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Chinese propaganda outlet Global Times peddles fake news claiming Pakistan’s JF-17 destroyed India’s S-400 air defence system, Indian Air Force debunks lies

OpIndia Staff
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Chinese propaganda outlet Global Times peddles fake news claiming Pakistan’s JF-17 destroyed India’s S-400 air defence system, Indian Air Force debunks lies

In a MEA press briefing on Saturday (10th May), India countered the fake propaganda being spread by the Chinese media in support of its ally Pakistan regarding the latter’s ongoing military escalations with India. The Chinese propaganda outlet Global Times claimed that Pakistan’s JF-17 jet destroyed India’s S-400 air defence system in Adampur, Punjab.

Global Times spread fake news

“Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder’s hypersonic missiles have destroyed India’s S-400 system in Adampur, Pakistani state-run PTV News reported. The S-400 air defence system is worth approximately $1.5 billion, it added. The Xinhua News Agency also reported Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder jet destroyed India’s S-400 air defence system in India’s Punjab, citing military, “the Global Times posted on X on Saturday.

India debunks Chinese and Pakistani propaganda

The Chinese propaganda was debunked by India in the press briefing today, which was addressed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Refuting the fake claims, Col Sofiya Qureshi said that Pakistan was spreading fake information on social media about India’s S-400 being destroyed by Pakistan’s jet.

“Pakistan spread misinformation on social media, falsely claiming it had targeted the S-400 air defence systems at Adampur, Suratgarh, and Sirsa Air Force Stations, BrahMos base and others. India strongly denies these false narratives,” said Colonel Qureshi.

“As you can see, Pakistani claims about the activities that they have undertaken continue to be heavy on lies, misinformation, and propaganda. On top of that, this is pedalled by the Pakistani State Agencies; the claims that they have made about attacking and destroying various military installations in the country are completely false. The claim about the air force stations in Sirsa, Suratgarh being destroyed they are false,” said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

India showed time-stamped images to refute Pakistan’s false claims

Pakistan, which escalated military tensions with India after the latter attacked terrorist camps inside Pakistan in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, has been using misinformation to build a false narrative in its favour. India presented time-stamped images at the press briefing against Pakistan’s fake claims of inflicting damage on Indian air bases.

On the intervening night of 9th and 10th May, Pakistan continued with its attacks on Indian civilian and military infrastructure. It targeted more than 26 locations on India’s western border from Srinagar to Chhalliya. Pakistan also fired its Fatah-II long-range missile reportedly aimed at Delhi, but it was intercepted by India in Sirsa, Haryana.

In retaliation, India carried out precision strikes at six airbases of Pakistan, namely, Chaklala in Rawalpindi, Murid in Chakwal, Rafiqui in Shorkot, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian.

Rajasthan: Unidentified missile recovered in Barmer, district administration puts the region on high alert

ANI
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Rajasthan: Unidentified missile recovered in Barmer, district administration puts the region on high alert

Following continuous attacks from Pakistan amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Barmer district administration is on high alert.

After an unidentified missile debris was recovered in the Gida Pareu area of Rajasthan’s Barmer on Saturday morning, the district administration has put the whole region on high alert and is waiting for the authorised agencies to arrive so that a proper assessment of the situation can be made. No local is being allowed to go near the remains of the unidentified debris.

According to the locals, the Indian Army have repelled the attacks and the people in the region are feeling safe and fearless. As per a local, Mohan Chowdhary, the unidentified missile debris fell at around 4:42 am and also at two other places within five kilometres of each other.

“It fell at 4:42 am and I was awake at that time. First there was a loud sound twice and then there was light. My house is 500 feet away from here so we ran here. We saw that a little smoke was coming out. The second one fell near the temple which is five kilometres away from here. The third one fell one and a half kilometres away from the temple and the fourth one fell 2 kilometres from here. We have no fear or terror”, he said.

Earlier, fragments and debris of unidentified projectiles were recovered by the locals in Barmer. Residents of Baldev Nagar, an area near Uttarlai Air Force Station and Jalipa Military Station in Barmer, witnessed the aftermath of the Pakistani attack that was successfully neutralised by Indian security forces in the early hours of the morning.

While the authorities didn’t identify the debris, according to the locals of the area, at around 5:15 to 5:30 in the morning, loud sounds were heard, and soon after, they discovered projectile debris in the area.

Devraj and Raju, residents of Baldev Nagar, recounted the incident to ANI, describing the sequence of events.

“About 5:15 in the morning, we heard some sound, and several things, like drones, were seen in the sky. Then we saw that something had fallen from the sky. There we found this debris on the road,” Raju, an eyewitness, said.

Meanwhile, in a decisive response to Pakistan’s aggressive actions along the western border and Line of Control (LoC), the Indian Armed Forces on Saturday targeted critical Pakistani military installations, including technical facilities, command and control centres, radar sites, and ammunition strongholds.

Addressing a joint press conference by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence on Operation Sindoor, Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stated that precision strikes were carried out on Pakistani military targets in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian, as well as radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation bases, using air-launched weapons from Indian fighter aircraft.

She further noted that the precision targeting was done to minimise any collateral damage, reiterating India’s commitment to not wanting to escalate the situation.

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

How Pakistan is trying desperately to use Khalistanis to create confusion and chaos after India launches Operation Sindoor

Anurag
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How Pakistan is trying desperately to use Khalistanis to create confusion and chaos after India launches Operation Sindoor

On the intervening night of 9th and 10th May, India retaliated to the drone and missile attacks by Pakistan amidst ongoing tension between the two countries. As per reports, India hit three of Pakistan’s air bases, including Nur Khan in Rawalpindi, Murid in Chakwal, and Rafiqui in Jhang district of Punjab province. Following India’s retaliation, Pakistan’s military spokesperson (ISPR DG), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, claimed that India launched six ballistic missiles from Adampur base, out of which one hit Adampur and five hit Amritsar, the holy city of Sikhs.

The aim of making the baseless claim is to instigate pro-Khalistani and anti-India members of the Sikh community so that they side with Pakistan in the ongoing tension.

In his statement, Chaudhry said, “I have shocking news to share. India has just fired six ballistic missiles from Adampur. One of these ballistic missiles has hit Adampur itself, while the remaining five missiles have hit the Amritsar area in Indian Punjab.”

The baseless claim came at a time when tension between India and Pakistan is at its peak. While Pakistan has repeatedly tried to attack India with swarm drones and ballistic missiles, failing to inflict major damage, India has not only demolished terror camps operating in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and inside Pakistani territory, but also hit its military installations after Pakistan escalated the attack and reportedly tried to hit the national capital, New Delhi with its ballistic missile, Fateh II. The missile was shot down over Sirsa, Haryana. Soon after, India demonstrated the might of its military capabilities and struck crucial air bases in Pakistan.

Notably, Punjab is one of the most crucial and sensitive border states of India, sharing a long and volatile frontier with Pakistan. Over the decades, Pakistan has repeatedly attempted to destabilise the state through various means, including supporting cross-border terrorism, fuelling separatist movements such as the Khalistan insurgency, and facilitating drug and arms smuggling networks. These continuous efforts are aimed at disrupting peace and communal harmony in Punjab and, by extension, creating wider instability within India.

Not only Pakistan’s government and military personnel, but cricketers are also attempting to create chaos among Sikhs in India. Mohammad Yousuf, former Pakistani cricketer and coach of the Pakistani cricket team, wrote on X, “The RSS-backed Indian government BJP is nothing short of a terrorist entity—spreading fear among its neighbours, oppressing its own citizens, particularly Sikhs and Muslims, and orchestrating false flag attacks to advance its agenda. We are a proud nation, steadfast in our support for our courageous armed forces. May Allah protect and guide us all,” specifically claiming that India is oppressing Sikhs and Muslims.” Yousuf was born Christian and converted to Islam in 2005.

Source: X

Khalistani terrorists side with Pakistan

The aim of Pakistan is to create chaos within the Sikh community. Notably, Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has openly stated in an interview with a Pakistani channel that Sikhs living in Punjab would not allow Indian forces to launch an attack on Pakistan via the India-Pakistan border in the state. He further claimed, however, that this would only happen if Pakistan supports the demand for Khalistan, a separate Sikh nation.

Pakistan has long supported Khalistani movement and following crackdown on pro-Khalistani Sikhs and Khalistani terrorists, several of them escaped to Pakistan. Notably, Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in an apparent gang war in Canada, had visited Pakistan to meet Khalistani terrorist Jagtar Singh Tara in 2013 who is a convict in Beant Singh murder case. Tara was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in Beant Singh murder case. In 2004, he dug up a tunnel and escaped from the jail. He ended up in Pakistan where he had lived since then.

In September 2022, co-founder of the terrorist outfit Dal Khalsa, Gajinder Singh, was spotted in Pakistan. Gajinder was behind the 1981 Indian Airlines hijacking. He was seen in a photograph in front of Gurdwara Shri Panja Sahib, located in Hasan Abdal of Punjab province in Pakistan. Gajinder Singh and his associates had hijacked an Indian Airlines flight in 1981, demanding the release of Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and USD 500,000. They diverted the Amritsar-bound flight from Delhi to Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan conducted a trial in the case and sentenced the hijackers to life imprisonment. However, in October 1994, they were released from prison. Gajinder Singh has been on India’s most wanted list since 2002. The Government of India has repeatedly tabled official requests to Pakistan to deport Gajinder Singh, but the neighbouring country has consistently denied that he resides in Pakistan.

Pakistan tried to instigate Sikhs claiming India hit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in 1971

In the past as well, Pakistan has attempted to use Sikhs to create wider instability within India. For example, in July 2020, the Kartarpur Corridor was opened for Indian pilgrims to travel without visas to Pakistan to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, the place where Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikhism, spent his final years. A day after the opening of the corridor, Pakistani authorities put up an exhibit featuring a small bomb that they claimed the Indian Air Force had dropped at the Gurdwara during the 1971 war. The bomb was placed within a glass case and a board was erected next to the pillar that read, “Miracle of Waheguru Ji.”

The board further claimed that during 1971, the IAF had dropped the bomb at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Sri Kartarpur Sahib with the aim of destroying it. However, “this evil design could not be materialised due to the blessing of Waheguru Ji (Almighty Allah). The said bomb landed into Sri Khoo Sahib (Sacred Well) and this Darbar Sahib remained unhurt (sic). It is pertinent to mention that this is the same sacred well from where Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji used to get water to irrigate his fields.”

The latest attempts by Pakistan to provoke and manipulate the Sikh community through misinformation and the sheltering of Khalistani extremists reflect a dangerous pattern of exploiting religious sentiments for geopolitical gain. Despite decades of failed attempts to destabilise India through such means, Pakistan continues to rely on these tactics in a desperate bid to create confusion and weaken India’s internal harmony, especially in times of heightened conflict.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio proposes US support for “productive discussions” with Pakistan while talking to EAM Jaishankar, urges both sides to de-escalate

ANI
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio proposes US support for “productive discussions” with Pakistan while talking to EAM Jaishankar, urges both sides to de-escalate

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Saturday, the Department of State shared in a press statement.

As per the US Department of State, Secretary Rubio emphasised that India and Pakistan “need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation”.

Notably, he proposed, “US support in facilitating productive discussions to avert future disputes”. His remarks come after having spoken with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir earlier on Friday (US local time).

According to the Department of State, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir earlier today. He continued to urge both parties to find ways to deescalate and offered U.S. assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts.”

Earlier, US White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the US intends to de-escalate the tensions between both the countries. Leavitt said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been in talks with the leaders of both nations to de-escalate.

“This is something that the secretary of state and of course now our national security adviser as well, Marco Rubio, has been very much involved in. The President wants to see this de-escalate as quickly as possible,” she said.

Leavitt said that the conflict between the nations is an old one, and talks are on to prevent further escalations.

Meanwhile, during a press briefing in New Delhi on Saturday, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed that the Pakistan Army is moving troops towards forward areas.

Wing Commander Singh asserted that while all hostile actions have been effectively countered with proportionate responses, India has reiterated its commitment to de-escalation, conditional on reciprocal restraint from Pakistan.

“Pakistan Army has been observed to be moving its troops towards forward areas, indicating an offensive intent to further escalation. Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness, and all hostile actions have been effectively countered and responded proportionately. Indian armed forces reiterated their commitment to non-escalation, provided the Pakistan side reciprocates,” Singh said.

“In a swift and calibrated response, Indian armed forces carried out a precision strike only at identified military targets… Pakistan has also attempted to execute a continued malicious misinformation campaign, with claims of destruction of the Indian S-400 system, destruction of airfields at Suratgarh and Sirsa… India unequivocally rejects these false claims being spread by Pakistan,” she added.

Foreign Secy Misri said that there has been a particular focus on targeting of civilian infra and population of India by Punjab and said earlier on Saturday Pakistan shelled the town of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir which resulted in the death of ADDM Raj Kumar Thapa.

He informed that overnight there was damage to property and civilians in Firozpur and Jalandhar amongst other places”.

He slammed Pakistan for spreading fake news on targeting itself calling, “These lame attempts to divide India are doomed to failure”.

“There is a completely ludicrous claim that Indian missiles have hit Afghanistan. Totally frivolous allegation”

He said that Afghan people don’t need to be reminded which country has targeted civilian population and infrastructure”, Misri said.

In his concluding remarks, Misri called the developments to be “an evolving situation”.

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

Congress, Rajdeep Sardesai spread lies about India not voting against Pakistan’s loan request at the IMF: Here is the truth

OpIndia Staff
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Congress, Rajdeep Sardesai spread lies about India not voting against Pakistan’s loan request at the IMF: Here is the truth

After the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Pakistan’s request for a bailout package on Friday (9th May), the Congress party and India Today ‘journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai grabbed the opportunity to attack the Indian government by spreading lies. The IMF, despite Pakistan’s abysmal track record, approved the grant of $1 billion to the country under its Extended Fund Facility.

Congress accused the Modi government of ‘chickening out’

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh and Rajdeep Sardesai were quick to use the development to target the Indian government amid the ongoing hostilities between India and Pakistan. Ramesh accused the Modi government of ‘chickening out’ at the IMF and failing to vote against Pakistan’s loan request.

“On April 29th, the INC had demanded that India vote against the IMF loan to Pakistan, which was considered today by its Executive Board. India has only abstained from the vote. The Modi Government has chickened out. A strong NO would have sent a powerful signal,” Ramesh wrote on X on Friday.

Sardesai questioned the Modi government for not voting against Pakistan

Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai also furthered the misinformation about the Indian government by questioning why India did not vote against Pakistan’s loan request at the IMF. “India abstains from vote for loan to Pakistan at the IMF executive board meeting..qs: why didn’t we vote against Islamabad given the stakes involved?” Sardesai posted on X on Friday.

Screengrab of the now deleted tweet by Rajdeep Sardesai

Why India abstained from voting at the IMF

India registered a strong opposition against Pakistan’s loan request at the meeting of the Executive Board of the IMF. Citing Pakistan’s poor track record, India pointed out the possibility of Pakistan misusing the funds for sponsoring cross-border terrorism.

“Pakistan has been a prolonged borrower from the IMF, with a very poor track record of implementation and adherence to the IMF’s program conditions,” India said in its remarks.

India brought to the notice of the board that in the last 35 years, since 1989, the IMF has disbursed funds to Pakistan for 28 years, including four programmes the preceding 5 years without any significant reform.

It argued that Pakistan would not have sought another bailout package if these programmes had succeeded. India also said that, considering Pakistan’s Army interference in the country’s policy matters and economic affairs, there is hardly any hope for reforms.

Notably, the IMF does not allow its members the option to vote against a motion. The member countries only have two options- either to vote in favour or abstain from voting.

Therefore, in the absence of an option to vote against Pakistan’s loan request, India abstained from voting. By abstaining from voting, India conveyed its strong disapproval and formally recorded its objections.

The IMF Executive Board has 25 Directors representing member countries or groups of countries. The Board is responsible for handling daily operational matters, including loan approvals.

At the IMF, the member countries do not have one vote each, and the voting powers reflect the economic size of each member. Thus, countries like the US enjoy a disproportionately high voting share.

With Nur Ali Khan airbase, India has sent a message that it can neutralise Pakistan’s ‘Air Force One’ and its top military rank

OpIndia Staff
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With Nur Ali Khan airbase, India has sent a message that it can neutralise Pakistan’s ‘Air Force One’ and its top military rank

Pakistan has been on a suicide mission ever since it attacked civilians in Pahalangam and massacred Hindus after confirming their faith. After the terrorist attack on the 22nd of April 2025, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ in which it neutralised several terror camps, including those of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen, etc, in a targeted air strike across the border, deep inside Pakistan’s territory. What followed was Pakistan, yet again, targeting civilians in several parts of North and West India by shooting drones and missiles into civilian territory – attacks which continue to be summarily thwarted by India.

In the intervening night of 9th and 10th May, Pakistan carried out a second wave of swarm drone attacks at 26 locations along the International Border and Line of Control. The targeted areas include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala. According to reports, Pakistan also attempted to target Delhi, the capital city of India, with a missile, which was intercepted by India over Sirsa, Haryana.

News has also emerged of Pakistan attempting to target holy shrines of Hindus, including Jammu’s Aap Shambhu Temple and Mata Vaishno Devi.

Following the misadventure by Pakistan, India launched retaliatory air strikes in the wee hours of 10th morning. India hit major military air bases of Pakistan deep into Pakistani territory. Pakistan confirmed the attack but claimed that its assets were safe, even as visuals show massive blasts.

Pakistani airbases hit by India:

  1. Rawalpindi PAF Base Nur Khan, reported to have been involved in shooting down the plane of Captain Abhinandan Varthaman.
  2. Shorkot PAF Base Rafiqui, named after a Pakistani pilot killed in the 1965 war.
  3. PAF Base Murid, last mauled in the 1971 war by India.

From the list of airbases pummelled by India, the PAF base Nur Ali Khan stands out because of its significance and the potential message India sent by selecting that site as one of its targets.

Divya Kumar Soti, a defence analyst and commentator pointed out, “Nur Ali Khan Airbase, Rawalpindi attached to Pakistan Army HQs, which has been hit by Indian missile attack, houses No. 12 VIP Squadron which operates VVIP contingent of Pakistan Air Force. VVIP planes used by President (Pakistan -1) and Prime Minister of Pakistan (Pakistan -2) as well top military officers are stationed on this base. This means that now top military leadership of Pakistan cannot escape out of Rawalpindi by air. India is signalling that it won’t hesitate in eliminating top terrorist Generals of Pakistan Army”.

The Nur Ali Khan Airbase houses the No. 12 Squadron, which is the VIP transport and communication unit of the Pakistan Air Force. Essentially, It is the Air Force One of Pakistan which transports the President (Callsign Pakistan-1), the Prime Minister (Callsign Pakistan-2) and the Chief of Air Staff (Callsign Shahbaz-1) during official visits. It was originally formed as a bomber squad but eventually turned into the VIP squad in 1953.

The Nur Ali Khan Airbase also houses the top military officers and commanders, and it houses the former Benazir Bhutto International Airport, PAF College, Chaklala, an institute for Aviation Cadets of the college, and Fazaia Inter College Nur Khan.

With India targeting the Nur Ali Khan airbase, it has sent a strong message to Pakistan. The significance of the airbase is evident from the fact that not only does it house Pakistan’s “air force one” but is also responsible for the transport, communication and safety of the top leader of the country, including the President, Prime Minister and the Chief of Air Staff. The Airbase also is home to some of the top military leaders of Pakistan. By targeting this specific airbase, India is clearly sending the message that unless Pakistan chooses to de-escalate, it can neutralise one of the most significant airbases of Pakistan and along with it, it can get to the top military generals and the top leadership of the country.

India’s press briefing on 9th May – How Pakistan is targeting civilians in India in response to Operation Sindoor, which neutralised terrorists

On the 9th of May, India held a special press briefing detailing Pakistan’s misadventure in India. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofia Qureshi, described the events in the briefing.

Vyomika Singh said that on the intervening night of 8 and 9 May, the Pakistan military carried out multiple violations of Indian airspace along the entire western border with an intent to target military infrastructure. Pakistan’s military also resorted to firing heavy-calibre weapons along the line of control.

Drone intrusions were attempted from Leh to Sir Creek along the international border and LoC, the Wing Commander said. She added that around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations. The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and gather intelligence.

Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones. Later in the night, an armed UAV of Pakistan attempted to target Bathinda military station, which was detected and neutralised.

In response to the Pakistani attack, armed drones were launched at 4 air defence sites in Pakistan. One of the drones was able to destroy an air defence radar, Singh said.

Pakistan also carried out artillery shelling across the LoC using heavy-calibre artillery guns and armed drones at several places in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in some losses and injuries to Indian Army personnel. Pakistan’s army also suffered major losses in India’s retaliatory firing.

Calling out Pakistan’s irresponsibility, the Wing Commander said that despite launching a failed unprovoked drone and missile attack on 7th May evening, it didn’t shut down its civilian airspace. She said that Pakistan is using civil airliners as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India will result would elicit a swift defence response. This is not safe for unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights that were flying near the international border.

The Indian government shared screenshots of the flight tracking site Flightradar24, showing civilian aircraft flying between Karachi and Lahore when Pakistan was sending drones and missiles to India. Vyomika Singh said that IAF demonstrated considerable restraint in its response, ensuring the safety of the international civil airliner.

After the briefing by Colonel Sofia Qureshi in Hindi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh in English, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the media, saying that Pakistan targeted civilian and military establishments, and Indian armed forces responded proportionately, adequately and responsibly.

Misri highlighted the official and blatantly farcical denial of the attacks by the Pakistan government, saying it is yet another example of their duplicity, and the new depths they are plumbing in their quest for disinformation. Referring to Pakistan’s claims that Indian armed forces were attacking religious sites in India, Misri called them preposterous and outrageous.

He said that Pakistan will not succeed in its attempts to mislead the world. He said that the Gurudwara in Poonch was attacked by Pakistan, in which some lives were lost. The foreign secretary said that the notion that India will attack its own cities is a deranged fantasy that only the Pakistani state can come up with. “Perhaps they do it, as they are well versed in it, as history shows,” he added.

He said that Pakistan’s claim that India targeted the Nankana Sahib Gurudwara is a blatant lie and a part of Pakistan’s disinformation campaign. Misri said that Pakistan is trying to impart a communal hue to the situation with the intention of creating discord. He said, “Another point in the same context is Pakistan’s claims that they did not target or attack any religious places. You would recall that yesterday I shared an incident related to the attack on a Gurdwara in Poonch. Instead of owning up to these attacks, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claim that it was the Indian Armed Forces and the Indian Air Force that were targeting cities like Amritsar.”

He added, “This is nothing but a desperate attempt by Pakistan to disown its acts of aggression, and it is consistent with their pattern of deceiving and misleading the world. It will not succeed. The Gurdwara in Poonch, in particular, was attacked by Pakistan, and some local members of the Sikh community, including a Ragi of the Gurdwara, lost their lives in this incident.”

In response to a question, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri further said that in view of the existing security scenario, the services of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor have been suspended till further directions. He informed the press that an artillery shell fired by Pakistan hit a house near a Christian missionary school in Poonch, in which two students of the Christ school died and several others were injured. Similarly, another Pakistani struck a nearby Christian convent of nuns, damaging infrastructure while people in the institution took shelter in an underground hall of the Christ school, which was closed at that time.

Talking about India eliminating the terrorists responsible for the beheading of Jewish American journalist Daniel Pearl, Misri said, “Jaish-e-Mohammed was in some way directly or indirectly responsible for the death of Daniel Pearl. But the real connection is through Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the British Pakistani jihadi who was held in India but was finally released in 2000, and he was the one who lured Daniel Pearl to his eventual murder. So, these are all obviously connected figures, connected individuals, connected institutions. The attack on Bahawalpur, on that facility of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur, is, I would imagine, a fitting part of this unfortunate incident.”

India tells IMF that rewarding continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism sends a dangerous message, abstains from voting in bailout package for Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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India tells IMF that rewarding continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism sends a dangerous message, abstains from voting in bailout package for Pakistan

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today reviewed the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) lending program ($1 billion) and also considered a fresh Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) lending program ($1.3 billion) for Pakistan. As an active and responsible member country, India raised concerns over the efficacy of IMF programs in case of Pakistan given its poor track record, and also on the possibility of misuse of debt financing funds for state sponsored cross border terrorism.

Pakistan has been a prolonged borrower from the IMF, with a very poor track record of implementation and of adherence to the IMF’s program conditions. In the 35 years since 1989, Pakistan has had disbursements from the IMF in 28 years. In the last 5 years since 2019, there have been 4 IMF programs. Had the previous programs succeeded in putting in place a sound macro-economic policy environment, Pakistan would not have approached the Fund for yet another bail-out program. India pointed out that such a track record calls into question either the effectiveness of the IMF program designs in case of Pakistan or their monitoring or their implementation by Pakistan.

Pakistan military’s deeply entrenched interference in economic affairs poses significant risks of policy slippages and reversal of reforms. Even when a civilian government is in power now, the army continues to play an outsized role in domestic politics and extends its tentacles deep into the economy. In fact, a 2021 UN report described military-linked businesses as the “largest conglomerate in Pakistan”. The situation has not changed for the better; rather the Pakistan Army now plays a leading role in the Special Investment Facilitation Council of Pakistan.

India flagged the Pakistan chapter of the IMF Report on Evaluation of Prolonged Use of IMF Resources. The report noted that there was a widespread perception that political considerations have an important role to play in the IMF lending to Pakistan. As a result of repeated bailouts, Pakistan’s debt burden is very high, which paradoxically makes it a too big to fail debtor for the IMF.

India pointed out that rewarding continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism sends a dangerous message to the global community, exposes funding agencies and donors to reputational risks, and makes a mockery of global values. While the concern that fungible inflows from international financial institutions, like IMF, could be misused for military and state sponsored cross border terrorist purposes resonated with several member countries, the IMF response is circumscribed by procedural and technical formalities.  This is a serious gap highlighting the urgent need to ensure that moral values are given appropriate consideration in the procedures followed by global financial institutions.

The IMF took note of the India’s statements and its abstention from the vote.

Press release issued by Finance Ministry

Khalistani and self-proclaimed “Sikh leader” Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who claimed Sikhs will support Pakistan, goes mute after Pakistan targeted Gurudwaras

Shraddha Pandey
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Khalistani and self-proclaimed “Sikh leader” Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who claimed Sikhs will support Pakistan, goes mute after Pakistan targeted Gurudwaras

Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which came into existence due to Islamist hatred towards Hindus, Sikhs and outright refusal to coexist peacefully with Kafirs in a united India, has even after 78 years of the bloodied partition failed to relinquish its hatred for non-Muslims and India. In demonstration of its abject hatred for the Sikh community, Pakistan targeted a Gurudwara in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and directed its drones and missiles towards the Golden Temple in the holy city of Amritsar in India’s Punjab. While Indian Sikhs stand rock solid with Indian Armed Forces against Pakistan’s cowardly attacks, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani separatist and self-proclaimed ‘Sikh leader’ has slipped into hibernation.

Completely oblivious to the fact that India’s Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh himself is a Sikh, Pannun in a recent interview to a Pakistani propaganda YouTube channel claimed that not only the people of Punjab but also Sikh soldiers and officers of the Indian Armed Forces are with Pakistan at his call.

Pannun claimed that Sikhs would support Pakistan and asserted that the current situation is different from that of 1965 and 1971. “This is 2025,” he said, and asserted that Sikhs would stand with Pakistan like a brick wall. He emphasised that Sikhs would not allow Indian forces to attack Pakistan through Punjab. However, this would be possible, according to him, only if Pakistan openly supported the cause of Khalistan, a separate Sikh nation.

Pannun made claims that 20 million Indian Sikhs would stand “like a brick wall” with Pakistan against India in a potential war and serve langar to Pakistani troops. His rhetoric, steeped in anti-India vitriol, removed from reality, painted Pakistan, which has an opprobrious history of systematically persecuting Sikh minorities on its soil for simply existing, as a ‘friendly’ neighbour to a fantasised Khalistan.

Yet, when Pakistan, which pretends to support Sikhs only to use pro-Khalistan narrative to further division and widen religious fissures, targets the holiest site of Sikhs, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, to vent out its frustration against India’s anti-terror strikes under Operation Sindoor, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun remains silent. Otherwise, harping all the time, spewing venom against India, the Khalistan daydreamer made no video, issued no statement outraging over Pakistan’s audacious attempt to attack the Golden Temple, even though the debris from intercepted projectiles was found near the Golden Temple.

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch, the Sikh community came under targeted attack by Pakistani forces on 8th May. The wall of the Gurudwara Singh Sabha Poonch was damaged in heavy shelling by Pakistan. Moreover, four Sikhs died in the cowardly attack by Pakistani forces on Indian civilians. Amreek Singh and Ranjit Singh—local shopkeepers, an ex-army official and a devout Granthi Amarjeet Singh, and a homemaker, Ruby Kaur, were killed instantly when a shell exploded near them.

Amarjeet Singh used to play the tabla at the Gurudwara, while another victim, Amreek Singh, was a Raagi who sang hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib at another gurdwara in Poonch. Both of them were killed at different locations in Pakistani shelling.

Expressing shock and grief over the killing of innocent Sikhs by Pakistan, Narinder Singh from the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Poonch, said: “It was such a fate that not only Amarjeet Singh but also Amreek Singh died in the shelling today. They were small-time preachers for the community. We have never witnessed such heavy shelling in Poonch before. We saw the Kargil war, but civilian establishments largely remained untouched. We thought we had learned to live under shelling. Today, that illusion was broken. The damage to the gurdwara is minor, but the shock is massive.”

On 8th May, Pakistani forces launched a targeted drone attack on the holy city of Amritsar, however, the Indian Air Defence System foiled these threats. During the attack in the evening, a complete blackout was implemented in Amritsar. Missile debris was found in Makhan Windi, a border village of Amritsar. Similar missile debris was found near Jethuwal and Pandher in Punjab.

Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from the Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Havelian village were taken on 9th May to Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib in Amritsar.

While Indians are not unaware of the hatred Pakistani Islamist army, government and its largely brainwashed populace harbours for Hindus, Sikhs,  Christians and all other non-Muslim communities, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in his desperation to find some relevance for his secessionist dreams, mollycoddles the Pakistani establishment. Blinded by hatred for India, so much so that even the killings of Indian Sikhs, attacks on the holy city of Amritsar and on a Gurudwara in Poonch do not seem outrageous enough for the self-proclaimed ‘Sikh leader’ to call out and condemn Pakistan.

This, evidently, is sheer cowardice and a betrayal of the very Sikh community that Pannun so desperately wants to carve out a separate country for, ironically, while remaining ensconced in a comfy house in the United States. While has named his pro-Khalistan group as “Sikhs for Justice”, the Khalistani motormouth himself fails to muster courage to condemn his Pakistani ‘friends’ even as the latter’s cowardly attacks endangered the Golden Temple, the holy city of Amritsar and killed Sikh civilians in Poonch. Suddenly, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun forgets his advocacy for ‘Sikh justice’.

His deafening silence can have only two meanings, either he is complicit in Pakistan’s agenda of targeting religious sites in India, including the holy sites of Sikhs, or he is having an epiphany that his pro-Pakistan stance has spectacularly backfired since India, whom he deems an enemy of Sikhs are actually the protectors while the supposed ‘friend’ Pakistan is an attacker.

While Pakistan’s ISI has long been backing Khalistani secessionists and terrorists to break India and challenge its territorial integrity, the hostile neighbour has never had any genuine respect for the Sikh community. From persecuting Pakistani Sikhs, destroying the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and forcibly converting Sikh girls to their Muslim abductors, Pakistan has demonstrated its anti-Sikh nature. Despite this, the ISI prefers to exploit fault lines to widen religious divides in India.

Not that Indian Sikhs care if Pannun speaks up for them, his silence, even as Pakistan’s strikes targeted Sikh heartland in India that the Khalistani separatist is more loyal to his divisive anti-India propaganda than to the Sikh faith he exploits.

Yamuna is getting purified after AAP lost elections: Men and machines working on a mission mode to clean the river in Delhi under the BJP government

केशव मालान
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Yamuna is getting purified after AAP lost elections: Men and machines working on a mission mode to clean the river in Delhi under the BJP government

The results of the Delhi Assembly elections were declared on 8 February 2025. In these results, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a crushing defeat. With this, the BJP returned to power after 26 years. When the then Chief Minister of Delhi, Atishi, went to submit her resignation to the Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena, he said, “You have been cursed by Yamuna Maiya.”

Cleaning of Yamuna was among the BJP’s major election issues in the Delhi elections. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to all other BJP leaders, everyone mentioned this as AAP’s failure in every rally. After coming to power, the BJP made it clear that it would make cleaning the Yamuna its priority.

It has been almost 3 months since the change of power in Delhi. To inspect how much work has been done for cleaning the Yamuna in these 90 days, OpIndia reached the banks of Yamuna in Delhi and those places where its condition was very bad earlier. OpIndia tried to find out what action the Delhi government is taking to clean the Yamuna.

Machines and workers are busy cleaning in Kalindi Kunj

During this time, OpIndia also talked to people who have been living on the banks of Yamuna for years or are in some way associated with them. OpIndia reached the Kalindi Kunj Ghat of the Yamuna River on Thursday (May 8, 2025) afternoon. Here, Yamuna was looking cleaner from a distance. However, on giving a closer look, the water appeared a little dirty, and some garbage was also visible at the gate near the Kalindi Kunj bridge. As we moved ahead, we saw that a garbage-removing machine was placed on the bank.

A machine has been installed at Kalindi Kunj Ghat to remove garbage from the Yamuna

People working on this machine were present here. They told OpIndia that they have been engaged in cleaning the Yamuna for several months. A worker present there said that after the new government came to power in Delhi, the cleaning of the Yamuna has gained momentum. He said that the officials also keep giving them guidelines from time to time.

Here on the beautiful paved ghat built on the banks of Yamuna, cleanliness and greenery were visible all around.

The water level in Yamuna increased after the BJP government

After Kalindi Kunj Ghat, OpIndia also reached the Yamuna Ghat located at ITO. Here, at one end, a big JCB was busy building the Ghat, while at the other end, a machine was engaged in removing garbage from the river. Here too, the work of cleaning the Yamuna was going on at a war footing as silt was being removed with the help of JCB, and water was being cleaned by removing garbage.

Here too, Yamuna was looking much cleaner than earlier. Sunil Giri, who has been present at the Ghat for years, said that the water level of Yamuna, which was very low earlier, has increased since the BJP government came to power.

Silt is being removed from Yamuna at ITO Ghat

Sunil Giri said that now, aarti is performed regularly on the Chhath Ghat of Yamuna, and a large number of devotees gather here. Diver Jumman, present at the Ghat, said that the Delhi government is currently spending a lot of money on cleaning the Yamuna.

He advised that all the 32 dams here should be cleaned, and that the effect of this entire exercise will be visible once the gates of the dams are opened and water is released. Sevadaar Raju Thakur, who was at the Ghat, said that people come with full devotion to take a bath in the Yamuna, but after seeing the dirty water, they return after joining their hands (to offer pranam) from a distance. He said that the ongoing cleaning efforts are appreciable.

Similarly, the cleaning exercise is going on at other banks of the Yamuna. At some places, garbage is being removed, and at other places, the accumulated silt is being removed. Ghats are also being renovated to restore the glory of Yamuna. Drains that bring dirty water into the Yamuna and pollute it are being closed.

Yamuna is the dirtiest in Delhi

The Yamuna River flows to Delhi from Uttarakhand via Haryana. It meets the Ganga at Prayagraj. Its total length is 1376 kilometres, out of which about 54 kilometres lie in Delhi. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a report said that the Yamuna is most polluted in Delhi.

According to the NGT, “The stretch between Wazirabad and Okhla is 22 km long, which is not even 2% of the total length of the river from Yamunotri to Allahabad, which is 1370 km. But it accounts for nearly 76% of the river’s pollution.”

Cleaning being done at Najafgarh drain (Photo courtesy: @ayush9050/X)

NGT also said that apart from the monsoon season, sewage flows into Yamuna in Wazirabad in Delhi for 9 months. According to the report, 22 drains join Yamuna here, and these are the ones that pollute Delhi the most. NGT assured to work on this.

The Delhi government approved ₹3100 crore

The Rekha Gupta government in Delhi recently called an important meeting of the Expenditure Finance Committee in the Secretariat. In this meeting, many important projects for the development of Delhi were discussed, and ₹3140 crore was approved for cleaning the Yamuna River.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta performing Yamuna Aarti

The Delhi government said that 27 sewage treatment plants would be built with this expenditure. Earlier, ₹500 crores were given for cleaning the Yamuna in the budget 2025-26. Apart from this, efforts are now being made to implement the plans that were made earlier for cleaning the Yamuna.

Not only the Rekha Gupta government of Delhi, but the Modi government at the Centre is also serious about cleaning the Yamuna. In April 2025 itself, PM Modi held a meeting regarding the cleaning of the Yamuna. In the meeting, PM Modi proposed that the public should be made a part of cleaning the Yamuna. He also talked about Chhath.

Indore: Wife of college chairman Sameer Mir accuses him of assaulting and pressuring her to convert to Islam, says he threw away idols of Hindu gods

OpIndia Staff
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Indore: Wife of college chairman Sameer Mir accuses him of assaulting and pressuring her to convert to Islam, says he threw away idols of Hindu gods

In Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, Bhavans College chairman Sameer Mir has been accused of love jihad by his wife. The wife has told the police that Sameer was pressuring her to convert to Islam. The victim has also accused him of threatening her and of domestic abuse.

The victim says that she was married to Sameer Mir in 2006, according to Hindu customs. According to the victim, her husband’s behaviour changed about 4 years ago. Sameer himself started visiting the mosque and praying Namaz. And at that time, she was shocked to know her husband’s full name was Sameer Mir, and he is Muslim.

Moreover, he also started pressuring his wife to pray Namaz and accept Islam. He also started to force her to wear Burqa. He threw away the idols of Hindu gods and goddesses kept in the house, and stopped her from performing puja and visiting temple. When his wife did not listen to Sameer, he started beating her and threw her out of the house in 2020. Sameer and the victim also have two children.

“About 4 years ago, Sameer’s behaviour started changing. He started performing namaz, and he also changed his attire completely. After this, he started pressuring me to pray namaz and accept Islam,” the victim said.

She added that Sameer also forced her and their children to observe Roza

He came to meet the victim several times till 2024, but every time he pressured her to convert to Islam. After being harassed continuously, the victim lodged a complaint against Sameer Mir with the Indore Police.

The police have registered a case against Sameer Mir under relevant sections of the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act 2021. The victim has presented her wedding photographs and other evidence to the police. The police are investigating the matter.

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