Current Events :
ना झुके, ना डरे, ना रुके!
कारगिल के शूरवीरों ने शौर्य, बलिदान और राष्ट्रभक्ति की ऐसी अमिट कहानी लिखी, जो हर भारतीय के हृदय में सम्मान और गर्व बनकर धड़कती है।आइए नमन करते है उन वीरों को, जिन्होंने अपने लहू से विजय का इतिहास रचा।
As the nation commemorates the 26th anniversary of the 1999 Kargil conflict, a former wartime commander of the Kargil Brigade, Brig Surinder Singh, has moved the Supreme Court, seeking a fresh probe and “corrections” in war records.
He was removed from command midway during the conflict and later his services were terminated for allegedly mishandling classified documents. Claiming in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed on May 24 that the truth still lies buried under layers of bureaucratic silence and doctored reports, he has sought a de novo inquiry headed by a Supreme Court judge or existing group of ministers.
Detailing events that led to the conflict and subsequent actions, he accused the top military hierarchy of suppressing facts, creating false narratives, reshuffling key appointments and withholding human and material resources to deal with the situation despite knowing the grim reality. He said the decisions of top generals were contrary to all military teachings and established practices.
The Kargil Review Committee (KRC) set up by the government, he said, had limited scope and adopted a faulty methodology of not examining direct evidence from the eyewitnesses and the ground troops and commanders at various levels on the frontline.
Most facts were not investigated by the KRC as it was not appraised about them. Despite this grave deficiency, KRC went ahead to recommend measures to safeguard national security and avert future occurrence of similar kinds.
He also referred to a statement made in August 2006 by Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis, who was the Air Chief during the conflict, that Army generals deliberately attempted to hide the Kargil intrusions from the government as late as mid-May 1999 because they had been caught off guard. “The first lesson we ought to have learnt from this, and which I believe the Kargil Committee did not bring out, is to say that whatever be the situation, don’t keep it to yourself,” the former Air Chief had said.
“Thus, a highly avoidable war was thrust upon the nation to recover own area intruded by the enemy over a front of more than 227 km along the LoC,” he said. “The Kargil War would not have happened, had the defences asked for in the crucial locations as correctly assessed and persistently demanded by the petitioner were provided and troops allotted,” he added.
The flare-up between Thailand and Cambodia has killed at least 32 people
India on Saturday advised its citizens in Cambodia to avoid travelling to border areas as the clash between Thailand and Cambodia over a disputed border entered its third day.
According to reports, the flare-up, which began on Thursday, has killed at least 32 people — 19 in Thailand and 13 in Cambodia.
“In view of the ongoing clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border, Indian nationals are advised to avoid travelling to the border areas,” the Indian embassy here said in an X post.
It also urged Indian citizens to contact the mission in case of any emergency at +855 92881676 or email cons.phnompenh@mea.gov.in.
On Friday, India issued a similar advisory to its citizens in Thailand, asking them to exercise caution and avoid travelling to seven provinces of the country.
Kargil Vijay Diwas: Says combat power enhanced, air defence upgraded since Pahalgam
rmy Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday said Operation Sindoor was a clear message “that those who support terrorism will not be spared
“On the night of May 6 and 7, the Army targeted nine high-value terrorist locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir without harming any innocent citizens. This was not just an answer but a clear message that those who support terrorism will not be spared,” General Dwivedi said during his address on Kargil Vijay Diwas. An event was organised to mark the occasion at the Kargil War Memorial in Ladakh.
He said after the Army’s unprecedented victory in 1999, it became clear that the military won’t allow the country’s unity and integrity to be harmed.
General Dwivedi said, “The same tradition continued during Operation Sindoor, when the Army, with the same courage and determination, targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and achieved a decisive victory by effectively repelling the offensive operations by Pakistan.”
Stating that while India gave peace a chance, Pakistan acted with cowardice, the Army Chief said, “Operation Sindoor was our resolve, our message and our answer.” He emphasised that after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, it was decided that the response “would be decisive”.
“Our air defence stood like an unbreakable wall. No drone or missile could breach it. This was possible due to the whole-of-nation approach, where the Army, Air Force, Navy, the government and private departments and even NGOs stood together,” he said.
The Army Chief warned that any forces planning to harm India’s sovereignty, integrity or people would face a “decisive answer. This is the new normal of India,” he said, adding that while “India seeks peace, it will respond decisively to provocation”.
General Dwivedi stressed that today’s Army was not only successfully countering current challenges but also evolving into a modern, transformative and future-oriented force.
Announcing the sanctioning of an all-arms brigade, “Rudra”, he said, “This brigade will integrate combat components such as infantry, mechanised infantry, armoured units, artillery, special forces and unmanned aerial systems, along with logistic and combat support.”
Additionally, he revealed that agile and lethal special forces, the Bhairav Light Commando Battalion, had been raised and were always ready to surprise the enemy at the borders.
General Dwivedi also highlighted the creation of drone platoons in every infantry battalion and the formation of a ‘Shaktibaan’ regiment in the artillery, equipped with drone and counter-drone systems as well as loitering ammunition.
“A diverse composite battery has also been established in every regiment, equipped with these advanced systems,” he said. The Army Chief noted that combat capabilities would multiply in the coming days, with the Army’s air defence being upgraded with indigenous missile systems. He also spoke about the Army’s role in nation-building in border areas through various initiatives.
Wreath-laying ceremony held for Agniveer killed in landmine blast
White Knight Corps Chief of Staff Major General Shailendra Singh led the solemn ceremony held at Satwari military station to honour 20-year-old Lalit Kumar of 7 Jat regiment, he said.
Superintendent of Police (city south) Ajay Sharma and some civil officers also attended the ceremony and paid their tributes.
Kumar’s mortal remains were later sent to his home town Meerut in Uttar Pradesh to perform the last rites, the official said.
The Agniveer lost his life, while two other soldiers were injured in a land mine blast when they were on an area domination patrol in the general area of Krishna Ghati Brigade on Friday.
UT Admn told to pay Rs 50 lakh relief, amount to be recovered from accused
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a CBI probe into alleged illegal detention and custodial torture leading to “complete castration” of a constable by the Jammu and Kashmir Police at the Joint Interrogation Centre in Kupwara in February 2023.
A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, which directed the CBI to register a case within seven days, also directed the CBI Director to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) headed by an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police to investigate the matter.
“The police officials found responsible for the custodial torture shall be arrested forthwith and not later than a period of one month from today. The investigation shall be completed within 90 days of the registration of the FIR,” it ordered.
“The entire material collected during the inquiry conducted so far, including related documents, medical records, CCTV footage, forensic evidence and case diary, shall be immediately handed over to the competent officer of the CBI,” the Bench ordered.
Allowing constable Khursheed Ahmad Chohan’s appeal against the September 18, 2023, judgment, the top court also ordered the UT Administration to pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation to him “in order to provide some solace to the victim and his family for the barbaric acts of custodial torture leading to complete castration…” It listed the matter again on November 17, 2025, for receiving a status report.
Writing the judgment for the Bench, Justice Mehta directed that “the said amount shall be recoverable from the officer(s) concerned against whom a departmental proceeding shall be initiated upon conclusion of the investigation by the CBI. The CBI shall submit its status report to this court by November 10.”
“Considering the gravity and magnitude of the custodial torture established through medical records and the institutional apathy that followed, we are of the considered opinion that this is a fit case for awarding compensation to the victim of the violence, i.e., the appellant herein. The violation of Article 21 is not only evident but egregious. The appellant, a police constable himself, suffered life-debilitating injuries while in the custody of fellow state actors, and despite repeated complaints, no effective redress was provided,” it noted.
“The CBI shall also conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the systemic issues at the Joint Interrogation Centre, Kupwara, including examination of all CCTV systems, interrogation from all personnel present during the relevant period, forensic examination of the premises and review of all protocols and procedures followed for detention and interrogation of suspects,” the Bench ordered.
Chohan alleged that he was illegally detained and tortured after being summoned for a narcotics inquiry in February 2023. His wife’s attempts to register an FIR for custodial torture didn’t fructify while the police registered a case against him for an alleged suicide attempt. The high court refused to quash the FIR, forcing him to move the top court.
The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, on Wednesday reviewed the security environment and ongoing counter-terrorist operations in the Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts of the Jammu region.
A gunfight had taken place between security forces and terrorists on July 20 in the Hadal Gal forest area of Kishtwar. However, the militants managed to flee, prompting security forces to lay a cordon in the surrounding forest areas.
Accompanied by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps, Lieutenant General PK Mishra, the Army Commander visited the Delta Force headquarters in Batote and was briefed on ‘Operation Shiva’, which focuses on ensuring the safety and security of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a post on X, the Northern Command stated, “Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Army Commander of Northern Command, reviewed the security milieu and ongoing counter-terrorist operations in the Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar regions conducted by the formation. He also received an update on Operation Shiva in the region. The Army Commander emphasised to maintain the proactive posture steeped in cutting-edge technology. He complimented all ranks for their commitment to sustained counter-terrorism efforts and regional security.”
Meanwhile, ahead of the upcoming Budha Amarnath Yatra, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat undertook a two-day visit to Poonch to review and assess the on-ground security arrangements for the smooth and safe conduct of the Yatra.
He was accompanied by Special DGP (Coordination) J&K, SJM Gillani, IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti, and DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range Tejinder Singh. The delegation was received by Poonch SSP Shafket Hussain, along with officers from the district police, CRPF, Army and civil administration.
During the visit, officials provided a comprehensive briefing on the overall security plan, which includes multi-tier deployment, area domination strategies, mapping of sensitive locations, vulnerability assessments, traffic regulation, convoy coordination, communication, surveillance mechanisms and pilgrim facilities at base camps and halting stations.
“The DGP and other senior officers inspected critical points along the yatra route and around the shrine, taking note of access control, crowd management protocols and emergency response systems. He interacted with officials and jawans deployed in the field, urging them to maintain the highest levels of vigilance, professionalism and a people-friendly approach throughout the yatra period,” an official spokesperson said.
The DGP also met with members of the local shrine board, civil society and volunteers, acknowledging their role in promoting communal harmony and public cooperation—elements he termed essential to the success of large-scale religious events.
Special attention was paid to medical, logistical and disaster management preparedness, including the availability of ambulances, mobile health units and emergency response teams.
With torrential rains lashing the Jammu region for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, two workers lost their lives when a landslide struck their tent in the Badera area of Mahore in Reasi district early this morning.
The incident occurred near a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in the mountainous Badora belt of Mahore tehsil, officials said. The two victims, who had been deployed to maintain the track leading to the shrine, were asleep in the tent when the landslide hit.
The deceased were identified as Ravi Kumar (23), a resident of Udhampur, and Rashpal Singh (26), a resident of Reasi. Five other workers were rescued by police and administrative officials.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall triggered multiple landslides along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, leading to its closure for over four hours. Many Amarnath pilgrims were stranded due to the disruption. The highway was partially restored by 3 pm, with repair and clearance work continuing into the evening.
A traffic police official said the highway had been shut due to flooding and mudslides near the T2 tunnel and Seri in Ramban district. An official added that many private vehicles, as well as two convoys carrying Amarnath pilgrims returning from Kashmir, were stranded at various locations along the route.
Elsewhere, the mountainous Kishtwar–Sinthan road was also blocked due to flash floods at Sinthan Nallah in Kishtwar district. Reports of landslides and road blockages also came in from several link roads in the hilly districts of Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Doda and Ramban. Authorities said efforts were underway to clear and reopen all affected roads.
The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has issued a red alert for heavy rain in the districts of Anantnag, Doda, Kulgam, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur. The advisory warns of intense showers likely to cause flash floods, landslides, and shooting stones in vulnerable areas.
In light of the deteriorating weather conditions, authorities on Tuesday set up 24×7 control rooms at nearly all district headquarters across the Jammu division. Officials said District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) have been directed to take all necessary precautions and follow established protocols to ensure public safety and mitigate potential risks.
A nine-year-old boy was rescued on Wednesday in a joint operation by Army, SDRF and police after he got trapped in a river following flash floods in Rajouri, officials said. After receiving information, the Army, SDRF, police, and local divers conducted a coordinated rescue operation to save the boy trapped amid the rising waters of a flooded river in Rajouri, they said. The Army used a chopper to rescue the boy, they said, adding that it took three hours to carry out the joint operation. The child was grazing his cattle when heavy flash floods occurred and he got trapped in the middle of the river, they said.
Boy trapped in river after flash flood in Rajouri rescued
Five of them were neutralised using technical counter measures in the Modhe village at Amritsar border alone
The Border Security Force shot down as many as six drones carrying drugs and weapons being smuggled from across the international border in multiple incidents in Amritsar last night. It has recovered as many as four pistols and over 1 kg of contraband attached with these flying machines.
Five of them were neutralised using technical counter measures in the Modhe village at Amritsar border alone.
“On Wednesday night, the alert troops intercepted and neutralised five China-made DJI Mavic 3 Classic drones carrying four packets containing three pistols, three magazines and 1.07 kg of heroin. The seizure was made from Modhe village,” said BSF spokesman on Wednesday.
Similarly, the BSF, in joint operation with Punjab Police, recovered parts of pistols including upper slide and a magazine from irrigated paddy fields in Dal village in Tarn Taran district.
In another incident, BSF jawans observed drone movements in Attari village. Following this, a drone DJI Mavic 3 classic was intercepted and neutralised with the help of anti-drone systems deployed on the Amritsar border. It was carrying a pistol and two magazines which were recovered from an agricultural field adjacent to Attari village.
Notably, on the intervening night of July 17 and July 18 also, the BSF had foiled multiple drone sorties, shooting down six drones leading to the recovery of 2.34 kg of heroin. The drones were recovered from Pul Moran and Roranwala Khurd village at that time.
The instances of intrusions of unmanned aerial vehicles carrying drugs and arms at the Indo-Pak border have continued unabated.
Preparing for the future means thinking beyond the victories of Operation Sindoor
IT’s now over two months since Operation Sindoor, and with the media frenzy having subsided, a dispassionate assessment can be made of some of the key military issues surrounding the operation. One of these issues is the description of the conflict as South Asia’s first drone war. Senior Indian military officers have spoken about the revolutionary employment of drones during the operation and the effectiveness of India’s counter-drone systems.
Drones have undoubtedly become central to modern conflict, and India’s successful defence against Pakistani intrusions has been justifiably praised. Yet a closer analysis of drone employment during the operation shows that drone warfare in both countries is still at a nascent stage. This is borne out by how the two countries utilised drones during the operation.
On the night of May 7-8, a day after India launched strikes on nine terrorist camps, Pakistan retaliated with drone activity, targeting Indian military bases at 15 locations across Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. The following night saw further intrusions at 36 locations, stretching from Leh to Sir Creek, with an estimated 300 to 400 drones. According to official briefings, the aim of these incursions was likely to test Indian air defence systems and gather intelligence.
On the night of May 9-10, drone activity was reported at 26 locations, spanning from Srinagar to Naliya. Most of these drones were successfully neutralised, though limited damage was sustained at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj.
According to media reports, most of the drones employed by Pakistan were unarmed. A few specialised military drones, such as Turkey’s Asisguard Songar and the Yiha-III loitering munition, were used. The Songar has a range of about 10 km and can be equipped with a light armament, such as a gun or grenade launcher. The Yiha-III is designed for precision strikes against high-value targets, but it remains a low-end capability compared to more sophisticated systems.
Indian drone strikes, though fewer in number, were more targeted and precise. These employed loitering munitions such as the Harpy and Harop. The Harpy is an anti-radiation drone designed to destroy enemy radar systems, while the Harop has electro-optical sensors and can engage a broader range of targets. Polish Warmate and the indigenously developed Nagastra-1 loitering munitions were also employed.
It is likely that some of the Indian strikes on terrorist camps on May 7 were carried out by drones, though this has not been officially confirmed. What has been revealed through press briefings is that on May 8, Indian drones targeted air defence radars and systems at multiple locations inside Pakistan, destroying one radar in Lahore. On May 9, four more air defence sites were targeted, with at least one additional radar destroyed.
On May 10, the Indian Air Force launched devastating airstrikes on Pakistani airbases, command centres and military infrastructure using long-range standoff weapons such as the BrahMos and SCALP cruise missiles, and air-to-ground munitions like the Crystal Maze and Rampage. These strikes were preceded by decoy drones and Harops designed to degrade Pakistani air defence systems.
On the counter-drone front, Pakistan claimed to have downed at least 48 Indian drones. The Indian counter-drone effort was commendable as it neutralised almost all Pakistani drone attacks. At the forefront were air defence guns like the L-70, ZU-23 and Shilka. India also has an indigenous Drone Detection and Interdiction System that would have played an important part in neutralising hostile drones.
India did come out on top in the brief drone war, but there are some important lessons. The reason drones are having such a significant impact on the battlefield is due to their affordability and ubiquity. Thousands of $500 drones in the hands of soldiers make aerial surveillance, precision strikes and real-time intelligence accessible to even small infantry units. Low-cost drones also permit strategic reach, as seen in Ukraine’s deep strikes into Russia.
It is not the technology, but the scale of drone warfare that is redefining warfighting. Both Ukraine and Russia are estimated to have between one and two million drones in their military inventory. It is the mass usage that is the fundamental characteristic of drone warfare, and this has sparked innovation in tactics and battlefield adaptation.
One might argue that a four-day conflict between India and Pakistan cannot be compared to the Ukraine war. There is merit in this argument, but then we should also not conclude that the Sindoor experience offers a reliable blueprint for future conflicts involving drones. In fact, it highlights several areas that must be addressed.
Indian drone strikes were precise but primarily carried out by specialised drones. Such drones are highly expensive; each Harop drone costs approximately $700,000. What is required is a massive infusion of low-cost drones, particularly in the Army. Units at the tactical level must then devise practical doctrines and battlefield tactics for their effective employment.
India must also indigenously develop medium and long-range strike drones. Ukraine has developed a series of drones with ranges of up to 1,000 km, which transitioned from concept to combat use in around six months. While this wartime mobilisation is not replicable in India, drone development timelines must be drastically shortened through mission-mode programmes and agile public-private partnerships.
The military must also not rest on its laurels of having countered Pakistani drones. With few exceptions, the drones were mostly unarmed and posed little direct threat. An effective counter-drone system must address both tactical and operational levels. Frontline troops must be equipped with portable jammers and rifle-mounted AI-assisted sights. At the operational level, the most effective architectures integrate long-range detection by radar and other sensors, mid-range disruption through jamming or spoofing, and close-in destruction by kinetic means. We may also need to examine new organisational structures that integrate radars, guns and Electronic Warfare resources.
Preparing for the future means thinking beyond the victories of Operation Sindoor. It requires scaling up the employment of drones, rewriting doctrine and integrating drone defences into every level of the battlefield. The real drone war is yet to come.
Lt Gen DS Hooda (retd) is former northern army commander.
