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India stands secure and self-reliant than ever before

India Gazette

2 days ago

Politics
India Gazette

India stands secure and self-reliant than ever before

New Delhi [India], June 19 (ANI): India's firm and clear-eyed approach to internal security and counter-terrorism over the last eleven years reflects the government's unwavering resolve to prioritise national interest above all. From precision military strikes across borders to strategic dismantling of insurgent networks within, India has shed the hesitations of the past. As per an official statement from the government of India, a clear doctrine now guides action, swift, decisive and backed by intelligence. With the abrogation of Article 370, the campaign against Naxalism, and new capabilities in high-tech defence, India today stands more secure and self-reliant than ever before. Operation SINDOOR, India's swift and precise military response to a terror attack in April 2025, further demonstrated this resolve. These successes are a result of political will, military strength and a deeply rooted belief in putting the country first. India responded to the terrorist attack in Uri on 18 soldiers by conducting Surgical Strikes on 28-29 September 2016. These strikes inflicted heavy losses on terrorists and their protectors across the Line of Control. A few years later, on 14 February 2019, the Pulwama terror attack claimed 40 CRPF jawans. India's response came swiftly. On 26 February 2019, in an intelligence-led operation, the Balakot airstrikes eliminated a large number of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, including senior commanders. The facility targeted was located far from civilian areas and headed by Maulana Yousuf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar. These pre-emptive actions showed the world that India would no longer tolerate proxy wars through terrorism. In April 2025, following a brutal terror attack on civilians in Pahalgam, India launched Operation SINDOOR, executing precise retaliatory strikes against nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian military, acting on accurate intelligence, relied on drone strikes, loitering munitions, and layered air defence to neutralise key threats without crossing international boundaries. When Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks on 7-8 May against multiple Indian cities and bases, these were swiftly intercepted, showcasing the effectiveness of India's net-centric warfare systems and integrated counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) grid. In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India's firm policy on cross-border terrorism and its approach towards Pakistan. He underlined that national security is non-negotiable and outlined clear red lines regarding dialogue, deterrence, and defence. He said that any terrorist attack on India will be met with a fitting and decisive response, regardless of where the perpetrators operate from and India will not be deterred by nuclear threats and will continue to carry out precise strikes against terrorist hideouts. He further made it clear that there will be no difference between the masterminds and the sponsors of terror; both will be held accountable, adding that any engagement with Pakistan, if at all, will be focused only on terrorism or the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Prime Minister declared, 'Terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot flow together,' firmly closing the door to normal relations amid terror threats. On 5 August 2019, Parliament approved the removal of Articles 370 and 35-A, marking a historic correction of a decades-old imbalance. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh were brought at par with other regions, and over 890 Central laws were applied. As many as 205 state laws were repealed, and 130 were modified to align with the Constitution of India. Since then, development in the region has accelerated. Marginalised groups like Valmikis, Dalits, and Gorkhas now enjoy full rights. Laws such as the Right to Education and Child Marriage Act now protect all citizens in the region. The impact is clear: terrorist-initiated incidents have dropped from 228 in 2018 to just 28 in 2024, demonstrating a strong correlation between integration and peace. The multi-pronged approach to Left Wing Extremism has delivered historic gains. From 126 affected districts in 2010, the number has come down to just 38 by April 2024. Most affected districts were reduced from 12 to 6, and the number of casualties is at a 30-year low. Violence has declined sharply from 1,936 incidents in 2010 to 374 in 2024, a drop of 81 cent. Deaths have reduced by 85 cent over the same period. In 2024 alone, 290 Naxals were neutralised, 1,090 arrested, and 881 surrendered. Major recent operations in March 2025 saw 50 Naxals surrender in Bijapur, 16 neutralised in Sukma, and 22 killed in Kanker and Bijapur. With continued support through Special Central Assistance and targeted development, the government is on track to eliminate Naxalism by 31 March 2026. India's journey over the past 11 years showcases its transformation into a confident global power. Through strategic initiatives, from the G20 presidency to the International Solar Alliance, India has led with purpose and pragmatism. Its commitment to humanitarian aid, regional partnerships, and counter-terrorism reflects a nation that places its people first while contributing to global stability. With a focus on self-reliance, from defence production to technological innovation, India has strengthened its sovereignty and global standing. This era of bold leadership and inclusive diplomacy positions India as a pivotal force in shaping a balanced, prosperous world order. (ANI)

India shocked at Pakistan's new UN counter-terrorism role

Russia Today

11-06-2025

Politics
Russia Today

India shocked at Pakistan's new UN counter-terrorism role

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed shock and disappointment over the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) decision to appoint Pakistan as the vice-chair of its counter-terrorism committee. In a public address on Tuesday, Singh questioned the intentions and policies of international organizations in light of the move. Last week, the UNSC appointed Pakistan as vice-chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee consisting of 15 nations. 'Its land has been used as a refuge by global terrorist organizations. There, terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar roam around openly, and senior officers of Pakistan Army attend the funerals of terrorists,' Singh said. 'Now, the same country is expected to lead the global community against terrorism. This raises serious questions on the intentions and policies of the international system.' India and Pakistan have fought four wars since the countries gained independence from British rule in 1947. Their most recent military standoff began on May 7, when India launched strikes against suspected terror targets in Pakistan-controlled territory. New Delhi said the strikes were conducted in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in India's union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in late April that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The Resistance Front, believed to be linked to the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility for the attack, but later denied it. Islamabad also denied having any involvement in the Kashmir attack. Pakistan retaliated to India's May 7 strikes, and after intense fighting over the next few days, the two nuclear-armed nations announced a ceasefire on May 10. On Tuesday, India's defense minister also called on the international community to cease funding Pakistan, claiming that the money ultimately supported the infrastructure of terrorism. He advocated for the international community to exert strategic, diplomatic, and economic pressure on Pakistan to compel it to address terrorism. Singh suggested that if Pakistan was unable to take action against terrorism within its own territory, it should consider seeking assistance from India. He said the Indian armed forces possessed the capability to conduct counter-terror operations on both sides of the border.

India's Strike Turns JeM's Terror Nursery Into a Ghost Campus – Even Google Gave Up

India.com

10-06-2025

Politics
India.com

India's Strike Turns JeM's Terror Nursery Into a Ghost Campus – Even Google Gave Up

New Delhi: The so-called 'religious campus' once loudly proclaimed as Jamia Masjid Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur has quietly vanished from digital maps because the buildings behind the name no longer exist. Once a breeding ground for Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) terror ecosystem, the 18-acre complex now sits in eerie silence. Google Maps, known for trailing behind real-world events, has marked the site 'Permanently Closed', India Today reported. Even algorithms seem to acknowledge what Islamabad will not – the terror camp is gone. And it was India that erased it. This wasn't just a symbolic pin on the map. It was a direct hit. The location, barely 100 kilometers from the India-Pakistan border, was believed to be JeM's core indoctrination centre where sermons met submachine guns and theology got rewritten with bullets. Operating under the Al-Rahmat Trust, the group's charitable front, the campus doubled as a training ground, a fund collection point and a launchpad for cross-border terror. But after the gruesome Pahalgam attack in May, India launched Operation Sindoor, a precision military retaliation that went far beyond border skirmishes. Among the nine major targets hit deep inside Pakistani territory, Markaz Subhan Allah took a direct blow. Ten members of JeM founder Masood Azhar's family reportedly perished in the airstrikes – something the group reluctantly confirmed later. As for Azhar himself, his whereabouts remain a mystery. Western agencies had picked up whispers before the strike. A Reuters report dated May 9 suggested the campus had been 'emptied of students in recent days'. It seems even Pakistan's deep state realised what was coming. What they did not expect was India's resolve. Masood Azhar and his inner circle had stayed behind, either too arrogant or too convinced of their impunity. Operation Sindoor proved both assumptions fatal. What Pakistan sold to the world as a mosque was in fact a militant mini-city. Locals referred to it as the Usman-o-Ali Campus, a code name with multiple entrances and layered perimeters. Inside were combat training zones, lecture halls for radicalization and stockpiles of weapons. Since 2012, it had grown from a humble seminary into a well-oiled machine of jihadist export. But Islamabad still insists this was all 'religious education'. If so, the curriculum included grenade drills and martyrdom manifestos. Some education system. When Google Maps Tells the Truth Pakistan Won't Normally, it takes years for places to be updated on Google Maps, especially in countries with minimal transparency. But when local Pakistani users began reporting the site as closed, Google had enough data to update the status. No reopening. No disclaimer. Just 'Permanently Closed'. Think about it – a terror training camp so synonymous with jihad that even a billion-dollar tech company finally said, 'Yup, this one is done.' In addition punishing those who carried out the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, killing 26 innocent tourists, the aim of Operation Sindoor was sending out a message that you can rebrand terror as faith, you can use charities as camouflage, if your soil hosts murderers, it will be turned into a graveyard. India's latest doctrine is surgical, strategic and unapologetic. There is no 'plausible deniability' when an 18-acre complex disappears overnight. As always, Pakistan's official reaction was denial. No acknowledgment of the strike. No confirmation of deaths. Just the same old press briefings blaming 'external forces'. But the closed sign on Google and the charred remains of Markaz Subhan Allah say otherwise. While the Pakistani government blames Indian 'aggression', citizens are left to guess why one of their most prominent 'mosques' now looks like a crater. And why no one is showing up for Friday prayers anymore. One of the most dangerous terror launchpads in South Asia didn't just vanish. It was shut down mid-sentence. By force. By proof. And now, by Google.

"We are land of Mahatma, Buddha but also of Krishna...gave befitting reply to those who attacked our country": Priyanka Chaturvedi

India Gazette

07-06-2025

Politics
India Gazette

"We are land of Mahatma, Buddha but also of Krishna...gave befitting reply to those who attacked our country": Priyanka Chaturvedi

Berlin [Germany], June 8 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has said that India's Armed Forces have given a befitting reply to those who have cast an evil eye on the country and that there will be a firm response to any terror attack. Priyanka Chaturvedi, who is a member of an all-party delegation visiting partner countries to highlight India's zero tolerance policy against terrorism, told members of the Indian diaspora in Germany that India gave a firm response to the Pahalgam terror attack through Operation Sindoor. 'Our armed forces gave a befitting reply to those who have time and again attacked our country . Our response has been mature, responsible,' she said. 'We are the land of Mahatma, we are the land of Buddha, but we are also the land of Krishna,' she added. She said the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir was targeted in Operation Sindoor. She said India was, in a way, carrying out the work of the UN, by targeting terror camps. Priyanka Chaturvedi also took a jibe at Pakistan getting a position to serve as vice-chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations. 'Do you know what responsibility they got? They have gotten the vice-chairmanship of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. This is like asking Masood Azhar and Hafeez Saeed to fight for global peace and justice. We have to call this out. Not only India but the entire world is suffering. From Masood Azhar to Osama Bin Laden - all have been found there (Pakistan). They have also gotten chairmanship of the Taliban Sanctions Committee,' she said. She said all faiths co-exist peacefully in India. 'The Jinnah inside Asim Munir was woken when he delivered the speech saying Hindus and Muslims cannot coexist. Today, India is a shining example of how 200 million Muslims live in harmony and is a befitting reply to Pakistan,' she said. Chaturvedi said she belongs to a party which is against talks with Pakistan till it supports cross-border terrorism. 'I am proud I come from that party', she said. She gave a call for the diaspora to show support for the Indian armed forces and the diaspora burst into chants praising them. At the start of the community event, the Indian diaspora observed a two-minute silence to pay tributes to people who lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Priyanka Chaturvedi told ANI later that it is global responsibility to fight against terrorism. 'We have seen the strength of our diaspora in the six nations we met various officials and we kept forward our views in front of told them the problem of terrorism that we have been facing for decades can also reach your is the responsibility of the world to call out and the various nations that we visited have extended support to us in the fight against terrorism...' The delegation, led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, MJ Akbar, Gulam Ali Khatana, and Samik Bhattacharya; Congress MP Amar Singh, Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena (UBT,) AIADMK MP M Thambidurai and former diplomat Pankaj Saran. The delegation arrived in Germany after concluding their visit to Belgium. Earlier, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said they raised strong concerns about terrorism during their visit to Brussels and generals of Pakistan 'run that country with the help of a military terrorist coalition', which is a 'threat' to democracy and humanity. The Indian Armed Forces carried out targeted strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists. India repelled subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. (ANI)

After Bilawal mimicry, Indian opposition MP takes Pak army chief to cleaners

Hindustan Times