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Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
India Declines To Endorse SCO Statement Over Pahalgam Terror Attack Omission
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has declined to endorse a joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Defense Ministers' meeting in China's Qingdao, citing the document's failure to acknowledge the Pahalgam terrorist incident that resulted in 26 civilian deaths while simultaneously referencing Balochistan in what appeared to be veiled criticism of India. The document's omission of the Pahalgam attack, which India considers a significant terrorist incident, while including references to Balochistan suggests Pakistan's influence on the statement's content, particularly given China's current chairmanship of the organization and its close relationship with Islamabad. India has consistently rejected Pakistani allegations regarding its involvement in Balochistan, maintaining that Pakistan should address its own internal issues and cease supporting terrorist activities rather than making unfounded accusations. During his address to the SCO summit, which includes member nations Russia, Pakistan, China, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, Singh emphasized the need for collective action against terrorism to ensure regional security. He identified radicalization, extremism, and terrorism as fundamental threats to peace, security, and trust within the region. Singh delivered pointed remarks about nations that employ cross-border terrorism as a policy instrument while providing sanctuary to terrorist organizations. He argued that countries sponsoring and nurturing terrorism for narrow interests must face consequences, criticizing the double standards exhibited by some nations. The Defense Minister urged the SCO not to hesitate in condemning such practices. Specifically addressing the Pahalgam incident, Singh detailed how victims were targeted based on their religious identity and noted that the Resistance Front, identified as a proxy of the UN-designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. He drew parallels between the Pahalgam assault and previous LeT operations in India, emphasizing that the attack patterns were consistent with the organization's historical methods. Singh affirmed India's zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism and its right to self-defense against terrorist threats. He declared that terrorist epicenters are no longer immune from retaliation and that India would not hesitate to target them when necessary. His statements reinforced India's position following Operation Sindoor, the military response to the Pahalgam attack. The Defense Minister called for accountability among perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of terrorism, emphasizing that all terrorist acts are criminal and unjustifiable. He urged SCO members to unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms. Singh's refusal to sign the joint statement represents India's firm stance against terrorism and aligns with the country's broader diplomatic messaging following Operation Sindoor. As part of this strategy, India has dispatched eight diplomatic delegations internationally to articulate New Delhi's position on counterterrorism and its future approach to addressing such threats.
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Rajnath Singh slams Pakistan at SCO meet: ‘No place for double standards'
In a scathing attack on Pakistan at SCO meet in presence of Pakistani defence minister Khwaja Asif, Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted, 'peace cannot co-exist with terrorism' Singh said, "...Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations. " "On 22 April 2025, the terror group 'The Resistance Front' carried out a dastardly and heinous attack on innocent tourists at Pahalgam in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. 26 innocent civilans, including a Nepali national, were killed. Victims were shot at after they were profiled based on religious identity. The Resistance Front which is a proxy of UN designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility for the attack." "Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation whenever, wherever and by whom-so-ever committed. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally." "We reiterate the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross border terrorism accountable and bring them to justice," said Singh Talking about Operation Sindoor, he said, "The pattern of Pahalgam terror attack matches with LeT's previous terror attacks in India. In exercising its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross border terrorist attacks, India on 7th May 2025 successfully launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle cross border terrorist infrastructure." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday arrived in the Chinese port city of Qingdao to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). It is the first visit to China by a senior Indian minister after the ties came under severe strain following the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh that began in May 2020. Singh was received at the Qingdao airport by Indian ambassador Pradeep Kumar Rawat.
Hans India
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Ram Gopal Varma asks 'What God is doing?' amidst Air India crash
Mumbai: As the entire nation mourns the loss of life in the horrific Air India crash in Ahmedabad, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma said that only God knows what he is doing. In the recent past, some unfortunate events have taken place which have left everyone shocked to their core. Reflecting on all that has happened, Ram Gopal Varma took to his X timeline and wrote, "GOD knows what GOD is doing?" Talking about the horrific Pahalgam attack, he added, "You to a beautiful location for a vacation and terrorists shoot you". On April 22, militants ended up killing around 26 civilians in the Pahalgam region of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, mainly targeting Hindu tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. Avenging the attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor, attacking terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This led to cross-border tension between the two neighbors. Shifting his focus to the Bengaluru stampede, the 'Sarkar Raj' maker shared, "You go to celebrate in a trophy parade and you die in a stampede". On June 4, eleven people lost their lives in a stampede in Bengaluru, during a victory parade celebrating Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first Indian Premier League win. He also expressed grief over the horrific Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad saying "You fly in a plane and the plane crashes." "You are eating a meal in your hostel and a plane falls on you," he added. On Thursday, Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed soon after taking off. The aircraft plunged into a residential complex near BJ Medical College. Out of the 242 people on board the flight, only 1 survived, leaving 241 dead. After taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.38 p.m. (IST) the plane lost control moments later.
New Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Shashi Tharoor answer's son's tough question at US press briefing; cites evidence of Pak culpability in Pahalgam attack
The Indian all-party diplomatic delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, faced a pointed question during a press conference in New York — from none other than Tharoor's own son. Ishan Tharoor, a foreign affairs columnist at The Washington Post, took the mic to pose a serious question about Pakistan's alleged involvement in the recent Pahalgam terror attack. When Ishan rose to ask the question, Tharoor jokingly remarked, 'It shouldn't be allowed.' Tharoor clarified for the audience that the journalist questioning him was indeed his son. When Ishan introduced himself and picked up the mic to ask his question, the senior Tharoor gestured to lift the mic higher. Thereafter the proceedings shifted to a serious mode. Ishan Tharoor asked whether any country had sought evidence from the Indian delegation regarding Pakistan's involvement in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists. He also asked about Pakistan's repeated denials of any role. Tharoor responded that while foreign governments had not demanded evidence, 'the media have asked in two or three places.' He emphasized that India would not have taken military action without solid proof: 'Let me say very clearly that India would not have done this without convincing evidence.' Tharoor outlined three main reasons behind India's conclusion of Pakistan's involvement. He cited Pakistan's 37-year record of supporting terrorism while issuing denials. He referenced the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the safe haven given to Osama bin Laden near a Pakistani military facility, and the intercepted communications between terrorists and handlers during the Mumbai siege. 'They will dispatch terrorists and deny it until they are caught red-handed,' he said. Tharoor noted that the Resistance Front, widely recognized as a proxy for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack within 45 minutes—before most of the world had even heard of the incident. Though the claim was later retracted, he said, the initial admission was telling. India has presented evidence against the group at the UN Security Council's 1267 Sanctions Committee, though listing was blocked, allegedly due to Pakistan's membership on the committee.
NDTV
06-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Shashi Tharoor On 3 Reasons Why Pak Can't Hide Its Link With Terror
New Delhi: Shashi Tharoor has given three reasons why Pakistan can't deny its involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists. Mr Tharoor was responding to a question during a discussion hosted by a US think tank when he gave the three points. Here are the three key points Shashi Tharoor presented "The first is that we have had a 37-year pattern of repeated terror attacks from Pakistan accompanied by repeated denials. I mean Americans haven't forgotten that Pakistan didn't know allegedly where Osama bin Laden was until he was found in a Pakistani safe house right next to an army camp in a cantonment city. That's Pakistan. Mumbai attacks, they denied having anything to do with it; one of the terrorists was captured alive, his name, his identity, his address in Pakistan, everything was revealed under interrogation. He told us where he was trained, what was done. The US intelligence as well as ours recorded the chilling voice of the Pakistani handler giving minute by minute instructions to the killers in Mumbai, telling them where to go and they were monitoring Indian TV and saying there are people hiding on the third floor of that hotel, go and shoot them there. This kind of thing is going on... So we know what Pakistan is all about. They will disperse terrorists, they will deny, they did so until they are actually caught red handed." "Second point, the moment this [Pahalgam terror attack] happened, within 45 minutes or so a group called the Resistance Front claimed credit. Who is the Resistance Front? It is a well-known proxy front of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned terror organisation listed by the United Nations, listed by the US State Department, which enjoys safe haven in the town of Muridke in Pakistan. The evidence about the Resistance Front and its doings was presented by India to the UN Committee on Terrorism in December 2023 and again in 24. But the problem was of course Pakistan too is a member of that committee. The Resistance Front was not listed by the UN, but its identity was known and publicised. These people then claimed credit within a time span. There were no media present when these killings took place. Most of the world hadn't even learned about this when they claimed credit. So that was itself a smoking gun. They repeated that claim 24 hours later. And having repeated that claim 24 hours later, their handlers must have woken up to the gravity of this, and told them to take it off their site. So they did. But the fact is the credit claim was on record and the world has seen it." "Third, when the first strikes happened on the terrorist camps [in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir], funerals were conducted, including for members of some of the key [terror] organisations, the Jaish-e-Mohammed in particular and the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The funerals were conducted and photographs emerged on social media showing Pakistani generals and police officers in uniform attending these funerals, being conducted by relatives of these terrorists. So we are looking at three concrete pieces of evidence as far as India is concerned. But finally I can add to the mix, we also have intelligence services. They have been studying these terrorist attacks very carefully. They have identified at least four of the five perpetrators and they know who they are. In fact, I'm told, and I don't have access to the direct intelligence information, but I have been reliably informed, they know that two of them are Pakistanis and the other two were locals who had exfiltrated, as the term, out to Pakistan for training 10 years ago and clearly were sent back for this mission."
