Defence Affairs Archives - Defence Monitor

29 Oct

India’s counter-terrorism strategies shaped by cross-border security challenges, says Rajnath Singh

Cebu, Oct 29 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India's expertise in counter-terrorism goes far beyond theoretical knowledge, having been shaped by decades of confronting cross-border security challenges. He noted that every strategy adopted by the country has been tested in real-time situations and has proven effective. Addressing the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Singh said that the theme for this year's meeting, 'Navigating Our Future Together', "deeply resonates" with India's defence and foreign policies, adding that it is also "deeply rooted in our civilisational ethos of 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah', reflecting our commitment to the happiness,…

29 Oct

Pakistan’s economic recovery narrative based on fudged figures: Report

New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) The latest figures released by Pakistan’s National Accounts Committee contradict the government’s earlier narrative that the country’s economy has stabilised, according to a new report. The National Accounts Committee recorded a growth of 2.0 per cent in the final quarter in the last financial year, revised the annual figure down to 3.65 per cent, and added as much as $14.8 billion to recorded imports across five financial years. The hike in the figure for imports shows that the external accounts underwriting the stabilisation story were wrong throughout the period Islamabad claimed to be fixing them.…

27 Oct

Ukraine, Russia begin humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky

Moscow/Kyiv, Oct 27 (IANS) A humanitarian ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia in the area around Oleshky took effect on Tuesday, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said on social media. The ceasefire began at 3 a.m. Kyiv time (0100 GMT) as part of a previously agreed humanitarian mission, Lubinets said on Facebook, adding that the Ukrainian side is honouring its commitments under the agreement reached with Russia, Xinhua news agency reported. Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed that Russian forces had ceased fire in the Kherson direction and a "silence regime" had been introduced from 4 a.m. Moscow time (0100…

24 Oct

Four Philippine Air Force pilots killed as two SF-260 aircraft crash during training flight

Manila, Oct 24 (IANS) Four Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots were killed after two SF-260 aircraft crashed during a training flight at Fernando Air Base in Batangas province on Friday, October 23, the air force confirmed on Saturday. According to the PAF, the accident occurred at approximately 3:51 pm local time, when both aircraft went down within the perimeter of Fernando Air Base. No other casualties were reported in the incident. The air force expressed grief over the loss of the four pilots and said an investigation had been launched to establish the circumstances and cause of the crash. As…

23 Oct

All 14 Indian nationals aboard yacht off Yemen coast safe: Indian Embassy

Aden (Yemen), Oct 23 (IANS) The Indian Embassy in Yemen said on Friday that all 14 Indian nationals on board a yacht involved in an incident off the coast of Yemen are safe, and it will continue to work to ensure their well-being. In a statement shared on X, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia stated, "Reports suggest that all 14 Indian nationals are safe and located around Hodeidah in Yemen. We will continue to work for ensuring their well being." Earlier in the day, the Indian embassy said that it has been making efforts to find more details about…

23 Oct

‘No specific incident’: ITBP chief’s remarks on China reflect routine preparedness, deployments, say sources

New Delhi, Oct 23 (IANS) Amid commotion over Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapur's remarks on the situation on the China border, sources stressed the comments were made in the context of routine operational preparedness and force deployment along the frontier and were not linked to any specific incident. According to the sources, the ITBP, which guards India's borders with China, operates in accordance with government policies, instructions issued under different circumstances and established standard operating procedures. The paramilitary force may issue an official statement on the matter soon. ITBP chief Kapur had said on Thursday that face-offs…

23 Oct

Support for US to be seen as ‘hostile act’ toward Iran: Official

Tehran, Oct 23 (IANS) Iran has warned regional countries that any support for the United States (US) in the event of a renewed armed conflict would be regarded as a hostile act toward Tehran, an Iranian official said on Friday. Iran would be able to identify which regional states are prepared to back American forces if military action resumes, Fada Hossein Maleki, a member of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told RIA Novosti in an interview. "In that case, the decisions taken by Iran may go beyond strikes on the military bases of those countries, and…

22 Oct

India condemns attacks on Saudi Arabia’s civilian and energy infrastructure, hopes peace returns to region

New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) India on Thursday condemned the continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the attack on King Fahd International Airport and Aramco's Shaybah oil field, while expressing hope that peace and normalcy would return to the region at the earliest. "We strongly condemn the continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province on October 21. These attacks have unfortunately resulted in civilian deaths and injuries," the Ministry of External Affairs…

21 Oct

UN condemns drone strikes in Sudan

United Nations, Oct 21 (IANS) The United Nations has strongly condemned relentless drone strikes on civilians and critical infrastructure across Sudan. "We also strongly condemn the reported killing of dozens of civilians in a drone strike on a market in the locality of Al Dibab, West Kordofan State, on Sunday," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, on Tuesday (local time). "This attack is part of a deeply concerning pattern. We remain alarmed by the relentless drone strikes across the country, as well as the damage they are causing to critical infrastructure. These attacks are taking a devastating…

21 Oct

Trump says Iran war could end soon

Washington, Oct 21 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said that the war with Iran could end soon, predicting a sharp fall in global oil prices once the conflict concludes, even as he warned that Washington must ensure Tehran cannot rebuild its nuclear weapons capabilities in the coming years. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office alongside Vice President JD Vance, Trump defended the economic costs of the military campaign, saying higher petrol prices were a relatively small price to pay for preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The President also criticised European allies for declining to assist the United States…