Tuesday, September 22, 2026
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Balochistan: BLA kills 16 Pakistani soldiers, injured 13

Balochistan
Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOQ) of Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

Quetta, Aug 23 (NVI) Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) today claimed to have killed 16 Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 in an attack in Balochistan.

The BLA fighters destroyed an armored vehicle in an IED blast, targeting a convoy of the occupying army in the Khadkoocha area of Mastung yesterday, its spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said.

Another armored vehicle and accompanying vehicles were ambushed.

“In this severe attack, 13 personnel of the occupying army were killed and more than 10 others injured,” he said.

BLA’s Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) was part of this operation, he added.

Meanwhile, today in the Hairabad area of Turbat, BLA fighters targeted a convoy and security personnel of the occupying army, resulting in three enemy personnel killed and three others injured.

Additionally, BLA fighters conducted eight more operations across Nushki, Kalat, Kharan, Washuk, Zehri, and Chagai. (NVI)

J&K LG Sinha calls for collective efforts to realise Viksit Bharat vision

New Delhi, Aug 23 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday called for collective efforts by industry leaders, policymakers, educators and citizens to realise the vision of a developed India by 2047, saying the country’s growth must be inclusive and rooted in its traditions.

Addressing the World Wisdom Forum organised by the IIT Alumni Council in New Delhi, Sinha said India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation should combine technological strength with human sensitivity and ensure balanced development across regions.

He said the “seed of Viksit Bharat has already sprouted” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the country has achieved several milestones over the past 12 years.

Sinha identified five key challenges that need to be addressed collectively — skilling India’s young population in emerging technologies, ensuring sustainable development, strengthening institutions, promoting balanced regional growth and making India a global creator of technology and innovation.

“We must create the future rather than purchase it by becoming not just a consumer but a global creator of technologies, innovations, and ideas,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said India should not merely use artificial intelligence but contribute to its future and should aim to export innovation instead of importing it.

Sinha also highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s potential in sectors such as hydropower, tourism, horticulture and handicrafts, and urged industry leaders to invest in the Union Territory and connect its products and resources with global markets.

“Industry leaders in every sector of Jammu Kashmir will be an investment in India’s future,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said the vision of Viksit Bharat was not limited to GDP growth but was also about creating an inclusive and prosperous society where development becomes the right of every citizen.

He urged the younger generation to prepare for their responsibilities in 2047, when India will celebrate 100 years of independence, and to ensure that their contributions benefit society and humanity.

“The new generation, which will be at the peak of its careers and energy in 2047, must ask itself today — When India becomes a developed nation, what will you be creating?” Sinha said.

He also stressed the importance of preserving India’s civilisational, spiritual and cultural ethos while pursuing economic growth.

MP Shashank Mani Tripathi, IIT Alumni Council president Ravi Sharma, NSE MD and CEO Ashish Chauhan, IIT alumni and prominent citizens from various fields attended the event.(NVI)

Suspected Pakistan drone sighted along IB in J&K’s Kathua

drone
Representational image of a drone

Shivam Bakshi

Jammu, Aug 23 (NVI): A suspected Pakistan-origin drone was sighted along the International Border (IB) in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, prompting security forces to launch a search operation in the area, officials said.

Officials said the drone-like object was observed hovering over forward villages in the Bobiyan area of Hiranagar sector at around morning

After remaining in the area for a few minutes, the suspected drone was seen moving back towards the Pakistan side, they said.

Following the sighting, security forces cordoned off the area and launched an extensive search operation to rule out the possibility of any payload, including narcotics or weapons, being dropped from the drone.

However, nothing suspicious or objectionable was recovered during the search operation, officials said.

Further details are awaited.(NVI)

IAF is not against theaterisation: Air Chief

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Amanpreet Singh

Kanpur, Aug 22 (NVI) Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh today said the Indian Air Force (IAF) is not against theaterisation of the armed forces but wants “minimal disruption” in the present structures.

He underlined the need for an objective approach for any new initiative.

In an address at an event in Kanpur, the Air Chief Marshal called for not “shaking up” the existing system and batted for looking internally to further enhance India’s military prowess rather than copying anything from another country.

The government had announced the theaterisation plan in 2019 to ensure greater synergy among the three services. However, no visible forward movement has been made towards it.

Under the theaterisation model, the government seeks to integrate the capabilities of the army, air force and navy and optimally utilise their resources for wars and operations.

“I can assure my own people here that the Air Force is not against theaterisation the way the media puts it,” he said.

“What the Air Force has been insisting is that let us look at it objectively. Let us look at what it is that is ailing us, what are the things that are not correct, and we need to correct that and not something that we may pick up from somewhere else,” he said.

“So let’s not just pick up something and use. Let us look at it objectively. Let us go about it in a step-wise manner so that there is minimal disruption and we don’t shake up the system, especially at this time when we have made it very clear that Operation Sindoor is still alive.

“We need to be prepared that way,” he said.

The Chief of Air Staff said the Air Headquarters has also been looking at the issue.

“I’m sure the government will take the right decision based on all inputs that are given to the government,” he said.

As per the theaterisation plan, each of the theatre commands will have units of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force and all of them will work as a single entity looking after security challenges in a specified geographical territory.

At present, the Army, Navy and the Air Force have separate commands.

The Air Chief Marshal also strongly backed the government’s initiative to reduce dependence on imports of military hardware and said the Indian private sector can join hands with foreign manufacturers to boost production.

He talked about the option as Indian entities at times may not be able to bring out everything in time because they also have their hands full. (NVI)

NIA Searches 10 Locations In J&K In LeT Terror Conspiracy Case

(Representational Image)

Srinagar, Aug 22 (NVI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted searches at 10 locations across Jammu and Kashmir as part of its probe into a cross-border terror conspiracy involving Pakistan-based handlers and a network of local Over Ground Workers (OGWs), officials said.

The searches were carried out in Srinagar, Kupwara, Anantnag, Pulwama and Budgam districts to collect documentary, digital and other material evidence and ascertain the alleged roles of individuals linked to the local support network, the agency said.

The case relates to a conspiracy involving Pakistan-based handlers and OGWs allegedly providing logistical and other support to infiltrating terrorists.

The case, initially registered as FIR No. 0024/2026 at Zakoora police station in Srinagar, was subsequently re-registered by the NIA as RC-02/2026/NIA/JMU under Section 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Sections 7 and 25 of the Arms Act and Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act.

The probe was initiated following the arrest of an OGW allegedly associated with the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) during the intervening night of March 31, 2026. A hand grenade and live ammunition were recovered from his possession, the NIA said.

During the investigation, Pakistani terrorists allegedly linked to the conspiracy were arrested, while the identities and alleged roles of members of the local support network were also established, it said.

The investigation has so far indicated alleged links between Pakistan-based handlers and their local associates, who were allegedly being used for communication, logistical arrangements, movement and concealment of terrorists, shelter, reconnaissance and other forms of facilitation.

The agency is also examining the financial trail, communication channels, movement of the accused and the source of arms and explosives to establish the full extent of the network and its activities.

The NIA said further evidence secured during the searches is being examined and corroborated with other material collected in the case.

Further legal action, including arrests or recoveries, may follow as the investigation progresses, it added.(NVI)

Indian Navy Gets 3rd Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

New Delhi, Aug 22 (NVI): The Indian Navy on Friday took delivery of ‘Mangrol’, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, officials said.

The vessel, delivered on August 21, has more than 80 per cent indigenous content and is designed for underwater surveillance and anti-submarine warfare operations in coastal waters, besides undertaking low-intensity maritime operations and mine warfare.

The craft is powered by waterjets and equipped with advanced torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, radars and sonars, they said.

Mangrol has been named after the coastal town and minor port of Mangrol in Gujarat’s Junagadh district, a prominent harbour for the marine fishing industry.

The name also carries the legacy of erstwhile INS Mangrol, an Indian Naval Minesweeper that remained in service until 2004.

The delivery marks another milestone in the Navy’s efforts towards indigenous warship construction and is in line with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, officials said.

The vessel reflects the growing capabilities of India’s indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem, they added.(NVI)

J&K LG Manoj Sinha Meets PM Modi in New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 22 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and briefed him on the prevailing situation in the Union Territory, officials said.

During the meeting, Sinha apprised the prime minister of the latest developments in Jammu and Kashmir, including the security, administrative and developmental situation, they said.

The two leaders also discussed various issues concerning the Union Territory.

Further details of the meeting were not immediately available.(NVI)

J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat Reviews Operational Preparedness at TOBs in Ganderbal

Ganderbal, August 22 (NVI)  Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Saturday reviewed the operational preparedness and security arrangements at Temporary Operating Bases (TOBs) in the Chattergul and Wangat areas of Ganderbal district, officials said.

Prabhat, accompanied by Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Kashmir Range, conducted a comprehensive assessment of the security situation and operational preparedness at the bases.

During the visit, the DGP took stock of the deployment and functioning of personnel stationed at the TOBs and reviewed their preparedness to respond effectively to emerging security challenges, officials said.

Senior police officers, including the SSP Ganderbal, were also present during the inspection.

The visit was part of the police leadership’s ongoing efforts to strengthen operational readiness and security capabilities in sensitive and strategically important areas of the district, officials said.(NVI)

J&K LG Sinha Calls on IIM Jammu to Aim Among World’s Best

Jammu, Aug 22 (NVI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called upon IIM Jammu to develop a distinctive academic identity and aspire to become one of the world’s leading business schools as the institute celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Addressing the Board of Governors, faculty, students and alumni, Sinha recalled that IIM Jammu began a decade ago with 56 students at a temporary campus on Canal Road and has since emerged as a nationally recognised and internationally engaged management institution.

He said the institute’s next decade should be marked by the same ambition and focus that shaped its growth so far.

“IIM Jammu should define its own bold and distinctive ideas and turn the boardrooms of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh into living case studies,” Sinha said, urging the institute to root its research in border economies and frontier development.

The Lieutenant Governor said IIM Jammu has become the fifth IIM in the country to hold both AMBA and EFMD accreditation and has established academic partnerships with institutions in several countries, including France, Morocco, South Korea, Greece, the UK, Germany, Australia, Poland, Sweden, Taiwan and Brazil.

He also highlighted the institute’s growth in research output, noting that the number of published papers had increased from two in 2017 to nearly 350 this year.

Sinha emphasised four key priorities for the institute — developing a distinctive academic identity, strengthening experiential learning, focusing research on border economies and frontier entrepreneurship, and treating placements as a nation-building exercise.

He called for greater emphasis on case studies based on Indian businesses and the unique logistical and entrepreneurial challenges of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.

“Every student should undertake a real, tangible project before graduation,” he said, suggesting initiatives through the institute’s entrepreneurship centre, policy challenges and engagement with local businesses.

The Lieutenant Governor also urged IIM Jammu to focus research on sustainable development, border economies and frontier entrepreneurship, areas where he said the institute was uniquely positioned to emerge as a global leader.

Referring to Harvard, Stanford and Wharton, Sinha said the world’s leading business schools had built their identities by committing themselves to distinctive ideas and pursuing them consistently over generations.

“IIM Jammu’s growth must now be converted into new discoveries,” he said, adding that great institutions are those that provide answers when nations confront difficult questions.

Sinha expressed confidence that if IIM Jammu continued its progress with determination over the next decade, its name would be recognised globally with pride and respect.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor released seven coffee-table books published by IIM Jammu.

Padma Shri Dr Milind Pralhad Kamble, Chairman of the Board of Governors, former BoG chairman Sriram Dandekar, BoG member Anand Kripalu, IIM Jammu Director B S Sahay, Advent International Operating Partner S Shivakumar, vice chancellors of various universities, faculty members, students and senior civil and police officials attended the event.(NVI)

NC Govt has betrayed people by hiking power tariffs: BJP

Srinagar, Aug 22 (NVI) Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma on Saturday criticised the National Conference-led government over the reported 6.83 per cent hike in electricity tariffs, alleging that the move amounted to a betrayal of its electoral promise of providing 200 units of free power to every household.

Sharma said the NC had promised 200 units of free electricity during the 2024 Assembly elections but had failed to implement the commitment even nearly two years after coming to power.

“Instead of fulfilling its promise of 200 units of free electricity, the government is increasing electricity tariffs. This is not relief but a betrayal of the trust placed in the government,” Sharma said.

He said the reported tariff hike, which is expected to come into effect from September 1, would add to the financial burden on households already facing rising prices and expenses.

The BJP leader said the development exposed a contradiction between the NC’s electoral promises and its performance in government.

“Before the elections, the promise was 200 units of free electricity; after the elections, the reality is higher electricity bills,” he said, asking the government to explain why its commitment had not been fulfilled.

Sharma also questioned the Omar Abdullah-led government’s commitment to the NC manifesto and said the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserved answers on the promised free power.

“The people deserve answers, not slogans. The NC must explain where the promised 200 units of free electricity are and why, instead of fulfilling its commitment, the government is increasing the burden on consumers,” he said.

Sharma said the BJP would continue to raise issues concerning the people and hold the NC-led government accountable for the promises made during the 2024 Assembly elections.(NVI)

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