At UNSC Meet, Pakistan Faces Flak for Escalation
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First Post
20 minutes ago
- First Post
Operation Sindoor: India targeted terror networks, says govt; denies foreign pressure behind ceasefire
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to a 'barbaric' attack by 'Pakistansponsored terrorists', and the action focussed on dismantling terror infrastructure and neutralising terrorists likely to be sent across to India, the government said on Thursday. read more The central government on Thursday said that Operation Sindoor was launched in response to a 'barbaric' cross-border attack by terrorists backed by Pakistan, with a focused aim to destroy terror infrastructure and eliminate terrorists poised to infiltrate into India. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the operation was 'focussed, measured and non-escalatory'. Responding to a question on whether Operation Sindoor was initiated due to international pressure, the minister clarified that the action was prompted by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, and not due to any external compulsion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman also asked about the impact of 'sudden announcement of ceasefire in Operation Sindoor' on the morale of the Indian forces which were 'achieving significant success', but suddenly 'declaring ceasefire was against their morale and the sentiments of the people of the country'. Union minister Singh said Operation Sindoor was launched to respond to a 'barbaric cross-border terror attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. It focussed on dismantling terrorist infrastructure and neutralising terrorists likely to be sent across to India'. Pakistan, however, attempted targeting Indian civilian areas, in addition to some military facilities, he said. 'These provocations and escalatory actions by Pakistan were met with a strong and decisive response from the Indian armed forces, inflicting significant damage on the Pakistani military. Subsequently, on 10 May, 2025, the Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan approached his Indian counterpart to request for cessation of firing and military activities, which was agreed to later that day,' the MoS said. Under Operation Sindoor, India had decimated nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7 in pre-dawn precision strikes. It was carried out to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike. In a separate query, the MEA was also asked whether the ministry had taken efforts to 'alienate' Pakistan on world forum. As part of the UN Security Council's routine annual process, the Chairs and Vice- Chairs of its subsidiary bodies and committees are selected from amongst its permanent and elected non-permanent members. In addition to Russia and France, Pakistan has been selected as one of the Vice-Chairs of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee for 2025, Singh said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It may be noted that India was the Chair of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee in 2022. Similarly, India was also the Chair of the same committee during its 2011-12 term, the MoS added. 'The Government of India has been sensitising all concerned interlocutors on the menace of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Due to India's persistent efforts, the global community has a greater understanding of India's concerns on cross-border terrorism,' he said. India's efforts over the years have led to listing of several Pakistan-based terrorists and terrorist entities under the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee and the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) 'grey listing of Pakistan', the minister said. The UNSC press statement in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack also 'strongly condemned' the terror attack and acknowledged the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, sponsors and financiers of the attack accountable, he said. Several world leaders have recognised and supported India's actions to combat terrorism following the Pahalgam attack. Most recently, the US has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a separate query, the MEA was asked whether the government has 'formally raised concerns' with the US regarding continued military aid and arms supplies to Pakistan, which could be 'misused against India'; and whether India has taken 'diplomatic steps' to counter 'growing China–Pakistan military cooperation, particularly in PoK'. Singh in his written response said the government of India 'closely monitors' all military and security-related developments in its neighbourhood and regularly takes up 'our concerns in this regard in interactions with our partners at appropriate levels'. 'India has consistently conveyed its concerns in this regard to the United States, with a view to ensuring that these developments do not compromise India's security or regional stability,' he said. It has been India's consistent and principled position that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh 'are, have been, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India'. The government closely monitors all developments that have a bearing on India's national interest and takes timely and necessary steps to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests, the MoS said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Counter-terrorism remains a vital pillar of the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership. India and the United States maintain a robust institutional framework for cooperation, including a dedicated Counter-Terrorism Dialogue mechanism that meets regularly. 'Both sides collaborate closely on terrorist designations at domestic and international forums, and extend mutual legal assistance, including on extradition matters,' he added. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Stop building statue of Gond king, restore Dal Sagar lake in Seoni: NGT
Bhopal: Taking the municipal council of Seoni town in MP to task for planning to construct a statue of Gond King Dalpat Shah on an island located in the midst of a lake constructed by the king, and further planning the construction of a foot overbridge (FOB) to let people reach the statue, the Bhopal-based central zone bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) said that while Dalpat Shah built the lake for the welfare of human beings and all living creatures, the municipal council was 'destroying' it by installing his statue inside the lake and further constructing an FOB for people to easily reach there. The green watchdog ordered the Seoni municipal council to dismantle the slab and columns laid for the construction of the FOB and restore the lake to its original position at its own cost. It also asked the MP Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) to recover compensation from the municipal council, Seoni, according to the law. Hearing a petition filed by Navendu Mishra, a resident of Seoni town, against construction in the lake, the tribunal said, "It is for the parties to consider and reconsider the philosophy adopted by Gond King Raja Dalpat Shah. The philosophy behind the construction of this water body was making necessary provisions for future generations and provision for drinking water as well as for agricultural purposes to the civilians and general public. It was constructed not only for human beings but all living creatures. The pious philosophy should be taken into account, and it is the duty of the litigating parties to fulfil the desire of Gond King Raja Dalpat Shah. It was not desired that the nature of the water body or the lake should be curtailed or damaged, and it was never intended that his statue be installed there." The tribunal, comprising Judicial Member Sheo Kumar Singh and Expert Member Dr A Senthal Vel, further said, "In case it was in the mind of Gond King Raja Dalpat Shah, he might have installed the statue as he was the king, and there was nobody to prevent him. But the spiritual philosophy and the duty towards humanity inspired him to do the spiritual and pious work. It is the duty of the litigants to maintain the philosophy and to promote the philosophy of Gond King Raja Dalpat Shah and not to damage his philosophy by making any construction for their convenience. " The tribunal members further said that in any case, they can't pass any order against the wetland rules and further that illegality cannot be legalised by any judicial order. If anything is legally wrong, then it cannot be justified to be morally correct. The order further said that in view of the above discussion and analysis of the report submitted by the joint committee constituted by the NGT to look into the matter and the members of the SEIAA and the CPCB, the district administration Seoni shall ensure strict compliance with section 4 of the Wetland Rules and ensure that there will not be any encroachment on the wetland, construction activities, discharge of untreated water, or dumping of garbage/solid waste/plastic waste in the lake. The constructions raised during the pendency of this application and those already raised previously in violation of section 4 of the wetland rules must be demolished immediately at the cost of the municipal council. The municipal council, Seoni, shall prepare a detailed time-bound action plan for the restoration of the site that shall be examined by the MPPCB and approved by the MP State Wetland Authority. The State PCB is directed to realise the environmental compensation according to rules, and the amount of compensation must be utilised for the improvement of the lake under the supervision of the Wetland Authority and local administration headed by the Collector. A time-targeted action plan shall be prepared and submitted to the Regional Office, MPPCB Seoni, regarding the demolition of pillars and other civil structures constructed inside the lake. The guidelines on Environment Management of Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste, 2017, issued by the Central Pollution Control Board, may be adopted and applied. The tribunal said that signboards and caution boards should be installed at suitable places regarding restricted zones. Immediate actions shall be taken by the municipal council, Seoni, for performing cleaning of the lake, and its boundary should be identified, demarcated, and fenced to restrain any unauthorised dumping of solid/plastic waste. The NGT also asked for the removal of weeds in a scientific manner in Dal Sagar Lake, and a catchment area study shall be carried out for the identification of natural inlet drains of the lake to restore water in the lake. A groundwater study, including an assessment of present water quality and the groundwater table around the lake, should be carried out by engaging an expert agency. To compensate for the plants/trees felled during the construction work, the plantation of native plant species shall be carried out around the lake and at the central island. Bioremediation and restoration of the lake bed to improve the water carrying and holding capacity of the lake should be undertaken. Effective measures shall be taken by the local body to expedite the establishment of sewerage network connections and the construction and operation of STPs proposed under the Amrut 2.0 Scheme in the city within a definite time frame. The tribunal asked the MPPCB to monitor and submit a report in four months to the registrar, National Green Tribunal, central zone bench, Bhopal. It also asked the registrar, NGT, to send a copy of the order to the Principal Secretary, Department of Environment, Member Secretary, State MPPCB, Bhopal, Wetland Authority, Bhopal, Collector, Seoni, and CEO, Seoni municipal council for information and necessary action.
News18
43 minutes ago
- News18
Ammunition depot explosion in Syria kills at least 7, injures scores
Last Updated: Damascus, Jul 24 (AP) An explosion at an ammunition depot in northern Syria on Thursday killed at least seven people and wounded scores, rescuers and monitors said. There was no official statement as to what has caused the blast in Idlib province. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the explosion took place at an ammunition depot. The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, also said the blast in Idlib, in the town of Maarat Misrin, struck an ammunition depot. 'Our teams are working to recover the bodies of the dead, treat the injured, and extinguish fires at the site of the massive explosion of an ammunition depot," the White Helmets said in a statement. The state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV referred to the explosion as involving 'remnants from the war," likely shorthand for arms and ammunition left over from Syria's nearly 14-year civil war. The TV report did not give more details. Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said in a post on X that teams were transporting the wounded and dead despite 'continued recurring explosions in the area, which are hampering response efforts". During the war, which killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country's pre-war population of of 23 million, Idlib was an opposition-held enclave. The country's current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa formerly led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an insurgent group based in Idlib that spearheaded the offensive that unseated Assad. (AP) SCY SCY view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 00:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
