Facing increasing global isolation over its handling of terrorism, Pakistan is making a renewed diplomatic push to seek the involvement of former US President Donald Trump in facilitating peace talks with India.
At an event hosted by the US Embassy in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly praised Trump for his previous role in de-escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and urged Washington to play a more active role in encouraging a comprehensive dialogue.
Sharif’s remarks closely echoed those of former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who asserted that Trump deserved credit for helping facilitate a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, claiming that Trump had taken credit for this achievement on at least ten occasions.
Bhutto argued that if the US was willing to help maintain the ceasefire, it was reasonable to expect that American involvement in arranging a broader dialogue would also be beneficial for Pakistan. Sharif further emphasized the so-called “Trump factor,” describing Trump as a peacemaker and expressing confidence that he would not let the opportunity for peace go to waste.
This diplomatic outreach comes at a time when Pakistan is under significant international scrutiny for its record on terrorism. Islamabad’s attempt to reposition itself on the global stage is seen as an effort to garner international support for resuming talks with New Delhi. Sharif also pointed to Pakistan’s willingness to allow international investigations into recent terror incidents, claiming this openness had “won international confidence”.
However, India’s response has been unequivocal. New Delhi has consistently rejected any third-party mediation or facilitation in its bilateral issues with Pakistan, including the US, and has maintained that talks can only proceed if Pakistan ends its support for terrorism and returns occupied parts of Kashmir.
This policy remains unchanged across successive Indian governments. Indian leaders have also publicly denied that Trump or any external party played a role in the ceasefire agreement, reiterating that dialogue must be bilateral and contingent on Pakistan’s actions against terrorism.
Indian political figures have been vocal in their criticism of Pakistan’s claims. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party delegation to the US, stated that India would not engage in talks “with a gun pointed at our head,” using a vivid analogy to underscore India’s stance that meaningful dialogue cannot occur while terrorism persists.
Tharoor and other Indian delegates also challenged Pakistan’s narrative of being an equal victim of terrorism, highlighting the country’s long history of supporting militant groups that have destabilized the region.
US lawmakers have largely supported India’s position, with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast endorsing India’s measured response to recent attacks and expressing optimism about the continued growth of the US-India partnership.
While Pakistan is making a concerted effort to involve the US—specifically Donald Trump—in facilitating renewed dialogue with India, New Delhi remains steadfast in its refusal to accept third-party mediation and insists that any progress depends on concrete action by Pakistan to end terrorism. The diplomatic divide on this issue remains as wide as ever, with both sides sticking to their established positions.
Based On ANI Report
Op Sindoor proves India’s atma nirbharta in defence: PM at ministers’ meet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described Operation Sindoor as a milestone in India’s journey towards ‘atma nirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence and said besides being tactically brilliant, the exercise mirrored seamless integration of indigenous hi-tech systems into national military operations.
The PM spoke of how Operation Sindoor stood out as a calibrated military response to an evolving pattern of asymmetric warfare, with the Indian military launching and destroying nine terror hubs in Pakistan in just 23 minutes.
Noting Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s recent admission of how Brahmos hit air bases deep inside Pakistan, PM said Indian systems bypassed and jammed Pakistan’s Chinese supplied air defences.
The PM said Operation Sindoor had validated India’s defence indigenisation policies and proven that India can not only defend its people and territory, but also assert its role as a hi-tech military power in the 21st century.
At the council of ministers’ meeting, a first after Operation Sindoor, a presentation was made on Operation Sindoor and all ministers were asked to highlight five top achievements of their segments in the run up to the first anniversary of Modi led NDA 3.0 which falls on June 9. Ministers also condoled the loss of lives in the Bengaluru stampede.
India and Australia on Wednesday agreed to expand and diversify their defence industry collaboration, and explore joint projects in defence, science and technology, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said after a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles, Australian Deputy Prime Minister, in New Delhi.
The two leaders are expected to meet again in Australia later this year for the third edition of the India-Australia 2+2 dialogue, which brings together the foreign and defence ministers of both countries.
The MoD said discussions covered a broad range of issues, including strategic cooperation, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, maritime and hydrographic security and collaboration on emerging technologies. The two Quad partners also reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and Pacific Islands region.
Singh, in the meeting, underlined India’s right to act in self-defence against cross-border terrorism, describing the recent Operation Sindoor as “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible”.
PM, Oz Dy PM reaffirm commitment to Indo-Pacific stability
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in New Delhi on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed their shared vision for a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and underscored the growing depth of bilateral ties, particularly in defence and strategic cooperation amid evolving regional challenges.
Wednesday also marked five years of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both sides welcomed the progress made and recognised defence as a key pillar of the growing bilateral relationship.
The Australian High Commission in New Delhi issued a statement highlighting the “extraordinary growth” in ties over the past five years, including the signing of an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, deepening of defence cooperation and a transformative shift in education ties — with nearly 1.4 lakh Indian students attending Australian universities in 2024.
It also noted progress in the renewable energy partnership under which Australian expertise will support India’s goal of installing 10 million solar rooftops by 2030.
“Our partnership spans science and technology, defence, education, clean energy, agriculture and culture,” the statement said. Australian High Commissioner Philip Green added: “We’ve been drawn together by strategic alignment, economic complementarity and people-to-people connections. We have even bigger ambitions for the next five years.”
Earlier in the day, Marles was accorded a ceremonial welcome with a Tri-Services Guard of Honour and laid a wreath at the National War Memorial.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Australia, identifying critical minerals, cybersecurity, technology, space and sports as emerging areas of collaboration.
Speaking at an event at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi to mark five years of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Jaishankar highlighted the “enormous deepening and diversification” of bilateral cooperation over the past half-decade.
He reiterated India’s support for mechanisms involving Australia, including the Quad, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the United Nations and the India-Australia-France trilateral.
Marles arrived in Delhi on Tuesday night as part of a high-level regional visit to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India from June 2 to 5, according to an official Australian Defence release.
Son succumbs to injuries, spouse undergoing treatment at hospital
An ex-Army man shot his wife and son with his licensed gun in an inebriated state at his home in Buani village on Tuesday. His son was declared dead upon arrival at hospital while his injured wife was admitted to a private hospital in Ludhiana.
Doctors said her condition was stable. The suspect fled the scene with his weapon, following which the Doraha police have registered a case under Sections 103 of BNS, 2023, and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959.
Identified as Baljinder Singh, the suspect had taken voluntary retirement from the Army seven years ago and returned to stay with his mother, wife and two sons.
Sources said he had a troubled marriage with his wife Balwinder Kaur and frequently fought with her over petty issues due to his alcoholism.
Balwinder Kaur’s father, Takwinder Singh, alleged that Baljinder used to abuse his wife and sons, Manpreet Singh (28) and Jagmeet Singh (23), in an intoxicated state.
“He did not only beat them but also terrorise them with his licensed weapon,” he said.
“On June 3 also, he continued his acts, but I never imagined it would end so tragically,” he said.
According to Takwinder, his daughter called him for help as Baljinder was threatening the family in a drunken rage. When he arrived, he tried to pacify the situation but soon left the place. After some time, Baljinder allegedly climbed the stairs where his wife and son Jagmeet were sitting and opened fire at them. Jagmeet suffered gunshot injuries in his chest and stomach while Balwinder in the rear part.
“I dragged them downstairs and rushed them to a hospital in Doraha,” said Takwinder.
“Doctors declared my grandson dead and referred my daughter to SPS Hospital before finally shifting her to Fortis Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment,” he said.
Speaking to this correspondent, the grieving father lamented: “For over 25 years, my daughter and her sons endured his abuse, which ultimately ended in the tragedy. I begged her countless times to leave him and return to her parental home but she refused. Baljinder is entirely responsible for the incident but his mother, Manjit Kaur, played a sinister role in their suffering. Her interference cost my grandson his life and left my daughter battling for survival.”
Doraha SHO Akash Dutt said a case had been registered against Baljinder and raids were on to nab him.
There is a gurdwara, let it be’: SC junks Delhi Wakf Board plea claiming gurdwara property
Even if there is any claim, you should relinquish that claim saying a gurdwara is already there’
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a Delhi Wakf Board petition claiming possession of property on which a gurdwara is located in the national capital’s Shahadra area.
Ruling in favour of the gurdwara, the apex court rejected the board’s contention that the property in question was waqf. “There is a gurdwara, let it be. Even if there is any claim, you should relinquish that claim saying a gurdwara is already there,” a Bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma said to the Delhi Waqf Board counsel who argued for possession of gurdwara property.
The SC gave the orders on the Delhi Waqf Board’s petition challenging a September 2010 Delhi High Court order rejecting the Board’s suit for possession of the stated property. The board submitted that the property in question was waqf and had been in use as waqf since time immemorial.
Arguing for the board, the counsel flagged findings of a trial judge that a mosque existed at the property in question.The counsel further argued that one witness appearing for the gurdwara side too had admitted that there was a mosque and “some kind of a gurdwara” which was not registered.
Why Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann says BJP launching ‘One Nation, One Husband’ scheme
N the swirl of claims and counterclaims after Operation Sindoor, the truth was quietly sidelined. Pakistan trumpeted tales of downed Indian aircraft and heroic resistance. Its military-run media machine — an expert in psychological optics — spun a victory narrative. Then came the grand spectacle: Gen Asim Munir was promoted to Field Marshal. His reward for green-lighting the Pahalgam attack. Now he shoulders it.
But here’s the core reality:
This was a campaign of manoeuvre, not attrition, aimed squarely at the enemy’s will. Pakistan sued for peace before it truly began. Every time its terror gambit faces consequences, Pakistan retreats into spectacle — missiles dodged, jets downed, heroic last stands. These are illusions crafted for a public long held captive by a military-first state. An army with a nation.
What happened instead:
Assaults on Indian territory repulsed to a nick. The joint air defence show was a masterclass — calculated, cohesive and coordinated. A message that should be comprehensively etched by those who dream of aerial mischief.
Wars are not won by trending hashtags or by giving state funerals to terrorists draped in military honour. They are won when the enemy’s core infrastructure is struck — when 11 airfields go dark in one precise operation. That’s when backchannels flare to life. Not out of strength, but out of the fear of ‘what next?’
As the CDS observed, there was no nuclear sabre-rattling, no call, no warning.
— No civilian casualties.
— No escalation into population centres.
— Yet, airfields, logistics hubs and launch pads were struck with precision.
Then Pakistan’s DGMO reached out — not under global pressure, but because India changed the rules.
A military doctrine in motion
A military truism: No plan survives first contact with the enemy. Op Sindoor was no different. But what followed was more telling. Tactical adjustments were immediate. Operational responses required coordination across commands. Strategic recalibration demanded clarity and speed. Op Sindoor demonstrated all three.
From the frontline to airbases to the highest military echelons, each platform and level of command acted with coherence and control. It was professionalism in motion across the full chain of command. An early glitch, observed and corrected, became a turning point.
Yet, even as India recalibrated in real time, adversaries rushed to declare victory — triumphalism based on partial facts, amplified by platforms that never asked what happened next. Within hours of claiming dominance, Pakistan lost operational use of 11 airfields. Silence replaced bluster. Propaganda gave way to paralysis.
Op Sindoor demonstrated what 21st-century military doctrine must aim for: low-cost, high-impact outcomes that preempt escalation. The operation became a lesson in calibrated deterrence — timed, targeted and entirely within the thresholds of responsible force.
Conflict termination: The Indian model
Across the modern battlefield, wars begin easily — but rarely end. Vietnam lingered. Iraq fractured. Afghanistan collapsed. Russia-Ukraine drags on. Gaza remains a wound with no closure. Great powers dominate airspace — but fail at ending wars. India has done it twice.
In 1971, 30,000 entrenched Pakistani soldiers in Dhaka surrendered to 3,000 Indian troops on the move. The ratio was 10:1. In all, Pakistan capitulated in 13 days. Ninety thousand PoWs. It was victory of mind over matter — manoeuvre over attrition. Not conquest, but conclusion.
Now in 2025, Operation Sindoor — executed in 88 hours — had a conflict-terminating objective: Dominate the escalatory space. India enforced consequences, then chose restraint. In both cases, India didn’t just fight well — it ended well. That is the rarest art in strategy.
Why did India control escalation? Because Pakistan’s instability is manufactured — not accidental. The world knows it. Neighbours definitely do. Yet the myth continues — sustained by fear, denial and spectacle. Nations do not rise on martyrdom or manipulated memories. They rise when people refuse to be misled. When the public ceases to serve the lie, truth finds its place. Until then, silence fuels the cycle.
Instability as leverage: The real game around Pakistan
For years, Pakistan’s volatility has been treated not as a threat — but as a tool. China, Pakistan’s long-time patron, benefits from an India constantly drawn into reactive postures. A distracted India suits Beijing’s strategic aims — from Ladakh to the Indian Ocean. The United States, despite long acknowledging Pakistan’s duplicity, still sees its military as a useful conduit — whether for regional optics, minerals or access to Afghanistan. Even multilateral institutions and segments of the Western press hedge their bets.
Pakistan’s military curates victimhood while incubating instability — and the world, knowingly, plays along. In this global theatre, Pakistan has become a proxy — not just for terror, but for transactional diplomacy. And India, for too long, bore the cost alone.
Op Sindoor changed that. Not by shouting, but by showing.
India cannot talk to proxies. But the people of Pakistan can choose not to be used. Upright, clean governance begins not with outsiders — but with a nation’s own citizens telling their Army: “Serve, do not rule. Integrate, do not destroy.” Because a puppet on a string may entertain the world, but it only dances for the puppeteer. When the show ends, it is the people who pay the price.
The Indian doctrine: Clarity, not conquest
India’s strategic posture has evolved. We are no longer reactive. We respond — precisely, proportionally and with purpose. Operation Sindoor reflects a mature doctrine — no overkill, yet enough to alter behaviour. No spectacle, yet enough to jolt Rawalpindi. A war won before it escalated. India doesn’t need to destroy Pakistan to deter it. We only need to show we can — but choose not to.
This is strength with conscience. This clarity, this blend of capability and restraint, makes India’s calibrated deterrence credible in ways brute force never could. When adversaries cannot predict you, and allies cannot second-guess you, a new equilibrium emerges — one in which India is assertive, yet aligned with its values.
The war before the war
Op Sindoor wasn’t about platforms or payloads. It was about clarity, initiative and control. In a world where wars drag on — inflicting brutal costs on civilian men, women and children — India has offered a different model: Manoeuvre over attrition.
Where others fight to exhaust, we act to conclude. Where others escalate into chaos, we calibrate for stability. And just like Dhaka, the enemy blinked — not after the war began, but before it could.
Let the record show: India won the war before the war — while the nations of the world watched. Some nervously. Others knowingly. But all, now, undeniably aware.
Lt Gen SS Mehta (Retd) is ex-Western Army Commander and Founder Trustee, Pune International Centre.
Unacceptable: Cong on Pak being named vice-chair of UNSC’s anti-terror panel
Opposition Congress on Thursday slammed as unacceptable the naming of Pakistan as the vice-chair of the 15 member UNSC counter terrorism committee.A day after Pakistan was appointed the vice-chair of key 1988 Taiban Sanctions Committee, which enforces freeze on assets, arms embargos and travel bans on terror outfits and their leaders, Congress President Mallikarkun Kharge termed the development as ill informed.
“The naming of Pakistan as the vice-chair of the 15-member United Nations Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee and chair the Taliban Sanctions Committee for 2025 is most unfortunate, ill-informed and unacceptable. The international community must see merit in India’s case that Pakistan should be included back in the FATF grey list for monitoring of its terror financing,” Kharge said.
He said Pakistan was first included in the FATF grey list after India’s diplomatic efforts under PM Dr Manmohan Singh in 2008 and then again in 2012.Pakistan has been in the Grey List three times, the last being in 2018.
“Making Pakistan accountable for its sins is a necessity not just for India, but for the interests of the international community. It is perhaps worth remembering that the most wanted terrorist – Osama Bin Laden responsible for 9/11 was found and eliminated in Pakistan. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), the chief planner of 9/11 was also a Pakistani,” said the Congress chief.
He said as a responsible Opposition party, Congress urges the government to take appropriate and resolute diplomatic actions to de-hyphenate India and Pakistan on the global stage.
“The Indian National Congress exhorts the international community to understand and support India’s stand on terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Pakistan is the perpetrator of terror. India is a victim of terror. They cannot be equated. They should not be hyphenated,” Kharge said in a statement.
He said IMF, ADB, and World Bank sanctioning or deciding to sanction loans and bailout packages shall only increase Pakistan’s military expenditure, which its rogue Army uses to unleash terror on Indians.
India has opposed extension of loans to Pakistan by top global financing agencies including the IMF and ADB.
India is also preparing to submit a dossier for returning Pakistan to the FATF grey list.
The FATF meeting is due this month.
Headlines :04 Jun 2025: for details click www.sanjhamorcha.com
Operation Sindoor was in response to a cross border terrorist attack at a place close to Pahalgam in Kashmir valley where 26 Indians were mercilessly killed. The concerned terrorists from across the border had come deep inside the valley and later seem to have made good their escape. For India it was a major intelligence failure and security lapse for which accountability is yet to be fixed and appropriate action initiated against those responsible for this failure. Also Read – Fragmented Reflections On The “Time of Monsters” Earlier India had carried out retaliatory operations in the form of surgical strikes against terrorist launch pads and bombed terrorist camps at Balakot. Operation Sindoor was enlarged in response to the terrorist attack at Pahalgam. It included strikes on nine known terrorist centers, some deep inside Pakistan and some military infrastructures. During this operation, drones and missiles were extensively used. Also Read – The History And Geo-Politics Of The Rohingya Crisis India’s air defence systems performed extremely well and troops displayed appropriate skill in handling high-tech military equipment. Much of the equipment with Pakistan was from China. While India did hit designated targets, Pakistan’s success lay in shelling Indian villages in Jammu and Kashmir and inflicting large scale civilian casualties. Pakistan also claimed knocking down Indian fighter planes. The precise figures of casualties on either side are not known. Nor has the full extent of damage to military assets on either side been disclosed. Also Read – India Must Use Investigation To De-Hyphenate Pakistan We have to wait and see if this operation is enough to dissuade Pakistan from continuing with cross border terror attacks and give up its policy of ‘thousand cuts’ against India. Going by the past record and Pakistan army Chief’s recent statement, it is less likely for Pakistan to refrain from this nefarious activity, more so when China would be encouraging it to continue to engage India in cross border conflict. Also Read – India Launches F-32 ! In response to the next terror attack, as and when it takes place, India’s response, in all probability will be substantially enhanced from that of Op Sindoor. If it turns out to be so, then the possibility of the conflict getting enlarged is very much there. India needs to determine in realistic terms the Red Line, which when crossed, may tempt Pakistan to reach for the nuclear button. Pakistan must realize the outcome of a nuclear conflict and its end result. While India feels that enough damage has been done to selected targets, Pakistan too has been claiming that it adequately dealt with the Indian offensive action. In recognition of the Pakistan army’s performance, its army chief, General Asim Munir has been promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. That apart, what should be of concern to us is the world at large did not stand by India in this brief conflict. On the other hand, four to five countries openly supported Pakistan, and some even supplied military equipment. All this does reflect on the success of our foreign policy, more so when reviewed in the light of the fact that we do not have adequately friendly relations with any of our immediate neighbors. Our Foreign Minister, before the launch of Operation Sindoor warned Pakistan about our attack on terrorist centers and advised its military not to get involved in this action by India. Later he changed his statement to say that he warned Pakistan of this attack after 15 minutes (later he shifted this time to 30 minutes ) of its launch. Perhaps this is his idea of good diplomacy and not knowing that it is a serious breach of security which perhaps resulted in the escape of some terrorists from these centers and put in danger the safety of our aircrafts and lives of our pilots. Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi has raised this issue in one of the national newspapers. We have now dispatched a number of teams consisting of MPs to various countries to brief them on Pakistan’s terrorist activities and the compulsions for India to launch Operation Sindoor. It is merely a case of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. The credit for Operation Sindoor’s suspension within three days is being claimed by the American President, Donald Trump and his staff, who alleged to have worked overnight, speaking to the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to terminate hostilities. Trump also proposed to resolve the Kashmir problem between the two countries. Further he had threatened India that he would otherwise close trade with it. On the other hand the Indian leadership maintains that agreement for the ceasefire was reached between the Director General Operations ( DGMOs) of the two countries and later approved by the respective governments. India ruled out the American President’s offer to help resolve the Kashmir problem. As for India, there is no such thing as the Kashmir problem. The problem, if any, relates to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. ( PoK) The issue that needs looking into is whether Pakistan will give up its policy of staging terrorist attacks against India. What one must realize is that Pakistan’s army’s existence in its present state is related to maintaining hostile relations with India. If relations between India and Pakistan become friendly to the extent that the possibility of any conflict between these countries does not exist, then there can be no rationale for Pakistan to have such a large army and its consequent heavy strain on the country’s economy. Added to this is the China factor. China wields great influence in Pakistan and would make sure that relations with India remain strained. Therefore, in all probability Pakistan will continue with its policy of thousand cuts against India. Some months later Pakistan may stage a major terrorist attack and then be fully ready to deal with Indian reaction. China will keep giving more and more high tech military equipment to Pakistan. China would strive to strengthen the Pakistan Air Force. In the event of conflict with India, China’s support to Pakistan will mainly be in cyber, information and supply of weapons, ammunition and equipment. The point is that in such a situation what should India do! Should it respond to every minor terrorist attack or wait for some enhanced attack to take place to stage an operation at a scale higher than that of Op Sindoor. The likely outcome of enhanced action by India has every possibility of enlarging the conflict. Or is there another option with India which may prove more effective and make Pakistan realize its folly in following the anti-India policy. This option for India is to warn Pakistan that another terrorist attack against India will result in the termination of the Indus Water Treaty and not its recasting, as being proposed by some. Earlier the impression was that the World Bank would intervene in this case, but now the Chairman World Bank has stated in unequivocal terms that it is only a facilitator and no more. In the meantime, India should examine, in detail, the ways and manner by which it can starve Pakistan of waters for irrigation etc. At present India can, to a sufficient extent, block flow of water in Chenab River, which is the main source of water for irrigation in Pakistan’s Punjab. Water stressed population of Pakistan, particularly that from Punjab is bound to impress upon its government and military to end support to terrorists and improve relations with India. It is for Pakistan’s public to realize that its army is unnecessarily creating the bogey of a threat from India. There is a pressing need for their country to reduce expenditure on it’s military and focus on economic development of the country. Its present poor state of economy and near bankruptcy, cannot bear high expenditure on defence. Pakistan desperately needs to develop good relations with India. Good relations and enhanced trade with India will work to Pakistan’s great advantage. Finally, what has been the sum total of gains from ‘Op Sindoor for India and Pakistan! For India, besides demonstrating its resolve to meet head-on cross border terrorism, there are expectations of enormous electoral gain. India suffered casualties in soldiers and civilians. On the Pakistan side, it had multiple effects. Firstly, the fissures that were surfacing in its army seems, to some extent, to be closed. Army’s standing in the country appears to have been restored. Finally, the army chief has gained the confidence of the army, political class and the country, having performed well during this operation. There is every possibility of his engineering a conflict with India. . Lt General Harwant Singh (Retired) is former Deputy Chief of Army Staff. Views expressed are the writer’s own.
