New posts

Welcome to all New Sikh Philosophy Network Forums!

Explore Sikh Sikhi Sikhism...
Sign up Log in

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="dalvinder45" data-source="post: 226566" data-attributes="member: 26009">Ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops continued along the Line of Control (LoC) for the <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pakistan-violates-loc-ceasefire-for-third-consecutive-night/article69496792.ece" target="_blank">third night in a row</a> on Saturday (April 26, 2025), while the Indian Navy and the Air Force held exercises on Sunday (April 27, 2025) as tensions run high after the Pahalgam terror attack.Pakistan began massive mobilisation of equipment close to the LoC, while the Indian Navy carried out multiple anti-ship firings for long-range precision “offensive strike”.<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jammu-and-kashmir/pahalgam-terror-attack-houses-of-let-militants-demolished-in-kashmir/article69489593.ece" target="_blank"> </a><img src="https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/ssnp8e/article69490034.ece/alternates/SQUARE_100/12205_25_4_2025_12_42_22_5_10_PAHALGAMTERRORATTACKHOUSESOFLETTERRORISTSDEMOLISHEDINKASHMIR_SGR_25_04_2025.JPG" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 448px; height: 446.725px" />Houses of 6 terrorists destroyed“On the night of 26-27 April 2025, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control in the areas opposite Tutmari Gali and Rampur Sectors,” an Army official said on Sunday (April 27, 2025). “Own troops responded effectively with appropriate small arms fire.” Despite several {censored}-for-tat measures by both sides, neither side has so far walked away from the understanding to re-adhere to the ceasefire on the LoC reached in February 2022.Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephone conversation with his British counterpart, David Lammy, on Sunday, during which, Mr. Jaishankar said, they discussed the Pahalgam terror attack and “underlined the importance of zero tolerance for terrorism”.<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/pahalgam-killings-spark-fresh-wave-of-polarisation-and-communal-politics-in-bengal/article69493558.ece" target="_blank"> </a>Mr. Lammy also spoke to Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, on which the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said the British Foreign Secretary emphasised the need for “de-escalation” of the situation.With all indicators pointing to a possible kinetic action by India, a wide range of options remain available, despite the absence of the element of surprise, as was the case during the surgical strikes of 2016 and the Balakot air strikes of 2019.Though there is no large-scale mobilisation of the Indian military, ongoing exercises serve as a show of strength. On Sunday (April 27, 2025), the Indian Navy said that its ships carried out “multiple anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long-range precision offensive strike”. Videos showed several frontline ships firing the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.Just a few days ago, the Navy’s latest guided missile destroyer INS Surat had fired the medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) against a “sea skimming” target in the Western Indian Ocean.The BrahMos missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, is available with all three services. With variants that can be launched from land, sea, and air, the missile could serve as a game-changer and a possible spearhead for any Indian punitive strikes on terrorist infrastructure or military targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or inside Pakistan itself. Initially capped at a range of 290 km, the BrahMos can now reach a range of 450 km and even 600km. Its supersonic speed, coupled with other features, makes it a viable instrument that could allow India to limit the escalation cycle. All frontline Naval ships are also equipped with the BrahMos anti-ship as well as land-attack missiles.Incidentally, indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which is based at the Karwar port on the Western seaboard, is on deployment in the Arabian Sea as revealed by satellite images. The other carrier, INS Vikramaditya, is undergoing regular refit.<img src="https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/3eibq8/article69490747.ece/alternates/SQUARE_100/12205_24_4_2025_12_51_59_1_23MILITANT_ATTACK_SGR_24_04_2025.JPG" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 367px; height: 365.956px" />From the air power perspective, the Indian Air Force (IAF) now operates 36 multi-role Rafale jets, which it did not possess in 2019. The Rafales are equipped with the Meteor Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile, with a range exceeding 250 km, as well as the Scalp long-range air-to-ground missile. This package, coupled with additional early warning platforms and other technological upgrades over the past few years, gives India a decisive edge and a formidable option for decision-makers.Beginning 2021, the Air Force has also begun inducting the long range S-400 Triumf air defence systems from Russia and three regiments have been deployed along the northern, eastern, and western borders.The other options include the use of the Army’s Special Forces or the unleashing of a barrage of artillery or long-range rockets, such as the indigenous Pinaka and Russian Smerch systems, if the targets are within range. One of the key determinants in narrowing down on an option, apart from achieving the intended objective, would be assessing Pakistan’s likely response and determining how far up the escalation cycle the country is willing to go if tensions spiral.<img src="https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/m1dc7x/article69487672.ece/alternates/SQUARE_100/12205_24_4_2025_19_2_46_1_33_ALL_PARTY_MEET_SGR_24_04_2025.JPG" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Meanwhile, the Air Force’s Exercise Akraman is under way over vast swathes of Central sector, which defence sources said was a routine training exercise. The Air Force has also issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for Exercise Dhruvtara from May 6 to 11. <h4>Pakistan war games</h4>The Pakistan Navy too has been holding a series of war games. A “Nav area” warning was issued on April 23, 2025 for live firing in the Arabian Sea spread over a vast area parallel to a major portion of its coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on April 24 and 25. Further, a fresh area warning was issued for firing by Naval ships in the Arabian Sea, south of Karachi over April 26 and 27.</blockquote>

Verification