Morning Brief: Drone Stocks Surge Up To 50 Per Cent Following Op Sindoor; LeT Co-Founder Lands In Military Hospital In Lahore; Taliban Turns To Chabahar For Trade; And More

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Drone Stocks Surge Up To 50 Per Cent Following Op Sindoor

Drone-related stocks have surged up to 50 per cent since India launched Operation Sindood on 7 May in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, with companies like Paras Defence, Ideaforge, and Zen Technologies leading the rally, ET has reported.

The use of drones for surveillance and combat during the conflict has sparked investor optimism, feeling momentum in both directly and indirectly involved defence stocks. Analysts believe the sector could still gain another 15–20 per cent, though caution that valuations have become stretched and much of the positive outlook may already be priced in.

Despite high price–earnings ratios, PSU players like Hindustan Aeronautics and Bharat Electronics are viewed more favourably due to stronger order books and reasonable valuations. The Nifty India Defence Index has significantly outperformed the broader market, rising over 17 per cent since the conflict escalated.

Lashkar-e-Taiba Co-Founder Lands In Military Hospital In Lahore

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) co-founder Amir Hamza was suddenly hospitalised on Tuesday (20 May) after reportedly being critically injured at his home and admitted to a military hospital in Lahore under ISI security cover. The 66-year-old editor of Lashkar’s magazines was taken in just three days after Abu Saifullah, a senior Lashkar operative and key recruiter, was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Pakistan.

Hamza was designated a global terrorist by the US in 2012 and has long been a key ideologue close to Hafiz Saeed and Abdul Rehman Makki.

Terror sympathizers on pro-Lashkar Telegram channels urged members to stay strong during this "crisis," while insisting Hamza’s injury was an “accident.” Given Pakistan’s tendency to shield its terror proxies, reports of Hamza’s injury at home should be treated with caution, as the truth is often concealed to protect morale.

Taliban Turns To Indian-Backed Chabahar For Trade

As ties between the Taliban and Pakistan worsen, the Taliban is increasingly turning to India and Iran to diversify its trade routes and reduce reliance on Pakistani ports. It is focusing on Iran’s Chabahar Port, which is managed by India, and is also exploring joining the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Taliban officials have visited Tehran to discuss participation in the project, signaling a shift in regional alliances and a move toward greater independence from Pakistan. Recent high-level engagements between Indian and Taliban officials, including the first ministerial call since 1999, highlight changing geopolitical dynamics in the region.

The reactivation of India’s technical mission in Kabul and visits by senior Indian diplomats have laid the groundwork for this evolving relationship.

Other Developments

India To Spend $10 Billion On Oil Tanker Fleet

India plans to invest $10 billion by 2040 to build a fleet of 112 crude oil tankers, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign-chartered vessels and secure its oil supply chain. The first phase includes purchasing 79 ships, with 30 being medium-range tankers, and orders for 10 tankers are expected to be placed as early as this month.

Only locally built ships, including those made through foreign collaborations, will be considered to boost India’s indigenous shipbuilding industry, which currently lacks scale. The government is also inviting major shipbuilders from Japan and South Korea to establish facilities in India, offering incentives to support growth.

This move aligns with India’s broader goal to expand its refining capacity and strengthen maritime security, while gradually increasing the share of Indian-built oil tankers in its fleet from 5 per cent today to 69 per cent by 2047.

300 Km Of Elevated Track Completed For Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train

India’s first bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has completed 300 km of elevated track (viaduct) in Gujarat, out of a total 508 km.

Around 257 km was built using a fast construction method with over 6,400 large girders, each 40 metres long and weighing 970 tons. Over 3 lakh sound barriers have been installed to reduce noise near populated areas.

The project has also completed 383 km of pier work, 401 km of foundations, and 326 km of girder casting. Track-laying has begun, with 157 km of reinforced concrete track bed ready so far in Gujarat. However, the corridor, with construction work running behind schedule, is likely to become operational only by 2028.

Trump's Golden Dome Missile Shield Plan Unveiled

US President Donald Trump has announced that he selected a design for the $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense shield aimed at protecting against missile threats from China and Russia. The initiative was first ordered by Trump in January this year.

The plan involves the deployment of a network of satellites to detect, track, and intercept incoming missiles, including hypersonic weapons capable of moving faster than the speed of sound, with a hoped-for operational date by January 2029.

While Trump compared Golden Dome to Ronald Reagan’s “Star Wars” missile defence plan, experts remain skeptical about the timeline and cost, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating expenses could reach $831 billion over 20 years.

Israel May Strike Iran Nuclear Sites, Say US Officials

US intelligence indicates Israel may be preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, though no final decision has been made, CNN has reported. The possibility of an attack has increased amid stalled US-Iran nuclear talks and concerns over Iran’s uranium stockpiles.

Israel is reportedly mobilising weapons and concluding air force exercises, but some view these actions as pressure tactics. President Trump has set deadlines for diplomatic progress and warned military action remains on the table if talks fail. Israel has a history of striking nuclear sites in Iraq and Syria to prevent regional threats.

From The States

Kerala: Monsoon Expected To Arrive Within 4-5 Days

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast extremely heavy rainfall over north Kerala and parts of Karnataka, with monsoon onset expected over Kerala within the next 4-5 days. Ferocious thunderstorms were observed along the coast from Coastal Karnataka through Goa into Konkan ahead of the monsoon arrival later this week.

The Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon is likely to advance into the North-Eastern states soon, covering more parts of the south Arabian Sea, Maldives, Comorin area, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, and the Bay of Bengal regions. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has already affected Kerala, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Coastal Karnataka, Goa, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tripura, and parts of West Bengal in the last 24 hours.

Karnataka: Kharge Attacks Siddaramaiah Over Caste Survey Move

Mallikarjun Kharge has criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the inclusion of the Beda Jangama group—traditionally part of the OBC Lingayat community—under the Scheduled Caste (SC) list. Kharge warned that this move could harm Dalit interests and questioned the sharp rise in the group's SC population count, suggesting it could be due to misuse of caste certificates.

His remarks came amid a state-wide SC sub-caste survey led by the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission, which aims to implement internal reservations within SCs. The 2015-2017 caste survey, conducted during Siddaramaiah’s earlier tenure, had also listed Beda Jangamas under both Lingayat and SC categories.

You’re all caught up—until next time.