Hopeful of statehood restoration during ongoing Parliament session: J&K CM Omar
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Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
P Chidambaram writes: Military boldness, political timidity
During the debate in both Houses of Parliament last week, the government gave the impression that Operation Sindoor had been finally paused, the goals had been achieved, and it is back to the usual way of doing things. That would be wrong. The truth is, the military was playing a tough game when the civilian government forcibly snatched the ball. Operation Sindoor has busted some myths: that fighting a war against Pakistan will be easy, that India's superiority in conventional war will prevail, and that India has friends and Pakistan none. The military leadership was exemplary. Apparently, they asked for and got operational freedom. The Indian armed forces' first-mover advantage gave them early wins: 9 places that hosted terrorist infrastructure were demolished and several terrorists were killed. However, Pakistan's armed forces quickly recovered. They counter-attacked on May 7-8 using China-made aircraft (J-10), China-made missiles (PL-15) and drones acquired from Türkiye. Realising that 'tactical mistakes' had been made, the military leadership paused the operation and 're-strategised'. That is leadership. It re-launched the Operation on May 9-10, struck at 11 military airbases and severely damaged them. Inevitably, the Indian armed forces suffered some 'losses', and the Chief of Defence Staff and the Deputy Chief of Army Staff admitted the losses. That too is leadership. Contrast the political leadership. It will not admit the mistakes or the losses. Like an ostrich whose head is buried in the sand, it maintains that India scored a 'decisive victory' in Operation Sindoor. If there was a decisive victory, why did India not press its advantage, secure more military gains, and demand and obtain from Pakistan political concessions? Why was the first outreach by the DGMO, Pakistan accepted immediately and without conditions? There were no answers from the government. [A celebrated example of a decisive victory was the surrender of Pakistan's General Niazi to India's Lt General Aurora on December 16, 1971.] Nor will the political leadership acknowledge the reality: Pakistan and China have forged strong military and political bonds. China is supplying new generation fighter aircraft and missiles to Pakistan. Obviously, China was testing its military hardware in a battlefield in a real war. The military bond is visible. On the political front, China's foreign minister Wang Yi praised Pakistan's 'resolute action on terrorism'. China also voted in favour when IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank approved large amounts of loans to Pakistan. The other reality is that Pakistan's (at least the Pakistan military's) bonds with the United States are firmly in place. President Trump invited General Asim Munir, Pakistan's Army Chief, to lunch at the White House, an unprecedented honour to a person who is not Head of State or Head of Government. Mr Trump thanked General Munir 'for not going into the war and ending the war', and gloated again that he had brought about the ceasefire. The Prime Minister and the Home Minister do not miss an opportunity to rebuke the Opposition but dare not rebut or refute President Trump or President Xi or their foreign ministers. The overwhelming reality is that the US and China are on the same page in their support to Pakistan militarily, politically and economically. Keeping aside their differences, the US and China have decided to support and patronise Pakistan. Worse, every country to which India reached out offered sympathy for the victims of the Pahalgam attack and condemned terrorism but did not condemn Pakistan as the perpetrator. India's political leadership refuses to acknowledge the reality and continues to nurture the false belief that Pakistan is friendless and India has friends all over the world. The other delusion of the Indian political leadership is that the 'terror ecosystem' has been smashed in Jammu & Kashmir. The truth is different. Ministry of Home Affairs disclosed to the all-party meeting on April 24, 2025 (immediately after the Pahalgam attack on April 22) that, between June 2014 and May 2024, there were — Undeniably, there were terrorist incidents and casualties in the governments of A B Vajpayee (1998-2004) and Manmohan Singh (2004-2014) as well. The terror ecosystem is populated by Pakistan-based infiltrators and India-based extremists, especially in Kashmir. Often, they work together, strike together and help each other. On April 26, the government demolished several houses in Kashmir of suspected 'terrorists associated with the Pahalgam massacre' — the owners were obviously India-based. In June 2025, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two Indians for harbouring the suspected terrorists. The suspected terrorists were neutralised on July 27-28 and identified as infiltrators. India-based terrorists have committed terrorist attacks in the past. For example, Mumbai witnessed terror attacks in 2006 (suburban train bomb blasts), 2008 (Tajmahal Hotel) and 2011 (Zaveri Bazaar). The 2006 incident was committed by India-based terrorists, the 2008 attack was by 10 Pakistani infiltrators including Kasab, and the 2011 incident was by India-based terrorists. The government's claim that the terror ecosystem in India has been dismantled is manifestly wrong. The failure of intelligence and the absence of security forces in Pahalgam led to the tragedy. No one in the government has taken responsibility. The military's gains in Operation Sindoor will have a deterrent effect on Pakistan but the political leadership's timidity before the US and China may cancel the gains and give encouragement to Pakistan.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
7 of every 10 US deportees were from Punjab & Haryana
Representative Image CHANDIGARH: More than 70% of the 1,703 Indians deported from the US this year were from Punjab and Haryana, as the data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Friday underlines the scale of illegal migration from India's northern belt. Between Jan 20 and July 22, a total of 1,224 deportees - 620 from Punjab and 604 from Haryana - were sent back from the US, minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh claimed in a written reply to a question that Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi had raised. The data revealed that northern states and Union Territories, including Himachal Pradesh (10), Chandigarh (10), and Jammu & Kashmir (8), accounted for 1,252 of the total deportations - roughly 73.5% of all cases. Gujarat followed with 245 deportees, while Uttar Pradesh trailed at 38. Of the 1,703 individuals returned to India, 1,562 were men and 141 women. Deportations occurred through a mix of military and chartered flights, as well as individual commercial travel. Three US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) military flights carrying 333 deportees had landed in Amritsar on Feb 5, 15, and 16. Another 231 Indians returned aboard three US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) charter flights on March 19, June 8, and June 25. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In IC Markets Learn More Undo Two US department of homeland security (DHS) flights brought back 300 more on July 5 and 18. The remaining 767 arrived individually or in small groups via commercial flights from the US, while 72 more flew in from Panama. Responding to a question on whether India had raised concerns about the treatment of deportees, Kirti Vardhan Singh said the govt had taken up issues such as the use of shackles - on women and children particularly - as well as religious and dietary sensitivities with US officials. "The ministry registered its concerns strongly with the US authorities... particularly with respect to the use of shackles... turbans and dietary preferences," the MoS stated, adding that no formal complaints had been received after a deportation flight on Feb 5. On student visa delays, the MoS said the govt had received "several representations" from students and their families, prompting diplomatic outreach to the US Embassy in New Delhi and the state department in Washington, DC. In response, the US side cited additional security requirements as a reason for reduced capacity but confirmed student visa appointments were now open. Priority is being given to J-1 physician applicants through a new software system, and more appointments are expected to open by the end of August. The US Embassy is also developing a student visa fact sheet with FAQs to address applicant concerns, the reply noted. Kirti Vardhan Singh emphasised that while visa issuance was a sovereign matter, Indian authorities remained in close touch with US counterparts to "streamline avenues for the legal mobility of students and professionals". Indian consulates in the US were also said to maintain regular contact with students, with dedicated officers monitoring welfare-related issues and supporting those in distress via helplines, walk-ins, and the MADAD portal. Emergency assistance, including boarding, lodging, and medical care, is also offered where needed through the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF).
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Pay heed to what J&K MPs are saying in Parliament: Mirwaiz to Centre
Hurriyat leader and chief priest of Jamia Masjid Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday hailed the efforts of Jammu and Kashmir members of parliament to express the sentiments of people in Parliament and urged the Centre to give a patient ear to them to lessen the 'dil ki doori'. Hurriyat leader and chief priest of Jamia Masjid Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday hailed the efforts of Jammu and Kashmir members of parliament to express the sentiments of people in Parliament and urged the Centre to give a patient ear to them to lessen the 'dil ki doori'. (PTI File) At the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz welcomed J&K MPs' united stand in the Parliament during the discussion on Operation Sindoor. 'A few days ago, in the Parliament, there was a debate on the India–Pakistan war after the heinous Pahalgam incident, and different views by different political parties of India with regard to the war, its purpose, success or failure were put forward,' said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid, Srinagar. Mirwaiz said that very few, and mostly in the opposition, talked of the human aspect of the war, its costs therein, and its correlation to J&K, which reflects the mindset and mood of the times. He said that the three MPs from J&K - Mian Altaf and Agha Ruhullah from National Conference and Engineer Rashid from Awami Ittihad Party —were the only ones to highlight the concerns and plight of the people at the epicentre of the basic problem and the current debate. 'They were speaking with passion and pain about the disempowerment and dispossession of the people of J&K and expressing the sentiments of the people of J&K that we have all along been talking about. It is good to see that on these matters all are on the same page,' he said. He said that he can only hope that what they said was heard by those in power in New Delhi. 'And if they really want to lessen 'Dil ki Doori', they must pay heed to it,' he urged. Mirwaiz said he has always believed that neither war nor violence, or use of force can solve problems and lead to peace and prosperity, which he said the 'billions of people in the Indian subcontinent seek, and the swathes of poor in this region deserve'. 'Engagement at all levels is a far cheaper and evolved alternative,' he said.
