India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
New Delhi: The United States intelligence community was certain that India and Pakistan would go to war after the 2001 Parliament attack, former CIA officer John Kiriakou has said, recalling tense days in Islamabad when American diplomats were told to prepare for the worst. In an interview, Kiriakou, who served as the CIA's counter-terrorism chief in Pakistan, said that after the December 2001 terror strike in New Delhi, the US "was sure" that a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours was imminent. "We had evacuated our families. We were sure that war was coming," he said. Kiriakou recounted a moment when a junior CIA officer noticed that the cafeteria inside the US Embassy in Islamabad was empty. "She said, 'Where is everybody?' I told her, 'They've been evacuated because India and Pakistan are going to war like any minute now,'" he recalled. The former CIA officer said that the situation was so grave that the US Deputy Secretary of State was flying between New Delhi and Islamabad to de-escalate tensions, even as Washington's focus remained on Afghanistan and Al-Qaeda in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Kiriakou also made striking claims about Pakistan's then-military ruler Pervez Musharraf, alleging that Washington "essentially purchased" his loyalty during the early years of the War on Terror. "The United States loves working with dictators because then you don't have to worry about public opinion and you don't have to worry about the media anymore," he said. He further claimed that during his posting in Pakistan in 2002, he was "unofficially told" that the Pentagon had control over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal because Musharraf feared the weapons could fall into terrorist hands. The 2001 Parliament attack had triggered one of the most serious military standoffs between India and Pakistan since 1971, with both nations mobilising troops along the border under Operation Parakram. Though full-scale conflict was avoided, the crisis lasted nearly 10 months. Kiriakou's account, while offering a rare insider view of US intelligence perceptions, includes unverified claims that have not been independently confirmed by either the US or Pakistani authorities. The former CIA officer's remarks underline how close South Asia came to the brink of war two decades ago -- and how the US viewed the subcontinent's tensions through the prism of its post-9/11 counter-terrorism strategy.
Bengaluru: Mysuru Dasara is set to run for 11 days this year -- a rare extension driven by celestial alignment and cultural planning -- with the inaugural ceremony on Sept 22 and the grand Jamboo Savari taking place on Oct 2, coinciding with Vijayadashami and Gandhi Jayanti.Chairing a high-level meeting at Vidhana Soudha Friday, chief minister Siddaramaiah said, "Mysuru Dasara in 2025 will be celebrated for 11 days, due to a unique astronomical occurrence -- the Panchami tithi (fifth lunar day) will appear on two consecutive days, Sept 26 and 27, a rare alignment that hasn't occurred in nearly ...Read More >
In a revealing Knesset speech on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel was behind a series of devastating attacks on Hezbollah in September, revealing that the operation was brought forward after concerns that a secret Israeli intelligence method was about to be uncovered. Netanyahu disclosed that the attack, initially planned for October, was accelerated to prevent the planned operation from being exposed. Also read: Caught on camera: Moment Israel strike on Beirut killed Hezbollah media chief Mohammed Afif (WATCH) The attacks, which included a massive page ...Read More >
Ahead of Amarnath Yatra, a terrorist of Jaish -e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit was gunned down during an encounter between security forces and four terrorists in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district on Thursday morning, army's Nagrota-based White Knight Corps stated on X. Earlier, a senior police officer said that acting on an intelligence input, a joint operation was launched by the police and the army in Basantgarh during which they came under intense fire, triggering a gunfight. Additional reinforcements were rushed to the area. Jammu zone IGP Bhim Sen Tuti said the encounter took place aroun ...Read More >
Donald Trump claims he prevented a war between India and Pakistan. He says he used the threat of halting trade deals to de-escalate tensions. Trump mentions phone calls with leaders from both nations. He also notes a meeting with Pakistan's Army Chief. India maintains that the ceasefire understanding came from direct talks between military officials.US President Donald Trump on Wednesday repeated his claim that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan and told the two countries that America ...Read More >
CHENNAI: The recently concluded Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China has brought to the fore the contradictions and dilemmas of India's foreign policy. They relate to the growing affinity between China and Pakistan, which could upset the delicate balance of power in South Asia and India's balancing act with regard to the conflict between Israel and Iran. Whatever the political rhetoric of new regimes, continuity in foreign policy is almost unchangeable, while there will be room for making some changes or shifts. India, under successive NDA governments, has been making some ...Read More >
Kolkata: A two-member National Commission for Women team on Sunday visited the south Kolkata law college where a student was allegedly gang-raped last week.The team, accompanied by a videographer, was initially denied entry and asked to produce a formal order. After an hour-long discussion at the college entrance, the team, led by Archana Majumdar, was allowed in under two conditions -- no access to the crime scene and no videography permitted.The visit lasted 10 minutes. "We were denied access to the crime scene and other floors. I will include this in my report," said Majumdar, who was the f ...Read More >
Junaid Ahmed Bhat, a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist allegedly involved in a deadly attack near a tunnel construction site in Gagangir, Jammu and Kashmir, was killed by security forces in Dachigam forest. The operation, based on intelligence inputs, turned into a gunfight, resulting in Bhat's death. In a significant counter-terrorism operation, security forces neutralized Junaid Ahmed Bhat, a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, in the Dachigam forest region on Tuesday. Bhat was implicated in an assault near a tunnel construction site in Gagangir, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation commenced following precise ...Read More >
Srinagar: Before towering cranes and cutting-edge engineering transformed the Himalayan landscape, the monumental dream of connecting "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" by rail began with the plodding footsteps of humble mules. This extraordinary backstory underpins the official realization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, a project crowned by the awe-inspiring Chenab Bridge. According to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company behind the Chenab Bridge, the earliest and most formidable hurdle wasn't just the design of ...Read More >
Hyderabad: At least 16 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a suicide attack in the northwestern part of the country that was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban. The attack, particularly targeting security forces, is being described as Pakistan "tasting its own medicine", implying that the terror groups and the terror eco system it raised or funded for strategic reasons have come back to haunt it in a big way. The monthly security assessment issued by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) recorded 85 militant attacks in May 2025 as compared to 81 in April, 2025 resultin ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): The invitation to Prime Minister Narendra attend the G7 summit in Canada was due and 'had to come' with India being a big geopolitical power, Foreign Affairs Expert Robinder Sachdev said on Saturday. 'Invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 Summit was due, it had to come. India is too big a power now, geopolitically, economically, and with our common sense in this world which is in the middle of a conflict. India had to be a participant at the table there,' Sachdev told ANI here. Talking about the 'gossip' about Canada not inviting India to the ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday visited the demolition site of the Madrasi Camp slum cluster, where they met with displaced residents, and intensified their attack on the BJP over the recent eviction drive. They alleged that Prime Minister Modi's promise to slum dwellers of 'jahan jhuggi wahan makan' - house at the site of their hutment - has "proved to be hollow like many others". There was no immediate response available from the BJP or the Delhi government over the accusations. The Madrasi Camp -- a jhu ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India pushed for a permanent solution of border demarcation with China and underlined the need to solve complex issues through a structured roadmap of engagement and de-escalation, during talks between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on Thursday. Singh "stressed on border management and to have a permanent solution of border demarcation by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue," the defence ministry said on Friday, a day after two ministers held talks at Qingdao in China on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisat ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated one of the most ambitious railway projects ever built in India, which will connect the Kashmir Valley to the vast Indian plains by train for the first time. Dubbed by government-operated Indian Railways as one of the most challenging tracks in the world, the 272-kilometer (169-mile) line begins in the garrison city of Udhampur in Jammu region and runs through Indian-controlled Kashmir's main city of Srinagar. The line ends in Baramulla, a town near the highly militarized Line of Control dividing the Himalayan region between ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...Read More >
India's International Train Links: These 5 Indian Stations Connect You To Another Country By Train Kerala Lottery Results Saturday 07-06-2025 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the state government, will announce the results for the Karunya KR-709 draw today, June 07, 2025. The lucky draw will take place at Gorky Bhavan, near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. This week's Karunya KR-709 lottery includes 12 series, with the series being subject to change each week. A total of 1.08 crore tickets are available for sale weekly, and ticket prices may vary. Check the Karunya KR-7 ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): The invitation to Prime Minister Narendra attend the G7 summit in Canada was due and 'had to come' with India being a big geopolitical power, Foreign Affairs Expert Robinder Sachdev said on Saturday. 'Invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 Summit was due, it had to come. India is too big a power now, geopolitically, economically, and with our common sense in this world which is in the middle of a conflict. India had to be a participant at the table there,' Sachdev told ANI here. Talking about the 'gossip' about Canada not inviting India to the ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 26: India on Thursday delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan's remarks at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), accusing Islamabad of exploiting the forum to push a "nefarious agenda" while ignoring its own documented violations of child rights and continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Speaking during the UNSC's annual open debate on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador R. Harish, outlined New Delhi's efforts to safeguard children in vulnerable situations and promote their holistic development. He emphasised ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): A multi-agency mega mock exercise was conducted at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station in Delhi during the intervening night of June 27 and 28, from 01:05 AM to 04:25 AM, to assess the preparedness and coordinated response of various agencies in the event of a major contingency. The drill imitated multiple high-risk scenarios, including a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) attack, a terrorist strike, a hostage situation, and an IED blast. The primary objective of the drill was to evaluate the real-time coordination, crisis response, and operational r ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): The world paused on June 13 when Israel targeted major military and nuclear facilities, and crucial personalities in Iran as it launched a series of attacks to disempower the West Asian country. Also Read | Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa Dead: IDF Eliminates Hamas Mastermind Behind October 2023 Attack in Israel. The involvement of the Houthis of Yemen and the US in this high-tension conflict stopped short of a nuclear apocalypse--but this was not entirely unexpected. Some saw this coming. Supporting Israel, the US went ahead and struck three key nuclear sites ...Read More >
Hyderabad, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Reiterating the resolve to make India free of Maoists by March 31, 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ruled out talks with the extremists holding weapons. Making it clear that there will be no talks with Maoists holding guns, he asked the left-wing extremists to give up arms and join the national mainstream. Addressing the Kisan Sammelan in Nizamabad after inaugurating the headquarters of the National Turmeric Board, Amit Shah accused the Congress party of trying to shield Maoists. He expressed the apprehension that the Congress party may provide shelter ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday ruled out any talks with Maoists and said the cadre of the proscribed outfit should give up arms, surrender before police, and join the mainstream. Addressing a rally after inaugurating the National Headquarters of the Turmeric Board in Nizamabad in Telangana, Shah also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is still raising questions on Operation Sindoor, should see the weak appearance of Pakistan to understand the effectiveness of the Operation. "Congress asks (the Centre) to hold discussions with these people (Maoists). Our government's p ...Read More >
Russia's nuclear doctrine has been updated to affirm its nuclear umbrella for primarily the six member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), including an explicit focus on Belarus. The announcement followed a joint meeting of the CSTO's Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of Defense Ministers, and Committee of Security Council Secretaries held in Astana. According to the state news agency TASS, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu highlighted the revisions, emphasizing Moscow's commitment to protecting its allies under the CSTO. The CSTO, formed in 2002 ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with the Defence Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Andrey Belousov, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Meeting in Qingdao, China. The two Ministers held wide-ranging discussions on regional and global security developments, cross-border terrorism, and ongoing as well as future avenues of bilateral defence cooperation. The Russian Defence Minister reaffirmed the depth and resilience of the longstanding India-Russia strategic partnership and expressed solidarity with India in the wake o ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan on Thursday, ahead of the fourth edition of the India-Central Asia Dialogue. He shared the details of the meetings through several posts on X. Upon meeting the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, the EAM said, 'Pleased to meet DPM & FM Murat Nurtleu of Kazakhstan this morning. Appreciated his reaffirmation of zero tolerance for terrorism. Discussed various facets of our Strategic Partnership focusing on political, trade, investment and energy cooperation. A ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to attend the G7 summit in Canada, former diplomat KP Fabian said on Saturday that without India's presence, the summit which discusses various issues pertaining to the economy, security, and terrorism could not have been 'effective'. 'The G7 meeting, which is effective on having conversations about what is happening to global economy, security issues, war and peace, as well as terrorism and necessary counter-terrorism measures, cannot be effective without India's presence,' Fabian told ANI here. He further said that Cana ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 8 Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has strongly defended India's recent global anti-terror outreach ... New Delhi, June 8 Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has strongly defended India's recent global anti-terror outreach mission across Europe, calling it both timely and necessary to expose the global threat posed by Pakistan-backed terrorism. Chaturvedi was part of the high-level All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad under "Operation Sindoor Outreach," which presented India's firm stance against cross-border terrorism and garnered int ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 8 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday said his party is ready to come together with anyone who will work to protect the interests of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos, his statement coming amid the rapprochement buzz between the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Talking to reporters here, Thackeray accused the BJP of "swallowing" Mumbai and Maharashtra. He said injustice is being meted out to Maharashtra by the BJP. "We have been saying this consistently. We are ready to work with anyone, any party that is ready to ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The multi-party parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on late Sunday concluded its high-level visit to the United States, wrapping up the final leg of a diplomatic mission aimed at building international consensus on India's counter-terrorism stance following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead.Taking to X as he wrapped up the US visit, Tharoor wrote: "If you are born a hundred times, you will do it a hundred times. I will love my country with all my heart... A Watan. The whole world now knows the truth. We are lovers of non-violenc ...Read More >
Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday ruled out any talks with naxalites and asserted that members of the banned group must give up arms, surrender, and join the mainstream. Speaking at a rally after inaugurating the National Headquarters of the Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana, Shah further said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who continues to question Operation Sindoor, should look at Pakistan's current weakened state to grasp the success of the operation."Congress asks (the Centre) ...Read More >