Defense

The recent revelation by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chouhan regarding the loss of Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor has sparked political controversy, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge demanding greater governmental transparency. Kharge accused the Narendra Modi administration of misleading the public and called for a special parliamentary session to address the issue. However, the CDS’s candid admission reflects a strategic commitment to openness and an acknowledgment of tactical recalibrations that helped India regain air superiority.

Rajeev Krishna, a senior officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS) from the 1991 batch, has been appointed as the new Director General of Police (DGP) in Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant moment in the state’s law enforcement leadership. Krishna, with over four years of service left before his retirement in 2029, takes over from the outgoing DGP, Prashant Kumar. His appointment follows a period of frequent leadership changes in the state police force.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a sharp critique of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of opposing India's military response, Operation Sindoor, aimed at countering terrorism. Shah's comments, made during a party meeting in Kolkata, were aimed at Banerjee's stance on national security, alleging that her opposition was driven by political motivations, particularly appeasing the Muslim vote bank. Shah also criticized her handling of the Murshidabad riots and accused her government of facilitating illegal border infiltration.

In a pointed address to Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Poonch, Union Home Minister Amit Shah underscored India’s decisive blow to Pakistan’s surveillance network during Operation Sindoor. This offensive has significantly hampered Pakistan’s ability to wage a fully informed conflict, Shah asserted, suggesting it could take years to rebuild. While lauding the BSF’s resilience and precision, he also met with families affected by the hostilities and emphasized India’s unwavering stance against terrorism.

India’s nationwide civil defence exercise, codenamed Operation Shield, has been postponed in several key border states, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. Scheduled for May 29, 2025, the exercise was designed to enhance readiness against aerial threats and cross-border incursions. Administrative constraints prompted the delay, though coordination efforts among local governments and volunteer forces remain active.

India’s recent military operation, Operation Sindoor, marked a decisive and precise counterstrike against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, underscoring the country’s advanced strategic capabilities and technological sophistication. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized that the operation targeted only designated terror centers without collateral damage, reflecting India’s measured and effective response following the tragic Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives.

In a resolute diplomatic offensive against cross-border terrorism, Indian Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor led a multi-party delegation to Guyana, reinforcing New Delhi's uncompromising stance against terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Speaking in Georgetown, Tharoor emphasized that India will not only pursue those who perpetrate attacks but also confront entities financing, training, and arming such operatives. The delegation’s visit was part of a broader international outreach following Operation Sindoor, in which Indian forces reportedly neutralized several terrorist bases.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party delegation to the United States under the banner of Operation Sindoor, delivered pointed remarks on India's historical attempts to normalize relations with Pakistan. Speaking at the Indian Consulate in New York, Tharoor reflected on the futility of past diplomatic overtures, citing the 2016 Pathankot Airbase attack and the 2008 Mumbai carnage as glaring reminders of Pakistan's continued patronage of cross-border terrorism.

In a forthright interview with the Dutch daily De Volkskrant, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar denounced Pakistan's deep-rooted involvement in terrorism, asserting that its state apparatus and military are complicit. While on an official visit to the Netherlands to strengthen bilateral trade relations, Jaishankar underscored India’s zero-tolerance approach to terror, referencing the recent Operation Sindoor as a calibrated strike against cross-border militancy.

In a landmark speech at the 22nd Investiture Ceremony of the Border Security Force (BSF), Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared Operation Sindoor a defining moment in India’s counterterrorism narrative, asserting that it irrefutably demonstrated Pakistan’s direct role in sponsoring terrorism on Indian soil. Conducted in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead, the operation saw India neutralize nine terror camps through precision strikes while deliberately avoiding civilian or military Pakistani infrastructure.