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355 tremors in 35 years, 12,000+ deaths: Why Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes and struggles with timely relief

रामांशी
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355 tremors in 35 years, 12,000+ deaths: Why Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes and struggles with timely relief

On Monday (3rd November 2025), a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan. The epicentre was in the Kholm area near Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. The earthquake’s depth was reported 28 kilometres.

Seven people are reported to have died so far. In September, , a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing 2,200 people. The tremors, which struck on 3rd November, were felt across Afghanistan as well as parts of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

Why is Afghanistan vulnerable to earthquakes?

Between the years 2020 and 2025, Afghanistan has been struck by numerous earthquakes. Many of these were of magnitudes of 6.0 or greater. At least 50 earthquakes have been recorded in five years, according to geological agencies and news reports.

According to a Reuters report, at least 355 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater have struck Afghanistan since 1990. Over the past 35 years, earthquakes have killed more than 12,000 people.

Official statistics show that earthquakes kill an average of 560 people each year in Afghanistan, resulting in economic losses of approximately $80 million (approximately ₹660 crore).

The cause behind this is analysed to be that Afghanistan is located in a seismic zone where the Indian tectonic plate collides with the Eurasian plate. This collision gives rise to the Hindu Kush and Pamir Mountain ranges that extend to the north and east.

Source:  USGS report

Tectonic plates are large slivers of rock beneath Earth’s surface that slowly move out of place. These plates, 50 to 250 kilometres thick, lie within Earth’s upper layer (lithosphere).

Beneath these plates lies a layer of hot, fluid material called the asthenosphere. When these plates collide, move apart, or move past each other, events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, or mountain formations occur.

The Indian Plate is moving from south to north. Meanwhile, the Eurasian Plate, located to the north, is colliding with the Indian Plate. Furthermore, the Arabian Plate is moving southwest and exerts a small influence.

The Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan frequently experiences earthquakes at depths of approximately 100,000 km. These earthquakes cause minimal damage at the Earth’s surface. However, as the depth decreases, the tremors become stronger and more damaging.

The region surrounding Afghanistan is crisscrossed by numerous active fault lines, which regularly trigger moderate to severe earthquakes. Afghanistan’s geographical location makes it naturally prone to earthquakes.

In five years, Afghanistan lost thousands of lives in earthquakes

Afghanistan has been hit by several devastating earthquakes over the past five years. In October 2023, two magnitude 6.3 earthquakes struck the Herat region, killing over 1,000 people and injuring over 2,000. In August 2025, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, causing over 500 deaths. In November 2025, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Kholm region, killing four people and injuring over 60.

On 12th April 2025, a magnitude 5 earthquake struck Pakistan at a depth of 39 km. Furthermore, on April 16th and 19th, earthquakes of magnitudes 5.6 and 5.8 occurred in the Hindu Kush region and along the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.

Subsequently, on May 10th and June 29th, earthquakes of magnitudes 5.7 and 5.5 struck Pakistan. These also affected Afghanistan. Then, on August 27, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, and on August 19th, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck at a depth of 186 km. On September 1, a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Afghanistan, killing more than 800 people.

Previously, in 2024, a magnitude 5 earthquake struck the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region on January 5th. This was followed by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan on January 11th. Then, on October 17th, another magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck the same region.

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on January 5th, 2023. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan in late March, killing 13 people.

Subsequently, on May 3rd and August 5th, another earthquake of magnitude 5.6 and 5.7 struck the Hindu Kush region. On August 6, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border. Several earthquakes in Afghanistan in October killed several people. On November 15th, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region.

In 2022, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck western Afghanistan on January 17th at a depth of 30 km. A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region on February 5, and a magnitude 6 earthquake struck in June, killing more than 1,000 people.

Two or more earthquakes struck Afghanistan on September 5th and 6th, killing eight people. Then, on December 16, a 4.3 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan.

In 2021, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Afghanistan on May 19th at a depth of 17.6 km. On October 7, an earthquake in southern Pakistan killed at least 15 people.

Similarly, in 2020, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region on January 22nd. This was followed by a magnitude 5.4 earthquake in the Hindu Kush region on March 5th. In August, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan.

Challenges Afghanistan grapples with in tackling with natural disasters

In Afghanistan, disaster management is a major challenge. The country’s international relations have also weakened since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

This political instability, combined with economic crisis and a lack of technical resources, has slowed relief and rescue operations. Rural and mountainous areas are also difficult to reach, hampering relief efforts.

Afghanistan’s friend and saviour India helping earthquake victims

As the earthquake hit Afghanistan, many countries and organizations sent aid to Afghanistan. India sent medicines, tents, and medical teams. Iran and Pakistan provided first aid and shelter in border areas.

On Monday, Indian External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, spoke with his Afghan counterpart and expressed condolences for the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake.

Informing about his conversation with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister Jaishankar said, “Called FM Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan this afternoon to convey condolences at the loss of lives in the earthquake that struck Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces. Indian relief material for the earthquake impacted communities is being handed over today. Further supplies of medicines to reach soon. Discussed progress in our bilateral relationship since his visit. Welcomed the improving people-to-people contacts between India and Afghanistan. Appreciated the exchange of views on the regional situation.”

The United Nations, the Red Cross, and the WHO provided food, water, medical, and psychological support. However, the amount of relief fell far short of the need, and many affected areas were unable to reach aid in time.

The earthquake in Afghanistan has become not just a natural disaster but a severe humanitarian crisis. The vulnerability of the geological landscape, combined with the country’s weak infrastructure, limited resources, and political challenges, has exacerbated this situation.

To deal with this, it is necessary to give priority to disaster preparedness at the local level, strict building standards and international cooperation.

As Donald Trump warns US action against Islamist groups in Nigeria, read about the decade long anti-Christian violence in the country

Rukma Rathore
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As Donald Trump warns US action against Islamist groups in Nigeria, read about the decade long anti-Christian violence in the country

The ongoing religious violence in Nigeria, driven by Islamists has drawn international attention as the United States issued a warning to the West African country regarding its responsibility to protect the community. On 31st October, President Donald Trump stated that he has urged the Defence Department to prepare for a potential “fast” military action Nigeria fails to crack down on the killings of Christians.

He even declared that his administration would immediately cease all aid and support to the nation as well as the US army is going to land there “guns-a-blazing” to eradicate the terrorists who are carrying out these heinous crimes.

Trump referred to Nigeria as a “disgraced country” and emphasised that its administration has to act swiftly. He added, “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians.”

On 2nd November, Trump informed that the United States military could send soldiers or launch airstrikes to Nigeria to prevent the massacre of “very large numbers” of Christians there and expressed, “I envisage a lot of things.”

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he charged and even asked US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee to look into the matter.

Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth took to social media to assert, “The Department of War is preparing for action.” He remarked, “Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”

“The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu claimed earlier while dismissing the allegations and cited “constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths,” to emphasise his argument.

“Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths,” he added.

Afterward, Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu conveyed, “We welcome US assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity,” reported Reuters. “We don’t take it literally, because we know Donald Trump thinks well of Nigeria,” he mentioned while downplaying Trump’s “disgraced country” comment. “I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism,” he stressed.

The development transpired after Trump administration re-included the most populous African nation in the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” that the United States maintains have abused religious freedom including China, Myanmar, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Russia and Pakistan, among others.

This allows for a variety of policy responses, including waivers and punishments, although they are not automatic. Nigeria was put under the label during Trump’s first term as well but it was removed after President Joe Biden came to power.

Hundreds have been kidnapped and about 10,000 have been slaughtered after Bola Tinubu took office in the middle of 2023. Likewise, 3 million people have been forced to leave their homes due to the deteriorating situation.

Violence against Christians in Nigeria

Nigeria which is home to almost 200 million people from 200 different ethnic groups is split between a predominantly Christian south and a largerly Muslim north. Muslims form the majority in the country where jihadi groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province caused mayhem, killing thousands of people including countless Christians.

Gunmen often assault towns in the northwest of the country, kidnapping locals for ransom, while in central Nigeria, there have been recurrent conflicts between primarily Christian farmers and mostly Muslim herders over access to pasture and water. Furthermroe, ethnic differences, communal rivalries, secessionist groups or disputes over limited resources frequently intensify the violence.

21,409 people were killed in 11,862 attacks against civilians in Nigeria between January 2020 and September 2025, based on data gathered by the US based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) program. 317 people were killed in 385 of the incidents which were “targeted events against Christians where Christian identity of the victim was a reported factor.”

The Christian Association of Nigeria voiced that it has been working to raise awareness of “the persecution of Christians in Nigeria” over the years. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom also noted attacks against Muslims and Christians in Nigeria in its 2024 report, which it described as persistent abuses of religious freedom.

Joseph Hayab stated that the situation has improved over time, nevertheless, thousands of Christians have been slain, according to Associated Press. He is a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna state, one of the most affected regions in the country.

Image via livepopulation.com

“In too many cases, the perpetrators have gotten away with it and the impunity is deeply indicative of massive state failure,” pointed out Cheta Nwanze of the Lagos-based SBM Intelligence research firm, per a report in The Washington Post. “The criticism and pressure from Washington did not happen in a vacuum. It’s a result of many years of failure,” asserted Taiwo Hassan Adebayo, a researcher at the Institute of Security Studies.

Terror inflicted by jihadi outfits, Muslim herdsmen

The religious minority, particularly those residing on farms in small towns on the periphery of the largely Christian north central state of Benue tend to be the targets of vicious assaults.

The Boko Haram which desires to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria, started the bloodshed in 2002. The outfit has been planning terrorist strikes against the community and other civilians ever since. Its terrorism is turning harder to contain as tens of thousands of people have been slaughtered since its founding in 2002. Likewise, the unrest is also caused by Fulani Muslim herdsmen.

The distrust of ethnic Fulani pastoral groups stemmed from the deadly jihad that ravaged northern and central Nigeria and upended local structures alongside political systems. Hence, many communities in the area believe that the turmoil is actually a campaign to expel them from their territories.

Image via CBC

“What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits,” voiced James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse. He is the traditional leader of the ethnic group Tiv in Benue state.

“These Fulani militants account for more attacks against Christians (and Muslims) than either of the more prominent Boko Haram and ISWAP,” complained Religious Freedom Institute President David Trimble. They were accountable for 55% of all Christian fatalities between 2019 and 2023.

Christians reportedly experience prejudice and persecution as second-class citizens in northern Nigerian states governed by Sharia law. Nigerian legislation is rooted in persecution, with over a dozen provinces having sharia courts, blasphemy laws and sharia codes “that oppose equal rights and due process for religious minorities,” Trimble accused.

Notably, Nigeria is a member of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation which bills itself as “the collective voice of the Muslim world,” despite the fact that there isn’t an official religion of the country in legal terms.

Startling statistics regarding Christian persecution

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a research and investigative rights organisation with headquarters in Nigeria, released a report, “Martyred Christians in Nigeria,” in early 2023. It disclosed that Islamic terrorists brutally murdered at least 52,250 Nigerian Christians since 2009.

The report added that over 30,000 members of the community were killed during the 8-year presidency of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari who was regularly criticised for not doing enough to address the nation’s mounting insecurity.

During the time, 2,200 Christian schools and 18,000 Christian churches were burned down as more than 1,000 Christian were killed within the first few weeks of 2023. The number of torched churches rose to 19,100 by this September. Additionally, the terrorism also claimed the lives of about 34,000 moderate Muslims.

Similarly, over 200 Christians were abducted in Northern Nigeria’s Niger state at that time, including more than 100 Christians who were abducted in Adunu (Paikoro) on 14th March 2023. 707 Christians met the same fate throughout the period.

Kaduna had been the scene of at least 101 anti-Christian kidnappings while other states such as Katsina, Taraba, Edo, Ogun, Nassarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Yobe and Adawama Bauchi, Enugu, Imo, Kebbi, Gombe, Bayelsa and Cross River also witnessed similar occurrences.

Likewise, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) reported that at least 145 priests have been abducted, 11 have been killed and four are still missing since 2015. However, Intersociety stated that the situation is far worse. It indicated that at least 250 Catholic clergy members and 350 members from other churches have been targeted.

Intersociety also outlined that members of Nigerian army and police special units, as well as their leaders are suspected of abducting, killing and forcibly disappearing pastors from different Christian denominations.

The study also highlighted the existence of jihadi camps, like those in Rijana of Kaduna state where at least 850 Christians have been detained in appalling conditions. They would be tortured or killed if their families don’t pay a ransom. Catholic schools and communities have also been impacted by the systematic abduction of Christian children in eastern Nigeria, who are then taken to Muslim orphanages in the north for conversion to Islam.

Mass Christian exodus from Nigeria

Christians run the risk of dying at the hands of ethnic Fulani herders who joined extremist groups in addition to terrorist entities like Boko Haram. Hence, many people have been forcibly displaced as a result of the atrocities. Approximately 5 million Christians have been uprooted and compelled to live in refugee camps along regional and sub-regional borders as well as Internally Uprooted Persons (IDP) camps within Nigeria.

Nigeria is now among the most dangerous countries in Africa for Christians to live in, according to the Intersociety analysis. This was also noted in the 2023 Watch List that Open Doors, an interdenominational organisation that aids persecuted Christians worldwide, published in January. That report stated that 89% of all Christian deaths globally occur in Nigeria.

This violence has moved throughout the Middle Belt and even further south whereas earlier it primarily affected Christians in the Muslim-majority northern provinces, unveiled Open Doors. The women are taken and sexually violated while men are executed. Nigeria is the country with the highest number of religiously motivated murders worldwide.

Homes, churches and livelihoods are also destroyed by these terrorists. Violence and strife have forced over 16.2 million Christians from their homes in sub-Saharan Africa, including a significant number from Nigeria and pushed them to live in camps.

Evidence indicates religious motivated violence as government alleges otherwise

Nigeria has encountered the rise of a number of Islamic extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP especially in the country’s Muslim-majority north while other terror outfits have also begun to operate in recent years and are expanding into other regions, such as southern area. Furthermore, armed and radicalised Fulani group have created devastation in Nigeria’s Middle Belt which is majorly constituted by Christian regions.

Image via everycrsreport.com

All of these groups have caused waves of violence throughout the region, resulting in millions of people being displaced and thousands of deaths annually. The individuals have to survive in despicable conditions in IDP camps. The degree of violence varies throughout Nigeria as the majority of such incidents occur in the northern regions.

The Nigerian government and other analysts dismiss the accusations of violence motivated by religion, claiming that it is not the only cause of the unrest. The claims are partially true as there are other underlying factors as well but it is undeniable that Christians have faced attacks due to their religious beliefs

Christians have been deliberately and repeatedly designated as targets by ISWAP and Boko Haram, highlighted Open Doors. According to several victims when Fulani extremists strike, they chant not only “Allahu Akbar” but also “We will destroy all Christians.” The Islamist doctrine that has influenced them justifies the subjugation of Christians as infidels.

The Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa which has meticulously gathered information on civilian fatalities and violence in the area, affirmed that the patterns are evident. Considering the relative numbers of Muslims and Christians in northern areas, the fundamentalists kill more Christians than Muslims. Christians are 5.1 times more likely to be kidnapped and 6.5 times more likely to be slain than Muslims.

More than 20,000 people were kidnapped between 2019 and 2023, making it a lucrative industry that supports the growth of Islamist organisations and is connected to active terrorist organisations. Bandits have been known to target anyone inclined to pay a price, but they have discovered that Christians and religious leaders in particular, might command a larger ransom. Thus, they are particularly vulnerable.

Conclusion

The government nabbed and convicted some ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists but it has not prosecuted any Fulani accused with the same determination. Locals don’t believe that anyone will be held responsible for their violent actions. This is due to the fact that hundreds of suspects have been arrested over the years and the majority of them have since been freed without ever being charged or put on trial.

The recent emphasis on the issue appears to arise from the relentless decade-long violence in Nigeria coupled with evident government negligence and inaction.

OpIndia Exclusive: RTI reveals how Modi govt is wiping out Naxalism, thousands of surrenders since 2014, most terrorists killed in 2025 – Full details

Anurag
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OpIndia Exclusive: RTI reveals how Modi govt is wiping out Naxalism, thousands of surrenders since 2014, most terrorists killed in 2025 – Full details

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) has receded sharply across the “Red Corridor” over 11 years. A reply to OpIndia’s RTI on Naxalism from the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, shows that Chhattisgarh recorded the highest LWE surrenders (6,153) and the highest LWE killings (1,129) among the ten tracked states from May 2014 to 30th September 2025.

The year 2016 registered the most surrenders (1,440), while 2025 (till 30th September) logged the most LWE killings (311), which indicates shrinking insurgent space and intensified, intelligence-led operations. Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah has publicly set March 2026 as the target to end the Naxal problem under Operation Kagar.

RTI data shows sharp reduction in Naxal-related violence since 2016, with renewed operational surge in 2025. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs, LWE Division)

National picture – a shrinking insurgency under a centralised plan

OpIndia received data on 10 states that are West Bengal, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. According to the data, a total of 8,751 Naxals have surrendered since May 2014 and 1,801 Naxals have been killed. A total of 548 security personnel have lost their lives during operations and 1,630 civilians have been killed during that period. Furthermore, security forces have recovered 5,277 arms from LWEs between May 2014 and 30th September 2025.

The figures align with the Centre’s policy shift to coordinate inter-state operations, development-led outreach and targeted rehabilitation, which reduced the conflict to limited pockets. In a recent statement, HM Shah mentioned that the Naxal movement has reduced to just three districts across the country.

State-wise performance – Chhattisgarh tops, heartland pockets persist

Chhattisgarh is traditionally the core theatre of the Naxal movement. The state leads both in surrenders and killings of LWEs, which reflects intense state-Centre synergy, long-horizon area domination and continued pressure on formations in Bastar and adjoining zones.

RTI data shows Chhattisgarh accounting for nearly two-thirds of all Naxal surrenders and killings across ten states since 2014, followed by Jharkhand and Odisha. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs, LWE Division)

Interestingly, between May 2014 and December 2018, under the Raman Singh-led BJP government, the state recorded around 2,697 Naxal surrenders and 408 LWE killings. The phase reflected strong centre-state synergy, with the Union Home Ministry’s operations and state police actions working in tandem.

In contrast, during Congress rule (Bhupesh Baghel and Ajit Jogi) from 7 December 2018 to 13 December 2023, the figures dropped to around 2,019 surrenders and 228 LWE killings, even as civilian and force casualties saw little improvement.

After Vishnu Deo Sai’s BJP government assumed office in December 2023, the short period till September 2025 has already seen over 1,887 surrenders and 493 Naxal neutralisations, suggesting that the BJP-led coordination between the Centre and state has proven more cohesive and result-oriented in curbing Left-Wing Extremism.

RTI data reveals Chhattisgarh saw stronger anti-Naxal results under BJP governments, with renewed operational success since Vishnu Deo Sai took charge in 2023. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs, LWE Division)

Jharkhand and Odisha show sustained degradation of cadre strength, while Telangana and Andhra Pradesh remain relatively quiet. West Bengal and Kerala register negligible incident numbers in recent years, consistent with the contraction of the Red Corridor.

Year-wise trend – peak surrenders in 2016, operational squeeze in 2025

2016 emerged as the peak surrender year, which suggests effective pull factors and rehabilitation programmes. 2025 (till 30th September) shows the highest Naxal neutralisations by killing, a sign of the Central Government’s determination to end Naxalism with the help of improved actionable intelligence, better mobility and technology-enabled operations. The twin trend of high surrenders over time and recent operational dominance points towards a maturing counter-insurgency programme that has moved from establishing contact and talks to focused endgame pressure.

Civilian and security force casualties – risk reduced, vigilance retained

Security forces have paid a price. 548 personnel have been killed since May 2014. However, year-on-year casualties show an overall decline over the years. Civilian deaths (1,630) remain a sombre reminder of the human toll, although the spread and frequency of civilian-targeted incidents have reduced as insurgent control areas have shrunk.

Casualty data from Chhattisgarh shows a sharp reduction in both civilian and security force deaths after 2018, underscoring improved intelligence and field coordination. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs, LWE Division)

Surrender and rehabilitation – policy credibility and cadre depletion

The consistency of 8,751 surrenders across eleven years points to a credible pipeline from contact to capitulation. Counselling, monetary incentives, livelihood transitions and legal relief for rank-and-file members not involved in grave crimes have successfully attracted those who want to leave the path of the Naxal movement. Furthermore, in recent times, HM Shah categorically denied requests for ceasefire and talks, pushing for either surrender or encounter of the LWEs, which has left virtually no room for Naxals to continue their armed movement.

All these factors have had a compounding effect, including cadre depletion, intelligence inflow and armament recovery, which stood at 5,277 in 11 years, further eroding insurgent capacity to regroup.

Arms recovered – measuring operational dominance

Steady arms recoveries corroborate area domination beyond encounter tallies. Recoveries across multiple states indicate a thinning of arms caches and disruption of supply lines, reducing the ability of units to plan complex ambushes or sustain long campaigns.

According to RTI data, security forces recovered a total of 5,277 arms from Naxals across 10 states between May 2014 and September 2025. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs, LWE Division)

The road to March 2026 – endgame in shrinking pockets

With the Naxal footprint now limited to select forested belts, the government’s stated objective of ending Naxalism by March 2026 appears to rest on sustained pressure in a few remaining nodes, backed by road connectivity, telecom coverage, welfare saturation and continued surrenders. The overall trajectory since May 2014 shows LWE in strategic retreat, though vigilance remains essential to prevent episodic spikes.

Is Trump hinting at a nuclear race? After the tariff war, ‘nuclear testing’ becomes the new buzzword for the US President

Shraddha Pandey
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Is Trump hinting at a nuclear race? After the tariff war, ‘nuclear testing’ becomes the new buzzword for the US President

Ever since starting his presidency in January this year, Donald Trump has posited himself as a ‘man of peace’ who is on a mission to end ‘wars’ across the world. However, President Trump is waging his own wars against allies and adversaries alike. After mollycoddling Pakistan’s madarsa-bred ‘Field Marshal’ Asim Munir, bombing Iran, sparking off tariff wars against various countries, including India and China, and failing to end the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump is obsessing over nuclear testing.

On 29th October, Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to immediately increase testing of nuclear weapons and match other countries like Russia and China.

Taking to Truth Social ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Trump said that the US has more nuclear weapons in the world and that in his first term as president, a complete renovation of existing nuclear warheads was accomplished. He claimed to have “hated” to do it. Trump added that because of the nuclear testing programs of other countries, especially Russia and China, he has directed the Department of War to start testing US nuclear weapons on an equal basis.

“The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country. This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office. Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years. Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,” Trump wrote.

Trump’s directives to the Department of War to increase nuclear weapons testing came days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday that Russia has successfully tested its “unique” nuclear-propelled Burevestnik cruise missile, which can also carry a nuclear warhead.

Now, Trump has doubled down on his on his decision to restart nuclear testing in the United States. In an interview with CBS 60 Minutes, Trump said that despite the US having enough weapons to “blow up” dozens of countries, Russia and China’s nuclear ambitions are the reason for resuming tests.

Trump said that his decision to resume nuclear weapons testing stems from the realisation that the US cannot be the only country that does not carry out tests, despite having a huge arsenal.

“We have more nuclear weapons than any other country. And I think we should do something about denuclearization. And I did actually discuss that with both President Putin and President Xi. We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times. Russia has a lot of nuclear weapons, and China will have a lot. They have some. They have quite a bit, but…” Trump said.

When asked why is there a need to test nuclear weapons, Trump said, “Because you have to see how they work. You know, you do have to— and the reason I’m saying— testing is because Russia announced that they were going to be doing a test. If you notice, North Korea’s testing constantly. Other countries are testing. We’re the only country that doesn’t test, and I want to be— I don’t want to be the only country that doesn’t test.”

He added that while Russia and China do not openly share their tests or details pertaining to them with the world, the US is an “open society”.

“We’re different. We talk about it. We have to talk about it, because otherwise you people are going to report— they don’t have reporters that going to be writing about it. We do,” he said.

Trump’s newfound nuclear obsession, however, is not finding buyers in his own administration, as Vice Admiral Richard Correll, Trump’s nominee to lead STRATCOM (which is the Department of Defense’s command for strategic deterrence and global strike capabilities), said in his testimonial at Capitol Hill that neither China nor Russia have conducted explosive nuclear tests.

“I believe the quote was, ‘start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis.’ Neither China or Russia has conducted a nuclear explosive test, so I’m not reading anything into it or reading anything out to it,” Corell said.

While Donald Trump’s decision to increase nuclear testing has triggered scepticism, on Sunday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that the testing would not involve nuclear explosions. He said that the testing would focus on “the other parts of a nuclear weapon” to ensure they are working properly.”

In an interview with Fox News, Wright said, “I think the tests we’re talking about right now are systems. “These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions.”

From dreaming of the Nobel Peace Prize to obsessing over nuclear testing: Trump’s evolving rhetoric

Donald Trump’s fixation over nuclear tests marks a sharp pivot from his signature economic pressure and arm-twisting tactics, particularly, the protracted tariff wars with China and clashing with Beijing over rare earth magnets, arbitrary imposition of tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, brining Japan and Vietnam to their knees using tariff threats, and making false claims of ending India-Pakistan war to bolster his Nobel Peace Prize prospects to now unleashing a fresh ‘nuclear’ buzzword from his arsenal of brinkmanship.

Trump justified his tariff war as ‘economic nationalism’ and will now justify his decision that could potentially trigger a nuclear race as imperative for ‘national security’.

Notably, the last time the US undertook nuclear testing was in September 1992 as part of ‘Operation Julin’. Under this operation, a group of seven nuclear tests were conducted. Soon after, the negotiations for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) started.

Under this international agreement, all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes are banned. India, China, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel and even Russia are among the 187 nations that have signed it. However, only 178 countries have ratified and implemented this ban treaty. The US is also a signatory of the CTBT; however, it has not ratified it.

Interestingly, North Korea has been the only country regularly conducting nuclear tests in the past quarter-century. The country conducted its last nuclear test in 2017.

While China has expanded its nuclear arsenal and deployed missiles, the country has not tested a nuclear weapon since 1996. Russia, too, has not conducted a nuclear weapons test since 1990. However, it did recently announce that the Kremlin has tested a nuclear-propelled Burevestnik cruise missile, which can also carry a nuclear warhead.

Donald Trump’s nuclear testing hysteria can trigger a nuclear arms race

Donald Trump’s repeated bragging of ordering a resumption of nuclear testing could potentially spark a global nuclear arms race. Whether Trump is going ‘nuclear’ to bolster his supposed strongman image or threaten Russia, China and other nuclear-armed not-so-friendly nations, the US could end up unravelling the fragile norm of the testing moratorium. Trump may be using the excuse of the alleged nuclear testing by Russia and China to resume America’s testing program. Russia, China and other nuclear-armed nations, especially those at war or surrounded by hostile neighbours, could also resume testing, citing reciprocal actions to maintain parity.

Long story cut short, America’s unilateral actions might accelerate a multipolar arms spiral. Russia and China would want to close the gaps with US capabilities. North Korea will also argue, “If they are testing, why should we hold back?” India would want to bolster its nuclear power, given Pakistan’s jihadist army threatens nuclear attacks on India every now and then out of frustration over India repeatedly battering them in conventional conflicts, and the recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Notably, in his CBS 60 Minutes interview, Trump himself admitted that Pakistan is testing nuclear weapons.

India also has to tackle China, although the relations between the two nations are improving lately, in a volatile geopolitical landscape, situations can take an unexpected turn anytime. New Delhi would thus want to be powerful and prepared enough to go ‘nuclear ‘ against the potential Pak-China two-front threat. If Trump’s nuclear testing designs indeed mean full-fledged nuclear weapons testing and not the supposedly downplayed version his officials are telling the media, this will open a window for India and other nuclear-armed countries to resume tests.

It seems that the failure of deterring sovereign nations by the use of tariffs, ending the Russia-Ukraine war, has made Donald Trump flirt with a perilous gamble of nuclear testing to send out a message to America’s adversaries that the US is the top nuclear power and will not shy away from blowing them up. However, by mindlessly flexing the nuclear muscle, Trump is dancing on the precipice of apocalypse, as a vicious cycle would begin wherein each nuclear test will beget countermeasures and who knows, this will collectively push the world into World War III, only this time ‘Little Boy’ will not be the only player.

ISRO launches heaviest ever GSAT-7R satellite using LVM3-M5 rocket, read how it will supercharge the capabilities of Indian Navy

Aditi
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ISRO launches heaviest ever GSAT-7R satellite using LVM3-M5 rocket, read how it will supercharge the capabilities of Indian Navy

In a remarkable feat, the Indian Space Research Organisation launched the Indian Navy’s GSAT-7R (CMS-03) satellite on Sunday (2nd November) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. What sets the spacecraft apart is that it is India’s heaviest communication satellite to be launched from the country’s soil into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

GSAT-7R equipped with indigenous state-of-the-art components

The multi-band communication satellite is expected to boost the Indian Navy’s space-based communications and enhance its maritime domain awareness capabilities. The indigenously developed satellite marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in space technologies and bolsters India’s sovereign defence communication infrastructure. The satellite is a specimen of the country’s ascending capabilities with respect to designing, building, and launching complex mission-critical satellites. It will remove India’s dependence on the Inmarsat constellation for the strategic communication needs of naval assets.

GSAT-7R is an entirely indigenously made satellite weighs around 4,400 kg and is equipped with many indigenous state-of-the-art components developed specifically to meet the Indian Navy’s operational requirements. It will provide strong telecommunication coverage across the Indian Ocean Region, a wide oceanic region including the Indian landmass. The satellite will considerably enhance connectivity with high-capacity bandwidth, enabling seamless and secure communication links between ships, aircraft, submarines, and Maritime Operations Centres of the Indian Navy. The satellite will strengthen India’s network-centric warfare capabilities by providing real-time, secure voice, video, and data transmission across naval assets, including warships, submarines, aircraft, and shore-based command centres.

GSAT-7R will replace GSAT-7 (Rukmini), which was launched in 2013. Both satellites are dedicated to the Indian Navy. Belonging to the same series, the GSAT-7A satellite was launched for the Indian Air Force.

The satellite’s journey to its destination

Like other geostationary satellites launched by ISRO, GSAT-7R will first enter the GTO, which is around 36,000 kilometres above the planet at its farthest point. Then the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) will come into play to raise the orbit. Thereafter, the LAM engine will fire multiple times in a carefully orchestrated sequence and duration to adjust the apogee and perigee, achieving a perfect geostationary orbit.

The LAM will initially fire at the perigee (the closest point to Earth) to raise the apogee, followed by a second firing at the apogee (the farthest point) to gradually circularise the orbit. The entire process is expected to take 4-7 days. After the desired orbit is achieved, it will take another 4-5 weeks for satellite commissioning.

The LVM3 launch vehicle

The satellite has been launched aboard the LVM3-M5 launch vehicle, which is referred to as ‘Bahubali’ for its heavy-lift capabilities. The LVM3, also known as Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) MkIII, earlier launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the first country to make a successful landing on the Moon’s south pole. The LVM3 is ISRO’s operational heavy lift Launch vehicle with a positive record of completing several successful missions. The launch, the fifth Operational Flight of the LVM3, was carried out from the Second Launch Pad (SLP), SDSC, SHAR.

The 43.5 metre tall LVM3-M5 launch vehicle was fully assembled and integrated with the satellite before being moved to the second launch pad for pre-launch operations on October 26, 2025. The three-stage rocket was fitted with two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and a cryogenic stage (C25). The vehicle provides ISRO much-needed self-reliance in launching heavier communication satellites weighing up to 4,000 kg in GTO.

The entire project was funded by the Ministry of Defence at a cost of ₹1,589 crore (approximately US$225.65 million), and was contracted in June 2019.

Trump-Xi meet in Busan sparks debate about ‘G2’ reset: Read why it is a tactical pause and not a long-term alliance between China and US

Divyansh Tiwari
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Trump-Xi meet in Busan sparks debate about ‘G2’ reset: Read why it is a tactical pause and not a long-term alliance between China and US

On Thursday (30th October), President Trump and President Xi met in Busan and announced an agreement to reduce tariffs on goods related to fentanyl from 20% to 10%, loosen restrictions on rare earths, and resume China’s purchases of US soybeans.

This was interpreted by many observers as evidence that Beijing and Washington could still negotiate ‘big power bargains’ over everyone else. However, the lesson is more complex for Indian strategists. In order to create room for their actual competition in technology, maritime influence, and global rule-making, both sides trade tactical concessions on tariffs, commodities, or enforcement at the so-called G2.

The Busan talks may initially appear to be a G2 reset, with the two superpowers calming markets and stabilising trade. However, none of the fundamental issues were settled, as evidenced by Taiwan, China’s covert support of Russia, South China Sea tensions, and restrictions on AI chips. What Indian analysts have long suspected is confirmed by the Busan deal.

Beijing and Washington can handle brief tactical pauses, but not a long-term strategic alliance. Their rivalry simply moves into more technical domains that directly impact nations like India when the high-level tensions subside. Therefore, a thaw between the United States and China should not be interpreted as a safer regional environment. Limited compromises can strengthen their hold on long-term power dynamics.  

The visible layer: Tariffs, showy détente and a hidden hardening

The story appears simple at first glance. While Beijing needed relief on rare earths after its export restrictions on October 9 had unsettled markets, the U.S. president wanted to see tangible progress on drug control and farm exports. Prior to the APEC meetings, both parties sought to reassure investors. For this reason, the Busan meeting resulted in a deal on soybeans and tariff reductions.   

However, Washington’s regulatory apparatus continued to tighten behind the handshake. The Congressional Research Service published a list of new export control measures in September 2025. The use of Huawei’s Ascend AI chips was formally treated as an export-control concern. 42 more Chinese entities were added to the U.S. Entity List.

The previous, more lenient “AI diffusion” rule was eliminated and, crucially for South Korea and Taiwan, Chinese-based Samsung and SK Hynix factories lost their “Validated End User” privileges. China’s soybean purchases and tariff cooperation were essentially accepted by the United States, but restrictions on what really counts, China’s access to cutting edge computing power, semiconductor tools, and American technical know how were not loosened.

This is the most important lesson for India. The tech dispute will not be resolved by a cordial photo op between Beijing and Washington. Delhi should anticipate that Beijing will use its own leverage, such as controls over rare earths, to resist U.S. technology restrictions on China.

This competitive environment will be the setting for India’s “China plus one” manufacturing initiatives, its incentives linked to electronics production, and its aspirations to become a center for chip packaging and ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging). To benefit, India must be perceived as a trusted partner who adheres to US technology controls.

The Maritime layer: South china sea pressure and Indian Ocean implications

Since 2016, 2025 has been one of the South China Sea’s most tense and active years. Chinese coast guard ships attacked Philippine boats with water cannons and rammed them on October 12. Prior to the Busan summit, Washington had hinted at planning a “show of force” with allies to reiterate its treaty obligations to Manila, and the U.S. State Department denounced these actions as dangerous.

The seventh joint maritime exercises between the United States and the Philippines in June 2025 had already demonstrated Manila’s refusal to back down. This escalation is significant for India. Washington seeks a reliable, non-aligned, and militarily capable ally to secure the western half of the Indo-Pacific whenever tensions between the United States and China escalate east of the Malacca Strait. Naturally, India is the target of that obligation.

However, Delhi faces additional risks as a result of this. The United States will expect India to maintain stability in the Indian Ocean and stop Chinese “grey-zone” activities there, such as survey ships using fictitious AIS signals, PLAN support vessels staying close to island territories, or civilian-looking ships carrying out covert underwater mapping, if it gets involved in a South China Sea conflict.

Concurrently, China’s trade with Africa and the Gulf will keep growing, employing more alternative networks for payment, insurance, and shipping that are intended to evade American regulation. India will thus face an increasing challenge in maritime surveillance.

In an increasingly crowded and opaque ocean space, the Navy and Coast Guard will have to make a careful distinction between suspicious, dual-use operations and typical Chinese commercial movements. In this sense, the consequences of the rivalry between the United States and China increase India’s maritime burden even when India is not directly involved in the conflict.

The Invisible Layer: Standards, Data, and Parallel Rails

The competition for standards, data, and digital infrastructure is the least talked about but possibly most significant aspect of the current rivalry between the United States and China. The most recent export restrictions imposed by Washington go beyond restricting China’s access to expensive chips. They now focus on cloud services, training support, and the transfer of AI model weights, which could help Chinese businesses get around hardware limitations.

China is reacting in two ways. In order to prevent sanctions from shutting down Huawei’s system, it is first attempting to get its own AI accelerators and digital platforms widely adopted among Belt and Road partners. Second, it is subtly promoting its algorithmic standards and content policies to encourage friendly nations to adopt Chinese-style digital regulations by default. Chinese companies are testing alternative systems for payments, insurance, and vessel tracking (AIS) in order to maintain strategic trade without depending on American frameworks, as U.S. financial and shipping regulations tighten.

For India, this has major ramifications. India’s digital economy is at a critical juncture. It depends on inexpensive Chinese hardware and smartphones to maintain widespread and inexpensive digital access, but it also needs U.S. cloud services, investment, and cutting-edge chips to power its expanding AI and startup sectors. India’s technology costs will increase if it aligns too closely with U.S. regulations, making it more difficult to maintain its inclusive digital model. However, it runs the risk of being subject to U.S. secondary sanctions if it leans too much toward Chinese systems, a problem it has already faced when purchasing Russian oil. Diversifying suppliers, maintaining thorough documentation, and retaining sovereign control over its data continue to be India’s best course of action since 2014. Staying open to both sides, adhering to all regulations, and preventing Beijing or Washington from defining India’s digital standards are the basic strategies.

Why the G2 still can’t make india optional

The Busan meeting also made clear why Beijing and Washington cannot afford to overlook India. India is crucial to the United States in a number of ways. In order to prevent China from opening a second front while American forces are occupied in the South China Sea, India must maintain the Himalayan line.

Additionally, since 2023, U.S. officials and think tanks have been pushing for India to be a reliable destination for international supply chains that are leaving China. Beyond that, Washington values India’s voice in the Global South. India’s statement that “you can work with both sides” is more palatable to many governments in Africa, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia than a direct, hard-line message from Washington.  

Though for different reasons, China also regards India as essential. India must maintain stable trade relations with one of the biggest markets in the world, keep organizations like the SCO and BRICS operational, and stop a formal anti-China naval coalition from forming in the Indian Ocean.

India has a special place to operate because of this mutual reliance. A truly multipolar world necessitates a multipolar Asia, as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has stated time and time again since 2024. This means that India and China must manage their relationship, even if it is polarizing. In a nutshell, his message to Washington and Beijing is clear that Asia’s future cannot be decided solely on India’s head.

Modi Doctrine in a G2 world: Interest first, Coalition by issue

The foreign policy of the Modi government exhibits a distinct and consistent pattern when viewed from 2014 to 2025. India continued to purchase oil during the conflict with Russia, but it adhered closely to the price cap regulations. It protected shipping lanes in the Red Sea without completely embracing the Western narrative. India maintained open diplomatic relations with China while maintaining a firm stance along the Line of Actual Control. Protecting national interests first, meticulously documenting every action, and joining coalitions selectively, issue by issue, are the clear guiding principles.

The U.S.-China dynamic is a good fit for the same strategy. When India develops its own capabilities, it will accept American defense and technology partnerships. In order to support Indian manufacturing and consumer welfare, it will maintain economic ties with China. Because Global South nations can voice concerns about Western overreach in the BRICS and SCO forums, it will continue to be active there. Above all, India consistently claims that decisions are made in Delhi and are not influenced by other places.  

In 2025, this strategy has become more valuable due to its predictability and transparency. Washington is aware that sanctions evasion is not concentrated in India. Beijing is aware that India is not attempting to militarily encircle China. ASEAN nations can observe that India takes part in Indo-Pacific projects without importing every conflict between the United States and China. This clarity makes India a reliable and stable partner at a time when U.S.-China relations are becoming more transactional, with tariffs falling one day and new AI controls rising the next.

The Under the Radar risks India must track

India must consider three subtle but serious risks in its strategic thinking.

First, Indian cloud service providers or researchers utilizing U.S.-based platforms may face enforcement issues if U.S. export controls extend beyond hardware to include service-level limitations on AI training for Chinese entities, as suggested by the Congressional Research Service report from September 2025. Delhi must get ready by establishing independent capacity or negotiating exemptions.

Second, more vessels with unclear ownership, cargo, or purpose may be seen in the Indian Ocean as Chinese shipping becomes more covert to evade American surveillance. The Indian Navy would have to perform more AIS data analysis and on-sea inspections to ensure maritime security, which would increase surveillance costs.

Third, India may need to firmly defend the global expansion of UPI, the RBI’s rupee-trade initiatives, and its data localization policies if Washington and Beijing eventually reach an agreement on payment systems or data exchanges, say, on Chinese fintech oversight or data-transfer regulations. These ought to be portrayed as crucial elements of India’s strategic autonomy rather than as protectionist policies.

What India should do next

India should have a simple plan for the years 2025–2027. Through the Quad, cooperative maritime awareness programs, and defense production initiatives, it should continue to have close interoperability with Western partners. This guarantees that India’s interests are taken into consideration whenever Washington interacts with Beijing.

India should maintain open trade channels with China at the same time, but with stringent security and documentation requirements. This keeps inexpensive Chinese hardware accessible to Indian manufacturers and consumers without sacrificing security.

India must bolster its own capabilities at home by developing secure AI training facilities, increasing the Navy’s lift and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, and advancing semiconductor assembly and testing (ATMP). By taking these actions, India will be better equipped to withstand any unexpected disruptions in the U.S.-China relationship. Lastly, India should keep spearheading the Global South narrative that states don’t need to take sides. In today’s divisive world, many partners in Africa, ASEAN, the Gulf, and Latin America find this balanced approach credible and comforting.

Conclusion

From Delhi’s point of view, the Busan agreement does not indicate that China and the United States will soon co-rule the world. Instead, it demonstrates that both powers are primarily focused on resolving their own immediate issues, leaving others to deal with the consequences.

Although rare earth exports have resumed, tariffs have been loosened, and cooperation on fentanyl has been promised, South China Sea tensions have increased, U.S. AI controls have grown, and China is still testing its presence in dual-use maritime zones.

Rejecting an either-or option has been India’s most consistent response in this situation, which is consistent with the Modi government’s strategy. India is establishing itself as the third major force in a game that was previously dominated by two by strengthening its technological and defense cooperation with the United States, maintaining a cautious but functional relationship with China, and gradually increasing its own economic and naval power.

In 2025, neither the United States nor China will be able to make long-term decisions about Asia or technology without first asking, “What will India do?” That is already a major accomplishment for a nation that prioritizes strategic autonomy.     
           

Pirates of Sundarbans return in Bangladesh: Read how a problem eradicated by Sheikh Hasina govt re-emerged under lawless Md Yunus regime

Raju Das
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Pirates of Sundarbans return in Bangladesh: Read how a problem eradicated by Sheikh Hasina govt re-emerged under lawless Md Yunus regime

Bangladesh under interim chief Muhammad Yunus has descended into lawlessness after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. With increasing attack on minorities like Hindus, now a separate danger has risen its head, a problem that was successfully curbed by the previous democratically elected government. That new danger is the Pirates of Sundarbans.

In the twisting rivers of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest between Bangladesh and India, pirates have resumed their terror. A little over a year after students ousted the Sheikh Hasina’s government in July 2024, pirate gangs are returning. Fishermen, honey collectors, and crab farmers now facing attacks, kidnaps, and demands for money. Gunshots can be heard again in the foggy islands. The peace that Hasina’s government created is breaking in the UNESCO world heritage site.

The trouble started quietly after Hasina left power on August 5, 2024. She fled to India after 15 years as prime minister of Bangladesh. The massive violence that preceded and followed the fall of the government meant that the entire police force was busy with controlling violence and riots.

While the violence has reduced now, sporadic incidents do take place now and then. Moreover, the new temporary government, led by Muhammad Yunus, is busy with big changes across the country, including preparing for the election and making changes to the constitution as demanded by the protestors.

This has left the far-away Sundarbans with less police protection. As a result, at least 20 pirate groups, such as Dulabhai Bahini and Jahangir Bahini, are now active again in the south and centre of the forest. These groups include old pirates who had returned to mainstream, escaped prisoners, and jobless locals.

As per Bangladeshi media reports, areas in the Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges of the Eastern Forest Division of Sundarbans have reported regular activities of pirate gangs. The violence is so extreme that now fishermen, foresters and traders don’t even dare to move out of their villagers for work.

In the past month, bandits have kidnapped more than a hundred fishermen in the Sundarbans and extorted ransom in exchange for their return. In the last one year, over 300 people were kidnapped and tortured by the pirates. Most of the hostages returned after secretly paying ransom.

Locals say that many fishermen  and others are still being held hostage by various forces. Pirates are more active in various areas of the Sharankhola range of the eastern Sundarbans, including Mara Bhola, Ali Banda, Dhanche Bariya, Tetul Bariya, Tiar Char, Andharmanik, Pashur, and Shibsha.

People who witnessed the attacks narrate the scary stories. In late September, 20 fishermen from Satkhira disappeared near the Jamuna River. They were freed only after paying 500,000 taka to men with guns. “They came like ghosts from the past,” said villager Abdul Karim. “We thought pirates were gone for good. Now no one goes deep into the forest without fear,” he said.

Similarly, honey collectors in Bagerhat are stopped and forced to pay “fees.” Crab sellers in Khulna get threats. Prices of such products are going up, and people are losing work. Villages are forced pay weekly ‘protection money’ to stay safe.

These pirate groups control secret paths for smuggling fish, wood, drugs, and fake items. At least five big gangs are moving with guns. They feel fearless because the new government is focused on other problems and have largely stopped caring about the region.

According to sources from the Forest Department, fishermen and businessmen, bandits are forming groups under different names and carrying out criminal activities. These groups are formed by people involved in various crimes who had surrendered earlier and those who were convicted in various cases. Among these groups, Jahangir Bahini, Manjur Bahini, Dada Bhai Bahini are the most dangerous ones in terms of weapons and number of members. Members of these three groups had surrendered earlier and returned to normal life. In addition, some other notable pirate ganges are Karim-Sharif Bahini, Asadur Bahini, Dayal Bahini, Robi Bahini, Dulabhai Bahini, Ranga Bahini, Suman Bahini, Anwarul Bahini, Hannan Bahini and Alif Bahini.

As per local officials, influential people in the areas adjacent to the forests are acting as intermediaries and sources for the bandits. They secretly communicate with the families of kidnapped fishermen and their moneylenders, collect ransom money and deliver it to the pirate gangs. Various bandit forces are also giving tokens with their respective symbols to the fishermen, in exchange of ‘protection money’. If such pirate tokens are on the boat, fishing can be done safely in the forest.

Fishermen are required to pay a ransom of 20,000 to 30,000 taka per boat if they are sent to the forest. In the event of kidnapping, a ransom of 50,000 to 3,00,000 taka is required. The fishermen who are unable to pay this ‘fee’ have stopped going to the forest for fishing. If anyone is caught fishing without tokens, they are kidnapped, and are forced to pay much higher ransom.

Several fish traders in Sharankhola, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that it is not safe to speak out against the goons. Representatives or sources of the gangs roam around the fishermen’s fish stalls near the forest. If they find out about the leak of information, they will torture the fishermen later and the extortion amount will increase. For this reason, none of the fishermen or moneylenders are speaking out against them.

Lieutenant Commander Abrar Hasan, Staff Officer of the Coast Guard Mongla West Zone, told the media that the trouble of pirate gangs bandits in the Sundarbans has started since fall of Hasina government in August last year. The Coast Guard has been conducting operations in the in different areas of the Sundarbans, but with limited success. Only around 40 pirates have been arrested so far. Large quantities of weapons and ammunition have been recovered from the arrested people. Local administration officials admitted that they are not equipped enough to fight the pirates.

Notably, while piracy was an issue in the Sundarbans earlier, it had disappeared completely. But the July revolution and the regime change at Dhaka paved the way for return of the Pirates of Sundarbans. As police and security forces were diverted to more pressing issues, the hard-to-reach areas in the world’s largest delta were left largely without any security.

For years, the Sundarbans was a hideout for armed gangs. They kidnapped people, killed for money, and hunted tigers. In the early 2000s, over 100 groups caused hundreds of deaths each year and hurt the fishing business.

Starting in 2012, Hasina’s government fought back with force and help. A special task force formed in 2012 under RAB (Rapid Action Battalion), and then there was massive crackdown on the criminals. Police, navy, and coast guard teams hunted the gangs. Local leaders and reporters helped make peace.

After that, the government launched the most important part of the plan, an “amnesty program.” Pirates who gave up their guns got money, training for new jobs like fish farming or bee-keeping, and small loans.

The plan worked well. On November 1, 2018, PM Hasina said the Sundarbans was free of pirates. Over 1,500 men from 32 groups gave up weapons and violence. “They answered our call to stop,” she said. Attacks dropped 90 percent by 2019. Tiger hunting fell. Former pirates started various occupations with government’s help and started normal lives. For example, Mostafa Sheikh, leader of Master Bahini, the most notorious pirate gang that controlled he entire southern coastline of Bangladesh, opened a bike garage.

From 2018 to 2024, Sundarbans was pirate-free. But exit of Sheikh Hasina government resulted in the return of the pirate gangs. Many of the gangs are formed by former pirates who had surrendered. For example, while Ilias Bahini’s head Ilias has died, his brother-in-law Rabiul formed a new gang. Locals have called it ‘Dulabhai Bahini’, which literally means (brother-in-law gang).

Large number of prisoners were freed by students during the July revolution, and many such former inmates have also joined or formed such gangs.

Before the 2018 surrender, the pirate gangs only operated in waters, targeting fishermen and traders. But after their re-emergence, they have started coming ashore also.

The interim government has promised action. In October, Md. Yunus started a special team with 500 guards and local helpers. But many doubt it will work. Sheikh Hasina succeeded in solving the menace because she mixed punishment with reward, she offered good incentive to pirates to return to normalcy.

For now, terror rules the pristine forests of Sundarbans. The terror of pirates means more than just crime, it shows how fast safety can disappear after a regime change.

Genocide in Sudan: Civil war between radical Islamist SAF and RSF has resulted in a dire crisis for Christian minorities, thousands killed and starved while the world ignores

Shriti Sagar
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Genocide in Sudan: Civil war between radical Islamist SAF and RSF has resulted in a dire crisis for Christian minorities, thousands killed and starved while the world ignores

Sudan’s ongoing civil war has taken a horrific turn, with new reports of mass killings and ethnic violence emerging from the Darfur region. El-Fasher fell on Sunday, 26th October, after 18 months of RSF seize, which blocked the entry of food and essentials for thousands of people trapped inside. 

The brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left more than two thousand dead, millions displaced, and entire communities wiped out by Friday, 31st October.

For over 18 months, El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, had been under siege by the RSF, a powerful paramilitary group that grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias responsible for the early 2000s Darfur genocide. El Fasher was the last remaining stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces. When the city finally fell, the violence that followed mirrored the same atrocities that shocked the world two decades ago.

1.2 million people in the city had been under siege for 18 months, forced to survive on animal feed, or worse, as the RSF built 56km (35-mile) of barriers, preventing entry of food and medicine and sealing off escape routes.

An analysis by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) appeared to confirm reports of mass killings, using satellite imagery and remote-sensing data.

According to the HRL, clusters of objects and ground discolouration are evidence of human bodies and pools of blood. The clusters and discolouration were not present in images taken before the RSF invaded, the report noted.

More than 26,000 people have fled el-Fasher in just two days, most on foot towards Tawila, 70km (43 miles) to the west, the UN said. Some 177,000 civilians remain trapped in El-Fasher, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

A report earlier this month stated that as many as 14 million people have been displaced, calling the Sudan civil war the worst displacement crisis in the world currently.

Image via Aljazeera

The RSF fighters themselves have posted videos online, showing civilians, mostly men and boys, being executed, beaten, and mocked. The footage, which has spread across social media, has been verified by multiple human rights investigators.

According to the Yale report, El-Fasher “appears to be undergoing a systematic and intentional process of ethnic cleansing of indigenous non-Arab communities through forced displacement and execution.”

The RSF denies accusations of genocide, but even its leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti,” admitted that his forces had committed “violations.” He released a video expressing “regret” for what had happened and announced the arrest of one RSF fighter,  a move international observers dismissed as symbolic.

The roots of Sudan’s endless war

Sudan has a long and painful history. Since gaining independence in 1956, after nearly six decades of British Egyptian rule, Sudan has endured a succession of devastating wars in its southern, western, and eastern regions. According to United Nations estimates, the civil war in South Sudan claimed around two million lives before the region’s succession in 2011. In western Sudan, the Darfur conflict left more than 300,000 people dead between 2003 and 2019.

Sudan conflict map by Visual Capitalist. Link: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/map-explainer-sudan/

Even before the current war, recurring tribal and regional clashes had already exacted a heavy toll, killing over 250,000 people. Today’s conflict has only deepened this national tragedy. More than 150,000 people have been killed and millions have been displaced, and countless civilians subjected to grave abuses, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, sexual violence, and widespread looting.

The war has also brought agricultural and industrial activity to a standstill, driven nearly 19 million children out of school, destroyed critical infrastructure, and caused the Sudanese currency to collapse to unprecedented levels.

By 2023, their rivalry had exploded into open warfare. Since then, at least 15,000 people have been killed in major massacres, including one in El-Geneina, where RSF forces wiped out members of the Masalit tribe.

Bloodbath visible from space: A nation drenched in violence

What makes the current conflict even more shocking is its scale and savagery. Satellite imagery from several humanitarian organisations has shown bloodstained terrain, destroyed villages, and mass graves so large that they are visible from space.

The RSF’s campaign follows a clear and horrifying pattern: surround a city, cut off food and medicine, block electricity and communication, and then attack once the population is weakened. “They are using starvation and terror as weapons of war,” said Claire Ferguson, a researcher documenting atrocities in Darfur.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported entire communities being wiped out, especially in camps for displaced people like Zamzam near El-Fasher, and rampant sexual violence against women. Survivors say RSF fighters deliberately targeted civilians belonging to the Zaghawa ethnic group, seeing them as supporters of the army.

But atrocities have not been limited to the RSF. The SAF, which controls parts of eastern and central Sudan, has also been accused of bombing civilian areas indiscriminately, particularly in Sennar, Gezira, and North Kordofan states. Human rights groups say both sides have committed war crimes, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence.

Christians caught between two Islamist factions

Sudan is a predominantly Muslim country, with around 90% of its population adhering to Islam. Christians, who make up a small minority, have long faced persecution, discrimination, and a lack of political power. With the civil war now raging between two Islamist factions, both influenced by radical ideologies, Christian minorities have become even more vulnerable.

While most of the victims of the war are Muslims, Christian communities have been through unspeakable horrors, caught in the crossfire. Most live in abject poverty and have little to no access to political or legal protection. Churches have been destroyed, pastors arrested, and aid workers targeted. In areas controlled by the RSF, Christian families have reported being forced to flee or convert under threat of violence.

Sudan’s long history of religious persecution dates back to Omar al-Bashir’s dictatorship, which imposed strict Islamic laws and banned the open practice of Christianity. Even after Bashir’s fall, the system that marginalised Christians remained in place. Today, with both the SAF and RSF claiming to defend Islam, Christian minorities find themselves trapped between two forces that view them with suspicion or outright hostility.

“The Christians of Sudan have no voice,” said a Khartoum-based pastor who fled to South Sudan earlier this year. “They are killed, starved, and forgotten. The world looks at Sudan and sees a Muslim war, but it is also a war on Christians.”

The UAE’s shadow over Sudan’s war

While Sudan bleeds, powerful foreign interests are accused of fueling the fire. A recent UN report and several independent investigations have stated that some powerful elements in the UAE are providing financial, logistical, and military support to the RSF.

The UAE’s motivation is largely economic and strategic. Despite being a wealthy Gulf nation, the UAE lacks its own gold reserves, and Sudan, particularly Darfur, is rich in gold. Hemedti’s RSF controls many of these gold mines and sells the metal primarily to Emirati buyers. In return, the UAE has supplied the RSF with weapons, drones, and ammunition, often disguised as “humanitarian aid.”

According to reports, the UAE has also allowed the RSF to operate businesses, financial fronts, and propaganda campaigns from its territory. Injured RSF fighters are reportedly flown to Abu Dhabi for treatment in military hospitals. Even Hemedti himself has been seen travelling in an Emirati royal’s private jet for diplomatic visits to African nations.

According to The Africa Report, Sudan exports approximately $16 billion worth of gold to the UAE annually, with a substantial portion originating from Darfur mines seized by the RSF since 2017. Most of these mines use illegal mining practices, and much of the gold is illicitly smuggled out of Darfur.

“Without UAE support, the RSF would not have been able to wage war at this scale,” said a UN analyst familiar with the investigation. “They are bankrolling a genocide.”

The UAE has denied these allegations, but Western diplomats and human rights groups remain unconvinced.

A humanitarian disaster ignored by the world

The war in Sudan has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Millions of people have been internally displaced, while 2 million have fled the country. Nearly half of Sudan’s population, around 25 million people, now needs humanitarian aid. Yet, according to the UN, only 12% of the $2.7 billion in requested aid has been funded.

Famine, disease, and violence are spreading rapidly. Entire towns have been burned to the ground. Aid workers have been killed. Relief convoys have been looted. The fighting for El-Fasher, in particular, has trapped hundreds of thousands of civilians with no food or clean water.

Meanwhile, international peace efforts have failed. Talks hosted in Jeddah by the US and Saudi Arabia in 2023 produced a “declaration to protect civilians,” but both the SAF and RSF violated it almost immediately. The UN, the African Union, and the European Union have condemned the atrocities but stopped short of concrete intervention.

Observers warn that unless the flow of weapons is stopped, Sudan could fall into permanent chaos, a failed state controlled by warlords and militias.

A country bleeding from its past

Sudan’s tragedy is not just about two generals fighting for power, it is the legacy of decades of dictatorship, inequality, and foreign exploitation. From the Darfur genocide to today’s war, the victims have largely been the same: poor, marginalised people with no voice.

Christians, ethnic minorities, and civilians who simply want peace are paying the price for a conflict they did not start. With both the SAF and RSF using religion and ethnicity as weapons, and powerful businesses profiting from the bloodshed, Sudan’s future looks increasingly uncertain.

Another disturbing aspect of these ongoing human tragedy is that most of the world has been aloof. While the news media is occupied with ‘All Eyes on Gaza’ and geopolitical tensions around the war in Ukraine, the suffering of millions of impoverished, helpless people in Sudan has been largely ignored.

As the world’s attention drifts elsewhere, the genocide in Sudan continues, visible from space, but ignored on Earth.

As Mohammad Azharuddin joins Congress cabinet in Telangana, read about the match fixing scandal that ended his cricket career

Rukma Rathore
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As Mohammad Azharuddin joins Congress cabinet in Telangana, read about the match fixing scandal that ended his cricket career

A political storm has emerged in Telangana amid the induction of controversial former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin into the state cabinet after Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath at Raj Bhavan, on 31st October. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and his cabinet colleagues attended the event.

According to reports, Azharuddin could be offered the positions of Home Ministry or Minorities Welfare and Sports Ministry. His appointment gave the Congress government its first Muslim cabinet member. Meanwhile, Mahesh Kumar Goud the president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) and multiple other top Congress leaders were caught off gaurd by the decision.

On 29th October, he acknowledged to a select members of the media that he was unaware of the development beforehand, reported Telangana Today. According to party sources, his remarks highlighted the absence of consultation and the rising resentment among senior leaders over unilateral actions initiated by some party members.

They are upset about being left out of crucial decisions and have reservations about Azharuddin’s selection since it shows that the party is trying to win over a certain (Muslim) demographic before the Jubilee Hills by-election.

Notably, Azharuddin has yet to join the council or legislative assembly which is a prerequisite for becoming a state minister and Varma has not approved his nomination to the legislative council under the governor’s quota. He has to be made the MLC within the next six months to maintain his ministerial berth.

BJP, BRS hit out at Congress party

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have strongly objected to Azharuddin’s appointment to the cabinet, arguing it is a ploy to sway the highly anticipated 11th November Jubilee Hills by-election. It seems to be an attempt to “woo the electorate” ahead of a triangular contest between the three parties as the assembly constituency has more than one lakh Muslim votes.

The saffron party pointed out the timing and charged that the action violated the Model Code of Conduct and filed a complaint with the state Election Commission. “It is an attempt to court the voters of a certain community and it is evident,” a party leader expressed, according to The Indian Express. According to BJP spokespersons, a minister’s induction, especially if the they recently wanted to contest from the same seat, amounts to the abuse of governmental authority to manipulate voters.

Similar assertions were made by the BRS as it added that the action was planned with the Jubilee Hills election in mind. The seat has been occupied by the party since Telangana was created in 2014.

On the other hand, Congress retorted that the move acknowledged Azharuddin’s political and cricketing accomplishments. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka contended, “There is a nexus between the BJP and the BRS and that is why they are opposing his elevation,” at a press conference.

The same allegation was levelled by Goud at the two parties despite earlier row. “The Congress party had made a commitment to ensure cabinet representation for minorities. Governments, even in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, always included a minority face. We are simply correcting a long-overdue imbalance,” he claimed while talking to NDTV.

The downfall of Azharuddin

Azharuddin, who was appointed as the captain of the Indian cricket team in 1990, represented the nation in four World Cups, three of them as captain, after making his debut on the field with three consecutive Test centuries in his first three games in 1985.

However, his cricketing career took a turn for the worst as the massive match-fixing scandal broke and he was banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in December 2000 which was eventually stayed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2012.

The scandal unfolded on 7th April 2000 when Delhi police revealed to have a tape of a phone call between South African captain Hansie Cronje and bookie Sanjay Chawla, resulting in the accusation of match-fixing. The lawsuit also involved Cronje’s three other teammates, Pieter Strydom, Nicky Boje and Herschelle Gibbs.

On 8th April, Cronje and the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) denied that South African players were involved in any form of game-fixing. On 11th April, Cronje was fired as team captain as he professed of not being “entirely honest” to Ali Bacher, executive director of Cricket South Africa.

During the 2000 India series, he acknowledged receiving payment between $10,000 and $15,000 for “providing information and forecast but not match-fixing.” The Indian government summoned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 28th April to look into the claims and determine whether any Indian officials or cricket players were involved. The King Commission in South Africa started looking into the matter on 7th June.

Pat Symcox, Gibbs, Henry Williams and Strydom, all South African players, testified in court that Cronje had offered them money in exchange for poor performance in several of the India tour’s games.

Azharuddin enters the picture

Cronje made his contact with bookmakers public in a statement released, on 15th June. He informed the King Commission that while South Africa was touring India in 1996, Azharuddin had introduced him to a bookmaker who promised him money to lose a Test match. The latter denied the allegations.

Afterward, the homes of prominent Indian cricket players Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia alongside Nikhil Chopra as well as the Indian coach Kapil Dev were raided by the central agency on 20th July. However, nothing suspicious was located.

Gibbs and Williams received a four-month penalty on 28th August 28 as Strydom was acquited. Azharuddin reportedly admitted to fixing three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) during the CBI investigation. The first was against South Africa in Rajkot in 1996, followed by Pepsi Cup matches in Sri Lanka in 1997 and Pakistan in 1999. However, he later denied any involvement in an interview.

Meanwhile, the CBI published a report on 31st October that outlined his admission of match-fixing and disclosed that he had enlisted the assistance of colleagues Ajay Jadeja and Nayan Mongia to carry out the fixing operations. On 27th November, Azharuddin was pronounced guilty by the BCCI.

Ajay Sharma, Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar alongside Ali Irani, a former Indian team physio, were all charged for their connections to bookies. Kapil Dev and Mongia were not found guilty. Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma were suspended for life by the cricketing body on 5th December. Prabhakar and Irani were barred from holding any position in Indian cricket for five years while Jadeja was given a five-year suspension.

Delhi bookie names Azharuddin

Delhi bookmaker and a goldsmith by profession, Mukesh Gupta (also known as John or MK) knew a number of Indian and international cricket players and had been known to Indian authorities since the initial rumours of match-fixing, based on ESPNcricinfo. Cronje confirmed Gupta’s involvement when he admitted to the King Commission that Azharuddin had introduced him to the former in Kanpur in 1996.

Cronje received $40,000 from Gupta in return for information. Gupta revealed the truth and provided the CBI enough proof to go after Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar, Ajay Jadeja, Ajay Sharma and Nayan Mongia.

More importantly, photographs depicting Azharuddin with prominent members of the Bombay mafia, including at least one whose name has been connected to terrorist bombings in the city in early 1993, were in the CBI’s possession.

The police did not question the cricket player after finding these photos during their bombing investigations. According to sources, he broke under pressure when the CBI presented him with proof of his dubious affiliations. There had been long-standing claims that some of these underworld personalities have a tight relationship to Sharjah matches.

However, the Andhra Pradesh High Court declared Azharuddin’s sentence “unsustainable” and removed it on 8th November 2012. The Delhi High Court also lifted Jadeja’s ban in January 2003, stating that there was insufficient evidence to support his role in match fixing.

Sardar Patel’s unite India campaign and the decisive role of Bhavnagar Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji: The First Princely State’s Merger with India

ભાર્ગવ રાજ્યગુરુ
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Sardar Patel’s unite India campaign and the decisive role of Bhavnagar Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji: The First Princely State’s Merger with India

India is celebrating National Unity Day on 31st October. Special ceremonies, programs and celebrations have begun in various places and states on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. India is celebrating and taking inspiration from the grit and patriotism of Sardar Patel, the “Iron Man” who united the nation. The people of India are also remembering Bhavnagar State and its ruler Maharaja Raol Saheb Shri Krishnakumarsinhji Gohil . The only reason is that Bhavnagar became the first step towards the dream of a united India. 

When Sardar Patel commenced his efforts to unify India, Bhavnagar was the only princely state that chose to join India. The result was that seeing Bhavnagar, other princely states also joined India. Bhavnagar took the first unique step in Sardar Patel’s campaign to unite the fragmented India after independence in 1947, and from there the campaign for the merger of princely states began. 

The then ruler of Bhavnagar, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Gohil, had set a noble example by merging Bhavnagar to the Indian Union. In this article, we will discuss the conversation between Maharaja Saheb and Sardar Patel. On the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, we will discuss in detail how Bhavnagar state contributed to his campaign to unite India.

The 1939 Praja Parishad and the Maharaja’s meeting with Sardar Patel

Bhavnagar state was a monarchy; however, it also included the Praja Parishad, hearings, courts and other important democratic elements. The common people were also given powers and Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji himself was an independent and liberal personality. He was born on 19th May 1912 in Bhavnagar. After the death of his father Maharaja Bhavsinhji II, he was entrusted with the throne of Bhavnagar at the young age of only seven years. However, till 1931, the government was run under the guidance of the Diwan. 

During Krishnakumarsinhji’s reign, Bhavnagar became the key trading centre of Kathiawar, where maritime trade and industrial development were encouraged. In 1938, he also received many international honours and was also awarded the KCSI, yet his heart was always intertwined with the Indian independence movement. 

In 1939, Maharaj Krishnakumarsinhji and Sardar Patel had their first meeting. During this conference, Sardar Patel delivered a speech on public, state development and national unity, which instilled great respect for him in the mind of the Maharaja. In this very meeting, the seeds of future unification were sown. 

“There was a transcendent power of unity in the words of the Sardar, which touched my heart,” he said.

The situation in 1947 – The challenge of making India ‘unified’ across the continent

The country gained independence in 1947, however, at that time there were 565 princely states in India, whose area was 48% of the total area of ​​India. These princely states were given three options. One was to join India, the second was to join Pakistan and the third was to remain independent. Sardar Patel, as the Home Minister, had prepared the ‘Accession Instrument’ and called upon the princely states to join the Indian Union. This document asked the princely states to give the Union of India authority over defence, foreign policy and communications, while guaranteeing the security of internal administration and inheritance.

At that time the situation was such that many princely states wanted to remain independent, making it difficult to unite India. If any princely state joined the Union of India, then the rest of the princely states could also join the Union of India. Amidst this turmoil, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji was the first to accept the call of Sardar and voluntarily offered 1,800 Padar on a Tulsi leaf to the country. During this, he said, “Joining the Union of India is the only right option for the people of Bhavnagar and its heritage.” 

Meeting with Gandhi and Sardar’s diplomacy

The main conversation between Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji and Sardar Patel took place in Delhi in December 1947. The Maharaja was only 35 years old at that time. He met Gandhi at Birla House on 17th December 1947 and expressed his commitment to merger with India. Manubhen Gandhi has written a description of the Maharaja’s meeting with Gandhi in Delhi’, According to the description, as the time seemed close, Gandhi asked Manubhen to go outside in front of the car and respectfully bring the Maharaja. The Maharaja met Gandhi alone and had a conversation. 

 “I hand over my kingdom to the feet of the country. I will accept whatever decision is made regarding my salary, private properties, etc.” Gandhi was very pleased with such a generous and noble presentation of the Maharaja. However, he asked, “Have you asked your queen and brothers?” The Maharaja replied, “Their opinion also comes into play in my decision. When the entire elephant is going, there is no point in keeping the elephant,” he humbly said.

In response, Gandhi said, “The decision of Bhavnagar Maharaj is important for the unity of India.” He also advised the Maharaja to meet Sardar Patel and asked him to move forward in this direction. Subsequently, a meeting was held between both Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji and Sardar Patel and for the first time, the merger of a princely state into the Union of India was considered. 

Notably, Dr. Gambhir Singh Gohil, who wrote the biography of Krishna Kumar Singh under the title ‘Prajavatsal Rajvi’ and former principal of Shamaldas College, Bhavnagar, has also mentioned this incident. Sardar had personally told the Maharaja that, “Unification of princely states is not only a political matter, but the welfare of the people is also hidden in it. Only with the cooperation of progressive rulers like you, India can become the great democracy of the world.” Responding to this, the Maharaja expressed concern about the traders, people and its economic stability of the Bhavnagar state. 

Sardar Patel, however, assured that all matters would be taken care of. “Bhavnagar will be given an annual annuity, autonomy of internal administration and security of trade routes. The Centre will help in strengthening your polytechnic institutions.” 

This agreement was finalised via VP Menon. Expressing gratitude to the Maharaja of Bhavnagar, the agreement stated, “This merger will further strengthen Bhavnagar and the connection and feelings of the Maharaja of Bhavnagar with his people will remain intact and unbroken.” 

The first merger and its consequences

On 15th January 1948, Sardar Patel arrived in Bhavnagar and in a special ceremony, Maharaja Krishnakumar Singh publicly announced the official declaration of ‘Responsible Democracy’ to the people of Bhavnagar . During this time, he handed over the administration to the representatives of the people and signed the Accession Instrument. With this, Bhavnagar became the first princely state in India to be completely merged with India. On 15th February 1948, Bhavnagar merged with the state of Saurashtra, which also inspired 222 other princely states of Saurashtra. 

This sent a strong message to Junagadh, Porbandar and other princely states and their people that only unity is the path to progress. With the joint efforts of Sardar Patel and the Maharaja of Bhavnagar, the process of merger started moving forward. Gandhi also used to give the example of Bhavnagar to other princely states. Manubhen’s book describes that Gandhi used to tell other princes who came to meet him, “You were asking, how should we behave now? So, you should take the example of Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji of Bhavnagar and adopt the path he took.” 

Bhavnagar’s merger with India inspired other princely states. These started preparing for an official merger with India and Sardar Patel being India’s ‘unifier-in-chief’ expedited the process. he merger of Bhavnagar was the first victorious step of Sardar Patel’s strategy. He united the princely states on the basis of diplomacy and trust. On the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, this history reminds us that unity is built only through trust and dedication. What makes it important to remember Bhavnagar and the Maharaja of Bhavnagar on the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel is that he took the first and decisive step for the unification of India and offered the first “Aahuti” in the dream-like yagna of Sardar Patel’s Akhand Bharat.

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