Morning Brief: Countdown To Strike As India Tightens The Noose On Pakistan — PM Modi Holds Key Meets, States Ordered To Conduct Safety Drills For First Time Since 1971, And More

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Countdown To Strike As India Tightens The Noose On Pakistan

As India prepares to punish the Pakistan Army for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, dramatic developments were reported on Monday( 5May).

One, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held meetings with security officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Home Secretary, to look at options for punishing Pakistan.

The discussions followed the PM’s meetings with Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Sunday (3 May) and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Saturday (4 May).

Two, India has drastically reduced water flow in the Chenab River, with levels dropping to below waist height for the first time in years. Reports confirm that sluice gates at the Salal and Baglihar dams in Reasi and Ramban districts were closed to store water, following a desalination process.

Interestingly, Pakistan’s Indus River System Authority has raised alarms over a 21 per cent water shortage looming for its early Kharif season due to the sudden decrease in Chenab inflows at Marala.

Three, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered northern and western states and Union Territories, including Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana, to bolster civil defence mechanisms. Mock drills, air raid siren tests, blackout measures, and civilian safety training are set for 7 May to prepare for potential aerial or ground assaults.

Not even during Operation Vijay in 1999 to evict Pakistani intruders in Kargil, or the massive troop mobilisation in 2001 following the Parliament attack, was an exercise of this scale undertaken, the Times of India said in a report.

Four, the United Nations Security Council held a closed-door discussion on the situation just hours after Secretary General Antonio Guterres voiced concern over tensions being "at their highest in years". Pakistan, currently a non-permanent member of the 15-nation Security Council, had requested for "closed consultations" on the situation.

Other Developments

Centre Draws Red Lines For Satcom Firms

The government has issued strict security guidelines for satellite communication (satcom) services in India, mandating legal interception and banning any linkages to facilities or data processing outside the country. Companies offering satcom services must ensure at least 20 per cent of their ground infrastructure is developed indigenously within a few years of operations.

The move comes as India prepares to open satellite communication to the general public, necessitating safeguards against misuse by criminal or terrorists. Major players like Starlink, OneWeb, and Jio Satellite Communications will now need security clearances for gateway locations and must comply with interception requirements.

SC Raps HCs For ‘Eternal’ Judgment Delays

The court's intervention has already prompted action in at least one high court. The Jharkhand HC delivered verdicts later in the day in two appeals where it had reserved judgements since 2022, reports said.

Israel Approves Plan To Capture Gaza, Relocate 2.1 Million Citizens

Israel's security cabinet has approved an expanded military offensive in Gaza, including a plan to seize and hold territory to dismantle Hamas and rescue remaining hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu said the operation would be forceful and long-term, with Gaza’s population of 2.1 million to be relocated “for their protection.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu declared the plan a decisive effort to destroy Hamas and retrieve hostages, with Israeli forces expected to remain on the ground rather than conduct limited incursions. The military campaign follows a renewed offensive after a ceasefire collapse in March.

China’s "Sixth-Gen" Fighter Can Block Airspace From 1,000 Km Away: Report

A Chinese military magazine has claimed that Beijing’s "sixth-generation fighter jet", unofficially known as the J-36, could block airspace to US bases in Guam for up to two hours from 1,000 km away during a future Taiwan conflict. Developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation, the stealth aircraft aims to address the PLA’s current limitations against advanced US bombers like the B-21.

The analysis claims that once operational, the J-36 would allow the PLA to intercept US warplanes and suppress air defences from afar. This capability could hinder US military intervention and air superiority in the western Pacific, especially within the first island chain. Recent sightings of the jet near Chengdu suggest rapid development and frequent testing of the platform.

From The States

Mamata Tries To Absolve Islamist Allies In Violence Against Hindus

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited riot-hit Murshidabad and accused the central government of orchestrating communal violence, while claiming she had uncovered a larger conspiracy behind the unrest. She alleged that outsiders and certain religious leaders were inciting hatred, and that the BJP, with the help of some media houses, manipulated the narrative.

Mamata also criticised the NHRC’s swift visit to Murshidabad, calling it a politically motivated move, and accused the BJP of relocating affected families to prevent her from meeting them. Islamists attacked and killed Hindus in Murshidabad last month, as the state government sided with hardline elements on the issue of the Waqf Law.

Patnaik Sidelining Critics Within BJD

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has reconstituted a 10-member Political Affairs Committee (PAC) to ensure collective decision-making amid growing internal dissent. The move follows allegations by senior BJD leaders of “outside forces” weakening Patnaik’s leadership, particularly targeting his former private secretary V K Pandian.

The PAC, chaired by Patnaik, includes loyalists like Sasmit Patra and Pranab Prakash Das but excludes vocal critics of Pandian, who have been assigned less prominent roles in frontal organizations. Critics within the party, such as Prasanna Acharya and Ranendra Pratap Swain, have been sidelined to largely ceremonial roles.

You’re all caught up—until next time.