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Defence forces given freedom, resources to respond decisively to threats: Rajnath

New Delhi, Sept 7 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the armed forces have been given both the freedom and resources to respond decisively to threats, including by striking adversaries inside their own territory.

Addressing an event in New Delhi, Singh said India believes in peace but there is a clear distinction between peace and weakness, asserting that terrorism against the country will be met with a befitting response.

He said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has foiled attempts by adversaries to undermine India’s security by misleading youth in Jammu and Kashmir, funding anti-India activities, spreading violence and terrorism and creating divisions in society.

The defence minister said efforts to bring misguided youth into the mainstream, along with rehabilitation, de-radicalisation and creation of employment opportunities, have helped counter such designs.

Singh said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed “unprecedented progress” since the abrogation of Article 370, with new opportunities opening up for the youth.

He highlighted India’s military response to terrorism, including the surgical strikes, Balakot airstrike and Operation Sindoor, saying these operations targeted terrorists and their handlers.

“The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty sent a clear message that blood and water cannot flow together,” he said.

Singh asserted that India does not desire war or seek to occupy the territory of any country, but stressed that terrorism sponsored against India would invite a strong response.

“We’ve made it clear that if any country promotes terrorism against India, there will be no dialogue; instead, our defence forces will deliver a befitting response,” he said.

On the changing nature of warfare, Singh said space and cyberspace have emerged as new domains of conflict alongside land, air and sea. Artificial intelligence, drones, autonomous systems and precision weapons are transforming modern battlefields, he added.

The government is working to make India’s defence strategy and security apparatus future-ready, with a focus on developing advanced technologies indigenously, Singh said.

He said India’s defence policy has moved from a reactive approach to a proactive one, citing India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016 as an important development that facilitated efforts to extend the range of the BrahMos missile.

Singh also highlighted the transformation of India’s defence manufacturing sector, saying defence production has increased from around Rs 40,000 crore before 2014 to approximately Rs 1.80 lakh crore, while defence exports have grown to over Rs 38,000 crore.

He said India has reduced its dependence on imports and is focusing on indigenous defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The minister cited systems and platforms such as Akashteer, Akash, Pinaka, Astra, Prachand, Dhruv, Tejas, Arjun and indigenous drone and counter-drone systems as examples of India’s growing defence capabilities.

He also pointed to the induction of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, and said the country is pursuing the development of sixth-generation fighter aircraft.

India aims to achieve defence exports worth Rs 50,000 crore by 2029, he said.

Singh said all 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings are now operating without losses and are increasing investments in research and development while exploring new export opportunities.

He said India’s defence budget has risen from around Rs 2.5 lakh crore 12 years ago to approximately Rs 8 lakh crore, with the funds being utilised to strengthen national security with transparency and accountability.

Linking economic strength with national security, Singh said a strong economy is essential for developing modern military capabilities and maintaining strategic autonomy.

Despite global economic uncertainties, India is moving ahead with a growth rate of 7.8 per cent while strengthening supply chains, promoting self-reliance in critical sectors and expanding indigenous manufacturing, he said.

“Amidst geopolitical uncertainties, many nations are being compelled to choose sides or are forced to align with specific blocs. However, India is moving forward with independent agency and strategic autonomy by focusing on its own priorities, which is why, today, when we speak, the world listens,” Singh said.

He said more than 16,000 MSMEs are currently involved in the defence sector, while investment proposals worth around Rs 70,000 crore have been received for the defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The minister said defence start-ups have increased from a few dozen in 2018 to more than 2,000, with initiatives such as iDEX and iDEX-Prime promoting innovation.

Calling upon the youth to become job creators and innovators, Singh assured them of the Ministry of Defence’s support for promising ideas.

He also lauded DRDO’s efforts to bring industry, academia, start-ups and scientists together to strengthen self-reliance in defence.

Singh described the successful testing of a scramjet combustor in May as an important step towards the development of hypersonic missile technology.

He said the government’s decision to transfer DRDO-developed missile technologies to Indian industry would enable private companies to manufacture such systems and ensure their timely availability to the armed forces.

The defence minister said the government’s objective is to achieve Aatmanirbharta in defence and build an ecosystem that strengthens national security, drives economic growth and enhances India’s role in the global security architecture.

He expressed confidence that by 2047, India would not only achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat but also emerge as a global leader in technology, economy and defence.—(NVI)

 

ACB arrests land broker for accepting Rs 11,000 bribe in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sept 7 (NVI): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday arrested a land broker for allegedly accepting Rs 11,000 bribe on behalf of a Patwari for issuance of revenue extracts in Batmaloo area here, officials said.

The accused, identified as Ab Hamid Khan, was allegedly acting as an intermediary for Saleem Altaf, Patwari of Halqa Batmaloo, the officials said.

The ACB had received a complaint alleging that the Patwari, through Khan, had demanded Rs 20,000 from the complainant for issuance of revenue extracts pertaining to his house. The amount was later settled at Rs 16,000, they said.

The complainant had applied online for the revenue extracts on behalf of his father for attestation of mutation, according to the ACB.

The complainant had already paid Rs 5,000 as the first instalment and was asked to pay the remaining Rs 11,000 on Monday, officials said.

Following verification of the allegations, the ACB registered a case under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and constituted a trap team.

During the trap operation, Khan was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 11,000 as illegal gratification on behalf of the Patwari, they said.

The accused was taken into custody and Rs 25,125 in cash, payment slips, the revenue extract in question and a sale deed were also recovered from his possession, officials said.

The recovered items have been seized as per procedure and are being examined as part of the investigation.

The ACB is also ascertaining the alleged involvement of the Patwari in the demand and acceptance of the bribe through the land broker.

Further investigation is underway.—(NVI)

NIA Searches Residence Of ‘White-Collar’ Terror Accused In J&K’s Qazigund

(Representational Image)

Qazigund, Sept 07 (NVI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted a search at the residence of ‘white-collar’ terror accused Adeel Majeed Rather in Qazigund area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said.

The search was carried out in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Delhi blast case of November last year, in which more than a dozen people were killed and around 20 others injured, officials said.

According to officials, the NIA team remained at the residence for nearly an hour during the search operation. Further details regarding the search were awaited.

Rather was arrested from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh on November 7 last year for allegedly putting up threatening posters in Srinagar city.

His arrest subsequently led to the alleged unearthing of a ‘white-collar’ terror module, in which several doctors were suspected of having links with terror activities.

Rather was arrested three days before the November 10 blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, which triggered a major investigation by central agencies.

Further details are awaited. (NVI)

Kashmir Feels Like Home’: Fatima Sana Shaikh Hails J&K’s First International Film Festival

Srinagar, Sep 7 (NVI): Bollywood actor Fatima Sana Shaikh on Monday welcomed the launch of the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK), saying cinema and cultural events have the power to bring people together and strengthen the region’s cultural connect.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the festival in Srinagar, Shaikh said she was happy to be back in Kashmir after several years and described her visit as feeling like “coming home”.

“Any film festival or any cultural event is very important because it brings people together. Cinema often does this,” she said, while appreciating the initiative to organise an international film festival in Kashmir.

Shaikh said she was proud to be associated with the inaugural edition and thanked the organisers for bringing the event to the region.

Asked whether Kashmir could continue to host an international film festival, the actor expressed confidence in its prospects.

“100 per cent, I think it already is,” she said.

Shaikh also noted that Kashmir has historically been a popular destination for film shootings and continues to attract film productions, though the frequency of shoots may vary.

The inaugural IFFJK is being held from September 7 to 10 and features filmmakers, cinema professionals and films from India and various parts of the world.

The festival is aimed at providing a platform for cinematic exchange and promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a destination for films and cultural engagement.—(NVI)

Pakistani atrocities in POJK, Balochistan, Afghanistan highlighted in France

Paris, Sep 6 (NVI) The continous atrocities committed by the Pakistani regime in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provinces, and also neighbouring Afghanistan were highlighted to the international community in Paris by Pakistani nationals sensitive to the developments.

The concerns were raised in the capital of France at a programme held yesterday, a day deliberately chosen to with Pakistan’s Defence Day.

The ‘Dissident Club’ and concerned Pakistanis in France held “an evening of testimony” as part of its latest initiative, Dissident Public Gatherings, bringing together representatives from 12+ countries to challenge the official commemoration of the Pakistan armed forces.

Organizers said the date was chosen deliberately to highlight the latest carnage by Pakistan military in occupied Jammu and Kashmir where more than 100 civilians have been killed.

The speakers also condemned the cross-border air attacks by Pakistan in Afghanistan, which have resulted in the killing of over 500 civilians.

French, Pakistani, Indian, Afghan, Kazakh, Swiss and American participants, among others, highlighted that military pageantry in Islamabad should not obscure civilian deaths across the region.

Speakers from Afghanistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir described raids, protest crackdowns and cross-border strikes.

European participants said Western governments had treated the record as an inconvenience rather than a human-rights file.

Participants urged the European Union, the United Nations and Western capitals to investigate the allegations, impose meaningful scrutiny on Pakistan’s military establishment and stop treating the country as exempt from accountability.

Silence, they said, had become a form of permission.

Pakistani forces have been committed extreme brutalities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, killing and injuring civilians every day by firing bullets at them.

The Dissident Club, founded in Paris by exiled Pakistani journalist Taha Siddiqui, said Dissident Public Gatherings would continue as a forum for witnesses the official narrative leaves out. (NVI)

US, India cooperation in Space sector moving towards joint innovation: Ambassador Gor

US Ambassador Sergio Gor

New Delhi, Sept 7 (NVI) The US and India are moving beyond traditional cooperation in the space sector and going towards joint innovation and “co-creation”, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said today.

Addressing an event, he highligted growing collaboration in technology, startups, human spaceflight and lunar exploration.

Gor said the two countries were no longer merely exchanging data but were jointly developing instruments, supporting startups and shaping the future of space exploration.

The Ambassador referred to the recently held ninth US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group in Bengaluru, saying the discussions reflected a significant evolution in the bilateral relationship.

“We are no longer just sharing data; we are co-designing instruments, co-funding startups, and co-authoring the future of human discovery,” he said addressing the inaugural ceremony of the ninth Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX).

He said the partnership combined complementary strengths, with the US bringing deep pools of private capital and a mature commercial space ecosystem, while India offered advanced engineering capabilities, scientific talent and a rapidly expanding startup sector.

“This resulting partnership creates a new dream team that can and will do wonders,” Gor said.

The ambassador said US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recognised the potential of this partnership through the TRUST initiative — Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology.

Gor also announced the expansion of the US Commercial Service in Bengaluru, aimed at creating a direct commercial link between American companies and Indian innovators.

He said the broader India-US relationship was expanding across several areas, with bilateral trade now exceeding USD 240 billion, alongside cooperation in pharmaceuticals, technology and defence.

Highlighting the practical benefits of joint space missions, Gor pointed to NISAR, the NASA-ISRO Earth observation satellite. He said the satellite’s radar capabilities had demonstrated how bilateral technological cooperation could have an immediate impact during disasters.

“When a devastating earthquake struck Venezuela just two months ago, NISAR’s radar data penetrated dense cloud cover and dust to guide emergency responders directly to ground zero,” he said, describing it as an example of joint technology being used to save lives.

Gor also highlighted Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey to the International Space Station last year as another milestone enabled by US-India cooperation.

Following the Axiom-4 mission and five joint scientific investigations, the two countries are now examining areas such as docking standards, interoperability and astronaut training, he said.

“TRUST creates capability. Capability creates ambition,” Gor said.

On lunar exploration, Gor noted that India is a signatory to the Artemis Accords and said NASA had formally invited ISRO to participate in the Moon base programme.

“Make no mistake: we’re going back to the Moon, and we want India by our side on the lunar surface,” he said.

He also credited India’s space-sector reforms with triggering a commercial expansion, particularly in areas such as Earth observation, space situational awareness and launch technologies.

According to Gor, while the Moon represents the destination, the foundation of future space exploration lies in innovation emerging from Indian laboratories, startups and commercial markets.

He encouraged Indian space entrepreneurs to look towards the US market, saying American investors and commercial ecosystems were increasingly open to Indian companies.

“Our investors are watching you. Our ecosystems welcome you. We are here to help you make that leap,” he said.

Gor said Washington and New Delhi were also cooperating on global space governance, including space traffic coordination ahead of the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference in Shanghai.

He said the two countries were working to preserve an open, rules-based framework for space governance.

“From Bengaluru, let us look upwards. Let us work together to build a global space economy. Let us return to the Moon together,” Gor said. (NVI)

Four Teachers Injured While Returning from Duty in J&K’s Poonch

Jalgaon

Shivam Bakshi

Poonch, Sep 7 (NVI): Four teachers were injured after the Xylo vehicle they were travelling in met with an accident at Kankote area of Poonch district on Monday, officials said.

The teachers were returning to Poonch after performing their duties in Shahpur when the vehicle met with the accident at Kankote, they said.

All four injured persons were shifted to District Hospital Poonch for treatment. Their condition was not immediately known.

Further details are awaited.—(NVI)

DAC clears defence acquisition proposals worth Rs 1.10 lakh crore

Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (file pic)

New Delhi, Sep 7 (NVI) : The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Monday accorded in-principle approval to various capital acquisition proposals for the armed forces worth around Rs 1.10 lakh crore, aimed at enhancing their operational capabilities.

The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was granted to a range of acquisition proposals for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, the Defence Ministry said.

For the Army, the approvals include procurement of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance vehicles, high mobility vehicles, self-propelled mechanical mine layers, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), trawl tanks and Sarvatra bridge systems.

The CBRN reconnaissance vehicles will be capable of detecting, identifying, monitoring and marking areas contaminated with CBRN agents, while high mobility vehicles are intended to enhance operational mobility and logistical support in difficult terrains.

The self-propelled mechanical mine layers will provide faster and responsive mine-laying capabilities, while the ALHs will be used for complex missions across varied terrains and operational situations.

The trawl tanks and Sarvatra bridge systems will facilitate composite crossings for fighting formations during operations in different terrains, the ministry said.

For the Indian Navy, the DAC approved procurement of Arudhra radars as well as the design, development and subsequent procurement of marine gas turbines.

The Arudhra radars are intended to replace existing air-route surveillance radars at various naval air stations, while the development of marine gas turbines is aimed at reducing dependence on foreign vendors for warship propulsion systems.

For the Indian Air Force, the council cleared proposals aimed at strengthening the war-fighting capabilities of fighter aircraft, transport aircraft and helicopters.

Approval was also given for procurement of Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers and installation of the Defence Forces Secure Access Card (DEFSAC) system.

The multi-purpose jammers are designed to provide effective jamming against adversary radars, while the DEFSAC system will replace paper-based identity cards, passes and permits with interoperable radio-frequency identification-based smart cards.

The Defence Ministry said approximately 98 per cent of the total procurements approved by the DAC will be sourced from Indian industry.

The approvals are part of the government’s efforts to strengthen indigenous defence capabilities and promote greater participation of domestic defence manufacturers.—(NVI)

Security forces launch search operation in upper reaches of In J&K’s Poonch

File Photo

Shivam Bakshi

Poonch, Sep 7 (NVI): Security forces on Monday launched a cordon and search operation (CASO) in several villages in the upper reaches of Surankote subdivision of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district following reports of suspicious movement, officials said.

The operation was launched on the basis of credible inputs regarding the presence of suspicious movement in the area, they said.

Multiple operational teams have been deployed to carry out searches in the upper reaches of the subdivision, the officials said.

Further details are awaited.—(NVI)

Two NSCN(IM) Overground Workers Apprehended in Joint Operation in Assam

Tinsukia, Sep 7 (NVI) Two alleged overground workers (OGWs) of the NSCN(IM) were apprehended during a joint operation by security forces and Assam Police in Tinsukia district, officials said on Monday.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a formation of the Army’s Spear Corps, in coordination with Assam Police, launched the operation in the district and apprehended the two suspected operatives, they said.

The apprehended persons were allegedly involved in recruiting cadres for the insurgent group, providing logistical support and facilitating the movement and communication of its members, according to the officials.

The operation is being seen as a significant setback to the insurgent network in the area and highlights the coordination between the security forces and Assam Police in counter-insurgency operations, they said.

Further investigation is underway, the officials added.(NVI)

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