They have expressed unwavering support, deep admiration and gratitude for the Indian Army

The Indian Army shared a compilation of letters from civilians, expressing support and gratitude for Operation Sindoor. Civilians saluted the Indian Army’s efforts and congratulated them for the success of Operation Sindoor.

On Sunday, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, Indian Army, shared a video on X, compiling messages from civilians.

Sharing the post, the Indian Army wrote, “A heartfelt compilation of letters from civilians, expressing their unwavering support, deep admiration and gratitude for the Indian Army during Operation Sindoor. Their words echo pride, resilience and the enduring spirit of heroism that continues to inspire us all. Indian Army- Always in service of the nation, with honour and dedication!” Suryanarayana, chairman of the State Civil Services Retired Officers’ Association, congratulated the heads of the Indian Armed Forces for successfully countering attacks by Pakistan.

He wrote, “We salute and congratulate all the heads of Indian Armed Forces for countering the missile attacks launched by Pakistan to strike civilian and military locations in northern and western India. India had hit multiple terror infrastructure facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.” Rupesh Harishchandra Mainkar wrote to Indian Army saying, “I want no salary or compensation or recognition or any certificate. I just need your authorisation, uniform, and permission to fight for the country in the Infantry.” Meanwhile, Vaishnu Shankar S remembered the time when he served in the armed forces during the Kargil War. He wrote, “During the Kargil War, I had the honor to serve as a volunteer, lending my shoulder to the brave hearts at Base Hospital Srinagar. That experience left an indelible mark on my soul, and I want you to know, Sir, that the josh to serve my nation still burns strong within me.”

Parul Singh, Chairman and CEO of Parul Charitable Trust, offered help in form of ration, medicines, clothing and vehicles for the Army.

“We are standing with you and the Armed Forces to show our solidarity at this stage. We are ready to provide all possible help including Ration, clothing, medicines and vehicles to our fighting troops,” Parul wrote.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff, said Operation Sindoor was on a pause but is an ‘operation in progress’.

“The Operation Sindoor is under pause, it is still underway. As a Naval Chief, I will reserve my comments on this. It’s an operation in progress,” Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi told ANI.

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Dubai: Israel launched an expanded assault on Iran on Sunday, targeting its energy industry and Defence Ministry headquarters, while Tehran unleashed a fresh barrage of deadly strikes.

The simultaneous attacks represented the latest burst of violence since a surprise offensive by Israel two days earlier aimed at decimating Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme.

New explosions boomed across Tehran as Iranian missiles entered Israel’s skies in attacks that Israeli emergency officials said caused deaths around the country, including four in an apartment building in the Galilee region. A strike in central Israel killed an 80-year-old woman, a 69-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy, officials said.

Casualty figures weren’t immediately available in Iran, where Israel targeted its Defence Ministry headquarters in Tehran as well as sites that it alleged were associated with the country’s nuclear programme. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed that Iranian missiles targeted fuel production facilities for Israeli fighter jets, something not acknowledged by Israel.

Amid the continued conflict, planned negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear programme were cancelled, throwing into question when and how an end to the fighting could come.

Israel’s ongoing strikes across Iran have left the country’s surviving leadership with the difficult decision of whether to plunge deeper into conflict with Israel’s more powerful forces or seek a diplomatic route.

Trump warns Iran not to target US

June 15, 2025 2:34 pm

Washington: President Donald Trump said the US had “nothing to do with the attack on Iran” and warned Tehran against targeting US interests in retaliation. “If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social late Saturday.

Death toll mounts in Israel

June 15, 2025 1:10 pm

In Israel, at least 10 people were killed in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service, bringing the country’s total death toll to 13.

If Israeli attacks stop, ‘our responses will also stop’, says Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi

June 15, 2025 12:54 pm

Dubai: Iran’s top diplomat said on Sunday that if Israeli attacks on his country stop, “our responses will also stop.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the comment before diplomats in Tehran, his first public appearance since the Israeli strikes began on Friday. “If the aggression stops, our responses will also stop,” Araghchi said. There was no immediate reaction from Israel, which had been continuing strikes Sunday across Iran.

World leaders make urgent calls to de-escalate

June 15, 2025 8:38 am

World leaders have made urgent calls to deescalate and avoid an all-out war. The attack on nuclear sites set a “dangerous precedent,” China’s foreign minister said. The region is already on edge as Israel makes a new push to eliminate the Iranian-backed militant group Hamas in Gaza after 20 months of fighting.

Indian Embassy in Tehran issues emergency contact numbers

June 15, 2025 8:34 am

The Indian Embassy in Iran has issued emergency contact details and advised Indians here to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movements and observe safety protocols following the launch of Israel’s strikes on the country. “The emergency contact details of the Embassy: +98 9128109115; +98 9128109109,” the Indian Embassy in Iran on Friday posted on X.

Was working as a pilot with Aryan Aviation Private Ltd since October 2024

Rajveer Singh Chauhan, the pilot of the helicopter that crashed in Uttarakhand early Sunday killing all seven on board, had served in the Indian Army for over 15 years and had vast experience of flying missions over different terrains.

A resident of Shastri Nagar in Jaipur, Chauhan was working as a pilot with Aryan Aviation Private Ltd since October 2024.

Chauhan was the captain of Bell 407 helicopter that crashed on Sunday morning near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand. Besides him, six people were killed in the accident.

Having worked in the Indian Army, Chauhan had a vast experience of flying missions over different terrains, overseeing aerial operations and had been trained in different types of helicopters and their maintenance, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot expressed sorrow over the demise of seven people.

“The death of seven people, including Jaipur resident pilot Rajveer Singh Chauhan, in the helicopter crash near Kedarnath is extremely sad. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved families in this difficult time,” he said in a social media post.

Chauhan’s father has been informed about his demise. Further details of the pilot’s family are awaited.

Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier has rubbished Pakistan’s claim of having downed three of the Indian Air Force Rafale jets, calling it “inaccurate”.

The remarks by the top official of the jet manufacturer came in an interview to a European publication, ahead of the Paris Air Show (June 16-22). Trappier was referring to the recent skirmishes between India and Pakistan (May 7-10). Asked whether India’s loss of at least one Rafale jet had raised questions in the defence circles, Trappier said: “The Indians have not communicated, so we do not know exactly what happened.” “What we already know is that

what the Pakistanis are

saying (downing of three Rafale jets) is inaccurate,” he added.

“When the truth comes out, some people might be surprised,” he said, adding “the success of the combat mission is not having zero losses, it’s about having achieved the objectives”.

The chopper belonging to Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd crashes between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan in Kedarghati

A helicopter crashed near the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand amid poor visibility early Sunday, killing all seven on board.

Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said the accident took place above the forests of Gaurikund.

Five pilgrims, the pilot and an employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee was among those killed.

The helicopter took off from Kedarnath for Guptkashi around 5:30 am and crashed soon after.

The crash site is located nearly 5 km above Gaurikund known as Gauri Mai Khark.

Sources said the chopper belonging to Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd crashed between Gaurikund and Trijuginarayan in Kedarghati and caught fire.

Rajwar said zero visibility caused by bad weather apparently led to the crash and added that rescue and relief teams have been dispatched to the spot.

District Tourism Development Officer and Nodal officer for Heli Service Rahul Chaubey said information about the helicopter going missing was received early this morning and a search was launched immediately.

The deceased hailed from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Those on board the helicopter included Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal (35) from Maharashtra, Kashi (2) from Maharashtra, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41) from Gujarat, Vikram Singh Rawat from Uttarakhand, Vinood Devi (66) from Uttar Pradesh, Tushti Singh (19) from Uttar Pradesh and the pilot Capt Rajveer Singh Chauhan.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a post on X that the State Disaster Response Force and other agencies are engaged in relief and rescue operations.

The chopper crash comes days after an Air India flight to London crashed in Ahmedbad, killing 241 people on board and several others on the ground.

Earlier, on May 8, a helicopter going to Gangotri Dham crashed in Uttarkashi district in which six people were killed.

On June 7, a helicopter going to Kedarnath had to make an emergency landing on the road due to a technical fault soon after take-off in which the pilot was injured but the five devotees on board were rescued safely.

In the wake of the latest crash, Dhami issued strict instructions for helicopter operations in the state.

The Chief Minister said a strict SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) should be prepared for the operation of heli services in the state, in which a complete check of the technical condition of the helicopter should be made mandatory. Weather status should also be checked before heli operations.

The Chief Secretary has been directed to constitute a committee of technical experts, which will prepare the SOP after thoroughly reviewing all technical and safety aspects of heli operations.

This committee will ensure that the operation of heli services is completely safe, transparent and as per the prescribed standards, an official statement said.

Dhami has also directed that the high-level committee constituted to investigate helicopter accidents that have took place in the past in the state will thoroughly investigate every aspect of the earlier heli accidents as well as today’s heli crash and submit its report.

This committee will investigate the causes of each incident in depth and identify the guilty persons or institutions and recommend strict action against them.

The Chief Minister said the importance of heli services in the state is immense for pilgrimage, disaster management and emergency services, hence safety will be given top priority in these.

Defence ministry to boost Indian air defence system. (Representative image)

Manjeet Negi

In Short

• Government to approve deal for three QRSAM regiments for Indian Army
• QRSAM systems to be deployed along western and northern borders
• Decision follows success in Operation Sindoor against Pakistani aerial threats

In order to boost India’s air defence systems along the Pakistan border, the Ministry of Defence is expected to clear a deal for the procurement of three new regiments of the indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) systems for the Indian Army.

Defence officials told India Today that the proposal will be reviewed during the upcoming meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council, scheduled around the fourth week of June.

The systems are intended for deployment along both the western and northern borders adjoining Pakistan.

The QRSAM, with a range of approximately 30 kilometres, is designed to complement existing short-to-medium-range air defence platforms such as the Akash and Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) systems currently in service.

The decision comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, during which Indian Army and Air Force air defence units successfully countered Pakistani aircraft, missiles, and drone incursions.

During the four-day cross-border firing with Pakistan, the Indian Army’s Air Defence units destroyed the majority of the drones using L-70 and Zu-23 air defence guns, along with the Akash, MRSAM, and the Indian Air Force’s Spider and Sudarshan S-400 systems.

The QRSAM system has undergone extensive trials and demonstrated effective performance in both day and night operational conditions.

In addition to the proposed QRSAM acquisition, the Army Air Defence is also enhancing its capabilities with new radars, very short-range air defence systems, jammers, and laser-based technologies to counter aerial threats, including drones of Turkish and Chinese origin.

The Defence Ministry is expected to clear a proposal to buy three new regiments of the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) systems for the Indian Army.

His stint as head of the ISI was brief. He ran into trouble with the then PM Imran Khan, who removed him in 2019.

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MO directorate advised Gen Vaidya not to use Army for operation in Golden Temple’

Written by Man Aman Singh Chhina

Former Army Chief General VN Sharma (retd) has made a startling revelation that the Military Operations Directorate had advised the then Army Chief General AS Vaidya that the Indian Army should not get involved in any operation to flush out Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters from the Golden Temple as it was a political move.

General VN Sharma has made this statement in the course of an interview to a former Judge Advocate General of the Army, Maj Gen Nilendra Kumar, on a YouTube channel-Lex Consilium Foundation. The interview was uploaded on the channel on June 5, a day ahead of the 41st anniversary of Operation Blue Star and has generated considerable number of views and comments.

The 95-year-old General VN Sharma was serving as Additional Director General Military Operations (ADGMO) in the Military Operations (MO) directorate at the time Op Blue Star was launched. Lt Gen CN Somanna was the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) at the time while Maj Gen (later Lt Gen) VK Nayar was the other Additional Director General Military Operations in the directorate. Both, Somanna and Nayar have passed away many years back.

Gen Sharma says in the interview that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wanted the Army to carry out the operation inside Golden Temple because the Punjab Police had refused to do so. “Arun Vaidya was called to the Prime Minister’s Office and was told that Bhindranwale had to be removed because he was getting too big for his boots, he doesn’t listen to anyone so take the Army in. General Vaidya said okay,” Gen Sharma recalls.https://d-19446906092031984310.ampproject.net/2505300108000/frame.html

He says the Army Chief then arrived at the MO directorate and spoke to the DGMO and the two ADGMOs regarding the task to be done. “We suggested to him that this was not a correct employment of the Indian Army. We explained that according to the Constitution the Indian Army cannot be used for political purposes by any government,” said Gen Sharma.

He goes on to say that the then PM wanted the Army to do the task because the police had refused. “So we told General Vaidya that it was not politically expedient because we cannot use the military for political purposes. She did a political stunt to put Bhindranwale there and now she was doing another political stunt to remove him by force using the Army since the police has refused,” says General Sharma in the interview. General Sharma goes on to say that the Army Chief General Vaidya was told my the three senior-most MO directorate officers that some other force like BSF, CRPF should be used and the Army should not intervene.

“He said she is the boss and when the boss says to jump you have to jump. We said no. You are a constitutional authority, the Army Chief, you have to ensure that the constitution is not violated. One option is to go to the Supreme Court and ask them as to whether this is legal or not legal. He said what do you expect me to do. We suggested that he go to her and tell her that it is not Army’s job,” said General Sharma.

The former Army Chief then goes on to say that General Vaidya went back to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and told her the view of the MO Directorate. He said that the PM then decided to approach the Western Army Commander Lt Gen K Sundarji directly in order to get the operation conducted since the Chief was reluctant.

“Vaidya’s office told Sundarji to go meet the Prime Minister. He (Vaidya) came back to the MO directorate and told this has happened. We said sir ‘maaf karo’ you have no business to allow an Army Commander to go directly to the Prime Minister,” he said.

General Sharma said the MO directorate was in touch with the staff of the Prime Minister’s Office and came to know that General Sundarji had been asked to conduct the operation. “When he (Sundarji) came out of there we rang him up and said that you may like to step into the MO directorate and discuss this issue with us. He said I am not interested in you people, I have got my orders and I am going to do it,” said General Sharma.

Also Read | No permission given to Army for gun deployment at Golden Temple, Sikh clergy and SGPC clarify

The former Army Chief further says that the decision to use 9 Infantry Division, headquartered in Meerut was that of General Sundarji himself and not the MO directorate. He added that Sundarji’s first choice was to approach GOC 15 Division (Maj Gen Jamwal) to do the task but he refused. “Sundarji asked him to produce a battalion of infantry and some support some tanks or something to take on this job, he refused. He said it was a political situation and not for Army to get intervened,” said General Sharma. He says General Sundarji thereafter chose 9 Division commanded by Major General KS Brar and that one of the reasons was that he wanted Sikhs conducting Operation Blue Star and taking part in actual action on ground.

During the course of the interview General Sharma also holds forth on the ethos of Indian Army training and obeying a lawful command. “The Indian Army officers training during command is to be an independent officer. If you find something wrong don’t do it. It is not a question of disobedience of orders. It is a question of obeying orders despite their better sense, because they are yes men and they want their promotion,” he said.

General VN Sharma’s remarks are bound to create a stir and the aspect of MO directorate opposing the use of Army has never been discussed in public.

Military theaterisation is an outdated concept that does not reflect the demands of contemporary warfare, former IAF Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat said on Monday. In an opinion piece for The Print, Ahlawat recalled the mandate behind India’s most significant recent defence reform. In February 2020, the Centre created the Department of Military Affairs and the office of the Chief of Defence Staff. One of the key tasks assigned to DMA/CDS, he said, was the creation of joint/theatre commands. “More than five years later, however, we have seen little progress on this front.”

The former pilot noted that initial debates over theatreisation were confined to ministries, service headquarters and a handful of experts. “Understandably, building consensus has proven difficult…But since Operation Sindoor, public interest in the functioning of the Indian Armed Forces has surged. This warrants a better understanding of the proposed theaterisation model, and the challenges that have stalled its implementation.”

At its core, he explained, theatreisation envisages reorganising the Army, Navy and Air Force into Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs), each defined by geography and led by a single commander, with the goals of enhancing joint operations, optimising resources and streamlining command structures. Yet, Ahlawat warned, the model misunderstands both the problem and the solution.

“We are seeking a physical integration of forces that operate in fundamentally distinct domains — air, land, sea — with divergent operational needs and substantially different organisational cultures. The proposed ‘one size fits all’ model of theaterisation is built on an outdated conceptual framework that does not reflect the demands of contemporary warfare,” he said. “With its focus on geographic restructuring rather than functional alignment, the model is actually a solution in search of a problem.”

Modern conflicts, he argued, have moved beyond rigid regional deployments. The Russia-Ukraine war demonstrated how real-time intelligence, satellite-based communications, drones and long-range precision strikes can offset numerical inferiority, while Israel’s Gaza operations and India’s own Operation Sindoor underscore a turn toward non-contact, network-enabled warfare. As CDS Gen Anil Chauhan observed, Ahlawat pointed out, future wars are likely to unfold in cyberspace, space and standoff domains rather than along fixed frontiers.

“These data points suggest that the battlefield is being shaped by long-range fires, precision stand-off weapons, near real-time intelligence, space-based capabilities, unmanned systems, and strategic communications. The physical or geographic proximity of assets and commanders has very little role. Agility in decision-making is more important than integration of decision-making.”

The proposed ITCs appear more focused on optimising military bureaucracy by aligning commands geographically — for example, a Western Command for Pakistan, a Northern Command for China, and a Maritime Command for the Indian Ocean Region, the former IAF officer said. “While this may streamline administrative processes, it does not necessarily address the core requirement of modern warfare.”

To address the challenges of modern warfare, Ahlawat said, armed forces must prioritise functional integration over rigid geographic restructuring. He said the number of geographic commands should be reduced to three: “a Western Command for Pakistan, a Northern Command for China, and a Maritime Command for the Indian Ocean Region.”

According to him, the army’s resources should be divided into two geographic theatres: West (Pakistan) and North (China), reflecting operational requirements and terrain specialisation. The Navy, he added, should maintain one command (Maritime) and two fleets — Eastern and Western. The responsibility of island territories (Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep) must be taken over by Maritime command.

“The IAF should remain a single, unified entity covering the entire country due to its rapid deployment capabilities and nationwide operational flexibility,” he said. “However, it could be subdivided into two functional commands — Air Defence Command and Strike Command. Air Defence assets of other Services must be aligned with IAF’s AD command.”

Ahlawat suggested that the forces need to establish dedicated tri-Service functional commands for logistics, training, space, unmanned systems, cyberspace, strategic forces and design & development. “These functional commands would foster synergy, reduce costs, and ensure that domain-specific expertise is leveraged effectively.”