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Two Army soldiers have gone missing in the forest areas of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, prompting security forces to launch a massive search operation.

Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said on X late on Wednesday night, “On the intervening night of October 6 and 7, an operational team in the Kishtwar range encountered a severe snowstorm and whiteout conditions in the mountains of south Kashmir. Since then, two soldiers have lost communication. Intense search and rescue operations have been launched, but progress has been hampered by prevailing adverse weather conditions.”

Locals from nearby villages stated that an “intense search” is in progress following the disappearance. A resident of Ahlan Bala, located near the Gadool forest, told The Tribune that the location where the soldiers went missing is approximately nine kilometers from the last village.

“There was heavy rainfall in the area, and the higher reaches experienced snowfall. It’s very difficult to say where they might have gone,” the local said.

The Gadool forests have seen militant activity in the past. In September 2023, three security personnel — Col Manpreet Singh, Maj Ashish Donchak, and Jammu and Kashmir Police DSP Humayun Muzamil — were killed in a fierce gunfight in the same area. That operation lasted several days and ended with the killing of two militants.

In 2024, a Territorial Army soldier also went missing during a search operation in the same forest. His body was later recovered by security forces.

Security officials remain cautious about drawing conclusions. “The weather conditions in the area were extremely bad. At this point, we cannot confirm whether militants are involved. Our focus is on locating the missing soldiers,” an official said.

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh awarded these at the Air Force day parade at Hindon air bases

Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fighter jet and missile squadrons which played a key part in Operation Sindoor were today awarded ‘Unit Citations’ appreciating their role in the skirmish with Pakistan in May this year.

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh awarded the citations at the Air Force day parade at Hindon air bases, east of the National capital.

Citations were awarded to a squadron of Rafale jets and Sukhoi 30-MKI jets.

The Sukhoi 30-MKI jet squadron number 222 that did the maximum damage to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases on May 10 was awarded the citation. The IAF’s Sukhoi jets launched BrahMos missiles onto the PAF air bases, 13 of them were damaged leading to a call by Pakistan seeking cessation of hostilities. The 17 squadron, that flies the Rafale, was also awarded for its role. On May 7, when operation Sindoor was started, the precision missiles on board the French-orgin jet hit at terrorist camps in Pakistan.

Notably, a S-400 air defence missile squadron was also given the ‘unit Citation’. The Russian origin system which has a mix of radars and long-range hit at several Pakistan planes and missiles. Last month IAF Chief hailed the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system and called it a “game-changer” in saying the S-400 denied the enemy freedom to operate even inside its own territory.

The IAF chief also awarded a ‘citation’ to a squadron of loitering ammunition. The squadron uses special drones which do a ‘kamikaze’ strike and self-destruct at target.

The loitering ammunition was used to strike a targets in Pakistan.

India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has achieved a significant milestone under its flagship Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, marking a decisive step in strengthening indigenous defence innovation and manufacturing.

The ministry has now awarded a cumulative total of around 650 innovation and development contracts to Indian start-ups, MSMEs, and individual innovators. These contracts collectively account for an investment value of approximately ₹3,000 crore, aimed at accelerating rapid prototyping and technology maturation across diverse domains within the national defence ecosystem.

Expanding The Innovation Ecosystem

The iDEX platform, launched in 2018, has evolved into a major catalyst for India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision in defence R&D. The latest milestone reflects not only the success in attracting young innovators and private enterprises into the defence domain but also a systemic transformation in how the MoD facilitates dual-use and military technology. The contracts awarded span over 50 technology categories, including unmanned aerial and ground systems, advanced ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) payloads, encryption-based secure communication networks, AI-driven battlefield analytics, and miniaturised propulsion and guidance systems.

Accelerating Rapid Prototyping And Technology Transition

Under the iDEX model, innovators and MSMEs receive early-stage funding, technical mentorship, and direct access to user agencies within the Indian Armed Forces and DRDO. The ₹3,000 crore investment serves as both a developmental grant and a market-access mechanism—enabling start-ups to move from concept demonstrations to production-ready prototypes. Many of these projects are now entering integration trials with tri-service platforms, including drone swarms, secure tactical radios, maritime surveillance systems, and counter-UAV technologies validated by the Army Design Bureau and Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisations (NIIO).

Strengthening Defence Industrial Supply Chains

Beyond innovation competitions, iDEX has become the foundation of a sustainable defence industrial base supporting Make in India under procurement categories such as Make-II and iDEX Prime. These structured pathways promote co-development with public sector units and defence production agencies like HAL, BEL, and BDL, while leveraging private sector agility. The expanding base of over 350 start-ups and 100 MSMEs is enabling modular subsystems development, import substitution, and component-level innovation in avionics, sensors, secure networking, EW systems, and materials science.

Policy Support And Future Roadmap

The milestone aligns with the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP 2020) and MoD’s goal to channel at least 25% of its R&D budget toward industry-led innovation. The Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) and iDEX Prime verticals continue to identify mission-ready technologies for field deployment by 2026–27. Furthermore, integration with the Technology Development Fund (TDF) and newly established Defence Industrial Corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh ensures that iDEX-supported prototypes advance into scalable production stages.

Significance For Aatmanirbhar Bharat

This cumulative progress demonstrates how iDEX has become the centrepiece of the MoD’s self-reliance architecture—bridging the gap between idea incubation and product induction. By empowering Indian innovators with funding, mentorship, and user interface, the platform is reinforcing India’s defence supply autonomy and reducing reliance on imported components. The 650 awarded projects collectively symbolise a maturing ecosystem that merges innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic defence capability building—laying the operational and technological groundwork for a robust Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the coming decade.

IDN (With Agency Inputs)

HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program is approaching a significant breakthrough, with critical technical challenges expected to be resolved by the end of the year. This development marks a major step toward enabling Limited Series Production (LSP) for the helicopter, which had previously faced delays due to several technical hurdles.

The resolution of these issues is expected to streamline its subsequent user trials, paving the way for official induction and operational deployment.

One of the main hurdles involved autopilot certification. Earlier, delays in obtaining certification for the autopilot system impacted the helicopter’s readiness for user trials and slowed down its integration schedule. Recent progress suggests that HAL and its technical partners have made substantial advancements in finalising the autopilot system, ensuring compliance with both civil and military regulatory standards.

Noise attenuation, another crucial aspect, had also contributed to delays, particularly affecting pilot comfort and helicopter operational signatures. Recent modifications and user feedback indicate that noise reduction technology for the LUH has been significantly improved, aligning with operational requirements for both Army and IAF roles.

Scrutiny over autorotation performance was a major concern, especially regarding the helicopter’s stability and safety margins during emergency power losses. Recent flight tests and technical tweaks have demonstrated marked improvements in autorotation handling, addressing previous stability issues that slowed the helicopter’s induction timeline.

Earlier, the induction plans faced setbacks due to persistent doubts over autorotation criteria and stability margins, which slowed the overall timeline. However, recent user-driven modifications—focused on enhancing stability and handling during autorotation—are promising signs that the program is back on track. These enhancements are expected to meet the stringent operational standards required for frontline deployment.

With these technical hurdles nearing resolution, HAL is poised to initiate Limited Series Production in early 2026. This move will facilitate comprehensive user evaluations, formulating the final operational clearance procedures for the LUH in both Army and IAF service. The program’s resurgence aligns with the broader Indian defence modernisation drive, targeting indigenous rotary-wing systems as replacements for ageing Cheetah and Chetak platforms.

The recent progress indicates that the HAL LUH is transitioning from a period of delays rooted in certification and noise issues into a phase of steady production and operational validation, setting the stage for its anticipated deployment in 2026.

IDN (With Agency Inputs)

Pakistan is set to receive AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the United States under a recently modified contract announced by the U.S. Department of War (DoW), formerly known as the Department of Defence.

The agreement signals a notable development in U.S.-Pakistan defence relations, particularly as Washington once again lists Islamabad as a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) recipient after years of limited engagement.

According to the U.S. DoW’s press release dated September 30, defence contractor Raytheon received a USD 41.6 million modification to an existing firm-fixed-price contract (FA8675-23-C-0037, modification P00026). The amendment brings the total value of the broader AMRAAM production contract to over USD 2.51 billion. The work, encompassing production of the latest AIM-120C8 and D3 variants, is scheduled for completion by May 2030.

The contract identifies a broad list of FMS recipients beyond Pakistan, including partner nations such as the UK, Poland, Japan, Israel, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia. However, Pakistan’s inclusion stands out given strained security cooperation since 2018, when U.S. aid to Islamabad was suspended.

The AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles are compatible with Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 Fighting Falcons, which form the backbone of its air combat fleet. PAF previously employed older AIM-120C5 variants, acquired alongside Block 52 F-16s delivered in 2010 under a deal for approximately 500 missiles.

The newer C8 export variant mirrors key features of the AIM-120D models used by the U.S. Air Force, including enhanced datalink guidance, longer effective range, and improved resistance to electronic countermeasures. Defence analysts interpret this as a potential move by PAF to modernise its interception capabilities and reinforce its deterrence posture.

The AMRAAM gained prominence during the 2019 post-Balakot aerial engagements when Pakistan’s F-16s reportedly used AIM-120C5 missiles against Indian Air Force MiG-21s over the Line of Control. The fresh acquisition plan revives security concerns in New Delhi, given that the new variant dramatically extends beyond the C5’s engagement envelope.

The Balakot operation in February 2019 had targeted Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps in Pakistan’s Balakot region following terror attacks in Pulwama. The Indian Air Force successfully neutralised multiple militant structures, which led to heightened skirmishes between the two air forces.

This strike and subsequent aerial conflict set off years of tension between New Delhi and Islamabad, but current developments indicate Islamabad’s gradual reintegration into selective U.S. defence frameworks. The shift aligns with broader geopolitical recalibrations under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Notably, ties strengthened following Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when India carried out retaliatory strikes targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after the Pahalgam terror attack.

The four-day escalation ended on May 10 with a ceasefire monitored through DGMO-level communications between both nations. Islamabad credited Trump’s mediation for brokering the truce and even proposed his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Pakistan’s prospective receipt of AIM-120C8 missiles could signify the start of an F-16 mid-life upgrade program, potentially involving avionics, radar modernisation (possibly AN/APG-83 SABR), and electronic warfare enhancements. Such an initiative would markedly increase the PAF’s combat endurance in beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagements and operational interoperability within U.S.-aligned systems.

Although the exact number of missiles destined for Pakistan remains unspecified, the contract amplifies speculation of a strategic thaw between Washington and Islamabad. It could also reflect America’s balancing strategy in South Asia, maintaining limited military cooperation with Pakistan while sustaining its robust defence partnership with India.

The reintroduction of advanced AMRAAM variants into South Asia may alter the regional air-power equilibrium, particularly as India continues to expand its indigenous air-to-air arsenal with Astra MK-2 and MK-3 missiles and further upgrades for Rafale and TEJAS  MK-1A fighters. Defence experts caution that renewed U.S.-Pakistan defence linkages could challenge India’s strategic planning despite its expanding indigenous defence sector and partnerships with France and Israel.

Overall, the U.S. decision underscores shifting diplomatic equations while reasserting Washington’s role as a key arms supplier influencing South Asia’s complex security calculus.

Agencies

Geetanjali Angmo, wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, met her husband in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur jail on Tuesday, their first meeting since his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).

“Met @Wangchuk66 today with @RitamKhare and got the detention order which we will challenge,” Angmo wrote on X. She added that Wangchuk’s “spirit is undaunted. His commitment resolute! His resilience intact! He conveys heartfelt thanks to all for their support and solidarity.”

Angmo’s meeting came a day after the Supreme Court (SC) issued notices to the Centre and the Ladakh administration on her petition seeking Wangchuk’s immediate release from detention under the NSA, 1980. Angmo’s petition is scheduled for October 14 the SC.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Wednesday carried out searches at multiple locations across the Valley as part of its efforts to crack down on a sleeper cell module of terrorist organisations, officials said.

During the raids, some suspects were detained for questioning, the officials said.

The SIA carried out extensive searches at eight locations across seven districts in the Kashmir valley, they said. The searches were conducted as part of an ongoing investigation of case registered at Police Station CI/SIA Kashmir, they added.

“The case is related to the sleeper cell module operating in the Valley at the behest of terrorist commanders of proscribed terrorist organisations of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. The module is used for spreading secessionist propaganda thereby radicalizing and recruiting the youth into the terror fold,” they said.

The search operation was conducted simultaneously across seven districts in the Valley from all three police ranges — North, Central and South Kashmir.

“During the raids, substantial incriminating materials have been seized and the suspects have been rounded up for further questioning,” the officials said.

Preliminary investigation has clearly brought out the active engagement of these entities in a terrorist conspiracy aimed at propagating and furthering anti-India narratives aimed not only at challenging the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India but also at inciting disaffection, public disorder and communal hatred, they said.

The searches highlight the continued and unrelenting efforts of the SIA to ensure that the entire module is dismantled and to strike at the roots of the terror ecosystem, the officials added.

The FIR is registered against Rakesh Kishore following a complaint by Bhaktavachala, president of the All India Advocates Association

The Bengaluru Police on Wednesday registered a zero FIR against the lawyer who allegedly tried to hurl a shoe towards Chief Justice of India B R Gavai in his courtroom in the Supreme Court, officials said.

A zero FIR can be registered anywhere irrespective of where the alleged offence occurred.

The FIR was registered against Rakesh Kishore under Sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 133 (assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour a person of the BNS, following a complaint by Bhaktavachala, president of the All India Advocates Association here, they said.

The act of Rakesh Kishore is not pardonable and acceptable by any section of society. In fact, his act is punishable…this is a grave incident to be taken seriously,” the advocates association said in the complaint submitted to the SHO of Vidhan Soudha police station here.

Kishore (71) allegedly tried to hurl a shoe towards CJI Gavai in his courtroom in the Supreme Court on Monday, but was stopped by alert security personnel.

According to police sources, the errant lawyer was unhappy over the CJI’s remarks during a hearing last month concerning the restoration of a Vishnu idol in Khajuraho.

The US will give Pakistan the latest missiles that can be launched from F-16 fighter jets, a move that could pose challenge to the Indian Air Force in any future skirmish with the neighbouring country.

The missiles have the ability to hit targets in air up to 200 km; the range is greater than that of Pakistan’s PL-15E, which is an export version of the Chinese-made air-launched missile. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) already flies the F-16.

Can hit targets up to 200 km

The C8 and the D3 versions of AIM-120, an ‘advanced medium-range air-to-air missile’ known as AMRAAM in military paralance, have the ability to hit targets in air up to 200 km

These radar-guided missiles engage enemy aircraft at beyond-visual ranges, and can be used in the air defence system. Pakistan’s air defence failed badly during Operation Sindoor

The US Department of War has issued a contract to missile-maker Raytheon for “advanced medium range air-to-air missile variants — the C8 and D3”.

Expected to be ready by May 30, 2030, the latest versions will be supplied to Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Australia, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Japan, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Norway, Spain and Israel, among others.

The C8 and the D3 versions are Raytheon’s under-development iterations of the AIM-120, which is an ‘advanced medium-range air-to-air missile’ and shortened in military parlance as AMRAAM. These radar-guided missiles engage enemy aircraft at beyond-visual ranges. The missile-maker has a $3.5 billion contract for the next lot of missiles.

The AMRAAM is integrated on 14 types of platforms across 43 countries and can also be used in the air defence system. Pakistan’s air defence failed badly during Operation Sindoor as the Brahmos missile struck 13 PAF bases. A new software gives AMRAAM the capability against a wider variety of threats and increase the probability of hitting the targets.

India’s military calculus on Pakistan is undergoing a reset amid the renewed US-Pakistan military ties. A concern in South Block was about Washington DC’s potential to re-arm Islamabad with the latest missiles, jets and radar. In the past decade or more, fresh US military supplies to Pakistan had tapered off. However, after operation Sindoor, the US-Pak military and strategic ties are getting renewed.

In July, PAF chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu was in the US to discuss technology and military hardware at the Pentagon. Post-operation, Pak army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has made three visits to the US. In June, a Pakistan delegation to the US, led by its minister for energy Musadik Malik urged the US to supply air defence systems and additional fighter jets.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stirred a major controversy with his recent comments on India’s history and political unity. Speaking to Pakistan’s Samaa TV, Asif claimed that India was “never truly united” except under Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, a remark widely dismissed as historically inaccurate and politically provocative.

His statement comes just days after India issued a sharp warning to Islamabad, accusing it of continuing to sponsor cross-border terrorism and cautioning that such actions could threaten Pakistan’s own territorial existence.

Asif’s assertion that India’s unity existed only during Aurangzeb’s reign ignores centuries of evidence to the contrary. Long before the Mughals, the Maurya Empire under Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE unified most of the Indian subcontinent, establishing one of the largest and most efficiently administered empires in world history.

Later, successive rulers such as Samudragupta of the Gupta dynasty and Emperor Harshavardhana also achieved extensive political consolidation. Even under the Mughals, historians generally regard Akbar’s era—not Aurangzeb’s—as the period of greatest stability and cultural integration. Aurangzeb’s rule, by contrast, was characterized by internal strife, rebellions, and religious intolerance that ultimately weakened the empire.

India’s Modern Stability Vs Pakistan’s Political Fragility

Since gaining independence in 1947, India has sustained a democratic system marked by stability and constitutional continuity. Over the same period, Pakistan has experienced repeated military coups, political turbulence, and internal divisions between provinces and ethnic groups. Analysts note that Asif’s remarks appear to be an attempt to distract from Pakistan’s deepening domestic crises—ranging from economic collapse to ongoing internal instability and international isolation due to its tolerance of extremist networks.

Escalation Fears And War Rhetoric

In the Samaa TV interview, Asif also declared that “chances of war with India are real,” though he claimed not to desire escalation. His remarks came amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The Indian Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, recently delivered a strong warning to Pakistan, asserting that India would not show the same restraint as during “Operation Sindoor 1.0,” a past counterterror strike. General Dwivedi stated that India was now “fully prepared” and that continued support for terrorism by Pakistan could lead to its “geographical disappearance.” The statement underscored India’s sharpened posture in the face of persistent cross-border threats.

Khawaja Asif’s Record of Controversial Statements

This is not the first time Khawaja Asif has attracted criticism for his comments. In September, he sparked ridicule by suggesting that Pakistanis in flood-stricken regions should “store floodwater in containers” rather than let it drain, calling it a “blessing” in disguise. During previous India-Pakistan tensions under “Operation Sindoor,” Asif also embarrassed Islamabad by promoting false claims about Pakistan downing Indian aircraft. When asked for evidence by CNN anchor Becky Anderson, Asif cited “social media” as his source, prompting a pointed rebuttal on air.

Political And Strategic Implications

Observers view Asif’s latest remarks as a continuation of Pakistan’s long-standing political narrative aimed at invoking anti-India sentiment to unify domestic opinion amid crises. However, Indian policymakers have responded with confidence, emphasizing that historical revisionism and war rhetoric will not alter the country’s defensive readiness or its enduring democratic cohesion.

Asif’s claims not only distort well-documented historical facts but also illustrate the enduring pattern of provocation that Islamabad’s leadership employs in the face of mounting internal and international pressure.

Based On NDTV Report