Operation Sindoor has triggered a fierce political clash. Prime Minister Modi praised the armed forces at Bikaner airbase and reaffirmed the 'Yeh Naya Bharat Hai' doctrine. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused him of damaging India’s prestige and questioned the ceasefire with Pakistan. In response, the BJP accused Gandhi of “echoing Pakistan’s voice.” The operation outlined three key principles for countering terrorism, emphasising a firm retaliatory stance.
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00:00:00Our top story at this hour, the Prime Minister has lauded the forces from Bikaner Air Base.
00:00:05Once again he has reiterated the doctrine, yeh naya Bharat hai, he said.
00:00:09And Operation Sindoor is the new normal, a Lok Sabha leader of the opposition.
00:00:15Rahul Gandhi has taken a jibe at Prime Minister Modi, questioning why does his blood only
00:00:19boil when the cameras are on.
00:00:22Gandhi accused him of having compromised with India's prestige by agreeing to halt military
00:00:27hostilities against Pakistan.
00:00:29He also questioned why the Prime Minister trusted Pakistan on terrorism and once again
00:00:34asked why did Modi bow down before Trump for brokering a ceasefire with Pakistan.
00:00:40This is not the first time the Congress has launched an attack at the Prime Minister.
00:00:43Earlier also Congress had hit out at the Prime Minister, raising questions over Operation
00:00:49Sindoor.
00:00:51Congress Chief Khadge had branded the military operation a small war.
00:00:55Some of the leaders call the Operation Sindoor diplomacy outreach a PR exercise.
00:00:59Meanwhile, BJP has slammed Rahul Gandhi for speaking the language of Pakistan.
00:03:25Rahul Gandhi has been in opposition for 11 years.
00:03:48And the frustration level has gone up to such a level, he has lost his mental balance.
00:03:54So he speaks nonsense on issues which has nothing to do with facts.
00:04:02So the statement that Rahul Gandhi has made, it has been very clearly for anybody who has
00:04:08some sense, some intelligence will know what EAM said and when EAM said this.
00:04:16It is there, anybody wants to fact check, they can do that.
00:04:20Rahul Gandhi is not a native of India, his mother is not a native of India, so the foreign
00:05:30members of the Indian community, at the Indian Embassy in the UAE, this is a delegation that is there, listening to what Shrikant Shinde leading the delegation was saying.
00:05:43We as a member of Parliament have an important duty to fulfil, to go around the world, tell
00:05:50our message very loud and clear.
00:05:52And I think now you people are also here who are contributing very much in the UAE economy.
00:05:59Because after the native population, we Indians are 40% in this country and which is UAE also
00:06:05proud of.
00:06:07This is the relationship which we have.
00:06:10This is the trust which we have in this, in this nation.
00:06:17An Indigo flight operating on the Delhi-Srinagar route on Wednesday encountered severe turbulence.
00:06:22Remember those videos, those scary videos had gone completely viral.
00:06:26Hailstorm conditions, mid-air is what this flight had to deal with, pictures on your
00:06:30screens right now.
00:06:32Sources have told us that the pilot had initially sought permission from Lahore AATC to briefly
00:06:38enter Pakistan airspace to avoid turbulence and bring some relief to the harrowed passengers
00:06:43there.
00:06:44But according to our sources, this pilot had sought permission to divert slightly into
00:06:48Pakistan airspace to avoid turbulent weather system, very little.
00:06:52However, this basic request was rejected.
00:06:55It was a humanitarian request meant for the safety of the passengers there.
00:07:01This forced the aircraft to stay on its original flight path where it encountered intense turbulence
00:07:06and a sudden hailstorm.
00:07:08This incident prompted the pilot to declare an emergency to Srinagar air traffic control.
00:07:12In spite of the challenges, the flight safely landed at the Srinagar airport, but 200 passengers
00:07:18including members of parliament and from the Trinamool Congress were on board the flight.
00:07:24Passengers reported moments of absolute panic and mayhem during this ordeal with many resorting
00:07:28to prayers as the aircraft was buffeted by the storm.
00:07:33Take a look at these pictures that had gone completely viral.
00:07:35Fortunately, all passengers and crew were unharmed.
00:07:39The aircraft's no sustained significant damage.
00:07:42The Directorate General of Civil Aviation meanwhile has now launched an investigation
00:07:46into this incident to assess the sequence of events and determine whether the protocol
00:07:51was indeed followed.
00:08:51Pakistan Army and Pakistan as a state has decided to elevate General Asim Muneer who
00:08:56has miserably failed so like from a failed marshal to field marshal this journey is actually
00:09:02very spectacular if you could say with all pun intended because Sneha if you could see
00:09:09Pakistan as a state Pakistan Army as an institution has failed to act upon the international call
00:09:18to curb terrorism to act against the terror outfit not only that they have been they have
00:09:24been using them as tool of foreign policy also during the operation Sindhu if you see
00:09:30the Pakistan Army has failed to protect the nation and in fact I think General Asim Muneer
00:09:38or now Field Marshal Asim Muneer saw it as an opportunity to elevate himself to consolidate
00:09:43himself and if you could see he actually written the entire script of this this this
00:09:50entire episode where there is an incident in India which obviously as Dr. S. Jaishankar
00:09:57India's External Affairs Minister referred to that there is a there is a link between
00:10:01his speech of 16th April 2025 and the and what happened on 22nd of April 2025 in Pahelgaon
00:10:09so there is a clear link between what he said and what what happened on in Pahelgaon
00:10:15but General Asim Muneer has got this opportunity now he has he has become more powerful and
00:10:22he has consolidated his position his opponent with whom he had a tiff Imran Khan is now
00:10:28and his party PTI is in much weaker position so he is politically powerful he is strong
00:10:34he is militarily powerful and now we would see that he will try and consolidate his position
00:10:38by becoming Commander-in-Chief he will elevate himself with the tri-service chief and equivalent
00:10:45of CDS so he is not one among equal but he will elevate himself with more powers now
00:10:52and he has to he he will be there on the mantel for next 5 to 10 years okay but what is this
00:10:59promotion about is the big question here you know what for is the big question yeah I am
00:11:03going to leave it at that Pranayapa they are getting asked those details this morning
00:11:08mincing no words the External Affairs Minister Jai Shankar has drawn a line between the Pakistan
00:11:16Army Chief's speech and the Pahelgaon attacks while speaking with a European media outlet
00:11:20Jai Shankar said the attack in Pahelgaon was a barbaric act aimed at crippling tourism in
00:11:26Kashmir and inciting religious discord here are the details you have a Pakistani leadership
00:11:32especially their army chief who's very driven by extreme religious outlook Jai Shankar naming
00:11:41and shaming the Pakistan Army Chief for the very first time Jai Shankar called out the
00:11:51Jihadi General Asim Munir highlighting how Munir's extreme religious outlook led to the
00:11:58Pahelgaon terror attack you have a Pakistani leadership especially their army chief who's
00:12:09very driven by extreme religious outlook so there is clearly some connect between you know the views
00:12:19that were expressed and the behavior that was done the External Affairs Minister then highlighted
00:12:25how the Pahelgaon terror attack also saw the same religious extremism it was triggered by a very
00:12:34barbaric terrorist attack in the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and it was done
00:12:41in a way in which it was intended to harm tourism which is the mainstay of the Kashmir economy and
00:12:48to create a religious discord deliberately an element of religion was introduced Jai Shankar
00:12:57also made it clear that the new red line has been drawn on talks with Pakistan no country negotiates
00:13:05a part of its territory so for us Kashmir is part of India there is one segment of Kashmir which is
00:13:15today under occupation of Pakistan illegally since 1947-48 so we are oh you know we would
00:13:23like to discuss with them when they propose to leave that part but why did the External Affairs
00:13:29Minister call out Asim Munir it's the first time India has named and shamed the army chief of
00:13:37Pakistan and it stems from this comment from Munir just five days before the Pahelgaon attack
00:13:45you have to listen to your children so that they don't forget the story of Pakistan
00:14:15that incessant struggle to create this country the government now is not holding back and the
00:14:22message from India is clear that the Jihadi generals role in sponsoring terror on Indian
00:14:29soil will be called out on global platforms Bureau report India today all right in the
00:14:40International Monetary Fund has defended its bailout package to Pakistan saying its board
00:14:44was satisfied with Pakistan the global body claimed Pakistan met all the targets as laid
00:14:49down by the global body to meet the funding criteria executive board of the IMF is decided
00:14:54to allow for disbursement of 1 billion dollars to Pakistan this dispersal was done as part of
00:15:00the IMF's extended fund facility to the country IMF has imposed 11 fresh sets of conditions on
00:15:06Pakistan in exchange for the billion-dollar bailout program IMF in its condition said that
00:15:11Pakistan must seek Parliament not for the federal budget for the next fiscal year in line with the
00:15:15IMF agreement by June implement agricultural income tax reforms across all provinces and
00:15:21draft a plan for phasing out industrial incentives by the end of the year listening to the IMF director
00:16:27of the IMF.
00:16:28It is part of a standard procedure under programs that our executive board conducts periodic
00:16:51reviews of lending programs to assess their progress and they particularly look at whether
00:16:57the program is on track whether the conditions under the program have been met and whether any
00:17:02policy changes are needed to bring the program back on track and in the case of Pakistan our
00:17:09board find found that Pakistan had indeed met all of the targets it had made progress on some of the
00:17:15reforms and for that reason the board went ahead and approved the program with respect to the the
00:17:25voting or the decision-making at our board we do not disclose that publicly in general fund board
00:17:32decisions are taken by consensus and in this case there was a sufficient consensus at the board to
00:17:40allow us to move forward or to for the board to decide to move forward and and complete Pakistan's
00:17:46review. And the arrest of Indian influencer Jyoti Malhotra over alleged links to Pakistani intelligence
00:17:53has exposed a wider influence operation. Islamabad is reportedly targeting female influences globally
00:17:58to reshape its image on women's rights education security and a lot more. India today has busted
00:18:04its influence operation. Here's more.
00:18:14Even as Indian national Jyoti Malhotra faces legal action for allegedly spying for Pakistan a larger pattern is emerging. It turns out Jyoti may not be the only influencer that Pakistan
00:18:29used to improve its image abroad. Sources tell India today that Pakistan is now actively targeting female influencers around the world and is using their platforms to present a softer more positive picture of the country.
00:18:48In fact India today has identified at least five influencers from the US, UK, Australia, the Netherlands and Scotland.
00:18:57Obviously very concerned about you know me traveling on my own here and my safety.
00:19:01The things that we hear about in terms of terrorism, kidnapping. The videos of these influencers
00:19:06highlight themes like women's safety, education and hospitality in Pakistan. Messages that closely
00:19:13mirror official narratives. These influencers have posted glowing travel content from Pakistani cities,
00:19:20villages and schools. Often recorded with help from the local guides and under visible
00:19:26state security including police escorts. Take the case of Shamozia Mangoes,
00:19:34a YouTube channel run by a British vlogger named Rebecca.
00:19:42In the last two years she has uploaded 23 videos all focused solely on Pakistan. While she calls
00:19:49herself a travel blogger, there's no content on any other country. Her Facebook page with over
00:19:5563,000 followers is filled with pro-Pakistan posts including support for the cricket team
00:20:01and national holidays. Another influencer Flora Gonen from Netherlands has uploaded 22 Pakistani
00:20:09focused videos out of just 40 in total. A recurring theme in her content, Pakistan is safe for solo
00:20:17female travellers. The same pattern is seen in the content of the other influencers like Vale B
00:20:28from the US, Iryana Yamishka from Australia and Scottish duo Alan and Shannon.
00:20:33And just as we're leaving the museum behind us you will see the founder of Pakistan who
00:20:41is here. All their videos highlight safety, development and women empowerment.
00:20:46I have to say I don't feel unsafe at all but I'm also not the most comfortable right now.
00:20:56The choice of western female influencers is strategic. They come across as neutral,
00:21:01relatable voices especially to global audiences that distrust state propaganda. The goal? To
00:21:08counter travel warnings, change public perception and reshape Pakistan's image on the global stage.
00:21:19But behind these smiling travelling diaries, the message now seems
00:21:22to be coordinated and calculated. Bureau report India Today.
00:21:52The
00:22:15President Trump is saddened and outraged over the brutal murder of two Israeli embassy staff
00:22:22here in Washington DC last night. The evil of antisemitism must be eradicated from our society.
00:22:30I spoke to the Attorney General this morning. The Department of Justice will be prosecuting
00:22:35the perpetrator responsible for this to the fullest extent of the law. Hatred has no place
00:22:41in the United States of America under President Donald Trump.
00:22:45He's getting in more details this morning at this point in time. This is in fact a horrific
00:22:50tragedy that we're reporting on where two Israeli diplomats had been gunned down. This was mindless
00:22:56violence. Pranay, you know just also talk to us a little about the investigations in this entire
00:23:01matter. What else are you picking up? As you know Sneha, the incident happened yesterday. The
00:23:09investigation is still underway. The person who actually shot at these two Israeli embassy
00:23:15staffers is in police custody. He's being investigated. His name is Elias Rodriques
00:23:21and he's from Chicago, Illinois. But subsequent to this thing, the hardening of stand which has
00:23:28come and which is now there by the Trump administration by taking further action
00:23:33against the Harvard University. This is yet another episode of the hardening of position
00:23:40by the Trump administration in the name of anti-Semitism. You would recall, Sneha,
00:23:45that Trump administration has been taking steps against the anti-Semitism and many other things
00:23:52as far as the crackdown on the Columbia University and Harvard University. But now
00:23:58President Trump and his administration has taken a very hard decision where they have banned Harvard
00:24:05University for the enrollment of the international students. They have already cut down on the
00:24:10grant for the Harvard University and it's been going on for a few months. But now this is a big
00:24:15step because Harvard is the premier Ivy League institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the
00:24:21United States. But now this has happened, especially in the wake of this horrible incident which took
00:24:27place in Washington, D.C. yesterday. And now we could see subsequent action by the Trump administration
00:24:33in the name of anti-Semitism. All right, Pranay, I'm going to leave it at that for the moment.
00:24:39Pranay Upadhyay getting us those details and telling us about this horrific incident that
00:24:44took place in Washington, D.C. Israeli staff members were gunned down. The U.S. has condemned
00:24:50this. The White House says we're outraged over Washington killings. The evil of anti-Semitism
00:24:56has to be eradicated, says the White House in a statement.
00:25:00The IMF has defended its bailout package to Pakistan, saying its board was satisfied with
00:25:05Pakistan. The global body claimed Pakistan met all the targets as laid down by the global body
00:25:10to meet the funding criteria. Executive board of the IMF has decided to allow for disbursement
00:25:15of a billion dollar loan to Pakistan. This disbursal was done as part of IMF's extended
00:25:21fund facility to the country. IMF has imposed 11 fresh sets of conditions on Pakistan.
00:25:29In exchange for the billion dollar bailout program, IMF in its conditions said that Pakistan
00:25:34must seek parliament not for the federal budget for the next fiscal year in line with the
00:25:39international monetary fund agreement by June, implement agricultural income tax reforms across
00:25:44all provinces and draft a plan for phasing out industrial incentives by the end of this year.
00:25:50Listen in to the IMF director.
00:26:50It is part of a standard procedure under programs that our executive board conducts
00:27:15periodic reviews of lending programs to assess their progress. And they particularly look at
00:27:22whether the program is on track, whether the conditions under the program have been met
00:27:27and whether any policy changes are needed to bring the program back on track. And in the case
00:27:33of Pakistan, our board found that Pakistan had indeed met all of the targets. It had made progress
00:27:40on some of the reforms. And for that reason, the board went ahead and approved the program.
00:27:48With respect to the voting or the decision making at our board, we do not disclose that publicly.
00:27:56In general, board decisions are taken by consensus. And in this case, there was
00:28:04a sufficient consensus at the board to allow us to move forward or for the board to decide to move
00:28:09forward and complete Pakistan's review. Going straight across to Karishma, getting in more
00:28:16details on that big story this morning, the IMF there giving out reasons as to why Pakistan has
00:28:22become eligible. Is there anything at all that India can do? Talk to us about what's the way
00:28:27forward then. Well, it was yesterday that during the briefing, what we also just heard, Julie
00:28:35Kozak, who's the director of IMF communications, did share to a question that I tossed her on the
00:28:41fact that India is not happy. And it's certainly disappointed that the money that the bailout
00:28:49package that IMF has given to Pakistan would actually be used by Pakistan in building
00:28:53infrastructure supporting cross-border terrorism. Now, IMF says that there are three and four
00:29:01important points to look into here. Of course, we heard Julie talking about the timeline of the
00:29:06event and how the EEF process is conducted. But IMF did share that as per IMF, the financing is
00:29:14solely and solely meant to resolve the balance of payment issues only. And these disbursements
00:29:20that have gone to Pakistan go to bid direct central bank reserves and cannot be used for
00:29:26anything else, which is more on towards the government budget financing. Now, there is a
00:29:31zero limit on lending from central bank to the government. The program includes certain structural
00:29:36reforms. The bailout that IMF has given to Pakistan is as per some structural reforms in order to
00:29:42improve their fiscal management. A very important point that I caught from this was where she said
00:29:47that any deviation from these conditions will affect IMF's future reviews to Pakistan. And in
00:29:54the past, we have seen that Pakistan was taken up by IMF for not abiding by structural reforms,
00:30:03and their funding was paused for some time until they got back to fulfil it. So it's an important
00:30:09point to notice. And the fact that IMF does acknowledge is that these funds cannot be used
00:30:14for other such purpose. However, they do defend the fact that the bailout package given to Pakistan
00:30:20was something in the offing for a long time since September 2024, when the reviews had begun.
00:30:51that it's bailed out. Approval of 17.6 trillion budget. The condition is agricultural income tax
00:30:58reforms. Governance action plan, how do you want to repay this loan? What do you intend to do?
00:31:05Maintain real purchasing power is the other condition. Also post 2027, financial sector
00:31:12strategy, electricity tariff, remove cap on debt service surcharge. These are the conditions that
00:31:19have been imposed on Pakistan. Moving on, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the forces from
00:31:29Bikaner airbase. Once again, he's reiterated the doctrine. Operation Sindoor is a new anomaly,
00:31:36said. Lok Sabha leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, took a jibe at the Prime Minister
00:31:42questioning why does this blood boil only when the cameras are rolling. Gandhi accused him of
00:31:48having compromised with India's prestige by agreeing to halt military hostilities against
00:31:53Pakistan. Rahul also questioned why the Prime Minister trusted Pakistan on terrorism and once
00:31:59again asked why did he bow down before Trump for brokering a ceasefire with Pakistan. This is not
00:32:06the first time Congress has launched an attack at the Prime Minister. Earlier, the Congress hit out
00:32:10at the Prime Minister, raised questions of Operation Sindoor. Congress chief Khadige has
00:32:15branded the military operation a small war. Now, some of the leaders call the operation
00:32:21diplomacy outreach, a PR exercise. Meanwhile, BJP has hit out at Gandhi for speaking the language of
00:32:27Pakistan.
00:34:57Rahul Gandhi has been in opposition for 11 years and the frustration level has gone up to such a
00:35:14level he has lost his mental balance. So, he speaks nonsense on issues which has nothing to do with
00:35:24facts. So, the statement that Rahul Gandhi has made, it has been very clearly for anybody who
00:35:32has some sense, some intelligence, will know what EAM said and when EAM said this. It is there.
00:35:41Anybody wants to fact check, they can do that.
00:36:25I am going straight across to Amit Bhardwaj for more details. Amit, in fact, I feel here that
00:36:31you know the politics over this entire matter only seems to be snowballing and there won't
00:36:35be an end to it. You know, first calling this a PR exercise, at least a section
00:36:40is not in tandem with the government when all the indications in the beginning were
00:36:45that the principal opposition party was on the same page as the government on Operation Sindoor,
00:36:50isn't it?
00:36:55All right, Sneha. You know, when the Operation Sindoor was being carried out by
00:36:59our armed forces and the action against Pakistan and retaliation against Pakistan's
00:37:04misadventures were going on, the opposition was working in tandem with the government.
00:37:09They had said that we back government's every action. But as soon as that Operation Sindoor is
00:37:15over, the military operation is over, the ceasefire has been declared. We know that from
00:37:20the very day when ceasefire was declared by India and Pakistan, both countries back here in India,
00:37:27what we have the opposition have started to question the government on conditions of ceasefire,
00:37:32why the ceasefire was declared. After that, you had the rallying point became the statement that
00:37:39was put out by Rahul Gandhi of allegedly of Minister of External Affairs S J Shankar.
00:37:45And you also had different wings of the Congress party protesting and seeking an explanation from
00:37:50the government. And the BJP in its own capacity is also hitting back at the Congress party at
00:37:57Rahul Gandhi, you know, making even more very fierce attacks on Rahul Gandhi. But out here,
00:38:02it's not only about Congress parties, Sneha. You know, there are other parties such as CPI
00:38:08as well. I spoke to D Raja and he was clearly saying that the opposition parties in the
00:38:14country have been kept in dark. They do not know as to what has been the brief that has been given
00:38:19to the delegations, multi-party delegations that are visiting different countries right now,
00:38:24including the three which have already left for the negotiations for deliberations.
00:38:31You know, whether it be in UAE, the unit for Russia that has gone, the delegation for Russia
00:38:37that has gone, the delegation which is in Japan. So, the opposition parties are also seeking a
00:38:43special parliamentary session in order to have questions or response in the parliament as far
00:38:50as the Pahelgam terror attack is concerned. India's retaliation on Pakistan is concerned
00:38:55and under which circumstances this ceasefire was announced by the government. So, these are
00:39:00questions that the opposition parties are asking right now, seeking a special session. Rahul
00:39:05Gandhi obviously attacking external affairs minister S J Shankar. But certainly the government,
00:39:11union ministers and the BJP senior leaders are countering every statement that is coming from
00:39:18the opposition parties including that from Rahul Gandhi. Back to you.
00:39:41And hailstorm conditions mid-air. Those images remember had gone completely viral,
00:39:46just speaking volumes of the trauma and panic situation that the passengers unfortunately
00:39:51found themselves in. Sources have told us that the pilot had initially sought permission from
00:39:57the Lahore air traffic control to briefly enter Pakistan airspace to avoid turbulence.
00:40:02According to our sources, the pilot sought permission to divert just slightly into
00:40:07Pakistani airspace to avoid turbulent weather system. However, the request was rejected,
00:40:13forcing the aircraft to stay on its original flight path where it encountered intense
00:40:18turbulence in a sudden hailstorm. The incident prompted the pilot to declare an emergency to
00:40:22Srinagar air traffic control. In spite of the challenges, the flight landed safely at the
00:40:27Srinagar airport. Over 200 passengers including members of parliament from the TMC were on board
00:40:32this flight. Passengers reported moments of panic during the ordeal with many resorting to prayers
00:40:38as the aircraft was buffeted by the storm. Unfortunately, all passengers and crew were
00:40:43unharmed. However, the aircraft's nose sustained significant damage. We'll put out that image
00:40:49within a second from now. A directorate general of civil aviation meanwhile has now launched
00:40:54an investigation into this incident to assess the sequence that's the image on your screen,
00:40:59the manner in which the aircraft was damaged. All right, we were telling you about the fact that
00:41:04then there's going to be a detailed investigation into this incident to assess the sequence of
00:41:08events and determine whether protocol was followed. I'm going straight across to Karishma.
00:41:16For more details on that story, my colleague joining in this morning again from Business
00:41:20Today television. Karishma, huge concern here given that a basic request to enter the Pakistan
00:41:26airspace just for some time, maybe a few minutes to spare that horror really to the passengers who
00:41:33went through that turbulence was denied. Give us a sense of how the government is looking into it
00:41:38and in days and weeks to come, how can this be negotiated? Yeah, the DGC is already investigating
00:41:48this matter in terms of why did such a situation occur. The fact that this is
00:41:55also by a natural calamity, something that the airline cannot do much about. Indigo has not
00:42:02commented yet on the fact that was there a denial by Lahore air controller
00:42:10to take the flight via Pakistan airspace and the big question is could that have saved us
00:42:16from the trauma that the 220 passengers who were on board have gone through. Now, let's look at
00:42:23the legal aspect of this. If the Lahore air controller has genuinely not allowed the pilot
00:42:31from Indigo Airlines to take his emergency request, then this could be challenged in the
00:42:39Chicago Convention of International Aviation Law. If you see the safety clause comes from annex 11
00:42:47and 14 of the convention which covers air traffic services and aerodrome operations
00:42:52respectively and India and Pakistan both are a part of this convention. Now, as per this convention
00:42:58and the safety clauses in emergency situations including medical emergencies or safety threats
00:43:03which includes severe turbulence, technical failure or fuel shortage, states are expected
00:43:08to permit emergency landings regardless of political disputes. So, while the convention
00:43:15does acknowledge the fact that airspace ban due to military concerns is allowed, it also through
00:43:24its safety clause does allow the states to come on a mutual cooperation. So, the point to look at it
00:43:33if DGCA would like to challenge this, if they would like to go and challenge this at ICAO or
00:43:39if they'd like to take up the convention and question Pakistan that was it fair for them to
00:43:45do this. All right, I'm going to leave it to that Karishma getting in those details. The safety
00:43:50of civilians unfortunately was of zero concern to a neighboring country. Pakistan with entry
00:43:55into their airspace would have certainly spared that horror that passengers had to go through but
00:44:00Pakistan refused to allow the civil aircraft to enter their airspace.
00:44:05That really sums up the country's attitude towards civilians.
00:44:18And more news coming in. Pakistan army chief has been promoted in spite of operation Sindhu
00:44:22dropping. Pakistan army chief RC Munir promoted to field marshal. Grand ceremony to promote the
00:44:28army chief from Pakistan. The military failed army chief though gets a promotion. There's a ceremony
00:44:34that's going to be held to promote him after the dropping during operation Sindhu.
00:44:46Grand ceremony to promote Pakistan army chief RC Munir is what we know after the dropping
00:44:52essentially after operation Sindhu. India has spoken about this as well. The big question is
00:44:59what really is he getting promoted for? What would be the privileges that he would now enjoy
00:45:05given that he's been promoted? Pranay apart they're getting in more details this morning
00:45:10on that story. Pranay, this is of course a development that has raised eyebrows. I mean
00:45:15why is he really getting promoted after operation Sindhu dropping? You know also
00:45:20talk to us a little about what would be the privileges that he would enjoy moving forward?
00:45:26Sneha, as you would see that General Asim Munir now has become field marshal. He used this
00:45:33opportunity of a terror attack in India and conflict with India as an opportunity to elevate
00:45:39himself to consolidate his position in Pakistan and its power structure. Though he has been
00:45:44powerful as an army chief but now he would become a field marshal. What entails further is that now
00:45:52he would try and consolidate further by getting more power and becoming a tri-service chief like
00:45:58commander-in-chief which the position now being held by the president of Pakistan. So he would
00:46:06try to consolidate his position. He'll get more power and more so he will remain in uniform
00:46:13forever. You would see that the ambition to get more power in Pakistani general is not a new
00:46:19phenomenon. We have seen field marshal Ayub Khan to Yahya Khan to General Parvez Musharraf,
00:46:25Zia-ul-Haq. The list is long but if you see he is trying to play different tricks from the
00:46:32playbook of General Zia-ul-Haq to General Parvez Musharraf. He did not go for a coup. Rather he
00:46:38orchestrated an event. He consolidated his position. His political opponent you could see
00:46:45that Imran Khan and his party has been worst critic of General Asim Munir and Pakistani
00:46:50armies as a section which is led by General Asim Munir. So now you see that Imran Khan is in
00:46:56Adiyala jail and PTI is rallying behind General Asim Munir. So definitely he is in a much more
00:47:05stronger position and this is a cause of concern for India. Because if he has to stay long in
00:47:11Pakistan's power structure, if he has to remain in uniform forever. So he would like to continue
00:47:19his policies. He is using Operation Sindoor where Pakistan miserably failed. Where Pakistan and
00:47:26Pakistan's military institution failed to defend the country in its military bases. Failed to
00:47:31deliver on Pakistan's promise to act against terror heads and terror organizations. But
00:47:38he is using this opportunity to consolidate his position, to elevate himself so that he can remain
00:47:44in power forever. All right I'm going to leave it at that for the moment. Rania Upadhyay getting
00:47:50us those details and we're staying with this. In seeing no words the external affairs minister
00:47:54S.J. Shankar has drawn a link between the Pakistan army chief's speech and the Pehalgam attack. While
00:48:01speaking with the European media outlet Jai Shankar said the attack in Pehalgam was a barbaric act
00:48:06aimed at crippling tourism in Kashmir and inciting religious discord. Here are the details.
00:48:19You have a Pakistani leadership especially their army chief who's very driven by
00:48:25extreme religious outlook. Jai Shankar naming and shaming the Pakistan army chief
00:48:33for the very first time.
00:48:39Jai Shankar called out the Jihadi general Asim Muneer
00:48:43highlighting how Muneer's extreme religious outlook led to the Pehalgam terror attack.
00:48:54You have a Pakistani leadership especially their army chief who's very driven by
00:49:00a extreme religious outlook. So there is clearly some connect between you know
00:49:08the views that were expressed and the behavior that was done. The external affairs minister
00:49:14then highlighted how the Pehalgam terror attack also saw the same religious extremism.
00:49:21It was triggered by a very barbaric terrorist attack in the Indian Union territory of Jammu
00:49:28and Kashmir and it was done in a way in which it was intended to harm tourism which is the
00:49:34mainstay of the Kashmir economy and to create a religious discord. Deliberately an element of
00:49:43religion was introduced. Jai Shankar also made it clear that the new red line has been drawn
00:49:50on talks with Pakistan. No country negotiates a part of its territory. So for us
00:50:00Kashmir is part of India. There is one segment of Kashmir which is today under occupation of
00:50:06Pakistan illegally since 1947-48. So we are you know we would like to discuss with them when they
00:50:14propose to leave that part. But why did the external affairs minister call out Asim Munir?
00:50:21It's the first time India has named and shamed the army chief of Pakistan and it stems from
00:50:28this comment from Munir just five days before the Pehalgam attack.
00:50:33Well our forefathers they thought that we are different from the Hindus in every possible
00:50:45aspect of life. Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different.
00:50:50Our thoughts are different. Our ambitions are different. That was the foundation of the two
00:50:55nation theory that was laid there. That we are two nations. We are not one nation. So because of that
00:51:01our forefathers they struggled mounted that incessant struggle to create this country.
00:51:08The government now is not holding back and the message from India is clear that the Jihadi
00:51:14general's role in sponsoring terror on Indian soil will be called out on global platforms.
00:51:23Bureau report India Today.
00:51:26Well the arrest of the Indian influencer Jyoti Malhotra over alleged links to Pakistani
00:51:31intelligence has exposed a wider influence operation. Islamabad is reportedly targeting
00:51:36female influences globally to reshape its image on women's rights, education, security and a lot
00:51:41more. India Today has busted its influence operation. Here's more.
00:51:56Even as Indian national Jyoti Malhotra faces legal action for allegedly spying for Pakistan,
00:52:02a larger pattern is emerging. It turns out Jyoti may not be the only influencer
00:52:09that Pakistan used to improve its image abroad.
00:52:14Sources tell India Today that Pakistan is now actively targeting female influencers
00:52:20around the world and is using their platforms to present a softer,
00:52:25more positive picture of the country.
00:52:29In fact, India Today has identified at least five influencers from the US,
00:52:34UK, Australia, the Netherlands and Scotland.
00:52:38Obviously very concerned about you know me traveling on my own here and my safety,
00:52:42the things that we hear about in terms of terrorism, kidnapping.
00:52:45The videos of these influencers highlight themes like women's safety, education and
00:52:50hospitality in Pakistan, messages that closely mirror official narratives.
00:52:56These influencers have posted glowing travel content from Pakistani cities,
00:53:01villages and schools, often recorded with help from the local guides and
00:53:06under visible state security, including police escorts.
00:53:10Take the case of Sharmozia Mangos, a YouTube channel run by a British vlogger named Rebecca.
00:53:21In the last two years, she has uploaded 23 videos, all focused solely on Pakistan.
00:53:27While she calls herself a travel blogger, there's no content on any other country.
00:53:32Her Facebook page with over 63,000 followers is filled with pro-Pakistan posts,
00:53:38including support for the cricket team and national holidays.
00:53:43Another influencer, Flora Gonen from Netherlands,
00:53:47has uploaded 22 Pakistani-focused videos out of just 40 in total.
00:53:52A recurring theme in her content, Pakistan is safe for solo female travelers.
00:54:03The same pattern is seen in the content of the other influencers,
00:54:06like Vale B from the US, Iryana Yamishka from Australia and Scottish duo Alan and Shannon.
00:54:22All their videos highlight safety, development and women empowerment.
00:54:37The choice of Western female influencers is strategic. They come across as neutral,
00:54:42relatable voices, especially to global audiences that distrust state propaganda.
00:54:48The goal? To counter travel warnings,
00:54:50change public perception and reshape Pakistan's image on the global stage.
00:55:00But behind these smiling traveling diaries, the message now seems to be coordinated and calculated.
00:55:06Bureau report, India Today.
00:55:37The US Department of Homeland Security has revoked Harvard's ability to enroll international
00:55:46students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. This means those already
00:55:51studying there must either transfer to another school or risk losing their legal status in the US.
00:56:02It's a development we're reporting on from the US which could worry many students
00:56:07Indian students. Harvard University has spoken about this as well.
00:56:12We'll be going across to Geeta Mohan for more on that. In fact, Pranay Upadhyay is with us
00:56:19for the very latest. Geeta Mohan, I beg your pardon, is with us for the very latest on that
00:56:25Geeta Foreign Affairs, joining this morning. Geeta put this into perspective. This has got
00:56:30to do with security concerns and also concerns about a certain section of students have been
00:56:35raising slogans within the university, I think. What is the reason particularly behind it?
00:56:40And tell us, how can Harvard or rather what can Harvard do about this?
00:56:46Well, Harvard can certainly go to court, but this is Trump administration up in the ante.
00:56:55They have said that if Harvard does not back down from its position
00:57:01with regards to the Trump administration's policies on Palestine, supporters of Palestine,
00:57:09sympathizers of Palestine, so on and so forth, then there is going to be not just
00:57:15a decision to reduce their or to take away the funds that are given from the federal budget,
00:57:25but also that Harvard University would find it very difficult to have international students
00:57:31coming to their university, given that the federal agency and government control the visas.
00:57:39And now in an unprecedented development, the Trump administration has indeed revoked
00:57:44the eligibility of Harvard University to enroll international students. This is a telling
00:57:51a sign of the days to come. It's only beginning. Christine Ohm has ordered the termination
00:57:59of this entire exchange program. And the DHS in a statement has said that this means Harvard can
00:58:08no longer enroll foreign students. So, yes, this is a war now between Trump and Harvard.
00:58:15And it has gone after, certainly after the incident yesterday of a sympathizer attacking
00:58:27people who gathered outside the Jewish museum. And the specific attack was against the Jewish
00:58:36community. And then he screamed a chance of pro-Palestine, pro-Palestine chance. It certainly
00:58:46comes after that incident. So we are looking at Trump administration taking on Harvard on an issue
00:58:55which has to do with and is beyond just gun control or what one incident, the one incident
00:59:02that occurred, one person who did something, but the larger question of freedom of speech.
00:59:32be precise. Gita, if you could tell us if the Indian government can do anything about it.
00:59:38Well, the Indian administration is not going to intervene in these policies of the federal
00:59:44government in the United States of America. There are other universities that children can apply.
00:59:50Yes, they are going to look at concerns. But the Indian administration has been very clear
00:59:57that protests, agitations, and concerns regarding the same are internal to a particular country,
01:00:06as is the case with India. And so a third country cannot intervene and should not intervene.
01:00:11But interestingly, Sneha, the agency has also come out and said that many of these agitators
01:00:18are foreign students. And Harvard's leadership further facilitated and engaged, coordinated with
01:00:25the Chinese Communist Party. So they have linked this entire decision also to CCP and to China,
01:00:35because Harvard hosted and trained members of CCP. And the administration is holding Harvard
01:00:43accountable for fostering violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with Chinese Communist Party
01:00:49on its campus. That's a statement coming in from none other than Secretary Norman as well.
01:00:56All right, we have more news coming in. The U.S. says Harvard accountable for fostering violence.
01:01:02Harvard accountable for anti-Semitism. Harvard had opportunity to do the right thing. This is
01:01:07a statement that is coming. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering
01:01:12violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.
01:01:18It's a privilege, not a right for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their
01:01:23high tuition payments to help out their multi-billion dollar endowments. Harvard had
01:01:28plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They've lost their student and
01:01:33exchange visitor program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law.
01:01:39Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions
01:01:43across the country is what the U.S. has said in a statement.
01:01:50Geetha continues to be with us. Geetha, this is a very stern and, you know,
01:01:55strong and firm rather message from the administration that you had ample of
01:02:00opportunities given the situations that we found ourselves in and given the manner in which
01:02:06protests have been organized in days and weeks, you know, that we have seen in the last few days
01:02:11and weeks. Essentially, you had an opportunity to rectify this knowing very well that we weren't
01:02:17happy about these situations within the campus, isn't it? Okay. This is certainly a very, very
01:02:27important decision that has come from Trump that is going to affect and impact international students
01:02:33who look at and who look to go into America to study in universities and very specifically
01:02:40universities such as Harvard, Yale and Stanford. To begin with, Harvard is the only one that has
01:02:49taken on Trump administration and we will have to wait and see whether if this decision of the
01:02:56Trump administration stands in court because Harvard certainly will be taking this matter to
01:03:02court and we have to wait and see whether it stands in court. There have been certain cases which
01:03:08which the court has quashed and so again, you know, one has to wait and see whether if
01:03:18Harvard is able to take it to court and how long can it continue fighting because it's a very
01:03:24expensive affair. How long can it continue fighting a federal government and that to the
01:03:28government of the United States of America. So for now it is a very important decision but a
01:03:37significant one but one that is going to impact international students and Harvard University as
01:03:44well. So who's going to blink first in this entire issue of freedom of speech, allowing protests or
01:03:53voicing this dissent and that voicing of dissent does not amount to anti-semitism or anti-nationalism
01:04:01or any anti-American like thing. All right, Geeta getting in those details at this point.
01:04:08Big question is what is going to happen to all the students including 788 Indian students right now.
01:04:16That's in fact, there would be of course a sense of uncertainty for just so many Indian and other
01:04:22foreign students with the Trump administration here revoking Harvard University's right to admit
01:04:28international students. A little more on the impact on Indian students. 788 Indian students
01:04:38currently enrolled in Harvard, 508 to 800 Indian scholars and students enroll every single year.
01:04:46Students must take transfer to another university to stay in the U.S. if at all they have to.
01:04:51Indian students from 2025 to 2026 batch will be impacted.
01:04:58What did Trump really want Harvard to do? Share all the hiring data with the administration.
01:05:04Audit all hirings at least through 2028. Provide all admissions data to the federal government.
01:05:11Overall programs with egregious records on anti-semitism. Place some departments and
01:05:18programs under an external audit. Reduce power held by the students there within the university.
01:05:26Stop diversity equity inclusion programs. End admission preferences based on race color and
01:05:31national origin. Stop admitting students hostile to American values. Stop admitting students
01:05:37supportive of terrorism and anti-semitism. Ban masks, allow Harvard police to enforce rules.
01:05:44Plagiarism checks on all current and prospective faculty members.
01:05:56And Harvard has filed a lawsuit over the funding freeze.
01:06:00Harvard says unlawful. This is beyond the government's authority.
01:06:04Harvard has said moments ago we filed a lawsuit to halt the funding freeze
01:06:08because it is unlawful and beyond the government's authority. Clearly Harvard is taking
01:06:13this matter up legally now with the Trump administration revoking Harvard University's
01:06:18rights to admit international students affecting thousands including many from our country.
01:06:25This is an escalation in the clashes that have taken place between the Donald Trump administration
01:06:30with the university stripping the school of its right to admit international students.
01:06:36The decision of course as we know has left thousands of foreign students in the lurch.
01:06:41It's in a state of uncertainty with now Harvard saying that we have taken this matter up legally.
01:06:55Gita continues to be with us. Gita as we were discussing earlier,
01:06:59Harvard now taking this matter up legally. You know just give us an idea about what is expected
01:07:05as far as this case is concerned given that it's gone to court now. What would be this
01:07:11fate of students you know in the interim period? Well it is a very very dicey affair because
01:07:20this year a lot of students have gotten through Harvard and for them they will not be getting
01:07:27their visas because the visas are coming through now. If a decision has been taken
01:07:33and if it is with immediate effect then they stand to lose a chance either to attend
01:07:43their classes or join Harvard University. But the other thing that can happen Sneha is,
01:07:50and I was speaking to somebody who was looking into it and said,
01:07:54was that there are some students who have lost Harvard scholarships because there is no funding.
01:08:01There are others who have gotten through Harvard University and are sitting for the visa
01:08:06but the visas might not come through. But since Harvard is taking the government to court
01:08:12the decision is not final. It is not a decision in finality that there will be no visas that
01:08:18will be given to students who have enrolled or gotten through Harvard University. So what
01:08:25Harvard University could do should they think that there is light at the end of this dark tunnel,
01:08:34they could enroll the students and have the students attend university online as they did
01:08:42during the COVID-19 pandemic for the first session and then see whether if the kids can then move to
01:08:54the U.S. after the case is done and over with. But then that's a chance they would be taking.
01:09:02I don't know whether the university would want to take a chance on a matter that has to do with
01:09:07careers of students, education of students. So for now there is no announcement of decision.
01:09:14This is just a conversation we were having with some educationists who are or who have been part
01:09:20of Harvard or are a part of Harvard in one way or the other. And given that they are going to
01:09:26take the government to court, they still have hopes that the court is going to quash this decision of
01:09:33the federal government which seems rather extreme to not allow foreign students to enroll in just
01:09:41one university and one will have to wait and see. But then again the fact that students enroll,
01:09:51take a chance and lose out in an entire year is also something that maybe a lot of foreign
01:09:57students might not want to do. Okay I'm going to leave it there for the moment. Gita Mohan
01:10:02getting in those details, putting that story into perspective. Harvard says this is unlawful as Trump
01:10:08bars the university from enrolling foreign students. A state of uncertainty. Harvard
01:10:14has now gone to court. Remains to be seen legally speaking how this matter moves forward. But for
01:10:19the moment the Trump administration revoking Harvard University's ability to enroll international
01:10:25students. Certain conditions were set before Harvard University which they did not accept.