Page 10 - India-pak Conflict

Govt directs CISF to check cargo, in-line baggage amid tighter security

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Saturday said it has extended an additional security cover to temporarily supervise cargo operations and in-line hold baggage screening system at 69 civil airports of the country under its counter-terrorist cover. A spokesperson for the paramilitary force said the move has been initiated following a directive issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on May 9 "temporarily" extending CISF's cover to these processes in "direct response" to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent security scenario in the country. This new arrangement will be in place till May 18, the spokesperson said. The CISF usually is only entrusted to frisk passengers and their cabin baggage. The cargo and In-line Hold Baggage Screening System (ILHBSS) checking was done by private security staff engaged by the airlines and airport operators. "The enhancement of CISF's mandate is essential to reinforce security arrangements at all civil ...

Rajasthan CM briefs parties on state's preparedness amid border tensions

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Saturday held an all-party meeting at his office here and briefed party representatives about the state government's preparedness amid the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan. The western part of Rajasthan, which shares International Border with Pakistan, has been facing aerial threats from the neighbouring country. Even today, a high alert was issued in the border districts Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner and Sri Ganganagar amid threats of potential strikes by Pakistan. The all-party meeting was attended by Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully and representatives of other political parties. The chief minister shared details regarding the state government's preparations and also sought suggestions. "The CM called an all-party meeting to discuss the situation. Details regarding our preparations were shared with the leaders of political parties and suggestions were sought. The leaders of all parties extended support," Parliament

Maha Cyber branch removes 5,000 posts for misinformation amid conflict

Maharashtra Cyber has removed 5,000 posts from social media platforms containing fake news and misinformation about the military conflict between India and Pakistan, an official said on Saturday. According to officials, fake news about the army's movements, strategic operations, or retaliatory measures from neighbouring countries was found on social media. The cybercrime detection agency has also issued an advisory on the circulation of fake news and misinformation related to the military conflict, the official said. He said such unverified and misleading content poses a serious risk to national security and may contribute to the escalation of the conflict. Taking serious cognisance of such fake news and misinformation, the agency issued notices to take down and remove such false narratives from social media and communication platforms, he said. The official said the agency has removed around 5,000 social media posts containing fake news and misinformation about the military ...

PM Modi chairs high-level meet with defence brass amid Pak conflict

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting with the top defence establishment to take stock of the emerging security situation amid the intensifying military conflict with Pakistan. Modi met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the three service chiefs and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan to review the security scenario and chalk out strategies for the future course of action, officials said. The conflict with Pakistan has intensified with the armed forces responding proportionately and adequately to Pakistani attempts to target Indian installations. Pakistan's military is moving its troops in the forward areas, India said on Saturday, as the two countries continued to attack each other's military facilities. "The Pakistan military is observed to be moving their troops to the border areas," Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said at a press briefing along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

Tripura CM urges security agencies to coordinate amid Indo-Pak conflict

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said he has urged security agencies in the state to maintain coordination among them to deal with any untoward situation, amid India-Pakistan military conflict. Saha's comment comes a day after a high-level meeting between the chief minister and the representatives of the Army, BSF, CRPF and the state police was held to review the security measures. The CM said he had a meeting with the representatives of central and state security agencies. "I told the security agencies to maintain coordination among them to deal with any kind of situation. Instruction was also given to maintain strict vigil along the state's border with Bangladesh," he said. Saha said the Centre has already sent a standard operating procedure to the state, amid the military conflict between India and Pakistan. "The Centre has already sent a list of dos and don'ts for the states in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and its subsequent development. Our securit

India should take 1st step to de-escalate tensions with Pakistan: Mehbooba

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said India should embrace its leadership role in the subcontinent and take the first step to de-escalate tensions with Pakistan, as it is a moment for the country to stand tall and demonstrate that its true strength lies in its soft power and commitment to peace. Mufti's remarks came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Pakistani Army chief Asif Munir, and urged both parties to find ways to de-escalate. "Even though US Vice-President J D Vance initially said that America wouldn't intervene beyond a certain point in the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, in light of the worrying intensity of the situation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has now reached out to the Pakistani Army chief, urging de-escalation," Mufti said in a post on X. Rather than relying on "inconsistent" international support, India should take the first step to de-escalate, she said. India as the world's largest democracy and now as an emerging power/

'Is it time for politics': Cong slams BJP over criticism of terror response

The Congress slammed the BJP on Saturday for accusing the previous UPA government of acting with "passivity" in responding to terror attacks and said the ruling party and the government must clarify whether it is time to play politics instead of giving a message of unity. The opposition party's criticism came after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit out at the previous UPA government's approach in dealing with Pakistan. "The message to the enemies is loud and clear. Don't mess with us! Unlike the UPA regime's passivity, New India has no patience for futile peace talks," the BJP said in a post on X and shared a video montage to claim that while talks followed terror attacks during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule, this has changed under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tagging the post on the microblogging platform, Congress's media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "So do we have to do politics now? Is it time to do ..

All security precautions are in place in Maharashtra, says CM Fadnavis

The Maharashtra government has taken all security precautions, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday, against the backdrop of the widening conflict between India and Pakistan. Fadnavis spoke to reporters in Alandi village after taking darshan of Sant Dnyaneshwar. "Pakistan is a terrorist state. They have been supporting terrorism, but India won't stop. Under the leadership of PM Modi, our armed forces are giving a befitting response to Pakistan," he said. When asked about the heightened security measures in Maharashtra, Fadnavis said a review meeting was held in Mumbai on Friday. "All security precautions have been taken in the state in the wake of the current situation. Security information is provided to the district units, and resources are being made available," he said. Fadnavis on Friday said the police, Coast Guard and Navy are on alert mode in the state, and all SoPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are being followed. "Police, Navy and Coast Guard are on alert

Guwahati airport operational with enhanced security, say authorities

The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, the only international airport in the Northeastern region, is operational with enhanced security protocols, authorities said on Saturday. It urged passengers to adhere to all security checks and arrive at the airport ahead of time, as they may have to wait longer to complete all the procedures. "The airport is operational. Due to enhanced security protocols, passengers may experience longer waiting times at the airport. We recommend that you plan accordingly and connect with your specific airlines for more information," the Adani Group-controlled airport said in a statement. Issuing a list of Do's and Don'ts for travellers, it asked passengers to arrive well in time, allow time for security checks, and cooperate with security and airport personnel. It urged travellers to follow the Guwahati airport's social media channels for accurate and timely information and reach out to the airlines for precise information. The

Himanta accuses Congress of spreading propaganda on IMF bailout to Pakistan

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday accused Congress leaders, like Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, of indulging in propaganda on the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) bailout to Pakistan. His allegation comes after India on Friday opposed the IMF's proposal to extend fresh loans of USD 2.3 billion to Pakistan, saying that the funds could be misused for financing state-sponsored cross-border terrorism. 'Exposing the Misinformation: IMF, Pakistan, and India's Principled Stand once again, Congress leaders like Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera are indulging in reckless propaganda-twisting facts and misleading the nation over India's stand on the recent IMF bailout to Pakistan'," the chief minister posted on 'X'. He claimed that the truth should be known and 'there is no 'NO' vote at IMF". 'Contrary to what Congress wants the public to believe, the IMF does not have a system for casting a 'no' vote. The only legitimate way to register disagreement is by abstaining, which

US Secy of State Rubio dials General Munir in Pakistan, urges de-escalation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, bypassing the foreign ministry, and urged de-escalation amid rising tensions with India

Terrorist launchpad in Pakistan opposite Jammu's Akhnoor destroyed: BSF

The Border Security Force on Saturday said it has "completely destroyed" a terrorist launchpad opposite Akhnoor in Jammu in response to unprovoked firing from the other side along the International Border. The base was located at Looni in Pakistan's Sialkot district, a BSF spokesperson said. This came after Pakistan initiated "unprovoked" firing on BSF posts in Jammu sector from 9 pm on Friday. The BSF responded in a commensurate manner, causing widespread damage to the posts and assets of the Pakistan Rangers along the international boundary, the spokesperson said. The terrorist launchpad at Looni in Sialkot district, opposite Akhnoor area, was completely destroyed by the BSF. Our resolve to protect India's sovereignty is unshaken, the spokesperson said.

Govt debunks claims of Indian drone attacking Nankana Sahib in Pakistan

The government on Saturday debunked claims that India had launched a drone attack on the Nankana Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan. "A video shared on social media is claiming that India has carried out a drone attack on the Nankhana Sahib gurdwara. This claim is completely fake," the PIB Fact Check Unit said. Such content was being circulated to create communal hatred in India, it said. Nankhana Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and the gurdwara is a revered shrine and pilgrimage centre for Sikhs. The government also dismissed claims that India's power grid has been rendered dysfunctional in a cyberattack by Pakistan, and that there has been a temporary closure of the Mumbai-Delhi airline route. "These claims are fake," the government said. The Airports Authority of India has extended the temporary closure of 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions due to operational reasons, it said.

At least 60 domestic flights cancelled at Delhi airport amid tensions

Operations at the Delhi airport are presently normal though some flights might be impacted due to the evolving airspace conditions amid the military conflict between India and Pakistan, officials said. Enhanced security measures have been put in place at airports across the country as the military conflict between the two nations intensified. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital, said in a post on X that operations are presently normal at the airport. "However, due to evolving airspace conditions and enhanced security measures, as per the orders of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, some flight schedules may be impacted and security checkpoint processing times may take longer," it said. Passengers have also been advised to arrive early to accommodate potential delays at security checks. The DIAL also requested passengers to cooperate with the airline and security staff for smooth ...

People wake up to blast-like sounds as sirens wail across Jammu region

People across Jammu on Saturday woke up to blast-like sounds as sirens rang out in the city amid a fresh wave of suspected drone attacks by Pakistan, officials said. Artillery and mortar shelling were also reported from the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district, they said. Deafening sounds of explosions started rattling Jammu and Udhampur towns around 5 am with officials confirming a fresh wave of drone attack from across the border, triggering panic among the people. On Friday night, drones were sighted at 26 locations, ranging from Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla in the north to Gujarat's Bhuj in the south, along both the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, according to defence officials. "These included suspected armed drones posing potential threats to civilian and military targets, the officials said. The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota and Jammu in J-K, Ferozpur, Pathankot a

G7 urges India, Pakistan to de-escalate, resolve conflict via talks

The Group of Seven (G7) nations on Sunday urged India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and called for immediate de-escalation of their military conflict through dialogue. The call by the powerful grouping came amid the continuing escalation of the military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The G7 said it is continuing to monitor the situation "closely and express our support for a swift and lasting diplomatic resolution". In a statement, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries said further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability. "We, the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US and the High Representative of the European Union, strongly condemn the egregious terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 and urge maximum restraint from both India and Pakistan," the grouping said in a statement. "Further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability. We are deeply concer

Saudi seeks to de-escalate India-Pak tensions, end military confrontations

Saudi Arabia early Saturday said it was making efforts to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan, end current military confrontations, and promote the resolution of all disputes through dialogue and diplomatic channels. In a brief statement, the Foreign Ministry said that upon the directives of the Saudi leadership, Al-Jubeir visited India and Pakistan on May 8 and 9 as part of the Kingdom's "ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions, end current military confrontations, and promote the resolution of all disputes through dialogue and diplomatic channels". The Saudi statement came as tensions soared significantly, with Pakistan claiming that its three airbases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones early Saturday. Pakistan military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry told a hurriedly called press conference in Islamabad at around 4 am that Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot in Jhang district) airbases of Pakistan Air Force were ...

Govt official killed, two staff members injured in Pak shelling in J&K

A senior government official was killed and his two staff members were critically injured in Pakistani shelling in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir early Saturday, officials said. Additional Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thapa and his two staff members were seriously injured when an artillery shell hit his residence in Rajouri town, the officials said. They were rushed to the Government Medical College. Thapa succumbed to his injuries while the condition of his staff members is stated to be critical, according to the officials. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condoled Thapa's death. "Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the J&K Administration Services. Just yesterday he was accompanying the Deputy CM around the district & attended the online meeting I chaired. "Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling as they targeted Rajouri town killing our Additional District Development Commissioner Sh Raj Kumar Thappa. I've no ...

Pak drone attacks foiled in Punjab; three of family injured in Ferozepur

Security forces said multiple attacks by Pakistani drones in Punjab's Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, and Amritsar districts were thwarted on Friday evening as local authorities clamped a blackout upon hearing explosions. Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh said a crashing projectile from the Pakistani drone destroyed by the air defense system landed at a house in Village Khai Pheme Ke, setting the structure and a car on fire. Three people -- Lakhwinder Singh, his wife Sukhwinder Kaur and his brother Monu Singh -- were injured and they were rushed to a private hospital, police said, adding that Lakhwinder's condition was stated to be critical. Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma said teams were dispatched to the village where the house was damaged and three people were injured. The attack came a day after India swiftly thwarted Pakistan's attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu and Pathankot, after foiling simi

J&K CM reviews relief measures, urges communication, contingency planning

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday night chaired a meeting to review relief efforts and preparedness in border districts following intense cross-border shelling. The meeting was attended by his advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister Satish Sharma, divisional commissioners from Jammu and Kashmir, deputy commissioners of affected districts, and the Principal Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, a spokesperson said. Abdullah was briefed on evacuation efforts, relief camp arrangements, and security measures. Officials informed him that food, medicines, shelter, and even recreational activities for children are being provided in camps, the spokesperson said. Nodal officers have been deployed to coordinate facilities, and control rooms are operational in affected areas. Deputy commissioners reported on ground assessments, identification of vulnerable villages, and dissemination of public alerts through video and audio messaging. Abdullah stressed the need fo