This is the third time in the past two months that the minister has spoken about the possibility of Pakistan’s borders with India being redrawn

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said although the Sindh region in Pakistan is not part of India at present, borders can change and the region may return to India in the future.

This is the third time in the past two months that the minister has spoken about the possibility of Pakistan’s borders with India being redrawn.

Sindh province — the region along the Indus river — went to Pakistan during the 1947 Partition.

Singh said, “Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change. Who knows, tomorrow Sindh may return to India again.”

“People of Sindh, who hold the Indus river sacred, will always be our own. No matter where they are, they will always be ours,” the Defence Minister said.

He said Sindhi Hindus — particularly from the generation of leaders like LK Advani — have never accepted the separation of the Sindh region from India.

Citing a book by Advani, the former Union Home Minister and BJP veteran, Rajnath said, “Advani wrote in one of his books that Sindhi Hindus, especially those of his generation, still haven’t accepted the separation of Sindh from India.”

“Not just in Sindh, but across India, Hindus consider the Indus river sacred. Many Muslims in Sindh also believed that the waters of the Indus were no less sacred than the Aab-e-Zamzam of Mecca,” Singh added, again referring to Advani’s writings.

This is the third time in two months that Singh has commented on Pakistan’s borders. In October, during a visit to the Rann of Kutch sector in Gujarat, he had said, “Any misadventure by Pakistan in the Sir Creek sector will invite a decisive response… If Pakistan dares to act in the Sir Creek sector, the reply will be so strong that it will change both history and geography.”

Earlier, on September 22, in an interaction with the Indian community in Morocco, Singh had expressed confidence that India would regain Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) without taking any aggressive steps, saying people there were demanding freedom from Pakistani control.

“PoK will be ours on its own. Demands have already started being raised in PoK — you must have heard the sloganeering,” he had said.

MoD/ Armed Forces

1. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that Indonesia has formally requested to purchase BrahMos missiles manufactured at the new BrahMos Aerospace facility in Lucknow. The state-of-the-art unit, inaugurated in May and now fully operational, recently produced its first batch of missiles as part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor. Singh, speaking at a BJP event, highlighted India’s growing global stature under PM Narendra Modi. He also praised the NDA’s performance in the Bihar elections and urged BJP workers to uphold discipline and dedication_HT.
2. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan criticised certain defence companies for falsely claiming high indigenous content and failing to deliver orders placed under emergency procurement. He stressed the need for honesty about capabilities, noting that delays directly affect national security. Gen Chauhan said the armed forces expect “nationalism and patriotism” alongside profit. The CDS highlighted repeated cases of over-promising and missed deadlines, echoing Air Chief Marshal AP Singh’s concerns over chronic delays, including HAL’s slow delivery of Tejas jets. He warned that such lapses are unacceptable_AA, ToI.
3. In a landmark move, the Indian Army will induct women soldiers into Territorial Army (TA) Infantry Home & Hearth battalions for the first time. The Directorate General of TA has released vacancies for 2025-26, earmarking a section of about 10 posts for women in select battalions, with plans to expand across all units. These TA battalions, raised mainly in Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, support counter-insurgency, intelligence, and civil assistance roles. The decision marks another major step toward gender inclusion, as women are still barred from core combat arms_IE.
4. Exercise Poorvi Prachand Prahar demonstrated seamless coordination among the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy and ITBP for high-altitude, all-terrain missions in the Eastern theatre. The drill validated joint preparedness, coordinated manoeuvres and unified combat capability in challenging operational environments. Special Forces, MARCOS, Garud, Bhairav Battalion and Arunachal Scouts acted as crucial force multipliers. Advanced technologies such as night-enabled FPVs, SWARM drones, unmanned systems and precision-targeting tools, along with the Divyastra battery, enhanced effectiveness. The exercise highlighted rapid mobilisation, multi-domain synergy and readiness along the Northern borders_Pnr.
5. India and the United Kingdom will conduct the eighth edition of their joint biennial military exercise “Ajeya Warrior” from November 17 to 30 at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. The exercise aims to strengthen coordinated counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban environments. The drill highlights the shared commitment of both nations to global peace and security, while enhancing interoperability, tactical cooperation, and mutual understanding between the two armies through combined training and field operations_Hdtn.
6. The Indian Army’s Gajraj Corps has introduced a unique high-altitude monorail system to supply essential items to remote posts in Arunachal Pradesh at 16,000 feet. Heavy snowfall often disrupts regular delivery of ammunition, rations, fuel and equipment, but this fully indigenous system can transport over 300 kg of material in a single trip. The monorail operates day and night in difficult weather and can also support rapid casualty evacuation from areas where helicopters cannot land. This innovation strengthens the Army’s operational readiness in the region_HB.
7. The Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKI fighter jets will participate in ‘Garuda 25,’ a bilateral air exercise with the French Air and Space Force from November 16 to 27 at Mont-de-Marsan, France. Officials said the exercise will feature complex, simulated air combat missions involving IAF’s Su-30MKIs and French multi-role fighters. This marks the eighth edition of the Indo-French air exercise aimed at strengthening operational coordination and interoperability. The IAF contingent arrived in France on November 10 to begin preparations_MP, AA, Pnr, Stsmn, ToI.
8. Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi held extensive discussions with top US naval commanders during his six-day visit to the United States, focusing on expanding operational cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. He met Admiral Samuel J Paparo, Admiral Stephen T Koehler and Lt Gen James F Glynn to enhance interoperability, maritime security and joint engagements. Both sides reaffirmed their strong partnership and commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. Talks also covered deeper information sharing, maritime domain awareness, and protection of sea lines and critical undersea infrastructure_HT, Jansatta.

National Security

9. Nine people, including six police personnel, a revenue officer, a chowkidar and a civilian, were killed and 32 injured in an accidental explosion at Nowgam police station in Srinagar. The blast occurred during the handling of unstable explosives seized in a ‘white-collar’ terror module probe. Officials confirmed it was not a terror attack. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and senior security officials paid tributes, while the J&K government announced ₹10 lakh ex-gratia for families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh for the injured_FE, HBL, MP, IE, Pnr, Stsmn, HT, AA.
10. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired a conference of India’s Consuls General in the United States, reviewing bilateral ties, diplomatic initiatives, and support for diaspora-related activities. He appreciated the efforts of the Embassy and Consulates in strengthening the India-US partnership. The meeting in New York included Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and heads of all Indian consulates across major US cities. Jaishankar also met UN Secretary-General António Guterres, discussing global issues, multilateralism, and regional hotspots, while thanking him for his consistent support for India’s development_MP.
11. Indian security agencies are increasingly linking the November 10 Red Fort blast in Delhi to operatives in Bangladesh despite denials from Bangladesh’s interim government. Delhi Police have detained three individuals, including two doctors from Haryana’s Al Falah University, while also filing FIRs over university irregularities. Investigators say the terror plot connects Pakistan and Bangladesh, highlighting a virtual meeting where LeT commander Saifullah Saif issued attack directions with Bangladesh officials present. Agencies suspect operatives later entered India via Murshidabad, where explosives and support were allegedly arranged_AA.
12. Two British passport holders, a Pakistani-origin doctor, Hasan Aman Saleem, and an India-origin doctor, Sumitra Shakeel Olivia were arrested at the Rupaidia border in Bahraich while illegally entering India from Nepal without valid visas. SSB and police personnel stopped them during heightened border vigilance following the Delhi blast. Both failed to provide a satisfactory reason for entering India. They claimed they were working as doctors and had visited Nepalganj on a hospital’s request. The duo has been handed over to Rupaidia police for further action_Jansatta.

Imdt Neighbourhood

13. China has warned its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan after a diplomatic dispute escalated over remarks by Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who said Tokyo could respond militarily if China used force against Taiwan. Both countries summoned each other’s ambassadors following the comments and an “inappropriate” online post later removed by China. Beijing said the situation poses safety risks for Chinese citizens in Japan. Tokyo called the advisory inconsistent with efforts to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship. Major Chinese airlines are offering full refunds for Japan-bound flights_Hin.
14. Pakistan’s judicial crisis escalated as Lahore High Court Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza resigned in protest against the 27th Constitutional Amendment. His resignation follows those of two Supreme Court judges, all condemning what they call an “assault on the Constitution and judiciary.” The amendment establishes a Federal Constitutional Court to handle constitutional matters, limiting the Supreme Court to civil and criminal cases. It also extends Army Chief General Asim Munir’s tenure until 2030. Justice Mirza, set to retire in 2028, is the first high court judge to step down_HT, MP, IE.
15. At least five militants were killed in a gunfight with police in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday. The clash erupted after 25 to 30 militants stormed a seminary in the Sheikh Landak and Takhti Khel areas of Lakki Marwat district. As the attackers entered the seminary, local residents, along with police, quickly cordoned off the area to prevent further escalation. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of five militants, while security forces continued efforts to secure the region amid rising militant activity_IE.
16. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Dhaka on Saturday demanding that Bangladesh’s Ahmadiya Muslim minority be declared infidels. The sect, rooted in 19th-century India, has long faced persecution, which escalated after Sheikh Hasina’s government fell during a student-led revolution last year. Hardline Islamist groups, previously suppressed, have gained prominence ahead of February’s elections. The rally featured leaders and clerics from several countries, with participants calling for legislation against the sect. Many protesters argued Ahmadiyas could live in Bangladesh, but not as Muslims_AA.

Extended Neighbourhood

17. The United States is reportedly planning to divide Gaza into two zones as part of a new proposal. A “green zone,” located in the Eastern area already controlled by Israel, would come under Israeli and international military supervision and begin reconstruction. Meanwhile, the “red zone,” home to nearly two million displaced Palestinians, would remain devastated with no rebuilding planned. The plan forms part of President Trump’s 20-point peace proposal, which includes an international stabilisation force. The UN Security Council is expected to vote on the resolution soon_HT, IE, Pnr.
18. Russia’s defence ministry announced that its forces have captured the village of Yablukove in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, though the claim has not been independently verified. In response, Ukraine reported striking a Russian oil refinery in the Ryazan region near Moscow, describing it as an effort to weaken Russia’s ability to conduct missile and bomb attacks. The strike followed deadly Russian assaults on Kyiv. Ryazan governor Pavel Malkov said Russian air defences shot down 25 Ukrainian drones during the night_AA.
19. According to Russian media reports, the United States secretly conducted a test of the B61-12 nuclear bomb at its main Nevada test site. The report claims the test was completed quietly in August, without public disclosure. Surprisingly, this allegedly occurred before President Trump publicly stated that the U.S. was considering new nuclear tests. The timing suggests, according to these reports, that Trump made such statements after the test had already taken place, possibly to keep the operation hidden. The revelation has now come to light_HB.

Boeing KC-135 is on wet-lease under which the aircraft will be flown, manned and maintained by the pilots and crew belonging to an American firm. The US Air Force also uses a KC-135.

In a sign of the normalisation of India-US ties and increasing defence cooperation between the two nations, the Indian Air Force has leased a Boeing KC-135 plane, which is a mid-air refueller.

The US-made plane, which has a system to re-fuel fighter jets, transport planes and helicopters in mid-flight, landed at the IAF’s Agra base today.

This is the second strategic lease of military equipment from the US. Two high-altitude ‘predator’ drones have been leased from US company General Atomics. These drones provide excellent imagery during the military stand off with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)

The plane would also be used for operations of the Navy. At present, the IAF and the Navy use the fleet of six Russian IL -78 tankers, which are ageing and face maintenance issues. The IAF has been trying to get new mid-air refuellers since 2007.

The plane is on wet-lease under which the aircraft will be flown, manned and maintained by the pilots and crew belonging to an American firm. The US Air Force also uses a KC-135.

In the last 20 months, this is the second time that the aircraft manufactured by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd was involved in a crash

The Indian Army’s Ram Division, part of the Kharga Corps under Western Command, conducted Exercise Ram Prahar, a major integrated all-arms and services manoeuvre, reaffirming Army’s evolution into a modern, adaptive, agile and technology-enabled fighting force.

The exercise underscored the Army’s focus on operational agility, multi-domain capability and real-time decision-making across land, air and cyber domains – reflecting a posture of preparedness, deterrence and strategic assurance in the current fragile regional security environment.

In a run-up to the exercise, the Division undertook a series of battle drills and validations of tactics, techniques and procedures. The exercise witnessed coordinated operations by armoured, infantry, engineer and aviation elements in a dynamic battlefield environment.

Employment of next-generation equipment, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) integration, AI-enabled decision support tools and network-based command and control systems demonstrated the Army’s ability to adapt, respond and prevail in complex, technology-driven battlefields.

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, reviewed the exercise in the general area of Haridwar on Saturday and validated the operational doctrines and procedures.

Exercise Ram Prahar reflects the Indian Army’s resolve to remain agile, resilient and future-ready, drawing strength from synergy, innovation and its enduring bond with the people, a spokesperson for Western Command said.

Himachal pilot’s body flown back for last last rites at hometown Kangra

A day after a Tejas jet crashed at an airshow in Dubai, killing a pilot, top sources in the Indian Air Force dismissed speculation that the indigenous fighter jets would be grounded.

“No such grounding has taken place. All (Tejas) planes are cleared for flying,” said the sources. The IAF has 36 such jets in its fleet.

Meanwhile, the mortal remains of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who died in the crash, have been flown back to India. An IAF plane flew in from Dubai with the remains of the pilot to Sulur, Tamil Nadu, the home base of one of the Tejas fighter jet squadron. Sources in the IAF said the cremation was planned at the family hometown in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.

Wing Commander Syal was posted to the squadron at Sulur. The military leadership at the base and his colleagues will pay their last respects at an associated solemn ceremony. The mortal remains would then be moved to Kangra by the IAF for the last rites.

Wing Commander Syal was piloting a Tejas Mark-1 fighter aircraft at the Dubai air show and he died when the plane plunged to the ground while he was executing a low-flying manoeuvre called the ‘barrel roll’. The pilot tried to stabilise the jet, but could not eject in time. The ill-fated plane nosedived and erupted into a fireball on impact.

The Tejas Mark-1 plane manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is powered by the F-404 engine made by US company General Electric. The HAL delivered 38 jets in the first tranche, of which two have been lost. Another 180 jets of the upgraded variant of the jet, called Tejas Mark-1A, are on order with the HAL. Deliveries are yet to start.

A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident. Sources said there could be multiple reasons for malfunction, including trouble in the fly-by-wire system, engine failure, or any control system malfunctioning. The IAF would be retrieving the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder.

Admiral Tripathi’s US visit pushes tie-up in unmanned systems, cyber & space

India and the US are looking to collaborate on emerging military domains and refine the scope of their maritime exercises to make these more complex and challenging. These issues were discussed between the military leadership of both countries during Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi’s recent six-day visit to the US.

Collaboration on expanding military domains would include unmanned systems, surveillance, cyber and space-enabled maritime capabilities. The two sides operate several common-origin platforms such as MQ-9B drones and Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, allowing them to share a common operational picture.

In the space domain, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in February, the Transforming Relations Utilising Strategic Technologies (TRUST) initiative was announced to advance cooperation in space alongside defence, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and biotechnology.

The India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) is aimed at fostering startup partnerships in satellite technology and space situational awareness. Defence space cooperation has also deepened with India’s participation in the US Space Command’s Global Sentinel exercise.

On military exercises, the two sides are exploring expansion. “The two sides deliberated on refining bilateral and multilateral exercises,” the Navy said after the visit concluded.

The navies are looking to add greater complexity to the drills, including “submarine hunts” and tracking “enemy vessels”, which would strengthen the India-US maritime partnership and advance shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific, sources said.

Both navies are part of strategic multi-nation constructs such as the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. India hosts the Milan exercise, in which the US is an important participant. Along with Japan and Australia, both countries are also part of the Malabar Exercise.

The latest edition of Malabar was conducted last week at Guam, a US base in the Pacific Ocean.

Admiral Tripathi and US officials reviewed key pillars of India-US defence cooperation, including strengthening maritime security and domain awareness, expanding operational interoperability, enhancing information sharing, safeguarding sea lines of communication and critical undersea infrastructure, and coordinated responses to counter-piracy and other non-traditional security challenges.

Admiral Tripathi also met Admiral Samuel J Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Stephen T Koehler, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, and other senior naval leaders.

The entry gate of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib glows brightly at Anandpur Sahib on Friday evening.

The holy city transforms in honour of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s 350th martyrdom anniversary

District gears up for solemn farewell

Kangra is preparing to bid a tearful yet proud farewell to Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who lost his life in the LCA Tejas crash during the Dubai Air Show. His mortal remains will arrive from Sulur Air Base, Coimbatore, to Kangra airport at 12.30 pm on Sunday.

According to Nagrota Bagwan SDM Munish Sharma, the last rites will be performed at his native village, Patialkhad near Yol, with full military honours.

The district administration has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure a dignified tribute to the officer. Col Gopal Guleria, Zila Sainik Welfare Officer, told The Tribune that the Air Force unit stationed at Yol is supervising all formalities, while the local ex-servicemen’s unit, led by Hony Captain KC Dhiman, will attend in full uniform to honour this ‘brave son of the soil’.

Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa confirmed that Yadwinder Goma, Minister for AYUSH, Youth Services and Sports, along with local MLA and HPTDC Chairperson Raghubir Singh Bali, will represent the state government.

Former Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar, former Minister Sudhir Sharma and several other political leaders are also expected to pay their respects as the region unites to honour its valiant son.

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