Home Blog Page 338

Another blow to pro-Pakistani forces? Leftwing rag The Wire claims Indian government blocked access to its platform

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Another blow to pro-Pakistani forces? Leftwing rag The Wire claims Indian government blocked access to its platform

A day after Pakistan launched a preplanned and meticulously coordinated aerial assault on Indian towns across the vast length of its western border, leftwing rag, The Wire, claimed the government of India has blocked access to its platform across India.

“In a clear violation of the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press, the Government of India has blocked access to thewire.in across India. Internet Service Providers say The Wire has been “blocked as per the order of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the IT Act, 2000,” the statement released by the portal said.

While the Wire has alleged that the Indian government has blocked access to its platform, many users reported that the website still remains accessible, reflecting the publication’s familiar tactic of playing victim to exert pressure and influence policy reversals.

OpIndia found that The Wire can still be accessed in India, as shown below.

The Wire
The Wire homepage

The Wire perhaps preempted an impending governmental ban after Centre’s directive against streaming Pakistan-origin content earlier yesterday.

“We protest this blatant censorship at a critical time for India when sane, truthful, fair and rational voices and sources of news and information are among the biggest assets that India has,” the propaganda outlet lamented in its statement.

However, several users have claimed that they are unable to access The Wire portal.

In its statement, The Wire said they will challenge the move, but didn’t elaborate how and when.

India bans all Pakistan-origin content on OTT platforms citing national security

In a sweeping move, the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry banned all Pakistan-produced content—including web series, films, podcasts, and songs—from all OTT and media streaming platforms operating in India. The order, effective May 8, was justified by the Ministry as a step taken in the “interest of national security.”

The announcement followed rising tensions between India and Pakistan, triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. In what many see as a signal of zero-tolerance, the Ministry’s advisory comes just a day before the scheduled Indian release of Abir Gulaal, a film starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.

This isn’t an isolated action. Just days ago, the Indian government clamped down on Pakistani digital presence, banning nearly 16 YouTube channels, several Instagram accounts—most notably those of celebrities Hania Aamir and Mahira Khan—and announcing a halt on collaborations with Pakistani artists.

This decision adds to a string of measures taken by the Indian government, which recently terminated the historic Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines, all amid mounting diplomatic strain.

India shoots down Pakistan’s AWACS, read how the surveillance aircraft operates and why losing one is a significant blow to Pakistan

Rukma Rathore
-
0
India shoots down Pakistan’s AWACS, read how the surveillance aircraft operates and why losing one is a significant blow to Pakistan

On the evening of 8th May, India thwarted an attempt by the Pakistani military to target military installations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and several other sites. The unprovoked assault prompted a strong response, with New Delhi not only neutralising fighter jets, drones and missiles but also downing Islamabad’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, delivering a substantial setback to Pakistan’s aerial surveillance and battlefield coordination.

According to media reports, the AWACS was shot down inside Pakistan’s Punjab province along with three fighter jets, two Chinese JF-17s and an American F-16. The development transpired as Pakistan launched drones and missiles against the border states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. All of these drones were destroyed, per a statement from the Indian Army and no deaths were reported. Indian air defence system also shot down 8 missiles launched by Pakistan.

Although drones, loitering munitions and missiles have recently captured significant media attention, AWACS platforms function as the central hub of aerial warfare, rendering the loss not merely symbolic but also strategically impactful. The retaliation is seen as a major setback for the air surveillance and operational planning capabilities of the hostile neighbour, which is already grappling with massive internal challenges, both economic and otherwise.

What is AWACS

AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) is a flying radar station that is usually installed on a big aircraft platform and is used to follow, monitor and identify threats both on the ground and in the air over long distances. With 360-degree radar monitoring and the ability to guide fighter jets and ground-based air defence systems during combat, it functions similarly to a high-tech command post in the sky. AWACS are generally modified passenger planes with several changes to the airframe, electronics and other equipment as per the specific needs of the user force.

These aircraft effectively operate as battle managers and early warning systems, coordinating air fights, spotting impending threats and providing real-time intelligence to interceptors and command centres. Their primary functions are air defence command and control as well as long-range radar surveillance. They can detect, track and identify air and surface contacts over long distances because of their enormous radar dome.

AWACS systems are essential for coordinating aviation operations and providing real-time situational awareness with the ability to communicate with other users on land, at sea, or in the air. This is an aircraft equipped with advanced radar and sensor technology. It is utilised for early warning, surveillance, command, control and communication in operational contexts. AWACS planes identify both airborne and surface targets, delivering situational awareness and enabling coordination for air defence and battlefield management.

They have a large radar dish installed atop the airframe. These aircraft serve as eyes in the sky owing to their powerful radar. These aerial warning systems are more effective than radars installed on the ground, as the curvature of the Earth physically restricts the range of view of land-based radars.

The aircraft fulfil several valuable functions, making them a vital asset in contemporary combat. The AWACS performs as a flying command and control centre by coordinating fighter jets and air defence systems to provide a smooth military response. Additionally, it offers early threat detection, providing vital alerts of enemy movements well in advance of their entry into national airspace.

How AWACS works

Radar System: A rotating or phased-array radar system, often referred to as a “radome” or “rotodome,” is the central component of every AWACS. It is positioned above a disk-like structure above the fuselage. These radars are perfect for long-range detection because they usually operate in the L-band or S-band.

The SAAB 2000 Erieye AWACS from Pakistan, for instance, is equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. India’s PHALCON AWACS, which was created in collaboration with Russia and Israel, employs EL/W-2090 radar, which has a 360-degree coverage range of more than 400 kilometers.

Another illustration is the 30-foot-wide radar dish of the American-manufactured E-3 Sentry AWACS, capable of detecting low-flying aircraft from a distance of up to 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles). It is also capable of identifying high-altitude aircraft at extended distances and monitoring maritime activities, irrespective of terrain or weather conditions. This data is processed by an onboard computer, which aids commanders in rapidly evaluating threats and making tactical decisions.

Command and Control Consoles: Multiple operator workstations are located inside the aircraft, where experts use real-time mission coordination, aircraft assignment for interceptions and threat tracking.

Secure Data Links: AWACS planes are outfitted with encrypted datalinks and secure satellite communications (like Pakistan’s Link-17 or India’s Link II) to ensure constant cooperation with: Combat aircraft, radars on the ground, systems of surface-to-air missiles and navy ships (if working in a combined command setting).

Electronic Countermeasures (ECM): Self-protection jammers and countermeasures, including radar warning receivers (RWRs), chaff/flare dispensers and decoys to avoid missile threats are features of advanced AWACS systems.

Key functions of AWACS

AWACS platforms act as a force multiplier in any combat. Their primary function consists of: early identification of hostile missiles and aircraft that are well outside the range of ground-based radars, real-time command and control of allied aircraft. tracking targets in a wide area of the sky and even in the sea along with secure communication that is impervious to jamming or interception. These planes are particularly useful for monitoring rapidly shifting battlefield conditions, directing fighter jets to intercept threats and organizing air missions.

Early Warning: It detects hostile drones, missile launches, and airplanes long before they are within radar range of ground stations.

Battlefield Coordination: It act as friendly aircraft’s aerial control towers, directing them toward or away from dangers and targets.

Electronic Surveillance: Jamming signals, adversary radio frequencies and battlefield communication patterns are all intercepted by it.

Force Multiplier: The ability to have “eyes” across the whole field of operations substantially improves the combat effectiveness of a smaller air force.

AWACS operators have the capability to detect and monitor hostile aircraft flying at low altitudes across various terrains, providing guidance to allied aircraft in the vicinity. A NATO document conveyed, “Because the onboard Radars are able to look down at the ground below, targets which would normally be obscured by stationary ground clutter can be picked up and tracked. Backed up by an EMS System, the crew can even determine the type of aircraft, ground equipment and ship to enhance the E-3A’s surveillance capabilities. In addition to the surveillance systems, the AWACS fleet also carries extensive avionics equipment for navigation,communications and data processing.”

How many AWACS does Pakistan have

Pakistan operates a relatively large number of electronic warfare aircraft, including Swedish Saab-2000 Erieye and Chinese ZDK-03 planes. A total of nine Saab 2000 Erieye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, commonly designated as AWACS, are in service with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Pakistan obtained four Saab-2000 Erieye aircraft from Sweden between 2006 and 2020. The initial order consisted of six aircraft, which was later revised to four. An additional Erieye was later acquired to address previous losses.

They bolster Pakistan’s airborne surveillance capabilities, offering 270-degree radar coverage due to the Erieye radar. The final aircraft in this fleet was delivered to Pakistan on 2nd July 2024.

Pakistan Air Force had also acquired four ZDK-03 Shaanxi aircraft from China to be used as AWACS planes. However, in 2024, their radar and AEW&C systems were removed due to compatibility issues, and they are now used as Electronic Warfare, Support and Countermeasure platforms. Therefore, Pakistan currently has only five Erieye aircraft in its AWACS fleet, as the Chinese ZDK-03 fleet is no longer in operation as AWACS.

Pakistan also uses 3 Dassault Falcon DA-20 and one Bombardier Global 6000 plane as Electronic Warfare, Support and Countermeasure platforms, not full-fledged AWACS.

It remains unconfirmed whether the AWACS downed by Indian forces was a Saab 2000 Erieye.

Saab 2000 Erieye

A complete AWACS system with multi-role and multi-mission capabilities, the Saab 2000 Erieye can be used for both military and commercial purposes. The Erieye’s coverage area is far larger than that of conventional ground-based sensor systems. Its horizontal effective observation radius is more than 500,000 square kilometers and its vertical effective surveillance radius is more than 60,000 feet.

It can identify and track a wide range of targets, including fighter jets, hovering helicopters, cruise missiles and even objects the size of jet skis, because its sea coverage is only restricted by the horizon. The radar’s remarkable update rate and great precision allow it to quickly detect and track objects. The system has a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles (3,705 kilometers) and an endurance of more than nine hours.

Setback for Pakistan

The global community is already aware of Pakistan’s economic struggles. The country is subsisting on support from the IMF and other foreign entities. The situation has become so critical that the government has appealed for financial assistance amidst ongoing tensions with India. In such a troubling situation, the loss of a sophisticated system like AWACS is undoubtedly a serious blow to the already struggling Islamic Republic. Furthermore, Pakistan possesses only a limited number of these aircraft.

AWACS are deemed among the most important strategic components in the arsenal of any air force. Neutralising the AWACS would incapacitate the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in terms of aerial surveillance and leave them blind in the sky, given that this airborne radar early warning system is vital for recognising incoming dangers.

An important turning point in the India-Pakistan aerial theatre was reached with the downing of Pakistan’s AWACS. The reported destruction of one such aircraft signifies a considerable tactical disadvantage for Pakistan. It also underscores the serious escalation of the India-Pakistan conflict after 7th May’s “Operation Sindoor” following Pakistan-sponsored Pahalgam terror attack on 22nd April. More importantly, it reflects a more assertive Indian air strategy that aims to prevent command assets from being disabled in advance, in addition to intercepting threats.

As the Indian military conducted a huge nighttime aerial watch along the border with Pakistan, sirens and multiple explosions were reported in Akhnoor, Samba, Baramulla, Kupwara and several other locations in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian military’s defence ministry declared that India is “fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people” after Pakistan’s nefarious attacks were foiled.

AWACS of India

Indian Air Force operates a total of six AWACS planes, three of which are Beriev A-50, the AWACS variant of the Russian Illyushin-76 transport aircraft. These aircraft have been fitted with  Israeli EL/W-2090 Phalcon radar systems.

The other three are Embraer EMB-145 aircraft procured from Brazil and converted into AWACS by DRDO using the indigenous developed NETRA system. 12 more NETRA systems based on two different platforms are under development by DRDO.

The Indian government has planned for 6 NETRA Mk 1A based on Embraer jets with active electronically scanned array antenna-based radars, electronic and signal intelligence systems. Moreover, the Netra Mk 2 project has also been approved, which will be based on Airbus A321 aircraft purchased from Air India. Six platforms under the Mk 2 project have been approved.

Know all about Indian ‘Iron Dome’ Akashteer, the indigenous Air Defence System that stopped the wave of Pakistani missiles and drones sent to target Indian cities

Shraddha Pandey
-
0
Know all about Indian ‘Iron Dome’ Akashteer, the indigenous Air Defence System that stopped the wave of Pakistani missiles and drones sent to target Indian cities

On the intervening night of 8th and 9th May 2025, Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border as an act of revenge against Indian strikes on terror camps under Operation Sindoor. While Indian strikes targeted terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, the Pakistani Army resorted to ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and targeted civilian areas.

The Indian Armed Forces gave a befitting response to the Pakistani attack and unleashed India’s very own “Iron Dome” Akashteer Air Defence System (ADS) along with S-400 Sudarshan Chakra ADS to foil Pakistani plans of targeting Indian civilians.

Pakistani forces launched a coordinated drone strike on around 15 locations across northern and western India, including Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Bathinda, and Chandigarh. These areas are strategically significant given their proximity to crucial defence infrastructure. However, India promptly activated its multi-layered air defence network, with Akashteer playing a pivotal role in coordinating and executing India’s strong response.

India’s Akashteer Air Defence System foils Pakistan’s nefarious designs

In response to Pakistani strikes, Indian armed forces activated the indigenously made Akashteer Air Defence System to intercept and destroy a wave of Pakistani missiles and drones. Dubbed as India’s Iron Dome, the made in India Akashteer ADS is a command-and-control air defence platform.

The Akashteer system has been deployed on the western front to form an advanced shield over the International Border (IB) and LoC. This air defence system integrates inputs from radar sources like early-warning systems and ground-based radars to render a live web of real-time data to precisely track aerial threats. With the Akashteer system’s help, Indian forces intercepted and neutralised each and every missile launched by Pakistan towards India.

Akashteer system: India’s indigenously developed ADCRS

With its phased induction in the Indian Army beginning in 2024, the Akashteer system is an advanced Air Defence Control and Reporting System (ADCRS) developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the Indian Army.  In forward combat zones, it is intended to oversee ground-based air defence weaponry and oversee low-level airspace monitoring.  It serves as India’s air defence network’s digital nerve centre, gathering data from various radars and sensors, such as AWACS and AEW&C platforms, and combining it into a unified operational picture. This allows for automated, real-time engagement decisions.

Akashteer ADS has a “bottoms-up” fusion of all air defence sensors, integrating land-based sensors from both the Army Air Defence (AAD) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). This ensures a seamless and unified air picture that is accessible to the lowest operational units of Army AD, enhancing coordination and situational awareness across the force.

Replacing the previous method of manual data entry, with Akashteer’s automation, and no human input required, the system operates at maximum efficiency, allowing timely responses to fast-moving aerial threats. To illustrate, an aircraft at supersonic speeds can travel up to 18 kilometres in a single minute–Akashteer ensures that not a moment is lost in defence readiness.

Akashteer empowers front-line troops by decentralising the authority to engage hostile aircraft, allowing for quick engagement decisions while maintaining controlled freedom to avoid friendly-fire accidents.  This decentralisation is especially important for units stationed in the Northern and Eastern Commands, which are already equipped with Akashteer systems.

Moreover, the indigenous Akashteer system consolidates live data from various sources, including 3D Tactical Radars, Low-Level Lightweight Radars, and the Akash Weapon System, providing a multi-dimensional view of the airspace. This integrated picture is invaluable for both strategic planning and immediate threat response, giving Indian forces an edge in defending India’s skies.

Source: ANI

Akashteer also has built-in communication redundancy and scalability The system is designed with robust communication redundancy, ensuring connectivity even under adverse conditions. Additionally, Akashteer offers both software and hardware upgrade capabilities, making it a future-proof platform able to adapt to evolving technological and operational needs.

This advanced Air Defence Control and Reporting System’s phased induction is ongoing, out of total 455 systems required, 107 have been delivered by BEL till November 2024. All the remaining units will be delivered by March 2027.

Back in March 2023, the Defence Ministry inked a contract with BEL worth Rs 1,982 crore for Project Akashteer under the Atmanirbhar Bharat program. Akashteer’s demonstration of operational efficiency and situational awareness reflects the advancement of India’s defence manufacturing and technology. Akashteer system had undoubtedly equipped the Indian armed forces to tackle modern airspace challenges even more effectively .

Leftists, Modi-haters and assorted ‘seculars’ suddenly remember peace when India starts striking back against Pakistan, ask for de-escalation

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Leftists, Modi-haters and assorted ‘seculars’ suddenly remember peace when India starts striking back against Pakistan, ask for de-escalation

On Thursday (8th April), the left-liberal ecosystem began mouthing platitudes about ‘peace’ and ‘de-escalation’ after India struck terror camps in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan.

The leftists, Modi haters and assorted ‘seculars’ had been mocking the Modi government for not taking action against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, where Hindus were massacred by Islamic terrorists.

When the government avenged the killings in Pahalgam through ‘Operation Sindoor’, the same individuals turned to crusaders of peace.

‘Filmmaker’ Vindo Kapri, who earlier advocated war against Pakistan, was seen tweeting ‘Say No to War.’

Controversial ‘folk singer’ Neha Singh Rathore was caught red-handed indulging in double-speak.

She had previously wanted the government to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, but was seen advocating ‘peace’ when India responded with Operation Sindoor.

“Peace is patriotism. War is destruction. Borders don’t bleed-people do. Stop the war. Deescalate NOW !!!” remarked Arfa Khanum Sherwani of ‘The Wire’ who had previously questioned Modi government’s inaction against Pakistan.

Screengrab of the tweet by Arfa Khanum Sherwani

Shyam Meera Singh was seen mouthing platitudes about peace and deriding those wanting India to defend its border States from drone attacks by Pakistan.

Screengrab of the tweet by Shyam Meera Singh

Raju Parulekar wrote, “Those who have no stake in war are the ones who want war.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Raju Parulekar

The notorious X handle ‘The Cancer Doctor’ wrote, “Majority of those cheering for war have never watched a life slip away before their eyes. DE-ESCALATE before it’s too late.”

Screengrab of the tweet by The Cancer Doctor

Popular propagandist Saba Naqvi tweeted, “War is a disaster for all concerned. The people who are afraid, the soldiers who lose their lives, the economy that suffers terribly. Wars are not fought on social media or TV studios. Jai Hind. Prayers for all the places under blackout today.”

She posted it amid the escalation of conflict from the Pakistani side in the hopes that India refrains from measured retaliatory measures against the rogue State.

Screengrab of the tweet by Saba Naqvi

“De-escalate at least now, please. Both of you. Stop this idiocy,” tweeted Karthik Krishnaswamy.

Tweet by Karthik Krishnaswamy

Alt News founder and fake news peddler, Pratik Sinha, went on a frenzy to appeal to the Indian government to ‘de-escalate’ when Pakistan was targeting Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan with drones.

Tweete and re-tweets by Pratik Sinha

“For the sake of our children and theirs let’s de-escalate. Saying no to war from the very start. Always have. Always will,” Nikhila Henry brazened out.

Screengrab of the tweet by Nikhila Henry

Notorious Darab Farooqui wrote, “De-escalate. Humans are the carbohydrates of War.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Darab Farooqui

There is a limit to double speak and hypocrisy. At a time of national crisis, one must shed their ideological and political differences and stay united against the enemy State.

This is, however, not the case with leftists, Modi haters and assorted ‘seculars’ who, instead of holding Pakistan responsible for escalating the conflict, are resorting to generic posturing as ‘pacifists.’

India asks X to ban over 8000 accounts or face penalties

ANI
-
0
India asks X to ban over 8000 accounts or face penalties

Social media platform X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company’s local employees, a statement by the Global Government Affairs said.

The orders include demands to block access in India to accounts belonging to international news organisations and prominent X users.

In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India’s local laws. For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts, the statement said.

To comply with the orders, we will withhold the specified accounts in India alone. We have begun that process. However, we disagree with the Indian government’s demands. Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of existing and future content, and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech.

This is not an easy decision, however keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to Indians’ ability to access information.

We believe that making these executive orders public is essential for transparency – lack of disclosure discourages accountability and can contribute to arbitrary decision making. However, due to legal restrictions, we are unable to publish the executive orders at this time.

X is exploring all possible legal avenues available to the company. Unlike users located in India, X is restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges against these executive orders. However, we encourage all users who are impacted by these blocking orders to seek appropriate relief from the courts.

X said that they provided the affected users with notice of the actions in accordance with our policies. Affected users may also contact the Indian government at [email protected].

Meanwhile, following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the accounts of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have been suspended in India.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Satyapal Malik’s statement used in Pakistan National Assembly to claim that India orchestrated Pahalgam on its own citizens

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Satyapal Malik’s statement used in Pakistan National Assembly to claim that India orchestrated Pahalgam on its own citizens

As Pakistan continues to grapple with the fallout of ongoing “Operation Sindoor” launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, there are elements within India that are supporting the enemy in crafting a spurious narrative for their own political motives and personal animosities. One notable individual is Satyapal Malik, the former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, whose statements have been echoed in the Pakistan’s national assembly to bolster its false propaganda.

A parliamentarian highlighted that Satyapal Malik in a conversation with Karan Thapar alleged that Baisaran Valley is a very protected location. She declared, “Army and police should have been present there. Nevertheless, not a single officer was in attendance. He directed this inquiry towards the Modi administration. He asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should feel a sense of shame and offer an apology for the security oversight. Such sentiments have been increasingly expressed within India, yet they are being suppressed.”

Malik called Prime Minister Modi “shameless” and “cowardly” in an interview with the contentious “The Wire,” on 6th May. He asserted that the latter must apologize to the country for the terror incident. He charged that earlier intelligence reports warning of a possible terror assault in Pahalgam had been received by the central administration. However, the centre did nothing to prevent it. He labeled the attack a major intelligence and national security failure.

Additionally, he attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah, contending that his security meetings before the attack were “just for show” and that there was no real planning or action. He added that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha should have resigned on ethical grounds and held him accountable for the security breach. Malik shrewdly exonerated Pakistan from its involvement in the attack and placed the blame on the Modi administration.

Similar to Malik, N Ram’s “The Hindu” also provided fodder to the hostile nation by publishing an unverified report alleging that three Indian fighter jets had crashed in the Akhnoor area of Jammu and Kashmir, referencing a government official. However, the article was later retracted and the publication expressed regret, affirming that there was no official information from India concerning this event. Nevertheless, the news only further contributed to the disinformation peddled by Pakistan which is frantically trying to preserve its image after facing global and domestic disgrace at the hands of India.

Former WSJ journalist recalls how her colleague Daniel Pearl was betrayed by Pakistan government and terrorists after he witnessed terror camps in Bahawalpur

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Former WSJ journalist recalls how her colleague Daniel Pearl was betrayed by Pakistan government and terrorists after he witnessed terror camps in Bahawalpur

As India razed to the ground nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and PoJK, including the JeM headquarters in Bahawalpur, under Operation Sindoor, former Wall Street Journal (WSJ) journalist Asra Nomani recalled how her colleague American journalist Daniel Pearl was brutally assassinated by terrorists when he went to Bahawalpur to report on terrorist groups there. Nomani described Bahawalpur as a “base for homegrown domestic terrorists” of Pakistan.

“I still have chills in my heart from when I first heard that town’s name in late January 2002. For the 23 years since, I have reported on how Pakistani intelligence and military leaders have used that city — Bahawalpur — in the southern province of Punjab, as a base for its homegrown domestic terrorists,” Nomani wrote on X on Thursday (8th May). “When I heard India bombed training camps in Pakistan this week in Operation Sindoor, in response to a Pakistani terrorist rampage in India’s Kashmir state, I had one city’s name on my lips: Bahawalpur,” Nomani added.

Asra Nomani said that Daniel Pearl went to Bahawalpur just after Gen. Pervez Musharraf promised to shut down terrorist groups in the country after the terror attack on Indian parliament, and Pearl had reported on the terrorist camps in Bahawalpur. She wrote, “My friend, WSJ reporter Danny Pearl, went to Bahawalpur in December 2001 with a notebook and a pen. Gen. Pervez Musharraf had just promised he was shutting down Pakistan’s militant groups after a strike by Pakistan’s terrorists against the Parliament in India, and Danny reported on the militant offices in Bahawalpur.”

Notably, among the 9 sites targeted by India in Operation Sindoor, the most prominent site was Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, the main centre of Jaish-e-Mohammad for training and indoctrination of youth. This centre serves as the operational headquarters of JeM, and is associated with terrorist planning, including the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019. The Markaz also consists of residences of JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, de-facto Chief of JeM Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Maulana Ammar and other family members. Several family members and associates of Masood Azhar were killed in the Indian strike on this facility.

Nomani added in her post on X, “He literally knocked on their doors. Dear Dr. @yudapearl, this story is a window into Danny’s reporting enterprise. And because people will wonder: Danny was no cowboy. This was a calculated low-risk reporting trip because no journalist had been targeted for kidnapping in Pakistan. Around that time, Danny sent me an email: “I’m anxious to go to Afghanistan, but I’m not anxious to die.”

She wrote that Pearl found that militant training camps were open for business in Bahawalpur. As per her, one Asif Farooqi had arranged an interview for Daniel Pearl through Arif, a PR man for Harkutul Mujahadeen. “I learned Danny’s fixer, Asif Farooqi, had arranged an interview for Danny through a man named “Arif.” Danny didn’t know it but Arif was the PR man for a militant group, Harkutul Mujahadeen. What was Arif’s hometown? Bahawalpur. The police launched a manhunt to find Arif in Bahawalpur. We learned Arif’s family faked a funeral for Arif. Police found him trying to board a bus in Muzaffarabad, across the country by Pakistan’s border with Kashmir,” she wrote.

She added, “Arif had handed Danny off to Omar Sheikh, a British-Pakistani dropout from the London School of Economics, radicalised in the 1990s in London mosques.” Notably, Omar Sheikh was arrested and jailed in India, but was released in exchange for hostages of the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, along with Masood Azhar. Nomani said that Pakistan didn’t jail Omar Sheikh and Masood Azhar after their release from Indian jails, but gave them safe passage. “They used them as weapons against India,” she added.

Nomani said that under the obsession to take over Kashmir, Pakistan failed to act against terrorist bases on its land. “Pakistan has had a duty to dismantle those terrorist bases — for even the safety of its own people. What India is doing is a strategic attack on terrorist bases, Pakistani military and intelligence should have eliminated but never did in their obsession to take over Kashmir,” she said.

Who was Daniel Pearl?

Daniel Pearl was the South Asia Chief of the WSJ, who went to Pakistan in December 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack to work on stories about terrorist organisations there. He has taken a regional posting in Mumbai before travelling to Pakistan to cover the Global War on Terrorism, a military campaign launched by the US after 9/11. As Nomani tells in her post on X, Daniel Pearl was looking to get an interview with a member of a terrorist organisation. A man named Asif Farooqi had arranged an interview for Pearl through a man named Arif, who was a PR person for the terrorist group named Harkatul Mujahideen. According to Nomani, Pearl’s trip to Bahawalpur was supposed to be a low-risk reporting trip because no incident of kidnapping of a journalist by terrorists had been reported so far from Pakistan. During his visit to Bahawalpur, Pearl found terrorist camps being run in the area.

Pearl disappeared in Karachi, Pakistan, on January 23, 2001. He was taken into a car for what he believed was an exclusive interview with an Islamic leader. Unfortunately, he was abducted and held in captivity. Four days later, a terrorist group named ‘the National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty’, said to be an offshoot of JeM, sent an email with the pictures of Pearl held in captivity with his hands chained. One of the pictures showed someone putting a gun to his head. Pearl was held in captivity for a week before being brutally killed. His assassination was recorded in a video by his killers. In the video, Pearl was seen condemning the US foreign policy and repeatedly saying that he and his family were Jewish. After this, his head was severed from his body.

Daniel Pearl in captivity

Days before his abduction, Pearl met a British-born Pakistani terrorist, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who had a track record of kidnapping Westerners. Sheikh had reportedly used a fake name and pretended to be a follower of the Islamic cleric that Pearl wanted to interview. Sheikh, along with JeM founder Masood Azhar, was among the terrorists who were released in a trade-off for hostages by the Indian government during the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814. “Omar Sheikh, a British-Pakistani dropout from the London School of Economics, radicalised in the 1990s in London mosques. He went to Pakistan to train in these militant training camps. Then he kidnapped tourists in India. He was caught and jailed, but on Dec. 31, 1999, he was traded for hostages in the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814,” Nomani said.

Ironically, Pearl was known as someone who was particularly sensitive to sentiments in the Islamic world and was committed to explaining them to people in the West.

How Operation Sindoor brought justice for Pearl

Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three other suspects were charged on March 21, 2002, for their role in the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl. They were convicted on July 15, 2002, and Sheikh was granted a death sentence. In April 2020, the High Court of Sindh acquitted Sheikh and his accomplices on the charges of murder and reduced the sentence to 7 years’ imprisonment for kidnapping. In February 2021, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered Sheikh to be put in a government safe house where he was allowed visits by his family and children.

On March 10, 2007, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, an Al-Qaeda operative said to be third in command under Osama Bin Laden, claimed responsibility for personally beheading Pearl. “I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew Daniel Pearl, in the city of Karachi, Pakistan,” Sheikh Mohammed reportedly said during a confession. He is currently under the detention of the US authorities.

Though Daniel Pearl’s killers could not be brought to book and continued to walk free under the protection of their patrons in Pakistan, India’s Operation Sindoor against terror camps, in a way, avenged Pearl’s death. The operation has brought peace to those who suffered the effects of terrorism and who could not have hoped for justice through a legal course.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri asks why state funeral if only Pakistani civilians died in India’s Operation Sindoor, says Pakistan can’t be trusted for joint probe on Pahalgam attack

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri asks why state funeral if only Pakistani civilians died in India’s Operation Sindoor, says Pakistan can’t be trusted for joint probe on Pahalgam attack

As India continues to hit targets inside Pakistan as part of Operation Sindoor, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a special briefing on the operation on Thursday evening. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofia Qureshi joined him in the briefing, just like the first briefing by the Indian government on the operation.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofia Qureshi said that between 7th and 8th May, Pakistani forces tried to attack several sites in India using drones and missiles. She said that Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles.

“These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks,” they added.

As already said in a statement issued by the defence ministry, they said that the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan today morning. “It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralized,” they added.

Responding to Pakistan denying its role in terrorism in India, Vikram Misri said that Pakistan’s reputation as an epicentre of global terrorism is rooted in a number of instances where concrete evidence is available not just to India but to governments, agencies and authorities around the world. He said that Pakistan’s fingerprints have been found in several terror attacks in the world, adding that Osama Bina Laden was found to be living in India.

Misri also responded to Pakistan’s demand for an international probe on Pahalgam terror attack, reminding how Pakistan refused to cooperate in the investigation into Mumbai and Pathankot terror attacks, even after India provided them with evidence. He said that joint investigative team was formed after the Pathankot attack and Pakistani side was given unprecedented access, but there has been no movement from Pakistan.

Therefore, Pakistan can’t be trusted for a joint probe, Misri said, adding that it is a delaying tactic. He also said that Pakistan may use the information gained in such joint probe to cover its tracks and defend the terrorists.

Vikram Misri also denied Pakistani claims that only civilians were killed in the 7th May Operation Sindoor strikes, saying that only terrorist camps were carefully selected as target. He also referred to Pakistani military and ISI officials attending the funerals of the people who died in the strikes, asking why such state honour will be given for death for funerals.

“As far as we are concerned, the individuals eliminated in these facilities were terrorists, giving terrorists state funerals may be a practice in Pakistan, doesn’t seem to make much sense to us,” he said. He also denied Pakistani claims that India targeted religious sites, saying that the targets were terrorist facilities and locations clearly connected with incidents of cross-border terrorism into India.

Vikram Misri said that it is Pakistan that is misusing religious sites as cover to radicalise, indoctrinate and train terrorists. Contrary to Pakistan’s claim, they launched a targeted attack on the Sikh community by hitting a Gurudwara and several houses of Sikh community in Poonch, he added. He added how Pakistan is artillery shelling is hitting civilians in India, in which 16 people have died and 59 others have been injured.

The foreign secretary added that Pakistan is trying to give a communal angle to India’s response to Pahalgam attack, saying the religious profiling of victims in the Pahalgam attack and Pakistani Army Chief’s provocative comments earlier were actually communal in nature.

Responding the Pakistani claims of responding to Indian strike, Misri said that it is India which is responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. He also denied that India targeted a dam of the Neelum-Jhelum project in PoK, saying that India only targeted terrorist infrastructure. He said that such claims are pretext to target civilian infrastructure in India.

Talking about Indus water treaty, the foreign secretary said that there have been fundamental changes in the circumstances in which the treaty was concluded, and a reassessment of the obligations under the treaty has become necessary. He said that India has been talking with Pakistan over the issue for last 2 years, and Pakistan has been violating the terms of the treaty. India has been carrying out its responsibilities under the treaty despite the provocations of Pakistan, he said.

Misri also said that due to developments in technology, climate change, cross border terrorism and other issues, the Indus water treaty needs to be reviewed.

Hinting that operations are not over, Vikram Misri said that this is an evolving situation, saying he can’t reveal operational details. When asked by a journalist, he refused to disclose further operational details beyond what was said by the defence ministry statement earlier in the day.

When asked for official statement on Pakistan’s baseless claim of shooting down 5 or 6 Indian fighter jets including 3 Rafale jets, Misri said that official response will be issued on time. However, he said that he is not surprised by Pakistani misinformation, as it is known for lies and false propaganda.

BSF stops Beating Retreat ceremonies at Attari-Wagah, Hussainwala, and Sadki borders till further orders

ANI
-
0
BSF stops Beating Retreat ceremonies at Attari-Wagah, Hussainwala, and Sadki borders till further orders

The Border Security Force (BSF) has stopped the Beating Retreat ceremonies at all three border check posts along Pakistan in Punjab– Attari-Wagah, Hussainwala, and Sadki– till further orders in view of public safety.

However, the daily lowering of the national flag at sunset will continue as usual, the BSF said in a statement.

The BSF’s decision came a day after nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK) were destroyed by India as a retaliatory measure against the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 tourists were brutally killed.

The Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

The strikes, executed by the Indian Armed Forces, targeted nine key terror camps linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen. Four of the targets were located inside Pakistan and the remaining five were situated in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with Secretaries of various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India to review national preparedness and inter-ministerial coordination in light of recent developments concerning national security.

PM Modi stressed the need for seamless coordination among ministries and agencies to uphold operational continuity and institutional resilience. PM reviewed the ministries’ planning and preparation for the current situation.

Secretaries have been directed to undertake a comprehensive review of their respective ministries’ operations and ensure the fool proof functioning of essential systems, with a special focus on readiness, emergency response, and internal communication protocols.

The Cabinet Secretary, senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, and Secretaries from key ministries, including Defence, Home Affairs, External Affairs, Information & Broadcasting, Power, Health, and Telecommunications, attended the meeting.

The Prime Minister called for continued alertness, institutional synergy, and clear communication as the nation navigates a sensitive period. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to national security, operational preparedness, and citizen safety.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

From problem with the name to asking for details to questioning ‘will it end terrorism’: How some Indian politicians are busy playing politics after “Operation Sindoor”

OpIndia Staff
-
0
From problem with the name to asking for details to questioning ‘will it end terrorism’: How some Indian politicians are busy playing politics after “Operation Sindoor”

India launched “Operation Sindoor” on 7th May early morning and targeted Pakistan’s terror infrastructure at nine locations in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack which ended the lives of 26 Hindu tourists and injured several others. Following the attack, Pakistan has been making ridiculous assertions in international media while simultaneously attacking innocent people in Jammu and Kashmir in a bid to save face.

While Pakistan is under the spotlight for its lies, some Indian politicians have taken it upon themselves to challenge their own government in a shameful display of petty politics.

The very name ‘Operation Sindoor’ has become a problem for quite a few, including Delhi Congress leader Udit Raj. While talking to the media, he said, “During discussions with intellectuals, it was pointed out that Sindoor is associated with a specific religion, and it would have been better if a different name was chosen.”

However, he tried to claw himself out of the hole he had dug by saying, “What matters is that Pakistan has been taught a lesson.”

“The operation is not just a name, it is a tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam attack. This is not the weak India of the past, but a strong, resolute India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership,” Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Agnimitra Paul slammed Udit Raj and termed him “foolish and ignorant.”

Similar remarks were made by senior Congress politician and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, who said the government might have chosen the codename “Operation Sindoor” to garner “sentimental benefits.” Additionally, he insisted that emotions cannot win a battle. He further conveyed that the government should routinely provide information to the public to prevent the propagation of false information on social media following the destruction of terrorist camps in Pakistan and the Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

He alleged, “A war is fought with bombs, guns, and aircraft, and not on symbolism or tokenism. A war cannot be won through the name of the operation. The name of the operation is fine. Indian government might have thought that giving this name (Sindoor) to the operation, they might derive some sentimental benefits.” He added, “Names of the operations don’t matter, ultimately, you have to go to Pakistan and show that you have destroyed terrorist camps.”

Rashid Alvi and Imran Masood raise questions about the operation

Rashid Alvi, another veteran Congress leader sought to downplay the significant successes of India’s action in Pakistan. He contended that the operation was only the bare minimum response, attempting to diminish the considerable achievement of neutralizing terror launch pads in both Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He failed to mention that during UPA government, even this “bare minimum” (as he puts it) response was not given to Pakistan after 26/11 attack.

“Much better reply needs to be given, this is bare minimum. Our forces did what govt of India told them to do, but the question again arises. Was every single terrorist killed? Will there won’t be another Pahalgam? PM Modi had said that the remaining land of terrorists will be destroyed if that has happened, then it is good,” he stated.

Controversial Congress Lok Sabha MP Imran Masood also questioned the operation, stating that he won’t be satisfied unless its specifics are made public. He asked the government to reveal the particulars of the operation, including the names and number of terrorists who were eliminated and the magnitude of damage caused by the strikes.

“Salute to Indian security forces, this was the kind of reply we expected. How many (terrorists) were killed and what all damages could they inflict, this also should be announced, then we will feel at peace. We had said several times, we are with govt and that they should give befitting reply,” he voiced. The parliamentarian is a habitual offender. He previously criticized the 2019 Balakot airstrike and 2016 surgical strike, which were carried out in response to the Pulwama and Uri terrorist attacks, respectively. In a TV interview with journalist Megha Prasad for the ABP News show Inside Out, he claimed that the Balakot surgical strike was ridiculed globally.

“The whole world mocked the air strike. Pakistanis were saying that they killed our three crows,” he answered when she inquired if he believed that India had conducted successful surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads based in Pakistan. Notably, he has a prolonged history of delivering objectionable statements. He first gained public attention in 2014 when he threatened to dismember Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha elections.

JMM MP Mahua Maji sees politics over the operation

Mahua Maji, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, expressed her discontent with the operation’s name, suggesting it could have been more appropriately titled. She asserted that the name itself reeked of politics and emphasized that it could have been designated differently. She stated that this name was selected for women whose spouses lost their lives in the terrorist attack and adopting such a name aligns with their feelings.

“When the three armies were given a freedom to choose their own targets and time, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi named it ‘Operation Sindoor,’ therefore, some politics is definitely involved in it. There could have been some other name,” she stated. She shared her opinions about the airstrike on Pakistan, noting that it is a positive step to safeguard our nation’s integrity. However, she then urged the nation’s citizens to preserve communal harmony and even reiterated Pakistan’s nuclear threat.

“No country should attack civilians, because then this attack may take another direction. Since every country is equipped with nuclear power, therefore, it (Operation Sindoor) should not be given much importance and the life of civilians should be protected. If a nuclear war starts, not only India or Pakistan, but the entire world will have to bear its consequences. Therefore, we should act with patience,” the lawmaker warned.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Pradeep Sinha countered her commnets and declared, “This is nothing but a statement to demoralise the morale of the Indian Army by those who are running anti-India agenda in the country. BJP believes in sacrificing its life for the country stands with it.” He further highlighted, “This is the reason that the entire country stands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his support.”

India destroys terror camps in Pakistan

India launched “Operation Sindoor” at 1:05 am on 7th May and destroyed several camps associated with Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) based terrorist organisations including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and their headquarters. The Indian government has informed that more than 100 terrorists have been eliminated, although this figure remains provisional as the operation continues to be in progress. Notably, it has been reported that at least 10 family members of Mohammad Masood Azhar, the founder of JeM, were killed in the assault along with 4 close associates.

The diplomatic relationship between the two countries is at its lowest point after the massacre of Hindu individuals in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam on 22nd April, by Pakistan-supported terrorists. The victims were ordered to provide their names and identification cards, they were also instructed to recite Islamic verses and their trousers were forcibly removed to verify their religious identity prior to merciless execution of the non-Muslim men by the assailants.

India has implemented various measures to isolate and penalize Pakistan since then, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the downgrading of diplomatic relations, the halting of trade and the cancellation of visas for Pakistani nationals. Thereafter, “Operation Sindoor” was launched to strike against the terrorist factions that have been fostered in the country by its government, army, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and civilian administration.

1...337338339...7,578Page 338 of 7,578