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India Today
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Sooraj Pancholi recalls terrible jail term in Kasab's cell, sleeping on newspaper
Actor Sooraj Pancholi shared the challenging times he underwent during his solitary confinement at Mumbai's Arthur Road jail. He recalled how he used to sleep on the newspaper while he was kept in the same cell where 26/11 convict Ajmal Kasab was put. Pancholi was imprisoned i connection to actor Jiah Khan's death an interview with Hindi Rush, the actor stated that he felt as if he was being treated like a terrorist. While revealing about the solitary confinement when he was just 21-years-old, Pancholi said, "It's all hazy. I was just a 21-year-old boy at the time. I was sent to Arthur Road Jail and put in the 'anda cell' (solitary confinement). I was in the same cell where they had put Kasab (26/11 attacker Ajmal Kasab). They treated me like I'd done a bomb blast."advertisementThe actor pointed out the horrible conditions inside the jail where there was not even a pillow. He further said, "They put me where they put Kasab. I didn't even have a pillow; I'd sleep on newspapers. They treated me terribly, like I had committed some horrible crime. I am not even exaggerating. It was four or five years later that I understood what exactly I had been through. When it was happening, it all felt like a dream." Salman Khan recently shared a picture with Pancholi amid his recent release 'Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath.' The actor, in his social media post, wrote a heartfelt caption which read, "Abhi raat hai, subah Sooraj chamkega (It's night. The Sun will rise again.) @soorajpancholi."Pancholi's 'Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath' is set against the backdrop of the 14th century AD. It narrates the story of the unsung warriors who defended the Somnath temple, the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. The period action-drama also features Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, and Akanksha Sharma in crucial roles.'Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath' was released in theatres on May 23, Watch
NDTV
28-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"What Has Changed...": Shashi Tharoor Speaks In Panama, Draws " Chamcha" Jab
New Delhi: Terrorists targeting India have realised in recent years that they will have to pay, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor told a gathering in Panama City today, as the Indian delegation led by him reached the Latin American nation as part of India's mega diplomatic outreach after Operation Sindoor. "We have suffered attack after attack for almost four decades. It is just not acceptable for us to continue to bear the pain, the grief, the wounds, the losses and then merely go and tell the international community, look what is happening to us. Please help us. Please put pressure on the perpetrators to actually identify and prosecute the criminals," he said. Referring to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, "We had all the evidence. We even captured one of the terrorists alive. A very brave policeman gave his life to capture Ajmal Kasab alive. He was identified, his home, his address, his village in Pakistan were identified. #WATCH | Panama City | Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "...Some women cried out The terrorists killed me too, and they said, 'No, go back, tell what happened to you. We heard, we heard their cries and India decided that the colour of the Sindoor, the vermilion colour on the… — ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2025 "Not only India, but Western intelligence agencies had recordings of the chilling voice of the Pakistani cold-blooded handler giving daily minute-by-minute instructions to the killers in Mumbai. While the killings were going on, all the evidence was collected, and dossiers were established. What happened? Has a single person behind this outrage been prosecuted, let alone convicted? The answer is no. Sadly, Pakistan has chosen a policy of enabling terror," he said. In remarks that are likely to be seen by detractors as praise for the Narendra Modi government, Mr Tharoor said, "What has changed in recent years is that the terrorists have also realised they will have a price to pay. On that, let there be no doubt. When, for the first time, India breached the Line of Control between India and Pakistan to conduct a surgical strike on a terror base, a launchpad - the Uri strike in September 2015. That was already something we had not done before." "Even during the Kargil War, we had not crossed the Line of Control; in Uri, we did, and then came the attack in Pulwama in January 2019. This time, we crossed not only the Line of Control but also the international border, and we struck the terrorist headquarters in Balakot. This time, we have gone beyond both of those. We have not only gone beyond the Line of Control and the international border. We have struck at the Punjabi heartland of Pakistan by hitting terror bases, training centres, terror headquarters in nine places," he said. India carried out airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir on May 7 to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 innocents dead. "Our Prime Minister has made it very clear. Operation Sindoor was necessary because these terrorists came and wiped the sindoor off the foreheads of 26 women, depriving them of their husbands. In fact, some women cried out to the terrorists, 'kill me too'. And they said, 'No, go back, tell what happened to you. We heard, we heard their cries and India decided that the colour of the Sindoor, the vermilion colour on the forehead of our women, will also match the colour of the blood of the killers, the perpetrators, the attackers," he said. Mr Tharoor's remarks in various interviews during the India-Pakistan conflict have drawn stern responses from the Congress leadership, which has distanced itself from the four-time MP's statements. The former diplomat's selection to lead one of the seven Indian delegations taking New Delhi's message abroad had also sparked a row. The Congress leadership had said he was not among the four MPs it had suggested to the government. Mr Tharoor had then said the party leadership is entitled to its opinion of his abilities. #WATCH | Delhi | Congress leader Udit Raj says, "Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is the super spokesperson of the BJP, and what the BJP leaders are not saying, speaking in favour of PM Modi and the government, Shashi Tharoor is he (Shashi Tharoor) even know what the… — ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2025 The Congress leader's latest remarks have drawn a sharp response from his party colleague Udit Raj. "Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is the super spokesperson of the BJP. He doing Modi ji's chamchagiri (flattery) more than BJP leaders. Does he (Shashi Tharoor) even know what the earlier governments used to do? ... They (the Central government) are taking credit for the Indian Armed Forces. Shashi Tharoor has become the spokesperson for the publicity stunts of the BJP," Mr Raj told ANI. A former MP, Udit Raj was earlier with the BJP.
NDTV
15-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
How India's 'New Normal' Sets The Record Straight On Terrorism
Operation Sindoor has irrevocably reset the rules of engagement between India and Pakistan for cross-border terror. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, it "has set up a new parameter and a new normal". The Burden Of Proof Firstly, the international community has always put the onus on India to prove, in each and every case, that not only did the terrorists come from Pakistan but that they were also sponsored by the Pakistani establishment. Such questions were raised even when India suffered a series of terror attacks from Pakistan, including the attacks in Mumbai in 2008, where one of the perpetrators, Ajmal Kasab, was caught and Pakistan's direct complicity stood exposed. It is ironic that when non-state actors such as Hezbollah in Lebanon or Houthis in Yemen attack Israel, the country targeted by the latter and the US is Iran, since the default presumption is that these groups are its proxies. Whereas here, even though India has a neighbour training and sponsoring terrorists to cross into India through a shared physical border, the world refuses to make that presumption and continues to ask India for proof. It was the same story when the Pahalgam terror attack happened in April this year. The international community kept asking India for proof and refused to demand accountability or action from Pakistan against its terrorists. They went one step further and asked both countries to "de-escalate", as if India had escalated the situation. Even the fact that Pakistani army officers participated in the funeral given to terrorists killed by Indian strikes on terror camps did not cause a ripple in the international community. They ignored this as if it had never happened. Operation Sindoor has called all this bluff and put the onus entirely on Pakistan to prove that they did not undertake the terror attack. Any terror attack will now be presumed to have been sponsored by the Pakistani establishment - more specifically, by the Pakistani army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). As the Prime Minister said, India "will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism". India has left them with no scope for deniability. This is the first new normal. Shifting Responsibility To Pakistan Secondly, by shifting the presumption on Pakistan, India has also placed upon it the responsibility of stopping the harbouring, training, sponsoring and commission of acts of cross-border terror. It is no more only India that is responsible for fighting terror on its soil - it is equally incumbent on Pakistan to see that its soil is not used to export terror. Pushing terrorists across the border when the snow melts is no longer an option for Pakistan without serious repercussions and cost. It will be held accountable. Zero Tolerance Thirdly, a robust military response is the new normal. Any terror attack will be presumed to be perpetrated by Pakistan and met with a strong military response. As the Prime Minister warned, "Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism." It is equally significant that Operation Sindoor has only been "paused", indicating India's readiness to sustain the war on terror. Military response is now the default mode - a clear signal of a zero-tolerance policy for terror. We have to, however, be careful that terror groups, pushed by equally irrational and radical elements in the Pakistani establishment, do not take advantage of this default posture of India and be tempted to stage another terror attack primarily to provoke another military conflict with Pakistan. They may do it under the wrong presumption that they will keep the so-called "Kashmir" issue on the boil and will internationalise it, especially now that they are in the UN Security Council. The world has no appetite for internationalising this issue, and the cost to Pakistan of any such misadventure will be huge. A Comprehensive Deterrence Strategy Fourthly, so far, India has always struggled to put in place a robust deterrence against Pakistan-sponsored terror, given our resolute but episodic approach to terror attacks. This time, the focus has been on establishing a comprehensive deterrence, which includes both military and non-military measures. The holding in abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) until Pakistan "credibly and irrevocably abjures" terrorism has been one such stand. Widely seen in India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, as embodying an unequal sharing of waters-with only 30% of them allotted to India-our consistent efforts in the past to re-negotiate the Treaty have been thwarted at each and every attempt. Now, by holding it in abeyance and stating that "water and blood cannot flow together", India has served a notice to Pakistan, and indeed the international community, that it cannot agree to the status quo on the IWT or on cross-border terror. This has implications for the future of Pakistan. Focus On Curbing Religiophobia Fifthly, contrary to what the terrorists tried to achieve, which was to target Hindu tourists and create a communal divide in Jammu and Kashmir and even in other parts of India, they achieved the exact opposite. Indians, cutting across religions and regions, came together in solidarity with the victims of terror, all of whom were Hindus, except for one Muslim who sacrificed his life trying to save those tourists. As India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, I had raised the issue of religiophobia against non-Abrahamic religions, including anti-Hindu, anti-Sikh and anti-Buddhist hate crimes, for the first time in the UN General Assembly in March 2022. Once the clouds of military action dissipate, it is time India launched a campaign to make sure that terror fuelled by religious hate does not go unpunished, and the growing religiophobia against Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists is acknowledged and fought. Further, India has conclusively called the "nuclear bluff" of Pakistan, which the world had routinely parroted. At a time when the West was heavily arming Ukraine to take on a "nuclear" Russia, they were calling on nuclear India and nuclear Pakistan to de-escalate and preserve regional stability. As the Prime Minister mentioned, Pakistan was developing "terrorist hideouts" under the cover of nuclear blackmail. India has shed itself of the shackles of the nuclear bogey, and this is a huge game changer. Victim And Perpetrator: A False Equivalence It is clear that the international community was not unequivocal in their support for India on the Pahalgam terror attack. Neither did they call Pakistan out for perpetrating the attack. Even if some played a backdoor role to press Pakistan, their public posture was solely focused on ensuring that the situation did not spiral out of control. This will continue to be the default posture of the major powers. But their false equivalence between the victim India and the perpetrator Pakistan have been exposed in the face of India's decisive strikes at terror camps and, subsequently, at Pakistani domestic military assets, which showed that India is capable of decisively handling terror attacks on its own. Hopefully, this should have a sobering influence on the international community. Much as US President Donald Trump wants to incorrectly portray the ceasefire as a US-mediated one, maybe Pakistan got the fig-leaf they were looking for to make an exit. Like President Clinton earlier, the US has had a history of putting pressure on Pakistan in order to make it step down from conflicts with India. This has usually been done to give Pakistan an "honourable" way out. India has shown restraint in not over-reacting to Trump's bluster and has factually established its stand in the public domain: of not agreeing to any mediation offers and treating issues bilaterally. Once the Pakistan establishment understands the significance of what has transpired during Operation Sindoor, there is bound to be internal churn in the country. How this pans out in the coming months will be interesting to see, especially with a government that is widely seen as lacking legitimacy. Operation Sindoor has once again underlined the importance of security and geopolitics going hand-in-hand with economic growth and development. And, the need for India to take a larger geopolitical role globally. This will only strengthen our strategic autonomy, not diminish it. It will only help our economic development, not decelerate it. It will stop the international community from trying to box us in geopolitically into South Asia. It will also be in line with the larger global role we are already being called upon to play.
News18
14-05-2025
- Business
- News18
‘Pakistan Is Compensating Terrorists, Not Martyrs': Exclusive On Sharif's Package Announcement
Last Updated: 'Pakistan is in the habit of giving compensation to all those who have been involved in terror activities, including Ajmal Kasab," say government sources Pakistan's package for those who died in the recent conflict with India is nothing other than compensation for terrorists, said government sources. India on May 7 launched Operation Sindoor, aerial strikes on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in response to the Pahalgam attack in Kashmir on April 22. Pakistan, however, continued with the aggression, to which India retaliated. Suffering huge losses, Pakistan approached India for a ceasefire on May 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Monday, sending out a strong message to Pakistan. On Tuesday, PM Modi visited the Adampur airbase, rebuffing Pakistan's claims of causing heavy damage to the facility. In a copycat move, Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif dashed to the airbases in Sialkot and Pasrur on Wednesday. 'The package is nothing but Pakistan's propaganda to mask cross-border terrorism and economic desperation. In the name of this bailout and reconstruction, Pakistan is looking for funds and bailout from OIC, Saudi and Turkey," said sources. 'Pakistan is in the habit of giving compensation to all those who have been involved in terror activities, including Ajmal Kasab. Operation Sindoor involved counter-terrorism strikes targeting Pakistan-based terror camps, and not acts of aggression as they are alleging," said sources. 'martyrs" honoured by Pakistan are also UN-designated terrorists," said sources. A look at the package announced by Pakistan on Wednesday for those died in what they called 'Battle for Truth': Families of deceased soldiers will receive between Rs 10-18 million (based on rank) For housing support, the families of deceased soldiers will receive between Rs 19 and 42 million (based on rank) Full salary including all allowances will continue to be paid to the families until the martyr's retirement date Free education for their children up to graduation Marriage grant of Rs 1 million for one daughter of each martyred soldier Injured armed forces personnel will receive Rs 2-5 million per person. 'Homes and mosques destroyed in Indian attacks will be rebuilt by the federal government." 'The care of the children of martyrs is the responsibility of the government, and we will fulfill this duty." 'The federal government will bear all costs for the treatment of the injured." 'Every individual who served Pakistan's honor and defense on any front will be recognised at the national level and awarded with honours." First Published: May 14, 2025, 19:45 IST
News18
13-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Muridke's Funeral Lays Bare Pakistan's State-Terror Nexus
Last Updated: The presence of army personnel and police alongside LeT's Hafiz Abdul Rauf confirms what India has alleged for decades—Pakistan is intertwined with terrorist outfits like LeT & JeM The funeral of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in Muridke, Pakistan, in May 2025, following India's Operation Sindoor, has ripped apart the veneer of Pakistan's denials about its ties to terrorism. Visuals of coffins draped in the national flag, senior military officers in attendance, and a US-designated terrorist leading prayers have exposed a chilling reality: the Pakistani state's complicity in nurturing terror. This was no ordinary burial; it was a state-sanctioned spectacle glorifying jihadists killed in precise Indian strikes targeting terror infrastructure. The presence of army personnel, police, and civil bureaucrats alongside LeT's Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a figure long linked to anti-India operations, confirms what India and the global community have alleged for decades—Pakistan's government, military, and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are deeply intertwined with terrorist outfits like LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, struck nine terror camps, including LeT's Muridke headquarters, a hub for training operatives like Ajmal Kasab of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Pakistan's claim that the strikes killed civilians crumbled as evidence of military involvement in the funerals surfaced. The brazen display of state support for terrorists raises questions about Pakistan's commitment to counter-terrorism and its role as a supposed ally in global security. This op-ed argues that the Muridke funeral is a defining moment, exposing Pakistan's institutional backing of terrorism through four key revelations: the military's open endorsement, the ISI's logistical support, the government's duplicity on the global stage, and the societal normalisation of jihadist ideology. These elements demand a re-evaluation of international policies toward Pakistan, a state that continues to destabilise the region while evading accountability. The presence of uniformed Pakistan Army personnel at the Muridke funeral, carrying coffins and saluting fallen LeT operatives, is a stark admission of the military's alignment with terrorist groups. Reports indicate senior officers, including those from Punjab's police, attended the funeral of terrorists like Qari Abdul Malik and Abu Jundal, killed in India's strikes. This was not a covert gesture but a public spectacle, with coffins wrapped in Pakistan's flag and state honours bestowed. Such actions contradict Pakistan's official stance of cracking down on terror groups under international pressure, like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mandates. The military's participation signals institutional approval, emboldening groups like LeT to operate with impunity. Historically, the army has shielded figures like Hafiz Saeed, LeT's founder, who, despite a nominal imprisonment, continues to influence jihadist networks. The Muridke funeral underscores that the army views these terrorists not as threats but as strategic assets against India, particularly in Kashmir. ISI's Logistical And Operational Support The ISI's role in sustaining terror groups is well-documented, but the Muridke funeral provides fresh evidence of its logistical backbone. Sources reveal the ISI facilitated training at camps like Muridke's Markaz Taiba, where operatives for attacks like Mumbai 2008 and Pahalgam 2025 were groomed. The funeral's high security, attended by ISI-linked officials, suggests the agency's direct oversight of LeT's activities. The ISI's involvement goes beyond passive support; it includes funding, arming, and directing operations, as seen in the Pahalgam attack's planning. The agency's presence at the funeral, alongside LeT commanders, indicates a seamless collaboration, with the ISI acting as the glue between the military and terror outfits. This nexus allows Pakistan to maintain plausible deniability while orchestrating cross-border terrorism, a strategy exposed by the brazen Muridke ceremony. Government's Duplicity on the Global Stage Pakistan's government has long projected itself as a victim of terrorism, seeking international aid and sympathy while covertly supporting jihadist groups. The Muridke funeral demolishes this facade. While Islamabad denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack and claimed civilian casualties in India's strikes, the state honours accorded to terrorists reveal a different truth. The government's failure to condemn the funeral or arrest Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a globally sanctioned terrorist, exposes its complicity. Past leaders, from Nawaz Sharif to Imran Khan, have admitted to the presence of terror groups on Pakistani soil, yet no meaningful action follows. The funeral, attended by civil bureaucrats, shows the state's tacit approval of LeT's ideology. This duplicity undermines Pakistan's credibility in forums like the UN, where it has resisted designations like that of The Resistance Front (TRF), an LeT front. The international community must recognise this double game and impose stricter sanctions. Societal Normalisation of Jihadist Ideology The Muridke funeral, with its hate-filled slogans like 'India's destruction is near," reflects a deeper societal issue: the normalisation of jihadist ideology in parts of Pakistan. LeT's Muridke complex, disguised as a charitable organisation under Jamaat-ud-Dawa, runs schools, clinics, and seminaries that indoctrinate youth with anti-India propaganda. The funeral's public nature, with civilians and officials chanting alongside terrorists, indicates how deeply this ideology has penetrated. The state's failure to curb such displays, coupled with the military's endorsement, fosters an environment where terrorism is glorified. This societal acceptance sustains groups like LeT and JeM, ensuring a steady supply of recruits. The Muridke event is a wake-up call for Pakistan's civil society and the global community to address this ideological rot, which threatens regional stability. The Muridke funeral is a damning indictment of Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism. It lays bare the military's endorsement, the ISI's operational role, the government's hypocrisy, and the societal embrace of jihadist ideology. These revelations demand a robust international response—tighter sanctions, FATF blacklisting, and diplomatic isolation to pressure Pakistan into dismantling its terror infrastructure. India's Operation Sindoor was a precise strike, but it also exposed the need for a broader strategy to counter Pakistan's proxy war. The global community, particularly the U.S. and UN, must act decisively, recognising Pakistan not as an ally but as a state that glorifies terrorists with state honours. Failure to do so risks further emboldening a nation that thrives on chaos. The Muridke funeral is not just Pakistan's shame; it is a challenge to the world's resolve against terrorism. Accountability must begin now. The author teaches journalism at St Xavier's College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : JeM Let Operation Sindoor pakistan Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 13, 2025, 15:48 IST News opinion Opinion | Muridke's Funeral Lays Bare Pakistan's State-Terror Nexus
