the mines tied to their bodies. Also Read: India writes to Pakistan about Indus Waters Treaty decision, highlights 'sustained cross border terrorism' Several batches were made, and nearly 300 people per batch were trained to swim for 5-10 km. When the training was over, the Navy was faced with a major dilemma. The problem with limpet mines The limpet mine had a soluble plug that signalled the mine to blow up within 30 minutes of it touching the water. While brainstorming how to solve the problem, the Indian officers came up with a strange solution - covering the plugs with condoms. At first, it didn't sound convincing. But they gave it a shot and conducted trials. It worked. They then started sending orders for condoms in bulk. The Naval headquarters became concerned about the mass orders of condoms. The entire situation was explained, and the plan was executed with only a few people in the know. Each diver would tie four to five mines to his body and stick them to the base of the ships. Pakistan lost several of its ships in this operation, even making other countries hesitant about sending their vessels to the region. This interesting story about the condoms is not quite well-known to the world.

India used condoms for a secret operation against Pakistan in 1971. Here's what happened

India played its first-ever Test match in 1932. After the partition, some players switched sides, and three players featured for both nations. India News Cricket Sports

3 players have played cricket for both India and Pakistan - Check who they are

Pakistan's army chief on Wednesday (Apr 16) peddled the two-nation theory and emphasised that India and Pakistan were two very different nations, while noting that Hindus and Pakistanis were poles apart.
Speaking during a speech at the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad, Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir also urged the Pakistani diaspora to pass down the story of Pakistan&rsquo;s founding to future generations to preserve national identity and unity.
<h2>What did the Pakistan army chief say?</h2>
General Asim Munir asked Pakistanis everywhere to narrate the story of how the nation was born, to their children, and asked them to make sure that the "story of Pakistan should never be forgotten".
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/vehicles-damaged-windows-shattered-insane-hailstorm-creates-chaos-in-pakistans-islamabad-watch-8969466">Vehicles damaged, windows shattered: &lsquo;Insane&rsquo; hailstorm creates chaos in Pakistan&rsquo;s Islamabad | WATCH</a>
"You have to narrate Pakistan&rsquo;s story to your children so that they don&rsquo;t forget it when our forefathers thought we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life," he said.
Reaffirmed the two-nation theory, he stressed that the cultural, religious, and ideological differences between Hindus and Muslims were the foundation for Pakistan's creation.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tahawwur-rana-extradition-pakistan-distances-itself-from-2611-terror-attack-accused-says-very-clear-hes-canadian-exploring-tahawwur-ranas-pakistan-isi-connect-8946775">Tahawwur Rana: Pakistan distances itself from 26/11 terror attack accused, says 'very clear' he's Canadian. Exploring his Pak, ISI connect</a>
"Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different, that's where the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid," said Munir.
"We are two nations, we are not one nation," he emphasised.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir spews hate against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hindus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hindus</a> and propagates the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TwoNationTheory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TwoNationTheory</a>, which failed in 1971 when Bangladesh got independence from Pakistan. He asserts that children must be taught such "falsehoods" since it's easier to brainwash youth. Shameful! <a href="https://t.co/vaVZhEK4v8">pic.twitter.com/vaVZhEK4v8</a>
&mdash; Taha Siddiqui (@TahaSSiddiqui) <a href="https://twitter.com/TahaSSiddiqui/status/1912498421174280536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>

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"My dear brothers and sisters and sons and daughters, please don&rsquo;t forget the story of Pakistan, and don&rsquo;t forget to narrate this story of Pakistan to your next generation, so that their bond with Pakistan never weakens, whether it is the third generation, or the fourth generation, or the fifth generation, they know what Pakistan is for them," said the Pakistan army chief.
Munir also addressed internal security issues, particularly in Balochistan, where he vowed to eliminate terrorist threats from groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), and Baloch Republican Army (BRA).&nbsp;
Labelling it the "destiny o Pakistan" he said that "even ten generations of terrorists cannot harm Balochistan and Pakistan".
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heres-why-india-pakistan-and-afghanistan-facing-extreme-heatwave-8963649">Here's why India, Pakistan and Afghanistan facing extreme heatwave</a>
"We will beat the hell out of these terrorists very soon. You think, these 1,500 terrorists, belonging to BLA, BLF and BRA, etc, can take away Balochistan from us?"
According to a Dawn report, he also expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, and said:The hearts of Pakistanis beat in unison with the Muslims of Gaza".
(With inputs from agencies)

India News | South Asia | Discover how Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir reignited the two-nation theory, emphasising cultural and ideological differences between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan's army chief on Wednesday (Apr 16) peddled the two-nation theory and emphasised that India and Pakistan were two very different nations, while noting that Hindus and Pakistanis were poles apart. Speaking during a speech at the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad, Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir also urged the Pakistani diaspora to pass down the story of Pakistan’s founding to future generations to preserve national identity and unity. What did the Pakistan army chief say? General Asim Munir asked Pakistanis everywhere to narrate the story of how the nation was born, to their children, and asked them to make sure that the "story of Pakistan should never be forgotten". Also read | Vehicles damaged, windows shattered: ‘Insane’ hailstorm creates chaos in Pakistan’s Islamabad | WATCH "You have to narrate Pakistan’s story to your children so that they don’t forget it when our forefathers thought we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life," he said. Reaffirmed the two-nation theory, he stressed that the cultural, religious, and ideological differences between Hindus and Muslims were the foundation for Pakistan's creation. Also read | Tahawwur Rana: Pakistan distances itself from 26/11 terror attack accused, says 'very clear' he's Canadian. Exploring his Pak, ISI connect "Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different, that's where the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid," said Munir. "We are two nations, we are not one nation," he emphasised. Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir spews hate against #Hindus and propagates the #TwoNationTheory, which failed in 1971 when Bangladesh got independence from Pakistan. He asserts that children must be taught such "falsehoods" since it's easier to brainwash youth. Shameful! pic.twitter.com/vaVZhEK4v8 — Taha Siddiqui (@TahaSSiddiqui) April 16, 2025 "My dear brothers and sisters and sons and daughters, please don’t forget the story of Pakistan, and don’t forget to narrate this story of Pakistan to your next generation, so that their bond with Pakistan never weakens, whether it is the third generation, or the fourth generation, or the fifth generation, they know what Pakistan is for them," said the Pakistan army chief. Munir also addressed internal security issues, particularly in Balochistan, where he vowed to eliminate terrorist threats from groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), and Baloch Republican Army (BRA). Labelling it the "destiny o Pakistan" he said that "even ten generations of terrorists cannot harm Balochistan and Pakistan". Also read | Here's why India, Pakistan and Afghanistan facing extreme heatwave "We will beat the hell out of these terrorists very soon. You think, these 1,500 terrorists, belonging to BLA, BLF and BRA, etc, can take away Balochistan from us?" According to a Dawn report, he also expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, and said:The hearts of Pakistanis beat in unison with the Muslims of Gaza". (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan army chief peddles two-nation theory, asserts India-Pakistan, Hindus-Pakistanis very different

Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued more than 3,000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend the birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev from November 14-23.

Sharing a post on X, the Pakistan High Commission in India, said, “The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued over 3000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the Birthday Celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji to be held in Pakistan from 14-23 November 2024.”

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The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued over 3000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the Birthday Celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji to be held in Pakistan from 14-23 November 2024.<a href="https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ForeignOfficePk</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Saadawarraich?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Saadawarraich</a><a href="https://twitter.com/epwing_official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@epwing_official</a>
— Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakinIndia/status/1855487468616962135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In another post, Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires, Saad Ahmad Warraich also wished pilgrims a fulfilling yatra. “Expressing his views on the occasion, Charge d’Affaires, Mr. Saad Ahmad Warraich, extended his heartfelt felicitations and wished the pilgrims a fulfilling yatra.”

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-suspends-all-train-operations-to-and-from-quetta-railway-station-after-terrorist-attack-775084">Pakistan suspends all train operations to and from Quetta railway station after terrorist attack</a>

The Indian pilgrims will be visiting Dera Sahib, Panja Sahib, including Gurdwara ‘Janam Asthan’ in Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib, the final resting place of Guru Nanak in Pakistan.

Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, is a sacred festival that marks the birth anniversary of the first guru of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev.

It is a significant day in Sikhism since it commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first of the 10 Sikh gurus and the founder of Sikhism. The celebration is notable for its fervent devotion, spiritual gatherings, and the recitation of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s holy scripture.

Every year, the auspicious occasion is held on the full moon date of Kartik month, also known as Kartik Purnima. Parkash Utsav is also observed on this day.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-cities-record-highest-aqi-triggering-anxiety-and-anguish-775074">Pakistan's cities record highest AQI, triggering anxiety and anguish</a>

Guru Nanak Dev, who had been devoted to the Divine since boyhood, was a man of peace who spent his entire life promoting equality and tolerance. He was born in 1469 in the village of Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, today known as Nankana Sahib, near Lahore, Pakistan.

On Gurpurab, prayers are held in Gurdwaras throughout the day. The many components of the festival continue until late at night when devotees indulge in the langar.

The ‘langar’ food is considered auspicious, and the traditional ‘prasad’ served on auspicious occasions is ‘kada prasad’. On this important day, many people participate in ‘Sewa’ and offer food.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued more than 3,000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend the birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev from November 14-23.

Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued more than 3,000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend the birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev from November 14-23. Sharing a post on X, the Pakistan High Commission in India, said, “The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued over 3000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the Birthday Celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji to be held in Pakistan from 14-23 November 2024.” The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued over 3000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the Birthday Celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji to be held in Pakistan from 14-23 November 2024.@ForeignOfficePk@Saadawarraich@epwing_official — Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) November 10, 2024 × In another post, Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires, Saad Ahmad Warraich also wished pilgrims a fulfilling yatra. “Expressing his views on the occasion, Charge d’Affaires, Mr. Saad Ahmad Warraich, extended his heartfelt felicitations and wished the pilgrims a fulfilling yatra.” Also read | Pakistan suspends all train operations to and from Quetta railway station after terrorist attack The Indian pilgrims will be visiting Dera Sahib, Panja Sahib, including Gurdwara ‘Janam Asthan’ in Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib, the final resting place of Guru Nanak in Pakistan. Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, is a sacred festival that marks the birth anniversary of the first guru of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev. It is a significant day in Sikhism since it commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first of the 10 Sikh gurus and the founder of Sikhism. The celebration is notable for its fervent devotion, spiritual gatherings, and the recitation of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s holy scripture. Every year, the auspicious occasion is held on the full moon date of Kartik month, also known as Kartik Purnima. Parkash Utsav is also observed on this day. Also read | Pakistan's cities record highest AQI, triggering anxiety and anguish Guru Nanak Dev, who had been devoted to the Divine since boyhood, was a man of peace who spent his entire life promoting equality and tolerance. He was born in 1469 in the village of Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, today known as Nankana Sahib, near Lahore, Pakistan. On Gurpurab, prayers are held in Gurdwaras throughout the day. The many components of the festival continue until late at night when devotees indulge in the langar. The ‘langar’ food is considered auspicious, and the traditional ‘prasad’ served on auspicious occasions is ‘kada prasad’. On this important day, many people participate in ‘Sewa’ and offer food. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pakistan issues over 3,000 visas for Indian Sikh pilgrims to attend Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations

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