India-Pakistan Ceasefire: President Murmu Meets Army, Navy, Air Force Chiefs
India-Pakistan Ceasefire: President Murmu Meets Army, Navy, Air Force Chiefs
India’s President Droupadi Murmu met with the country’s top military leaders on Wednesday, days after a significant escalation in tensions with Pakistan involving air strikes known as Operation Sindoor.
President Murmu met with General Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff, along with the Chiefs of the Army Staff, Air Staff, and Naval Staff. A statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President’s residence, said she commended the armed forces for their bravery and dedication in responding to terrorism, calling India’s response a “sterling success.”
Details of Pakistani Losses
On Tuesday, official Indian sources revealed the details of the damage inflicted on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The precision strikes, carried out in retaliation for Pakistani attempts to target Indian military installations and civilian areas with drones and missiles, targeted major ammunition depots and airbases.
Among the targets were Sargodha and Bholari, bases where Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 and J-17 fighter aircraft were stationed. India’s strikes are said to have destroyed nearly 20% of the PAF’s infrastructure and several fighter aircraft.
India Rebuts Trump’s Claims
US President Donald Trump’s assertion that he played a role in mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and brokered a deal for trade between the two countries was met with a firm rebuttal from India. New Delhi stated that mediation was not required as the only issue was the Pakistani occupation of Indian territory.
India also denied that trade was ever discussed with the US and reiterated that it would not succumb to “nuclear blackmail.” They provided a detailed timeline of events to demonstrate that it was Pakistan who reached out to India to de-escalate the situation after the successful strikes on its military installations.
BSF Jawan Returned
Meanwhile, a BSF jawan, Purnam Kumar Shaw, who was detained by Pakistani Rangers on April 23, was returned to India on Wednesday through the Attari-Wagah border crossing. Shaw had inadvertently crossed the international border in Punjab’s Ferozepur district, a day after a terrorist attack in Kashmir.
Modi Chairs Security Meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on Wednesday, the first such meeting since the ceasefire. The meeting focused on assessing the security situation in light of the recent developments. Modi is also expected to chair a meeting of the Union Cabinet later in the day.
Twin Victims of Shelling
In a tragic incident, 12-year-old twins Urba Fatima and Zain Ali from Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district were killed in Pakistani shelling on May 7. The twins, who were born just five minutes apart, were inseparable and tragically died within minutes of each other.
Modi’s Message to Pakistan
Addressing Indian Air Force personnel at Adampur, a frontline IAF base in Punjab, Prime Minister Modi sent a clear message to Pakistan, stating that there is “no place for terror to hide” in their country. Modi emphasized that the Indian Armed Forces had sent a strong message to Pakistan and that they would respond decisively to any future terror attacks.
