News Brief

Morning: Attacks On Pakistan 'Only Paused', Not Ended: PM Modi; India Displays Debris Of Chinese PL-15 Missile Used By Pakistan; Flights Cancelled Amid Pakistani Drone Incursions

Swarajya StaffMay 13, 2025, 08:10 AM | Updated 08:10 AM IST
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Counteroffensive Against Pakistan 'Only Paused', Not Ended: PM Modi

In his first address since the launch of Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India has paused its counteroffensive against Pakistan’s terrorist and military establishments, but emphasized that this is only a temporary halt based on Pakistan’s recent statements. "We will assess Pakistan’s every move in the coming days, based solely on its behavior," he said in his address to the nation.

After India’s aggressive military action, Pakistan began appealing to the international community to help de-escalate the situation. On May 10, following severe losses and the destruction of major terror infrastructure, the Pakistani army contacted India’s Director General of Military Operations to seek a way out.

India Displays Debris Of Chinese PL-15 Missile Used By Pakistan

India publicly displayed remnants of Chinese-supplied PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles used by Pakistan against Indian forces, marking the first time New Delhi has named China in the ongoing conflict. Air Marshal A K Bharti, Director General Air Operations, showcased debris, including a near-intact rear section of the missile recovered from Hoshiarpur, Punjab, during a media briefing.

The PL-15 missile has a range of over 200 km. The missile's export variant can hit targets up to 145 km. Most experts believe it is the export variant that has been integrated with Pakistan’s JF-17 Block III and J-10CE fighters.

Indian Carriers Cancel Flights Amid Pakistani Drone Incursions

Airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, cancelled multiple flights to airports along India’s western front as Pakistani drones were detected and neutralised over multiple cities.

Flights to Srinagar, Jammu, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Bhuj, Jamnagar and Rajkot were cancelled citing precautionary airspace restrictions and heightened security.

Indian air defence systems intercepted drones in the Samba sector of Jammu and in Punjab's Jalandhar, with Army confirming no cause for alarm as the ceasefire holds.

Other Developments


Following the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April, Pakistan had built up forces, including tanks, in the Shakargarh Bulge, a strategic area protruding into India between the Chenab and Ravi rivers. There was also a major build-up of Pakistani armored vehicles and Chinese-made SH-15 self-propelled 155mm howitzers near the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border.

The flat terrain of the Shakargarh Bulge, close to Indian cities like Amritsar, Pathankot, Batala, Gurdaspur, and Jammu, makes it a critical focus for the Indian Army, which has responded with mirror deployments. This area was the site of the notable Battle of Basantar during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war.

India Denies Trump’s Trade Threat Led To Pakistan Ceasefire

India has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that his threat to stop trade led to the ceasefire with Pakistan, clarifying that trade was not discussed in high-level talks.

US Vice President JD Vance spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 May, and Secretary Marco Rubio held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on 8 and 10 May, without mentioning trade.

Trump claimed on 12 May that his trade warnings prompted both nations to halt the conflict to preserve US trade ties. He called the ceasefire "permanent" and expressed optimism about future trade deals with India and Pakistan.

In a national address, Prime Minister Modi stressed that India will not engage in talks alongside terrorism or be coerced by nuclear threats.

Trump To Speak To Xi After 90-Day Tariff Truce

US President Donald Trump has said that he is likely to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming days, declaring a "total reset" in bilateral relations and expressing confidence that the weekend talks would greatly advance "unification and peace."

The US reduced its tariffs on Chinese imports from 145 per cent to about 55 per cent, including 25 per cent from Trump’s first term, 20 per cent for fentanyl, and 10 per cent on all countries. China lowered its tariffs on US imports from 125 per cent to 10 per cent.

The talks, led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, established a trade consultation mechanism to address broader issues.

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