LIVE
Fri, 30 September 2016
PM Modi holds meeting over Cauvery water sharing dispute
Timeline Refresh
23:52
High alert at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad in Hyderabad. Central Industrial Security Force and OCTOPUS have been extensively conducting checking in the airport.
23:47
JUST IN: Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh is likely to visit the Northern Command on Saturday. He will take stock of situation there post Indian surgical strike across the Line of Control and will also review about the possible Pak reactions.
23:32 ISI agent produced before court
A suspected Inter-Services Intelligence agent Asif Ali, who is lodged in a jail in Meerut, was today produced before a local court amid tight security.
The court has fixed October 5 for the next date of hearing.
Ali, 52, was arrested by the Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh Police from Subash Bazar area on August 16, 2014. Police had recovered a number of documents from his possession including pass books and debit cards of Indian and Pakistani banks.
During interrogation, Ali had confessed to being an ISI agent. He used to pass information about the Indian Army to the ISI and also financially support other local ISI agents.
The court has fixed October 5 for the next date of hearing.
Ali, 52, was arrested by the Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh Police from Subash Bazar area on August 16, 2014. Police had recovered a number of documents from his possession including pass books and debit cards of Indian and Pakistani banks.
During interrogation, Ali had confessed to being an ISI agent. He used to pass information about the Indian Army to the ISI and also financially support other local ISI agents.
23:16 PM Modi holds meeting over Cauvery water sharing dispute
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a meeting to discuss the Cauvery river water sharing issue over which Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads.
Some ministers and officials were present in the meeting where various options were discussed to resolve the matter. A meeting convened by the Centre to iron out differences between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the impasse had yesterday failed to achieve any breakthrough.
At the meeting convened by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, Tamil Nadu refused to accept Karnataka's proposal that an expert committee be sent to the river basin to assess water availability.
Tamil Nadu has been demanding release of its share in the river water which has been rejected by neighbouring Karnataka citing its requirements for drinking and irrigation purposes.
The Tamil Nadu government has been insisting on implementing the Supreme Court's September 27 order to release 6,000 cusecs of water in three days and setting up of a Cauvery Management Board.
Some ministers and officials were present in the meeting where various options were discussed to resolve the matter. A meeting convened by the Centre to iron out differences between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the impasse had yesterday failed to achieve any breakthrough.
At the meeting convened by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, Tamil Nadu refused to accept Karnataka's proposal that an expert committee be sent to the river basin to assess water availability.
Tamil Nadu has been demanding release of its share in the river water which has been rejected by neighbouring Karnataka citing its requirements for drinking and irrigation purposes.
The Tamil Nadu government has been insisting on implementing the Supreme Court's September 27 order to release 6,000 cusecs of water in three days and setting up of a Cauvery Management Board.
22:36 Day after encounter, combing op continues near LoC
Security forces today continued to comb a forest area near the Line of Control in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a day after an encounter with suspected militants in which one Special Police Officer was injured.
"Though the firing has ended, the search and cordon operation is still on," a senior police officer said.
Yesterday SOG of police had made contact with a group of one to two terrorists in the Mankote forest belt near the LoC in the district, following which the encounter broke out.
An SPO has sustained minor injuries in the encounter yesterday.
"No militant has been killed so far, but the operation is still on," the officer said, adding the army and other security forces have cordoned off the area.
"Though the firing has ended, the search and cordon operation is still on," a senior police officer said.
Yesterday SOG of police had made contact with a group of one to two terrorists in the Mankote forest belt near the LoC in the district, following which the encounter broke out.
An SPO has sustained minor injuries in the encounter yesterday.
"No militant has been killed so far, but the operation is still on," the officer said, adding the army and other security forces have cordoned off the area.
21:49
We note Pakistan's decision to postpone SAARC Summit. They have been compelled to recognise the regional sentiment against terrorism: MEA
21:48
Pope Francis tweets: Lord Jesus, cast forth the shadow of your cross over peoples at war: may they learn the way of reconciliation, dialogue and forgiveness.
21:23
ANI reports: Grandmother of the jawan who crossed over to the other side of the LoC passed away after not receiving any information about him.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh talks with the family of the jawan and assures them that they will bring him back.
21:18 Trump threatens to skip remaining debates if Hillary is there
Plunging the future of the 2016 Presidential debates into doubt, Donald J Trump said on Tuesday morning that he would not participate in the remaining two debates if Hillary Clinton is there.
Trump blasted the format of Monday night's debate by claiming that the presence of Clinton was "specifically designed" to distract him from delivering his message to the American people.
"Every time I said something, she would say something back," he said. "It was rigged."
He also lambasted the "underhanded tactics" his opponent used during the debate. "She kept on bringing up things I said or did," he added. "She is a very nasty person."
Turning to CNN, Trump criticized the network's use of a split screen showing both him and Clinton throughout the telecast. "It should have been just me," he said. "That way people could have seen how really good my temperament is."
The billionaire said that debate organizers had not yet responded to his ultimatum, but he warned that if he does not get assurances in writing that future debates will be "un-rigged, Hillary-wise," he will not participate.
Read more HERE
21:09
Petrol price hiked by 28 paise per litre; diesel price cut by 6 paise a litre
20:36 Will show India what a real surgical strike is: Hafiz Saeed
Hafiz Saeed, chief of terrorist outfit Jammat-ud-Dawah and mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack, on Friday warned India of a "befitting response" for its military operation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will now know what "surgical strikes" really mean.
"We will tell you what is a real surgical strike... and you will get the deserved response soon," Saeed said in a public address in Faisalabad, Lahore.
"I want to tell Indian media to see soon how Pakistani Jawans conduct surgical strikes. Let me tell you... the United States will not be able to help you," he said, a day after India conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
"Now it is Pakistan's turn to give a befitting response to India. Narendra Modi will now know what is meant by surgical strikes," Saeed said.
20:27 Pakistan postpones SAARC summit
Pakistan has postponed the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad after five of eight member nations including India refuse to attend.
The General Provisions of the SAARC Charter require that decisions at all levels shall be taken on the basis of unanimity, and this applies to the convening of meetings of Heads of State or Government of SAARC Member States as well, it said in the brief statement.
Sri Lanka today pulled out of 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad, becoming the fifth country to do so after India expressed its inability to participate in the summit.
Besides India, three other SAARC members -- Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan -- have pulled out of the summit, indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which is not right for the successful holding of the meet.
That development came after tensions ran high between India and Pakistan after militants stormed an Indian Army base in Uri on September 18, killing 18 soldiers. The militants belonged to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist group.
Founded in 1985, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation currently has Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka as its members.
19:50 We stand for decisive struggle against terrorism: Russia backs India
Russia issues a statement on the growing tensions between India and Pakistan:
"Concerned with aggravation of situation along the line of control. Calling on parties not to allow any escalation of tension.
"We stand for decisive struggle against terrorism in all its manifestations.
"Expect that Pakistan should take effective steps in order to stop activities of terrorist groups in the territory of the country."
19:28 Trade trumps tension: Over 180 trucks cross Attari-Wagah route
Notwithstanding rising tensions between India and Pakistan, trade through the Attari-Wagah land route remained unaffected with more than 180 goods trucks moving both ways for the second day today after Army's surgical strikes across the LoC.
Amritsar Customs Commissioner Captain Sanjay Gahlot said they have "not witnessed any reduction in number of trucks".
"The trade (through Attari-Wagah route) continues to remain normal. There is no indication (of any adverse impact on trade)," he said.
Customs officials said 63 trucks with tomatoes crossed over to Pakistan through the land route while 123 with dry dates, gypsum, cement, aluminum ore, salt etc moved into the Indian territory.
"The number of trucks crossing over to India from Pakistan is likely to go up in the evening," another Customs official said.
Yesterday, 170 trucks from Pakistan brought goods to India while more than 50 went to the neighbouring country.
Pakistan imports vegetables including tomatoes, ginger, garlic and spices, cotton yarn etc while India imports cement, gypsum and dry fruits via the Attari-Wagah land route.
19:23
Pakistani media says that heads of the country's parliamentary parties will be given a briefing on Kashmir and the security situation.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened the meeting on Monday.
19:16
Film producer Rahul Aggarwal resigns from Indian Motion Picture Producers Association protesting against yesterday's resolution on banning Pakistani artists: ANI
19:13 Hillary Clinton fears nuclear suicide bombers from Pak
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has expressed concern over the possibility of emergence of nuclear suicide bombers from Pakistan if jihadists get access to the country's atomic weapons, a media report has said.
"We live in fear that they're going to have a coup, that jihadists are going to take over the government, theyre going to get access to nuclear weapons, and youll have suicide nuclear bombers. So, this could not be a more threatening scenario," the New York Times said, quoting Clinton as saying in an audio being hacked from Democratic Party's computers.
"Pakistan is running full speed to develop tactical nukes in their continuing hostility with India," the former secretary of state told a close door fundraiser in Virginia in February, the paper reported, citing 50-minute audio that appeared on the website of The Washington Free Beacon.
During the fund raiser, responding to a question on modernisation of nuclear weapons, the daily said, Clinton went beyond the question to warn of an emerging nuclear arms race, naming Russia and China as well as Pakistan and India.
"This is one of the most dangerous developments imaginable," Clinton said.
Such remarks from the former secretary of state gains significance in view of an interview of Pakistani Defence Minister Khwaja Muhammad Asif to the local TV channel in which he threatened to unleash nukes against India.
"If our safety is threatened, we will annihilate them (India)," Asif had said.
The United States appears to have taken a strong note of Asif's recent statements on use of nuclear weapons.
"Nuclear capable states have the responsibility to exercise restraint regarding nuclear weapons and missile capabilities," a state department official told PTI when asked about the statements being made by the Pakistani leader.
18:39 Despite tensions at border, Afridi, Ajmal bat for cricket with India
Pakistan's cricketers have batted for peaceful relations and resumption of bilateral cricket ties with India despite the escalation of tensions between the two nations following the Uri terror attack.
Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal noted that in the past cricket had helped reduce tensions and normalise relations between the two countries.
"In the past also having cricket series helped reduced tensions and I firmly believe there should be cricket between the two countries," Ajmal told reporters in Muzaffarabad, Kashmir.
The off-spinner said whenever he played in India he had got love and appreciation from the Indian people.
The BCCI has completely ruled out having cricket ties with Pakistan and its President, Anurag Thakur said there would be no cricket until Pakistan sponsored terrorism.
Afridi took to Twitter to push for a peaceful resolution of the recent hostilities between Pakistan and India.
Afridi said Pakistan had always been a "peaceful nation" and that when two neighbours fought it "affected both".
18:20 Pak will give befitting response to any misadventure: Army chief
Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif on Friday warned that any "misadventure" by any "adversary" will meet the "most befitting response", a day after India conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC.
"The highest state of vigil is being maintained along the Line of Control, Working Boundary and the international border," General Raheel said.
"Any misadventure by our adversary will meet the most befitting response," he said while talking to troops at a newly developed Combat Reaction Training facility near Lahore Garrison.
He asked all commanders to lay more emphasis on combat readiness and said the training in peacetime is the only guarantor of averting and winning a war if imposed.
"Pakistan cannot be coerced through any amount of malicious propaganda," he said. He expressed his complete satisfaction over operational preparedness of the army.
18:18 Adnan Sami faces backlash on Twitter for wishing Indian Army
Singer Adnan Sami was at the receiving end of Twitter backlash after he congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the surgical strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
After surgical strikes Sami tweeted, "Big Congratulations to @PMOIndia & our brave Armed forces for a brilliant, successful & mature strategic strike against #terrorism ! #Salute."
But the singer's tweet was met with a huge backlash afterwards. Sami who is of Pakistani origin, is now an Indian citizen.
Twitterati criticised Sami for siding with India, in spite of being the "son of a PAF pilot".
Sami, however, chose to give a fitting reply to these people on the Internet. He said: "Pakistanis r outraged by my earlier tweet. Their outburst clearly means they see Terrorist & Pakistan as the same!"
With this, Adnan became one of the many soft targets of the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan.
17:53 Centre sounds all-India security alert
The Centre on Friday issued a country-wide alert asking the states to heighten vigil to foil any attempt by Pakistan-based terror groups to carry out attacks amid apprehensions of backlash by terrorists after the surgical strike on their launch pads in PoK.
In a advisory, the home ministry conveyed to the states that additional forces should be deployed in all sensitive places, strategic installations, markets, religious places and other key places to ensure security, an official source said.
Metro cities were particularly asked to be extra vigilant.
States touching the border with Pakistan -- Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat -- were also directed to remain vigilant, sources said.
The advisory has been sent in the wake of yesterday's surgical strike by Indian army in terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
Sources said there is high probability that Pakistani agencies may try to use the terror groups to carry out strike in Indian soil to avenge yesterday's attack.
India carried out surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, with the army saying it inflicted "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Uri attack would not go unpunished.
17:37 Rosetta ends space mission by crashlanding on its comet
The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft has ended its 12-year space odyssey in a spectacular fashion, crashlanding on a comet it has circled and studied for two years to learn the origins of the solar system.
At the mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, as spacecraft operations manager Sylvain Lodiot announced the controlled crashlanding of Rosetta, wild cheers broke out spontaneously.
European Space Agency director general Jan Woerner tweeted soon after: 'Thank you Rosetta.'
Image alongside shows the Philae's parting image of Rosetta, taken shortly after separation. Photograph by ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA.
17:06 So just whom did Asha Bhosle call kutte?
The usually mellow and always melodious Asha Bhosle strikes a jarring note with this tweet. "Didn't know so many abusive kutte were following me. (Smiley) Deleted all. Doodh ka doodh pani ka pani. Guess my fellow artistes facing same problem."
The tweet an hour ago, was followed with this, minutes ago: "I said abusive kutte. Did I say Pakistani ? So Why are Pakistanis upset ? Anyone can be abusive."
While we wait for clarity on the tweets, Bollywood actor Salman Khan, producer Karan Johar and filmmaker stepped in to support Pakistani artists.
Khan spoke about art over war saying maintaining peaceful relations between the two countries was important. In a recently held press conference, Salman said that the action taken towards terrorists is justified, however, Pakistani artists are not terrorists. "They (Pakistani actors) are artists, not terrorists. It's the government who gives them permits and visas," said Salman.
Benegal said today, "We are not against the people of Pakistan, nor are the Pakistani people against the people of India. It is about the governments. Artists came cause they were called for some project, what's their fault? Pakistan government has nothing to do with the individuals."
Filmmaker Karan Johar, the first person to speak out against the ban on Pak artists said while his heart bled for the lives lost in the Uri terror attack and he understood the anger in the country, boycotting artistes from Pakistan is no solution to terrorism.
Johar's comment comes after MNS threatened Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India, failing which the shooting of their films would be stalled.
The tweet an hour ago, was followed with this, minutes ago: "I said abusive kutte. Did I say Pakistani ? So Why are Pakistanis upset ? Anyone can be abusive."
While we wait for clarity on the tweets, Bollywood actor Salman Khan, producer Karan Johar and filmmaker stepped in to support Pakistani artists.
Khan spoke about art over war saying maintaining peaceful relations between the two countries was important. In a recently held press conference, Salman said that the action taken towards terrorists is justified, however, Pakistani artists are not terrorists. "They (Pakistani actors) are artists, not terrorists. It's the government who gives them permits and visas," said Salman.
Benegal said today, "We are not against the people of Pakistan, nor are the Pakistani people against the people of India. It is about the governments. Artists came cause they were called for some project, what's their fault? Pakistan government has nothing to do with the individuals."
Filmmaker Karan Johar, the first person to speak out against the ban on Pak artists said while his heart bled for the lives lost in the Uri terror attack and he understood the anger in the country, boycotting artistes from Pakistan is no solution to terrorism.
Johar's comment comes after MNS threatened Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India, failing which the shooting of their films would be stalled.
16:53
Just in: AAP rebel leader from Punjab Sucha Singh Chhotepur resigns from the primary membership of the party.
16:51 Is it tricks or tweets?
"The use of automated propaganda during crises and elections to manipulate public opinion and suppress voices first witnessed in advanced industrial democracies like the US are increasingly getting used in developing countries including India. The limited Internet base in developing countries hasn't stopped political actors from integrating the Internet in their propaganda strategies."
Read more
Read more
16:50 Shyam Benegal: We are not against people of Pakistan
Respected filmmaker Shyam Benegal weighs in on the ban on Pakistani artists working in India after the Uri attack.
Benegal said today, "We are not against the people of Pakistan, nor are the Pakistani people against the people of India. It is about the governments. Artists came cause they were called for some project, what's their fault? Pakistan government has nothing to do with the individuals."
Superstar Salman Khan also spoke about art over war saying maintaining peaceful relations between the two countries was important. In a recently held press conference, Salman said that the action taken towards terrorists is justified, however, Pakistani artists are not terrorists. "They (Pakistani actors) are artists, not terrorists. It's the government who gives them permits and visas," said Salman.
Speaking about India's surgical strike conducted in Pakistan on Wednesday night, Salman said, "Terrorists na? Proper action tha."
Earlier today, MNS activist, Amey Khopkar said, "If we find any Pakistani artist working here, we will beat them up. If anybody in India will work with Pakistani actors or artists, we will protest against them." The MNS had called for a ban on Pakistani artists in the wake of the Uri attack.
The Mumbai-based Indian Motion Picture Producers Association on Friday even passed a resolution to ban Pakistani actors from the industry.
In retaliation, Pakistan has banned Bollywood films from being screened there.
Benegal said today, "We are not against the people of Pakistan, nor are the Pakistani people against the people of India. It is about the governments. Artists came cause they were called for some project, what's their fault? Pakistan government has nothing to do with the individuals."
Superstar Salman Khan also spoke about art over war saying maintaining peaceful relations between the two countries was important. In a recently held press conference, Salman said that the action taken towards terrorists is justified, however, Pakistani artists are not terrorists. "They (Pakistani actors) are artists, not terrorists. It's the government who gives them permits and visas," said Salman.
Speaking about India's surgical strike conducted in Pakistan on Wednesday night, Salman said, "Terrorists na? Proper action tha."
Earlier today, MNS activist, Amey Khopkar said, "If we find any Pakistani artist working here, we will beat them up. If anybody in India will work with Pakistani actors or artists, we will protest against them." The MNS had called for a ban on Pakistani artists in the wake of the Uri attack.
The Mumbai-based Indian Motion Picture Producers Association on Friday even passed a resolution to ban Pakistani actors from the industry.
In retaliation, Pakistan has banned Bollywood films from being screened there.
16:14 Is Jaya OK? Karunanidhi wants photographs as proof
DMK President M Karunanidhi today urged the Tamil Nadu government to "put an end to rumours" regarding the health of AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa by providing proper information to the people, while wishing his arch rival a speedy recovery.
"As I had already mentioned, though I differ with her ideologically, it is my desire that she recovers soon and take up official duties as usual," he said and wished her a speedy recovery.
Karunanidhi said although Apollo hospital, where the Chief Minister is recuperating from fever and dehydration, was issuing bulletins about her health, "some unwanted rumours" were deliberately being floated by "some persons."
"Some persons are spreading unwanted rumours about her health on the social media and to put an end to these, proper information about the Chief Minister's health must be made available to the people," he said in a statement.
Karunanidhi suggested that photographs of the Chief Minister be released through the media to quell any kind of rumours being circulated about her health.
Jayalalithaa (68) was admitted to the hospital on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration. She has been advised to stay for a few days at the hospital.
"As I had already mentioned, though I differ with her ideologically, it is my desire that she recovers soon and take up official duties as usual," he said and wished her a speedy recovery.
Karunanidhi said although Apollo hospital, where the Chief Minister is recuperating from fever and dehydration, was issuing bulletins about her health, "some unwanted rumours" were deliberately being floated by "some persons."
"Some persons are spreading unwanted rumours about her health on the social media and to put an end to these, proper information about the Chief Minister's health must be made available to the people," he said in a statement.
Karunanidhi suggested that photographs of the Chief Minister be released through the media to quell any kind of rumours being circulated about her health.
Jayalalithaa (68) was admitted to the hospital on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration. She has been advised to stay for a few days at the hospital.
15:59 DGCA lifts restrictions on new Samsung Note 7 phones
Heads up Samsung Note 7 users.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has lifted restrictions placed on using and carrying Samsung Electronics Co's Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones on commercial airplanes, but only for devices purchased after September 15, 2016.
The DGCA earlier in September, warned passengers and airlines from turning on or charging Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones when they are on board or storing them in checked-in baggage.
The restrictions will continue to apply to phones purchased before September 15 this year, DGCA said in a statement.
Samsung recalled its Note 7 phones across the globe this month due to faulty batteries, which caused the devices to catch fire, when they are on charge or in normal use.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has lifted restrictions placed on using and carrying Samsung Electronics Co's Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones on commercial airplanes, but only for devices purchased after September 15, 2016.
The DGCA earlier in September, warned passengers and airlines from turning on or charging Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones when they are on board or storing them in checked-in baggage.
The restrictions will continue to apply to phones purchased before September 15 this year, DGCA said in a statement.
Samsung recalled its Note 7 phones across the globe this month due to faulty batteries, which caused the devices to catch fire, when they are on charge or in normal use.
15:56 No on will be allowed to cast evil eye in Pakistan: Sharif
Pakistan's Federal cabinet on Friday rejected Indian claims of carrying out surgical strike inside Pakistan and vowed to continue moral, political and diplomatic support of Kashmiris.
Pakistan's The International News reports that the meeting was convened to deliberate on the deteriorating situation along the Line of Control (LoC) after Indian forces opened unprovoked fire in the Azad Jammu Kashmir during which two soldiers embraced martyrdom.
Chairing the meeting, PM Nawaz Sharif said the nation, along with the country's brave armed forces, is fully prepared and ready to defend the motherland from any sort of aggression.
"I must make it clear that each and every person of this country is ready to defend its motherland. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its valiant armed forces. No one will be allowed to cast an evil eye on Pakistan," the Premier remarked. He said Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of the partition of the sub-continent, that cannot be overlooked.
Pakistan's The International News reports that the meeting was convened to deliberate on the deteriorating situation along the Line of Control (LoC) after Indian forces opened unprovoked fire in the Azad Jammu Kashmir during which two soldiers embraced martyrdom.
Chairing the meeting, PM Nawaz Sharif said the nation, along with the country's brave armed forces, is fully prepared and ready to defend the motherland from any sort of aggression.
"I must make it clear that each and every person of this country is ready to defend its motherland. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its valiant armed forces. No one will be allowed to cast an evil eye on Pakistan," the Premier remarked. He said Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of the partition of the sub-continent, that cannot be overlooked.
15:41 Modis travails do not end with surgical strikes at Pakistan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains entrapped in his self-cultivated image of being a muscular Hindu nationalist leader. The contradiction needs to be resolved. The starting point lies in diligently addressing the Kashmir problem with a view to find an enduring solution, writes MK Bhadrakumar. Read
15:23 Difference between terrorists and artists, says Salman on Pak ban
Salman Khan holds forth on Indian Motion Picture Producers Association announcing a ban on Pakistani actors and technicians from working in India.
The superstar said, "There is a difference between terrorists and actors; Pakistani artists come with permission and visa issued by the government. The ideal situation should have been peace; I guess this will have some reaction, better we try to have peace."
On Thursday, the IMPPA passed a "resolution" announcing the ban, which is expected to stay "until normalcy returns". The move follows the Indian Army's 'surgical strikes' on terror bases in Pakistan.
There have been calls from political outfits like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to prohibit Pakistani artistes from working in India as tensions rise between the two countries in the wake of a militant attack in Uri that led to 19 army casualties.
The superstar said, "There is a difference between terrorists and actors; Pakistani artists come with permission and visa issued by the government. The ideal situation should have been peace; I guess this will have some reaction, better we try to have peace."
On Thursday, the IMPPA passed a "resolution" announcing the ban, which is expected to stay "until normalcy returns". The move follows the Indian Army's 'surgical strikes' on terror bases in Pakistan.
There have been calls from political outfits like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to prohibit Pakistani artistes from working in India as tensions rise between the two countries in the wake of a militant attack in Uri that led to 19 army casualties.
15:17 Sri Lanka pulls out of SAARC summit in Islamabad
Just in: Sri Lanka pulls out of the Islamabad SAARC summit. Sri Lanka joins Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan in announcing that it will not attend the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad in November.
India has already stated that it will not be able to attend the summit following the Uri attack.
India has already stated that it will not be able to attend the summit following the Uri attack.
Lanka said today that the atmosphere is not conducive to holding the summit. That leaves only Maldives and Nepal willing to attend SAARC.
All the countries, in different ways, blamed Pakistan for the current atmosphere and said it was not conducive for the summit. A formal announcement of the summit postponement will be made in Kathmandu in the next few days, since key government interlocutors in Nepal are not present in Kathmandu.
15:10 Pak TV images of Indian casualties morphed, fake: Army
The Army clarifies saying that a member of the team that carried surgical strikes across LoC has received a minor injury during ex-filtration (getting out of enemy territory). The injury is not because of any enemy or terrorist
action.
DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh had said yesterday that one Indian soldier had been injured on the way back to India after the surgical strikes. Reports said that the soldier was injured when he stepped on a landmine. Large swathes of land along the LoC are riddled with land mines.
Army sources have said that pictures of and videos showing Indian Army casualties on Pakistan TV are fake.
The Army said Pakistan TV channels have been playing doctored video clips showing Indian Army casualties which have also been circulating on social media.
Army sources speaking to ANI said that the videos were fake and an example of black propaganda and requested that these clips are not circulated or telecast.
On Thursday morning, at 12:30 am, the Army's special Forces crossed the Line of Control for surgical strikes and returned before the break of dawn. The Army had confirmed that there were no casualties on the Indian side, but one soldier, who had stepped on a land mine suffered minor injuries and was being treated at the Army R&R Hospital in New Delhi.
Pakstani media reports said that eight Indian soldiers had been killed in the raids in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and one captured alive.
Army officials say images played out on Pakistan TV channels claiming to show Indian casualties are doctored or morphed clips and "absolutely fake."
Headlines Today journalist Shiv Aroor tweets: Irony! Vids put out by Pak media/tweeps claiming to be Ind troops killed/dead likely old clips of Pak soldiers being slaughtered by Taliban. I mean come on, Pakistan. 😂 When you fake videos at least make sure they aren't of your own troops. Gold mine of better fakes on YouTube."
action.
DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh had said yesterday that one Indian soldier had been injured on the way back to India after the surgical strikes. Reports said that the soldier was injured when he stepped on a landmine. Large swathes of land along the LoC are riddled with land mines.
Army sources have said that pictures of and videos showing Indian Army casualties on Pakistan TV are fake.
The Army said Pakistan TV channels have been playing doctored video clips showing Indian Army casualties which have also been circulating on social media.
Army sources speaking to ANI said that the videos were fake and an example of black propaganda and requested that these clips are not circulated or telecast.
On Thursday morning, at 12:30 am, the Army's special Forces crossed the Line of Control for surgical strikes and returned before the break of dawn. The Army had confirmed that there were no casualties on the Indian side, but one soldier, who had stepped on a land mine suffered minor injuries and was being treated at the Army R&R Hospital in New Delhi.
Pakstani media reports said that eight Indian soldiers had been killed in the raids in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and one captured alive.
Army officials say images played out on Pakistan TV channels claiming to show Indian casualties are doctored or morphed clips and "absolutely fake."
Headlines Today journalist Shiv Aroor tweets: Irony! Vids put out by Pak media/tweeps claiming to be Ind troops killed/dead likely old clips of Pak soldiers being slaughtered by Taliban. I mean come on, Pakistan. 😂 When you fake videos at least make sure they aren't of your own troops. Gold mine of better fakes on YouTube."
14:59 SC directs K'taka to release 6000 cusecs of water
The Supreme Court asks Centre to set up the Cauvery Water Management Board by October 4. The SC pulls up Karnataka for its defiant stand and directs it to release 6,000 cusecs of water between Oct 1 and Oct 6. Wrath of law will fall upon Karnataka in case of any defiance of Cauvery order, warns SC.
14:55
Qnet scam: Michael Ferreira surrenders before Mumbai police.
14:55 Shahabuddin surrenders, promises 'reply' to Nitish in next polls
Mohammed Shahabuddin surrenders before the Siwan District Court. Shahabuddin says his supporters will reply to Nitish Kumar in the next elections.
14:19 Villagers can't return home till de-escalation
Indian authorities have begun evacuating people living in villages located within 10 kilometres of the international border. Heads of local gurudwaras and temples with the help of village sarpanches asked the people to evacuate at the earliest.
The Border Security Force has put the international border on further alert after the Indian Army's surgical strike.
Punjab shares a 553 km border with Pakistan. It has six districts which lie close to the international border. Some 135 villages lie very close to the border. In Rajasthan, four districts -- Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Sriganganagar -- share over a 1,000 km-long border with Pakistan, while Gujarat shares a land and sea boundary with it.
Image: Villagers in Firozpur being evacuated after the surgical strike conducted by Indian Army on Wednesday night.
The Border Security Force has put the international border on further alert after the Indian Army's surgical strike.
Punjab shares a 553 km border with Pakistan. It has six districts which lie close to the international border. Some 135 villages lie very close to the border. In Rajasthan, four districts -- Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Sriganganagar -- share over a 1,000 km-long border with Pakistan, while Gujarat shares a land and sea boundary with it.
Image: Villagers in Firozpur being evacuated after the surgical strike conducted by Indian Army on Wednesday night.
13:45 Only DGMO, not ministers, will brief media on surgical strikes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed members of the Cabinet Committee on Security not to speak to the media about Wednesday night's surgical strike across the Line of Control, and has said that only the director-general of military operations, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, will address the media.
The PM has drawn up a strategy to be adopted and has asked the senior ministers to regularly brief all their official contacts.
Modi, however, directed Home Minister Rajnath Singh to speak to chief ministers of the border states, while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will brief international fund managers to reassure them about India's more than satisfactory fiscal situation and to not worry about FDI and investments in India.
While Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj was asked to brief Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will brief envoys of select countries.
The PM has drawn up a strategy to be adopted and has asked the senior ministers to regularly brief all their official contacts.
Modi, however, directed Home Minister Rajnath Singh to speak to chief ministers of the border states, while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will brief international fund managers to reassure them about India's more than satisfactory fiscal situation and to not worry about FDI and investments in India.
While Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj was asked to brief Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will brief envoys of select countries.
13:38 SC cancels ex-RJD strongman Shahabuddin's bail
The Supreme Court has cancelled former Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Mohammad Shahabuddin's bail today. "He will be taken to jail forthwith," said Prashant Bhushan who had filed an appeal with the apex court.
Earlier in September, the Patna HC had granted bail to the controversial RJD leader in a case of murder of a witness in the killing of two brothers in Siwan by bathing them in acid. Shahabuddin is facing criminal charges in around 50 cases.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, who has filed one of the petitions, argued before the apex court that Shahabuddin did not follow any rules and walked out of jail at will. "The jail authorities were terrified of him," Bhushan said and sought cancellation of bail on the grounds that if he was given bail, the life of the last witness, who was testify in a case, would be in danger.
Bhushan had earlier on Monday told the apex court that there were 45 cases against Shahabuddin, out of which nine are related to murder and ten are related to convictions.
Shahabuddin will be taken into custody immediately.
Earlier in September, the Patna HC had granted bail to the controversial RJD leader in a case of murder of a witness in the killing of two brothers in Siwan by bathing them in acid. Shahabuddin is facing criminal charges in around 50 cases.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, who has filed one of the petitions, argued before the apex court that Shahabuddin did not follow any rules and walked out of jail at will. "The jail authorities were terrified of him," Bhushan said and sought cancellation of bail on the grounds that if he was given bail, the life of the last witness, who was testify in a case, would be in danger.
Bhushan had earlier on Monday told the apex court that there were 45 cases against Shahabuddin, out of which nine are related to murder and ten are related to convictions.
Shahabuddin will be taken into custody immediately.
13:13 America won't stop India from more such strikes
"The interests of the United States and India are sharply aligned on the issue of Pakistan-based terrorism. In fact, assuming US-India security relations continue to deepen, Washington could in due course help enhance India's capacities to take out anti-India terrorists," says Michael Kugelman.
Read the column on Rediff.com.
Read the column on Rediff.com.
13:01 Surgical strikes befitting reply to Pakistani aggression: Army widow
Hailing the surgical strikes by India on terror launch pads across the LoC, the wife of martyred soldier Hemraj, said the action was a "befitting reply" to Pakistan.
"The strikes by India have instilled confidence among soldiers and the common man. But if such a step was taken earlier, we would not have lost lives of soldiers in Uri," Dharmvati said.
She said the government should not show any leniency towards Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.
Lance Naik Hemraj was killed and beheaded by Pakistani soldiers on January 8, 2013 in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
12:55 Rahul praises PM Modi for surgical strikes
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi tweeted a day after India carried out surgical strikes across the LoC, saying, "When a PM carries out an action worthy of a PM, then I support such a PM. I would like to thank PM Modi for the action he has taken. The Congress and the entire nation stand with PM Modi today."
12:30 Patna HC strikes down Bihar government's Prohibition of Liquor Act
The Patna high court today struck down the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act terming it as illegal.
Four months after Bihar pased a law banning alcohol in the state, it brought about ammendments by which all adults in a family were made liable if one drank or kept liquor at home.
Additionally, the law allowed a Collector to extern a drinker for 6 months.
12:05 India looks at more ways to pressure Pakistan
Beyond Thursday's raid by Indian special forces into Pakistan's side of divided Kashmir, New Delhi is considering new economic and diplomatic measures to bring pressure to bear on its neighbour, Indian officials said.
Read more HERE
12:03 Javadekar to represent India at Peres funeral
HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar represents India at Shimon Peres funeral. Peres to be laid to rest at Mt. Hertzel in Jerusalem. A security crackdown ahead of the ceremony has led to the "preventative arrests" of several people. Guests include the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who will visit Israel for the first time since 2010.
12:00 All attempts being made to free soldier in Pak captivity: Rajnath
Home minister Rajnath Singh says all attempts are being made to free the Indian soldier in captivity in Pakistan. "India will take up the issue with Pakistan," the home minister said.
Chandu Babulal Chauhan, a soldier serving with the 37 Rashtriya Rifles, was captured after he "inadvertently crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control from the Army post where he was on duty", the Indian Army has said. The capture of the Indian soldier is unrelated to the surgical strikes on the terrorist bases inside the Line of Control.
Islamabad has however maintained that Chauhan had been captured by Pakistani troops and was now being kept at the military headquarters in Nikayal.
Chandu Babulal Chauhan, a soldier serving with the 37 Rashtriya Rifles, was captured after he "inadvertently crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control from the Army post where he was on duty", the Indian Army has said. The capture of the Indian soldier is unrelated to the surgical strikes on the terrorist bases inside the Line of Control.
Islamabad has however maintained that Chauhan had been captured by Pakistani troops and was now being kept at the military headquarters in Nikayal.
11:40 In death and in life, they chose the Army
When the new batch of women enters the Officers Training Academy in Chennai on September 30 for a 10-month rigorous course to become officers in the Indian Army, it will have among them two women who have already conquered a battle of their own.
Rediff.com's Archana Masih speaks to Nidhi Dubey and Swati Mahadik who will join the Indian Army as officers just as their deceased soldier husbands did before them. Read more
Image: Swati Mahadik with her husband Colonel Santosh Mahadik and their children. She says he would have been proud that she is donning the olive green uniform. Photograph: Kind courtesy Swati Mahadik/Facebook
Rediff.com's Archana Masih speaks to Nidhi Dubey and Swati Mahadik who will join the Indian Army as officers just as their deceased soldier husbands did before them. Read more
Image: Swati Mahadik with her husband Colonel Santosh Mahadik and their children. She says he would have been proud that she is donning the olive green uniform. Photograph: Kind courtesy Swati Mahadik/Facebook
11:34 Pakistani cinemas stop screening Indian films
Karachi's Nueplex and Atrium cinemas have ceased the screening of Amitabh Bachchan-starrer, Pink, the Pakistani paper, Dawn reports.
Karachi's Nueplex Cinemas followed suit; the management conveyed this to its patrons in a post on the social networking site late last night:
"In Solidarity with Pakistan Army and our film actors, Super Cinemas being one of the largest Cinema operators in Pakistan hereby announce boycotting exhibition of Indian films at all our Cinemas with immediate effect for an indefinite period. We expect other cinemas to follow the suit. We urge all concerned to ban Indian content on all Pakistan TV Channels / Cable TV as well. It must also be ensured that sale of Indian Film DVDs / CDs is also stopped at outlets in Pakistan. This protest will continue till Pak-India situation normalizes and Indian Govt offers a level playing field for Pakistani films and complete protection to Pakistani artists.
Pakistan First
Pakistan Zindabad."
The cinema is currently running Pakistani films and Hollywood releases, Sully, Storks and The Magnificent Seven.
The screening of Bollywood film, the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Pink, has been stopped.
While Atrium cinemas has yet to make a public announcement, its website reveals that the cinema's management has also decided against the screening of Indian films.
The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) banned Pakistani actors, singers and technicians from working in India till "normalcy" returns.
Karachi's Nueplex Cinemas followed suit; the management conveyed this to its patrons in a post on the social networking site late last night:
"In Solidarity with Pakistan Army and our film actors, Super Cinemas being one of the largest Cinema operators in Pakistan hereby announce boycotting exhibition of Indian films at all our Cinemas with immediate effect for an indefinite period. We expect other cinemas to follow the suit. We urge all concerned to ban Indian content on all Pakistan TV Channels / Cable TV as well. It must also be ensured that sale of Indian Film DVDs / CDs is also stopped at outlets in Pakistan. This protest will continue till Pak-India situation normalizes and Indian Govt offers a level playing field for Pakistani films and complete protection to Pakistani artists.
Pakistan First
Pakistan Zindabad."
The cinema is currently running Pakistani films and Hollywood releases, Sully, Storks and The Magnificent Seven.
The screening of Bollywood film, the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Pink, has been stopped.
While Atrium cinemas has yet to make a public announcement, its website reveals that the cinema's management has also decided against the screening of Indian films.
The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) banned Pakistani actors, singers and technicians from working in India till "normalcy" returns.
11:23
France begins first air strikes against so-called Islamic State from aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, reports say.
11:19 No nationwide ban on liquor
Raise a toast, folks! SC dismisses petition filed by BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, seeking a complete ban on liquor across the country.
11:18 Picture perfect
Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar's fanboy moment: "I had the pleasure of meeting the US President and First Lady at a reception hosted by them in New York on the sidelines of 71st UNGA."
Last week at India's permanent mission in New York, Akbar criticised Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's speech at the UNGA, saying, "We heard the glorification of a terrorist. Wani is declared commander of Hizbul, widely acknowledged as a terror group. It is shocking that a leader of a nation can glorify a self-advertised terrorist at such a forum. This is self incrimination by Pakistan PM."
Image: Union minister MJ Akbar with US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Last week at India's permanent mission in New York, Akbar criticised Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's speech at the UNGA, saying, "We heard the glorification of a terrorist. Wani is declared commander of Hizbul, widely acknowledged as a terror group. It is shocking that a leader of a nation can glorify a self-advertised terrorist at such a forum. This is self incrimination by Pakistan PM."
Image: Union minister MJ Akbar with US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
11:07 US celebrates Dosti Day with India
@USAndIndia tweets: Happy #USIndiaDosti Day! Today, September 30, marks the third annual 'U.S.-India Partnership Day'.
The US doubled up its support for India and reasserted that Pakistan should fight against terrorism, but what was left unsaid by the White House was also significant.
The US doubled up its support for India and reasserted that Pakistan should fight against terrorism, but what was left unsaid by the White House was also significant.
10:43 Park Street gang-rape case: Absconding main accused arrested in Delhi
Park Street gang-rape case: Absconding main accused Kader Khan arrested in Delhi. He will be brought to Kolkata today.
Khan and four more men had abducted and gang-raped Suzette Jordan from Park Street in Kolkata in 2012.
While the three others were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, Khan, the main accused and another accused in the case have been absconding.
Jordan, died of Meningitis in March 2015. She was just 40.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called it a "sajano ghatana" or fabricated case.
Image: Suzette Jordan.
Khan and four more men had abducted and gang-raped Suzette Jordan from Park Street in Kolkata in 2012.
While the three others were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, Khan, the main accused and another accused in the case have been absconding.
Jordan, died of Meningitis in March 2015. She was just 40.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called it a "sajano ghatana" or fabricated case.
Image: Suzette Jordan.
10:36 India will deploy Rafale jets carrying nukes against China, Pak: Chinese media
India will deploy the recently bought Rafale fighter aircraft capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads near disputed regions with Pakistan and China as New Delhi continues to be largest arms purchaser in the world, the Chinese state media predicted on Friday. Read more
10:31 Pak's 2nd ceasefire violation after surgical strikes
Violating the ceasefire again, Pakistani troops opened fire from small arms along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor district. This is the fifth ceasefire violation in the month of September and the third in the past 36 hours.
"There was small arms firing (from Pakistan on forward posts) along the LoC in Pallanwala, Chapriyal and Samnam areas of Jammu district during the night," Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said.
He said the firing started at 0030 hours and ended at 0130 hours. There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing, he said.
Yesterday, Pakistani troops had resorted to firing in Balnoie area of Mendhar sector without any casualty.
On September 28, the Pakistan Army had violated the ceasefire by opening fire on Indian Army posts along the LoC in Sabzian area Poonch sector.
Pakistani troops had fired on Army posts along LoC in Poonch sector on September 6.
On September 2, Pakistan troops had violated the ceasefire by firing on forward Army posts along the LoC in Akhnoor sector.
Last year, 16 civilians were killed and 71 others injured in 405 incidents of cross-border firing by Pakistan, the officer said.
"There was small arms firing (from Pakistan on forward posts) along the LoC in Pallanwala, Chapriyal and Samnam areas of Jammu district during the night," Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said.
He said the firing started at 0030 hours and ended at 0130 hours. There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing, he said.
Yesterday, Pakistani troops had resorted to firing in Balnoie area of Mendhar sector without any casualty.
On September 28, the Pakistan Army had violated the ceasefire by opening fire on Indian Army posts along the LoC in Sabzian area Poonch sector.
Pakistani troops had fired on Army posts along LoC in Poonch sector on September 6.
On September 2, Pakistan troops had violated the ceasefire by firing on forward Army posts along the LoC in Akhnoor sector.
Last year, 16 civilians were killed and 71 others injured in 405 incidents of cross-border firing by Pakistan, the officer said.
10:15 Will pressure Pak to end asociation with terror: US
US Senator M Warner and J Cornyn, Co-Chairs of Senate India Caucus tells PM Modi: "Will continue to pressure Pakistan to end association with terror groups. Pakistan's possible involvement in this (Uri) attack underscores our broader concern about Pakistan's use of terrorism as a pillar of its foreign policies towards Afghanistan and India."
09:54 Modi has become a prisoner of his own image
A war hysteria has gripped India. It has never happened that those who want peace have been so muted.
The inflammatory commentary by politicians, experts, and journalists is a result of the mushrooming clout of the Hindu right-wing, which is ready and willing to discount peace in the region, at least rhetorically.
What happened in Uri, where 19 Indian soldiers were killed in an alleged militant attack, is condemnable, but the response from the Indian government and especially the media has been highly irresponsible.
Read the full column on the Dawn
The inflammatory commentary by politicians, experts, and journalists is a result of the mushrooming clout of the Hindu right-wing, which is ready and willing to discount peace in the region, at least rhetorically.
What happened in Uri, where 19 Indian soldiers were killed in an alleged militant attack, is condemnable, but the response from the Indian government and especially the media has been highly irresponsible.
Read the full column on the Dawn
09:51
Rajnath Singh to chair a meeting to review the internal security at 11 am today.
09:46 Imran Khan: I will show Nawaz Sharif how to respond to Modi
Following India's surgical strikes at the terror launch pads in the Line of Control in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan opposition party leader Imran Khan said he will show his Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif how to react to such "aggressions".
"Initially I had to give a message to Nawaz Sharif, but tomorrow I will send a message to Modi too," the cricketer-turned politician said.Khan also urged people to participate in the march.
"People from all over Pakistan should participate in the march to display unit," he said, adding that "I will show Nawaz Sharif how to respond to Modi".
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief also referred to Nawaz Sharif's "inability to govern" and said, "(Army Chief) Gen Raheel is representing the nation.
"Pakistan has rejected the Indian claim of "surgical strikes" but confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed when the Indian military resorted to firing across the LoC, which divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries, on Thursday.
"Initially I had to give a message to Nawaz Sharif, but tomorrow I will send a message to Modi too," the cricketer-turned politician said.Khan also urged people to participate in the march.
"People from all over Pakistan should participate in the march to display unit," he said, adding that "I will show Nawaz Sharif how to respond to Modi".
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief also referred to Nawaz Sharif's "inability to govern" and said, "(Army Chief) Gen Raheel is representing the nation.
"Pakistan has rejected the Indian claim of "surgical strikes" but confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed when the Indian military resorted to firing across the LoC, which divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries, on Thursday.
09:41 Thank PM for decision to teach Pak a lesson: Kargil martyr's father
Kargil martyr Captain Saurabh Kalia's father NK Kalia reacts to yesterday's surgical strikes on the terror camps in the LoC.
"I salute our brave Indian army personnel for conducting this and also thank the PM for taking such a bold decision to teach Pakistan a lesson," he said.
"It is Very appropriate, timely and effective," the martyr's father said on the Indian army action.
Captain Kalia, along with five other soldiers, was taken prisoner by Pakistani troops during the Kargil war in 1999. They were held captive and tortured before their bodies were handed back to India June 9, 1999.
The incident caused an uproar across the nation, as the torturing of prisoners of war is against the Geneva Convention.
Pakistan has consistently denied the charges of torture, stating that the soldiers may have died because of poor weather conditions.
The NDA government at the Centre has decided not to approach the International Court of Justice with respect to torture and killing of Captain Saurabh Kalia.
Also read: A father's fight for his martyred soldier son
"I salute our brave Indian army personnel for conducting this and also thank the PM for taking such a bold decision to teach Pakistan a lesson," he said.
"It is Very appropriate, timely and effective," the martyr's father said on the Indian army action.
Captain Kalia, along with five other soldiers, was taken prisoner by Pakistani troops during the Kargil war in 1999. They were held captive and tortured before their bodies were handed back to India June 9, 1999.
The incident caused an uproar across the nation, as the torturing of prisoners of war is against the Geneva Convention.
Pakistan has consistently denied the charges of torture, stating that the soldiers may have died because of poor weather conditions.
The NDA government at the Centre has decided not to approach the International Court of Justice with respect to torture and killing of Captain Saurabh Kalia.
Also read: A father's fight for his martyred soldier son
09:22
This is how the surgical strikes took place. Map courtesy: The Telegraph.
09:10 When the White House Situation Room was re-enacted in New Delhi
As part of the new standard operating procedures, defence minister Manohar Parrikar, the chief of the army staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh, and Doval micro-managed the entire operation from the "war room" in a part of South Block that houses the ministry of defence.
A source present in South Block said the trio arrived separately, so as not to arouse any suspicion, between 11pm and 11.30pm yesterday and stayed till almost dawn. The source described the atmosphere in the war room as akin to the night in the White House when Osama bin Laden was killed by US special forces.
The White House scene was immortalised by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton dropping her jaw and closing her mouth with one hand to suppress her gasp when Osama fell to American bullets.
Read the full report here.
Image: US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House.
A source present in South Block said the trio arrived separately, so as not to arouse any suspicion, between 11pm and 11.30pm yesterday and stayed till almost dawn. The source described the atmosphere in the war room as akin to the night in the White House when Osama bin Laden was killed by US special forces.
The White House scene was immortalised by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton dropping her jaw and closing her mouth with one hand to suppress her gasp when Osama fell to American bullets.
Read the full report here.
Image: US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House.
09:04 LoC lexicon
Surgical strike
A raid by forces on an identified target, based on intelligence, and from land, air or water or a combination of them.
♦ Indian military sources say that teams from the armys 4 and 9 Special Force battalions were inserted through the Line
of Control into Pakistani-controlled territory from at least four locations.
♦ These locations were spread over 200km, from Rajouri in Jammu (under the responsibility of the armys 16 Corps) to Kupwara in north Kashmir (under the armys 15 Corps).
♦ The 16 Corps is responsible for the area south of the Pir Panjal; the 15 Corps for the area north of the Pir Panjal. The
inter-corps boundary on the Pir Panjal, north of Poonch, has seen deadly action in the past too.
Cross-border fire
♦ This too may be unleashed from multiple platforms. In this instance, Indian and Pakistani forces used artillery to fire into each others territories.
♦ The Pakistani forces fired heavily early Thursday morning as the Indian commandos were returning after attacks on the
terrorists launch pads.
Terror launch pad
♦ A launch pad is a staging post that militants use to infiltrate into India; it is not a training base. Sources in the security establishment believe that a launch pad is the last station where a group of militants assembles before crossing into India.
♦ Officials said the launch pads that were attacked had between 20 and 40 militants and were close to the rear area of Pakistani army companies.
♦ Typically, a company has three platoons, two of which man the Line of Control while a third is at the rear, at a spot between 1km and 3km from the Line of Control.
♦ Terror launch pads, sources say, are located between the platoons in the front and the platoon in the rear but may not be adjacent to the platoon or company bases.
Significant casualties
♦ Sources said the Indian commandos did not stay back to count the bodies but there was evidence to assess the damage.
♦ They said every possible asset had been used for surveillance, which would mean the deployment of human intelligence (humint) or spies as well as elint (electronic intelligence) using platforms like unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) with night-vision cameras.
♦ The commandos used incendiaries and explosives to target the launch pads, the sources said. An example of an incendiary is a shoulder-fired RPO flamethrower. One of the explosives the Special Forces use is a delayed-charge plastic bomb that can be stuck to a surface and timed to explode after the commandos have left the scene.
LoC and IB
♦ LoC means Line of Control, while IB means International Boundary. Both Indian and Pakistani forces recognise a 778km boundary as the LoC or a ceasefire line, which means the boundary is unsettled and a certain extent of armed conflict, such as skirmishing, can therefore be expected.
♦ Shelling was a daily practice until the 2003 ceasefire. Not so across the IB, which runs southwards from Jammu and where the armies are not eyeball-to-eyeball unlike the LoC.
A raid by forces on an identified target, based on intelligence, and from land, air or water or a combination of them.
♦ Indian military sources say that teams from the armys 4 and 9 Special Force battalions were inserted through the Line
of Control into Pakistani-controlled territory from at least four locations.
♦ These locations were spread over 200km, from Rajouri in Jammu (under the responsibility of the armys 16 Corps) to Kupwara in north Kashmir (under the armys 15 Corps).
♦ The 16 Corps is responsible for the area south of the Pir Panjal; the 15 Corps for the area north of the Pir Panjal. The
inter-corps boundary on the Pir Panjal, north of Poonch, has seen deadly action in the past too.
Cross-border fire
♦ This too may be unleashed from multiple platforms. In this instance, Indian and Pakistani forces used artillery to fire into each others territories.
♦ The Pakistani forces fired heavily early Thursday morning as the Indian commandos were returning after attacks on the
terrorists launch pads.
Terror launch pad
♦ A launch pad is a staging post that militants use to infiltrate into India; it is not a training base. Sources in the security establishment believe that a launch pad is the last station where a group of militants assembles before crossing into India.
♦ Officials said the launch pads that were attacked had between 20 and 40 militants and were close to the rear area of Pakistani army companies.
♦ Typically, a company has three platoons, two of which man the Line of Control while a third is at the rear, at a spot between 1km and 3km from the Line of Control.
♦ Terror launch pads, sources say, are located between the platoons in the front and the platoon in the rear but may not be adjacent to the platoon or company bases.
Significant casualties
♦ Sources said the Indian commandos did not stay back to count the bodies but there was evidence to assess the damage.
♦ They said every possible asset had been used for surveillance, which would mean the deployment of human intelligence (humint) or spies as well as elint (electronic intelligence) using platforms like unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) with night-vision cameras.
♦ The commandos used incendiaries and explosives to target the launch pads, the sources said. An example of an incendiary is a shoulder-fired RPO flamethrower. One of the explosives the Special Forces use is a delayed-charge plastic bomb that can be stuck to a surface and timed to explode after the commandos have left the scene.
LoC and IB
♦ LoC means Line of Control, while IB means International Boundary. Both Indian and Pakistani forces recognise a 778km boundary as the LoC or a ceasefire line, which means the boundary is unsettled and a certain extent of armed conflict, such as skirmishing, can therefore be expected.
♦ Shelling was a daily practice until the 2003 ceasefire. Not so across the IB, which runs southwards from Jammu and where the armies are not eyeball-to-eyeball unlike the LoC.
09:01 Kashmir fears paying 'madness' price
As India and Pakistan exchange body blows, Kashmir braces anxiously for collateral consequences of escalated hostilities over it. "We will pay the heaviest price for this madness," a top Kashmiri bureaucrat told The Telegraph, from his ruffled Srinagar desk amid propaganda fisticuffs between New Delhi and Islamabad through the day. Read more
08:47
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court to hear a petition on the cancellation of the bail plea of Mohammad Shahabuddin, today.
08:45 PM to hold 2nd cabinet committee on security meet today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today to discuss the situation in the wake of the surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
PM Modi had also chaired a CCS meeting to review the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday.
The government had called an all-party meeting on Thursday in the wake of surgical strikes across the India-Pakistan border late on Wednesday night. India caused "significant casualties" on terrorists and those supporting them during the surgical strikes across the India-Pakistan border on Wednesday night, the Indian Army earlier said.
Image: The CCS meet chaired by the PM yesterday.
PM Modi had also chaired a CCS meeting to review the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday.
The government had called an all-party meeting on Thursday in the wake of surgical strikes across the India-Pakistan border late on Wednesday night. India caused "significant casualties" on terrorists and those supporting them during the surgical strikes across the India-Pakistan border on Wednesday night, the Indian Army earlier said.
Image: The CCS meet chaired by the PM yesterday.
08:35 Pakistan army opens fire on Indian posts along LoC
Pakistan army opened small arms fire on Indian posts in Chapriyal and Samwan along the Line of Control in Akhnoor sector of Jammu early on Friday morning.
Jammu deputy commissioner Simrandeep Singh said, "Firing had started at about 12.30 am with small arms in Chapriyal and Samwan areas in Pallanwala area, which stopped about 1.30 am. No loss of life and property was reported.Situation so far is normal."
The firing comes after India announced that it had carried out surgical strikes across the LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
08:08
JUST IN: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson ruled out of 2nd Test due to illness. Ross Taylor will lead the Black Caps in Kolkata.
07:48 1 more soldier injured in Uri attack succumbs to injuries, toll up to 19
A soldier, Naik Rajkishor Singh, died after he succumbed to the injuries he sustained when terrorists cross the Line of Control and struck the army brigade headquarters on September 18.
With Singh's demise, the toll in the terror attack has now risen to 19.
Yesterday, the Indian Army hit back at terrorists across the LoC and carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and took out around 38-40 terrorists.
However, the Pakistan army refuted claims of a surgical attack, saying that Indian troops carried out cross-border firing in which two of their army men died.
04:12 After phones, now Samsung washing machines are exploding
One Georgia mom was pulling clothes from the dryer, with her 4-year-old son nearby, when she heard the boom and saw the damage. Another woman thought something had crashed through her roof. In one instance, metal shards flung into a hallway and ripped holes in the wall. Laundry rooms have flooded. A whole house shook.
The cause of this carnage, according to a federal class action lawsuit filed last month, is another exploding product made by Samsung.
Not smartphones, but washing machines.
It's not the sort of explosion, as with the lithium ion batteries in phones, caused by chemical reactions. Some washing machines, the suit alleges, vibrate violently under heavy loads, causing the tub to 'become unfastened, resulting in a dramatic centrifugal explosion that destroys the machine and nearby property'.
Read more.
The cause of this carnage, according to a federal class action lawsuit filed last month, is another exploding product made by Samsung.
Not smartphones, but washing machines.
It's not the sort of explosion, as with the lithium ion batteries in phones, caused by chemical reactions. Some washing machines, the suit alleges, vibrate violently under heavy loads, causing the tub to 'become unfastened, resulting in a dramatic centrifugal explosion that destroys the machine and nearby property'.
Read more.
03:36 Fadnavis fights like 'women at community water tap': Supriya Sule
Taking a jibe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for being 'short-tempered', Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule has said that he 'fights like the way women squabble over water at community taps'.
Addressing women workers of NCP in Maval tehsil of Pune district last evening, Sule, the daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, said 'she would prefer to wear a helmet when meeting him because he might throw something at her in anger'.
"The chief minister is short-tempered and does not listen to anyone as his temper is always high, and he fights like women, the way they do over water taps," the Baramati MP said.
"I have seen so many chief ministers, but never such a short-tempered Chief Minister. I will wear a helmet when I go to meet him because I am scared that he might throw something in anger at me," said Sule, herself a former chief minister's daughter.
She also asked the journalists present at the programme to convey her message to Fadnavis that he should control his temper.
Addressing women workers of NCP in Maval tehsil of Pune district last evening, Sule, the daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, said 'she would prefer to wear a helmet when meeting him because he might throw something at her in anger'.
"The chief minister is short-tempered and does not listen to anyone as his temper is always high, and he fights like women, the way they do over water taps," the Baramati MP said.
"I have seen so many chief ministers, but never such a short-tempered Chief Minister. I will wear a helmet when I go to meet him because I am scared that he might throw something in anger at me," said Sule, herself a former chief minister's daughter.
She also asked the journalists present at the programme to convey her message to Fadnavis that he should control his temper.
02:59 The worst airline passengers are probably not the ones you think
In 2015, there was one unruly passenger for every 1,205 flights, the International Air Transport Association reported earlier this month.
In which case, quite what constitutes an 'unruly passenger incident' is beyond us -- there seems to be one every flight.
It's technically defined as including 'violence against crew and other passengers, harassment and failure to follow safety instructions instructions.'
Read more.
In which case, quite what constitutes an 'unruly passenger incident' is beyond us -- there seems to be one every flight.
It's technically defined as including 'violence against crew and other passengers, harassment and failure to follow safety instructions instructions.'
Read more.
02:06 Clinton, Trump barnstorm Iowa as early voting begins
Hillary Clinton campaigned on Thursday in Iowa as early voting began in the pivotal swing state, seeking to pry it away from Republican Donald Trump and spur turnout that could ultimately decide the presidency.
The businessman-turned-populist stumped in Iowa a day earlier, appealing to white, blue-collar workers who have helped push him into the lead in the Hawkeye State, where the latest polls put him up nearly five points.
Iowa has long been an essential staging post on the path to the White House.
"We are starting to vote in Iowa today," Clinton told a 2,000-strong rally in Des Moines.
"We have 40 days to win an election that is going to affect the next 40 years of our country. You, every one of you, can make the difference in this election," she said hitting Trump for bilking contracts in a message the campaign hopes will resonate with Iowans famed for their messianic fairness.
Locking down as many as half of all votes now could help the campaign tailor time and resources as the election enters the final stretch. But more vital for Clinton will be to ensure that chunks of the electorate actually turn out to vote and reverse Trump's lead.
Trump is most likely to win if the coalition of young, African American and Latino voters who voted for Obama decide to stay at home on November 8.
The businessman-turned-populist stumped in Iowa a day earlier, appealing to white, blue-collar workers who have helped push him into the lead in the Hawkeye State, where the latest polls put him up nearly five points.
Iowa has long been an essential staging post on the path to the White House.
"We are starting to vote in Iowa today," Clinton told a 2,000-strong rally in Des Moines.
"We have 40 days to win an election that is going to affect the next 40 years of our country. You, every one of you, can make the difference in this election," she said hitting Trump for bilking contracts in a message the campaign hopes will resonate with Iowans famed for their messianic fairness.
Locking down as many as half of all votes now could help the campaign tailor time and resources as the election enters the final stretch. But more vital for Clinton will be to ensure that chunks of the electorate actually turn out to vote and reverse Trump's lead.
Trump is most likely to win if the coalition of young, African American and Latino voters who voted for Obama decide to stay at home on November 8.
00:57 Pak Army 'denies capturing' Indian soldier along LoC
Pakistani newspaper the Express Tribune quoted the Pakistan Army as saying that it had not captured an Indian soldier alongside the Line of Control.
Pakistani military's media wing, ISPR, denied that an Indian soldier was in Pakistan Army's custody.
Earlier, Dawn News had reported that one Indian soldier was 'captured by the Pak army and taken to an undisclosed location'.
The Indian army, however, said that one soldier 'inadvertently' crossed the LoC and the Pakistani DGMO has been informed about it.
Pakistani military's media wing, ISPR, denied that an Indian soldier was in Pakistan Army's custody.
Earlier, Dawn News had reported that one Indian soldier was 'captured by the Pak army and taken to an undisclosed location'.
The Indian army, however, said that one soldier 'inadvertently' crossed the LoC and the Pakistani DGMO has been informed about it.
00:50 Top headlines at this hour
In all party-meet, political leaders unanimously support army's surgical strike
Hoboken train crash: 3 dead, 100 injured in New Jersey train crash
BK Bansal suicide: NHRC sends notice to CBI
How India reacted to army's Uri response
Punjab on maximum alert, villagers near border told to evacuate
Surgical strikes an operational necessity, say experts
7 terror launch pads targeted in surgical strike
Read yesterday's live commentary HERE
Hoboken train crash: 3 dead, 100 injured in New Jersey train crash
BK Bansal suicide: NHRC sends notice to CBI
How India reacted to army's Uri response
Punjab on maximum alert, villagers near border told to evacuate
Surgical strikes an operational necessity, say experts
7 terror launch pads targeted in surgical strike
Read yesterday's live commentary HERE
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances