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Infiltration attempts by terrorists from Pakistan occupied Kashmir have not succeeded due to alertness of security forces and use of modern surveillance gadgets along the Line of Control in Kashmir, a senior BSF officer asserted on Wednesday. IG, Border Security Force (BSF), Kashmir Frontier, Ashok Yadav also said that there are intelligence inputs that terrorists are waiting at the launch pads on the other side of the LoC. To a question about the situation along the LoC in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Yadav told reporters, "The way BSF and Army have dominated the LoC through alertness and use of modern surveillance gadgets, it has ensured that the infiltration attempts have not succeeded". "With winter about two months away, they (terrorists) will likely keep trying but because of our area domination, we will ensure any attempt is detected and neutralised," he said. Asked about the number of terrorists waiting at the launch pads, Yadav said the numbers keep changing from t
Security forces have launched a search operation after around half-a-dozen drones from Pakistan were sighted hovering over several forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Monday. The movement of the drones from across the border was picked up over Balakote, Langote and Gursai nallah in Mendhar sector at 9.15 pm on Sunday, the officials said. They said the drones, believed to be launched for surveillance, were seen flying very high and returned to the Pakistani side within five minutes. However, the area was cordoned off and a search was launched with the first light of the day in several areas where the movement of the drones was picked up to ensure that there was no air dropping of weapons or narcotics, the officials said. The use of drones by Pakistan to drop weapons and narcotics has emerged as a major challenge for the security agencies over the past couple of years and accordingly, police have announced a reward
Pakistan and India on Tuesday exchanged the lists of prisoners in each other's custody, with Islamabad submitting names of 246 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian detainees, including 53 civilians and 193 fishermen. The Agreement on Consular Access, 2008 requires both sides to share the lists of prisoners in each other's custody on January 1 and July 1, every year, according to a statement by the Foreign Office. Pakistan handed over a list of 246 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian prisoners (53 civilian prisoners and 193 fishermen) to a representative of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, the Foreign Office said. Today, Pakistan and India exchanged, through diplomatic channels, the lists of prisoners in each other's custody, the FO said. Simultaneously, India shared a list of 463 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners (382 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen) to a diplomat from the High Commission for Pakistan, New Delhi. Pakistan has called for the immediate release and ...
The government will send several all-party delegations to different countries, starting next week, to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on the world forum as part of a major diplomatic offensive post Operation Sindoor in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam. MPs of various political parties, including the opposition, have been sounded out by the government and some parties have also given their go-ahead to the presence of their members for the diplomatic exercise. While there was no clarity on the exact number of delegations or their members, some leaders said there could be more than 30 MPs. The delegations will visit different countries for a period of 10 days. The MPs will visit different blocs of countries, as earmarked by the government. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will brief the MPs before they depart for their diplomatic mission. Among the parties whose MPs will be part of the delegation are the BJP, Congress, TMC, DMK, NCP(SP), JDU, BJD, CPI(M), and
Schools in five Punjab districts bordering Pakistan will reopen on Wednesday, officials said. Punjab shares a 553-kilometre border with Pakistan, spanning the districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur. While schools in Gurdaspur reopened on Tuesday, authorities in the other five border districts said academic institutions would reopen on Wednesday. The state government on May 8 ordered the closure of academic institutions for three days as a military standoff between India and Pakistan soared. While schools in most districts reopened on Monday, they remained shut in the six border districts and Sangrur. The district authorities in Pathankot, Tarn Taran and Amritsar on Tuesday said all schools would reopen on Wednesday. "Schools will open tomorrow (Wednesday) from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm," the Amritsar district administration said. The district authorities in Amritsar and Pathankot also urged citizens to observe a voluntary blackout on Tuesday. "W
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan saying it was better late than never. "I welcome from the depths of my heart the announcement made by Government of India spokesperson about restoration of ceasefire between India and Pakistan," Abdullah told reporters at his residence. "Better late than never but had this ceasefire come two or three days earlier, perhaps the bloodshed we saw and the precious lives we lost, would have been safe," he added. Abdullah said the DGMO of Pakistan called his Indian counterpart and they agreed to establish ceasefire again in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere. "It is now the duty of J-K government to provide relief and compensation to those who have suffered during this period. We have announced compensation for the loss of precious lives. Now we will have to compensate those who have been injured as well," he added. The chief minister said there has been lot of devastation caused by
The Directorate General of Shipping has increased maritime security for Indian ports, terminals, and Indian-flagged vessels to "MARSEC Level 2 or heightened security", considering the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, a senior government official said. The directive was issued on May 8, the official added. The Directorate General of Shipping functions under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), forms a crucial part of the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention. It was adopted in response to growing global concerns over maritime security, especially in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. One of the core components of the ISPS Code is the classification of security levels. These levels are designed to ensure that ships and port facilities can operate securely under varying threat environments. Security Level 2 involves maintaining of appropr
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with the top defence establishment on Friday to take stock of the security situation. With conflict between India and Pakistan heating up, Modi met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the three service chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff to strategise over the future course of action. The conflict with Pakistan has intensified with the armed forces responding proportionately and adequately to Pakistani attempts to target Indian installations on the intervening night of May 8 and 9. Pakistan violated Indian airspace to target the military installations, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said at a briefing. She said Pakistan sent 300-400 drones in 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek to target Indian military installations. The drones were shot down by the Indian military. Earlier in the day, Modi held interactions with veterans, including former chiefs of the three services, taking their ...