Problems of Congress :Operation Sindoor And Shashi Tharoor
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been the most forceful and effective speaker in exposing Pakistan’s lies before the world in recent weeks. Tharoor is leading one of the seven all-party delegations that are travelling to different world capitals to present India’s point of view post-Operation Sindoor conflict.
Addressing a gathering of Indian community in Panama City, Tharoor praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s line of discarding passive policy adopted by previous regimes after terror attacks, and adopting a policy of pro-active revenge. He described how Indian armed forces crossed the Line of Control twice to carry out surgical strikes, and during Operation Sindoor, struck terrorist headquarters in Bahawalpur and Muridke located in the heartland of Pakistan.
Apart from Shashi Tharoor, leaders like Salman Khurshid, Manish Tewari and Asaduddin Owaisi are part of the all party delegations visiting 33 countries to expose Pakistan. However, some Congress leaders are unhappy about this.
Congress leader Udit Raj said, “Shashi Tharoor has become the super spokesperson of the BJP. He is doing Modi ji’s chamchagiri (flattery). Does he even know what earlier governments used to do against Pakistan? … Modi’s government is trying to take credit for what the Indian armed forces did.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who had earlier said Tharoor’s remarks do not reflect the party’s stand, added a poem to take a jibe. “Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive…,” he wrote.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera joined the offensive against Tharoor and reminded him with an old video of former PM Late Manmohan Singh in which he had said that many surgical strikes were conducted inside Pakistan during the UPA regime.
From Panama, Shashi Tharoor posted this reaction on X: “For those zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour across the LoC : I was clearly and explicitly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars; and my remarks were preceded by a reference to the several attacks that have taken place in recent years alone, during which previous Indian responses were both restrained and constrained by our responsible respect for the LoC and the IB. But as usual, critics and trolls are welcome to distort my views and words as they see fit. I genuinely have better things to do.”
I am surprised why Congress leaders are peeved over Shashi Tharoor exposing Pakistan in world capitals. Tharoor was only presenting the Indian government’s stand, but some leaders from his party did not like him praising Narendra Modi on foreign soil. It is a fact that it was during Modi’s regime that the government adopted the policy to strike at locations inside Pakistan after terror attacks. Those who will try to deny this assertion will have to bite the dust during elections.
How Asim Munir directly supervised Pahalgam massacre ?
In an exclusive interview to India TV on Wednesday, a former Pakistani army major Adil Raja, based in London, has revealed that Pak Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir was among the top five Pakistani generals who planned and executed the Pahalgam massacre on April 22 in which 26 tourists were shot dead at point blank range in the presence of their family members. Adil Raja disclosed that Asim Munir watched the gory massacre LIVE sitting in Rawalpindi.
According to Adil Raja, Asim Munir prepared this plan to take revenge and divert Pakistani people’s attention from the Jaffar Express train hijack in March by Baloch militants in which more than 100 Pakistani soldiers were killed.
The former army major revealed that Asim Munir issued orders to ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Malik, who in turn asked the director general of ISI special operations Maj Gen Mohammed Shahab Aslam to execute it. It was under Maj Gen Aslam’s supervision that terrorists were trained, recce was done, weapons were provided and Hindu terrorists were singled out and shot dead in Pahalgam.
Adil Raja said, Gen Asim Munir was monitoring this plan throughout its execution and Maj Gen Aslam was giving instructions to terrorists how to carry out the massacre. He said, Maj Gen Aslam was chatting with the handlers of terrorists on encrypted messaging app by securing cellphone numbers from Malaysia and Afghanistan.
What the former Pakistani major Adil Raja said may or may not be completely true, but even if there is an iota of truth in the evidences that he disclosed, then Field Marshal Asim Munir has committed a crime of serious proportions. Such a crime deserves strong punishment.
It is a known fact that the Pakistani army has been treating terrorists as part of its setup. This was evident from the photographs of senior Pakistani army generals attending the funeral of terrorists killed in Indian strikes on May 7. The coffins of these terrorists were draped in Pakistani national flag.
The fresh evidences about Gen Asim Munir’s direct involvement in Pahalgam massacre include phone numbers used by terrorists, details of messages, etc. I expect more evidences to emerge soon. These evidences are sufficient to expose Pakistan’s lies that it had no hand in Pahalgam massacre.
Satellite images of Pakistan’s damaged air bases nail Pak lies
Meanwhile, fresh satellite images have appeared about Pakistani air force bases which were pummelled by Indian missiles during Operation Sindoor. These images clearly show the extent of damages caused to those air bases which will take years to rebuild.
New satellite images released by Maxar Technologies, an American company based in Colorado dealing in geospatial intelligence, related to Murid (Chakwal) air base which was attacked by Indian Air Force on May 10 night. Pakistani air force had set up an underground special weapons facility and IAF had targeted this facility. Indian missiles fell nearly 30 metres away from the entry point to the underground tunnel.
A three-metre wide crater was created after the missiles struck. International agencies say, Pakistan Air Force may take five years to rebuild its air bases. During Operation Sindoor, IAF struck Pakistani air bases with Cruise long-range missiles and kamikaze drones, destroying its air defence system.
From Sialkot to Lahore, from Rawalpindi to Rahim Yar Khan base, Indian Air Force used Harop and Harpi drones to destroy the enemy air defence system. Five Pakistani radar stations were destroyed. Pakistan retaliated with swarms of drones, but its attacks were repulsed.
People in India know that Pakistan army circulates false and baseless war propaganda. When the conflict began on May 7, Pakistan managed to create an impression in the international media that it destroyed Indian air baes and air defence system. Later, when Indian army showed clear proof of its air bases, international defence experts analysed satellite images and the world came to know that the reverse was true.
The fact is: Indian Air Force destroyed Pakistan’s air defence system, knocked down their radars and blew up their hangars. Some experts even said, Indian missiles reached the entry and exit points of Pakistan’s nuclear installations. It was only then that Pakistan army appealed to the US and offered cessation of firing and military action.
The new satellite images are clear proof about how much losses Pakistan Air Force had to face. Yet, its army chief Gen. Asim Munir was decorated with the rank of Field Marshal to fool the people.
Operation Sindoor : New Modi, New India, New Normal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his hard-hitting address to the nation, has clearly outlined India’s policy towards Pakistan in the coming days and weeks. He announced India’s resolve to launch the biggest war on terrorism, while signifying a clear shift in India’s policies towards its neighbour. He said, “if there is a terror attack on India, a befitting reply will be given..on our terms only…We will not differentiate between the government that is sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism…The world has again seen the ugly face of Pakistani, when top Pakistani army generals came to the funeral of terrorists killed under Operation Sindoor.” Modi also make it clear that Operation Sindoor is not yet over, it has only been halted. “The new normal”, he said, “is India will deal with every major terror act as an act of war and the army would be free to eliminate terrorists, even if they hide in their sanctuaries inside Pakistan”. The aim will be to crush the snake’s hood and defang its poisonous teeth. No territory inside Pakistan will be considered safe for terrorists. Nuclear blackmail to cover the acts of terrorists will not work anymore, Modi said. Clearly, from now on, neither the Line of Control nor the international border will be able to save the terrorists. The Indian armed forces will eliminate all terrorists by breaking all controls that had been placed till now. If any army comes in the path of our armed forces, they will rain hellfire on it, he warned. If Pakistan attacks one Udhampur air base, our air force will destroy several of their air bases. If Pakistan provides air defence cover to terrorists, our armed forces will destroy that air defence. Modi said, “If Pakistn wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure”. In a single speech, Modi conveyed a message to Pakistan at three different levels : military, political and psychological. All terror acts in future will get the same response. Modi also made it clear that there would be no talks on water or trade with Pakistan, nor any talks would take place to normalize relations. The only issues that India can discuss with Pakistan are only two: One, handing over of terrorists to India and Two, return of Pak Occupied Kashmir to India. This is the new resolve of New India. The entire nation stands solidly behind our valiant armed forces in fulfilling that resolve.
Indian and Pak armies : A Sharp Contrast
Today I heard comments of several American defence experts on the India-Pakistan conflict. Almost all of them agreed that the Indian armed forces are quite professional, while the Pakistani army deals mostly in mischievous activity. These experts said, most of the Pakistani generals are busy playing political power games, they carry on with their business, they are engaged in civil governance and do all other activity except doing the work of a professional army. I would like to say, there can be no comparisons between the Indian and Pakistani armies. Indian armed forces are run by trained officers, while the Army Chief of Pakistan incites his army by invoking religion. Our armed forces are transparent and their officers speak the truth, while Pakistani army generals are masters in speaking lies. We have seen this during the five-day-long conflict last week. The world has seen shocking evidence of how Pakistani army generals nurture and train jihadi terrorists. While Indian army works on eliminating terrorists, Pakistani army personnel are experts in killing unarmed, innocent people in cold blood in the presence of their wives, mothers and daughters. Indian army protects the nation’s unity and sovereign integrity. In the last few days, we have seen how our valiant armed forces destroyed drones, rockets and missiles given to Pakistan by China and Turkiye. Our armed forces taught Pakistani army a lesson by striking their air bases using BrahMos missiles. There can be no comparison between the two. India is proud of the valour and professional approach of its armed forces.
Pakistani army’s lies exposed, again
At a time when 11 Pakistani army bases were destroyed, more than 40 Pakistani soldiers and officers died in Operation Sindoor, hundreds of Pakistani drones and missiles were neutralized and more than 140 terrorists were killed by India, Pakistan army is shamelessly claiming its victory by morphing India TV video, using TV war game videos and making false claim about a dreaded terrorist being an Islamic cleric having kids. Hafiz Abdur Rauf, declared a global terrorist by US treasury department, was introduced by Pak army as a moulvi, who led the funeral prayers for terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor. The Pakistani spokesperson claimed that Rauf was a moulvi, a family man, has three daughters and his parents were teachers. The fact: Hafiz Abdur Rauf’s name is still there in US Treasury Department’s press release dated November 24, 2010. He has been named a member and financier of Lashkar-e-Taiba. India TV telecasted Rauf’s video in which he was giving a call for jehad to terrorists. Secondly, even Pakistan army’s DG, ISPR, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s father Sultan Bashiruddin was a nuclear engineer who left his job in 1999 and joined Al Qaeda. His father shared chemical, biological and nuclear info with Osama bin Laden and was declared a global terrorist by United Nations and the US in 2001. Thirdly, Pakistan army edited India TV’s live video from five minutes’ duration to only 27 seconds and posted on Pak government’s X handle to show that PAF has shot down an Indian fighter jet. PIB Fact Check said, the video was morphed through editing. The original India TV video showed how our air defence system shot down a Pakistani missile. Fourthly, Pakistan army used Arma-3, a tactical simulation shooter video game to make false claims. This shows the depths to which the desperation of Pakistani army has sunk. I am surprised how Pakistani generals do not even know that even a kid can catch such lies in this hi-tech age. What Pakistani army did was in response to the media briefings that our three directors general of army, air and navy operations addressed to show the losses inflicted on Pakistani air bases.
Operation Sindoor was a trailer : Picture Abhi Baaki Hai
A day of pride for India. A day of shame for Pakistan’s armed forces. Within a span of 25 minutes, our Army and Air Force destroyed terror targets in PoK and Pakistan by launching missiles and drones. The headquarters of terror masterminds Hafiz Sayeed and Azhar Masood were reduced to rubble, deep inside Pakistani territory. Azhar Masood lost his sister and nine other family members in the air strike. The codename ‘Operation Sindoor’ given to the air strikes by Prime Minister Modi, is loaded with meaning. It was Modi who could have given this name. This name touched the chords in the hearts of every Indian. It was Modi who could have taken big powers into confidence in advance to control the aftereffects of this action. Three persons were selected to brief the media. They mentioned the sins of Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin. Visuals of air strikes on their HQs and camps were shown and explained. It was Modi only who could have planned these nitty-gritties. India has avenged Pahalgam killings. A clear message was sent to Indian sisters and daughters about how the headquarters of terror masterminds were reduced to rubble. None from across the world came to weep for Pakistan. I have seen many Prime Ministers in my long career, but no Prime Minister could summon such courage to take action against terror. None of the past PMs managed to avenge the killings of our citizens in this manner. One of my friends from Goa sent me this famous Raaj Kumar dialogue: “Hum tumhen maarengey, zaroor marengey, lekin woh bandook bhi hamari hogi, goli bhi hamari hogi, aur Waqt bhi hamara hoga. Bus zameen tumhari hogi” (I shall definitely kill you, but in my own time, with my own gun and my own bullet. Only the place shall belong to you). ‘Mullah’ Gen. Asim Munir and his pet terror masterminds have now realized, what happened post-midnight was only a trailer. Picture Abhi Baaki Hai. I have watched the spokesman of Pakistan army and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speak post-Indian air strikes. They were giving threats to India. They were counting the number of Indian fighter plans that were supposedly downed by Pakistan. One should ask them, if Indian Air Force did not cross into Pakistani air space, how were they shot down? Where did the planes fall? Pakistan’s army generals and leaders will continue to make false claims and give excuses to save their skin. We in India should not bother, neither about their claims nor their overt threats. They must keep this in mind. Our armed forces have inputs about 20 terror camps inside Pakistan, out of which only nine were destroyed. The remaining terror camps may be destroyed soon. The addresses of targets have been written on the missiles. They can be delivered anytime now.
Pak army has no inkling about Indian army’s prowess
Pakistan’s army is presently in a state of shock and awe. Gen Asim Munir failed to understand how Indian missiles and drones entered 100 km deep inside Pakistan and his army did not have a whiff about this attack. How his air defence system failed. Gen Munir is deeply worried about this major gaffe. The terror hideouts that were destroyed were located in high-security zones. Prime Minister Modi had said in advance that our armed forces would strike in a manner that Pakistan would never imagine. Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and Syed Salahuddin’s headquarters were closely guarded by Pakistani army near cantonments and in congested residential localities. Pakistan expected that many civilians would die in Indian attacks, but the precision bombs fell only on terror camps. The bombs inside the basements and rained horror. Pakistan’s air defence systems were supposed to be strong near these nine sites. Yet our Air Force missiles and drones entered deep inside and struck. These targeted attacks have unnerved Pakistan. The attacks clearly show that the Pakistani generals have no idea about the efficiency and operational capabilities of Indian armed forces.
Killing civilians : Pakistan’s cowardly act
A rattled Pakistani army resorted to shelling using D-130 howitzers, 155 mm guns and rocket launchers to attack civilians in Poonch, Rajouri, Balakote, Mendhra, Mankote, Krishna Ghali, Gulpur, Kerni and Naushera on Tuesday night. Twelve villagers were killed. They included four kids, while 57 civilians were injured. Our army is giving a strong reply to the enemy. Attacking civilians near the border is a cowardly act. While India destroyed terror hideouts, Pakistan attacked innocent civilians on our border. This is shameful. Till now, Pakistan army had been using terrorists to kill civilians, but now the army itself has started killing our civilians. Pakistani army will have to bear the consequences.
Operation Sindoor : How India hit back at Pakistan
In meticulously planned post-midnight air strikes, Indian army and air force destroyed 21 terror camps including the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiyyaba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, within a span of 25 minutes in nine towns of Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. There were no casualties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who monitored the attacks live from his residence, met President Droupadi Murmu and briefed her about the air strikes, codenamed Operation Sindoor. All all-party meeting will be held on May 8 to brief leaders of political parties. Addressing a press conference, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri alongwith Army Col Sophia Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh shared details about the operation that began at 1.05 am and ended at 1.30 am. They said, the air strikes were conducted based on specific intelligence inputs and the targets were so chosen as to avoid collateral damages to civilian buildings.
The headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiyaba, named Markaz Taiyaba, and the HQ of Jaish-e-Mohammed, named Markaz Subhan Allah were destroyed in Muridke and Bahawalpur respectively. Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar’s sister and brother-in-law were reportedly among the 10 members of his family who were killed in the attack. Other terror camps that were destroyed included the Sarjal camp in Sialkot that acted as a launchpad for terrorists, Maimoona Zoya camp near Sialkot belonging to Hizbul, Markaze Ahle Hadith in Barnala(PoK), Markaz Abbas of Jaish in Kotli (PoK), Shawai Nullah camp of Lashkar in Muzaffarabad (PoK).
SCALP cruise missile and HAMMER precision guided bombs were used to destroy terror camps, according to reports. At the press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri pointed out that there was nationwide anger and grief when Pakistani terrorists killed 26 terrorists in Pahalgam in the presence of their female family members. He said, the main aim of the handlers was to create communal tension in the country. India decided to take action against the handlers of terrorists after Pakistan refused to take any action for two weeks post-Pahalgam killings.
Defence experts say Pakistan army has no other viable options now, and if it decides to commit fresh blunders like targeting Indian dams on Jhelum and Chenab rivers, it will have to face grave consequences. Any misadventure by Pakistan will be its last blunder.