Pakistan violated the ceasefire for the seventh consecutive night on Wednesday, opening unprovoked fire across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor sectors. The Indian Army responded swiftly and in a controlled manner to the aggression.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00:00The top story that we are following here on India today is coming in from the LOC.
00:00:04It was during the night of 30th and the 1st, 30th April 1st of May when Pakistan army forced
00:00:09unprovoked small arms firing across the line of actual control.
00:00:14This took place opposite Kupwara, Uri and Aqtore regions.
00:00:18Now this was responded proportionately by the Indian army.
00:00:21We have seen over the past many days how unprovoked small arms firing across the LOC has been taking place.
00:00:26Last night it was in Kupwara, Uri and in Aqtore.
00:00:32This was responded proportionately by the Indian army.
00:00:35Since the 22nd of April terror attack that took place at the Baisaran Valley in Kashmir,
00:00:40we have seen how Pakistan almost every day is violating the ceasefire that has been put on the line of actual control, that is the LOC.
00:00:48Even last night, Pakistani army posted uninitiative, unprovoked small arms firing across the line of actual control.
00:00:55Now this firing could be seen in Kupwara, in Uri and in Aqtore region.
00:01:00It was the Indian army that responded proportionately to this violation of the ceasefire that has happened.
00:01:06In fact, on both the sides, there was a hotline that was opened between Pakistan and India
00:01:11and there was a discussion with regards to the continuous violation of the ceasefire which is being done by the Pakistani side.
00:01:18In Kupwara, in Uri and in Aqtore, in these three areas, last night, there was unprovoked small arms firing violation of the ceasefire that has been levied on the line of actual control.
00:01:29The Indian army responded proportionately to this.
00:01:33My colleague Shivani Sharma is now joining me on the story.
00:01:36Shivani, we have seen almost how over the past one week, every night, there is a violation which is being done by the Pakistani army.
00:01:42The Indian army has been responding to it.
00:01:46Aishwarya, you are right.
00:01:48Since last seven days, there have been violations along the line of control from the Pakistani army post.
00:01:53They have been initiating unprovoked small arms fires across Pailosi.
00:01:57And yesterday night, it happened at the sides of Kupwara, Uri and Akhnoor sectors.
00:02:05And this has already happened at times.
00:02:08Aishwarya, the Indian army has been responding differently and proportionately.
00:02:13And remember on Tuesday, there was a DGMO level talk.
00:02:17Though the army said that this was a routine talk, but this issue of ceasefire violations was also discussed in this particular talk.
00:02:23But the Pakistani side doesn't seem to mend its ways.
00:02:28It is continuously violating the ceasefire.
00:02:31Thank you, Shivani, for giving us those details.
00:02:33Pakistani side not adhering to the ceasefire, continuously violating the ceasefire.
00:02:38In fact, in another diplomatic strike, following the Pahalgam terror attack,
00:02:43India has now announced Pakistani flights no longer will be allowed to use Indian airspace.
00:02:46This marks the latest in the string of diplomatic responses with regards to the brutal attack that claimed 26 innocent Indian lives.
00:02:56All the fights originating from Pakistan and the Pakistani aircraft have been banned from the Indian airspace till the 24th of May.
00:03:02As a result, Pakistani flights will now be forced to take longer detours to reach the destinations across the subcontinent.
00:03:09This will raise the operational cost and increase the travel time.
00:03:12Pakistan is clearly rattled, very, very concerned, is struggling to respond to India's multi-pronged non-military offensive.
00:03:20It is perhaps dismounting pressure that led Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif to warm the chances of conflict, which are now increasing.
00:03:28This move marks yet another diplomatic strike by India following the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty.
00:03:33Now, the disproportionate Pakistani nationals, after revoking their visas and ban on Pakistani news channels,
00:03:39even celebrity accounts across Indian digital platforms have now been banned.
00:03:46Pakistan will not be the first one to resort to any escalative move.
00:03:54However, in case of any escalative move by the Indian side, we will respond very strongly.
00:04:06Pakistan has nothing to do with the Pahal Kaam incident, period.
00:04:12We demand an independent and transparent probe by neutral investigators, as announced by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
00:04:21It is unfortunate that India continues to weaponize unsubstantiated acquisitions and allegations.
00:04:30We are getting ready and prepared for it anyway.
00:04:34And these few days, as I said, are very important.
00:04:37We expect some mediation at this time from some friendly countries.
00:04:43And we hope that that mediation must take place.
00:04:49Otherwise, India would do anything at this time.
00:04:52I think this is the right time for the international, internationally as a whole,
00:04:58and UN Secretary General to play a part, to play some mediating role on Kashmir as well,
00:05:04because, as it has been for so many long times, and people of our Kishmir have suffered a lot.
00:05:12This time is the right time, so the times of the Kishmir have suffered a lot.
00:05:22The international community has also been affected by the other side of the Kishmir.
00:05:26So the Kishmir also has a lot of power, and the Kishmir also has a lot of power in the Kishmir.
00:05:33News that's coming in at the moment, it's United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio,
00:05:52who's called Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sarip amid the rising tensions with India
00:05:57following the Pahalgam attack last week that killed 26 people.
00:06:00These developments are coming in after the U.S. Department spokesperson said Washington
00:06:08is reaching out both to India and to Pakistan regarding the Kashmir situation and telling
00:06:13them not to escalate the situation.
00:06:16It is the U.S. State Secretary which has now held a conversation over Zoom with Pakistani
00:06:24Prime Minister Shahbaz Sarip.
00:06:25This is the United States of America which is now saying that both the nations should
00:06:33make sure that they restrain in this situation.
00:06:35In fact, it was the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, who had said
00:06:40that this is a bad one and also said that both India and Pakistan need to figure this issue
00:06:44out one way or the other.
00:06:47My colleague Shivani Sharma is joining me on the phone line.
00:06:49Shivani, now it's the U.S. State Secretary having a conversation with the Pakistani Prime Minister.
00:06:55U.S. State Secretary is now telling Pakistan and even having a conversation with the Indian
00:07:00counterpart and telling both the nations that they need not to escalate the situation.
00:07:04Aishwarya, the United States has been actually intervening and telling Pakistan to help and cooperate
00:07:14in the fair investigation of this issue.
00:07:17And yesterday also, the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, he held telephonic conversations
00:07:23not only with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif, but also with the External Affairs
00:07:28Minister, Dr. S. Jayshankar, where the U.S. Secretary of State, he has urged that there
00:07:34should be cooperation from Pakistan's officials and the investigation should be there in a
00:07:40fair manner.
00:07:41There should be unconsciously enabled attack.
00:07:45He has called this attack unconsciously enabled attack and they have already condemned
00:07:50the terror attack in Pahelgaam a number of times.
00:07:52Yesterday, once again, Pakistan was told by the United States to cooperate and to help
00:07:58an investigation of this particular attack.
00:08:02Thanks, Shivani, giving us all those details.
00:08:04My colleague Shivani Sharma giving us the details.
00:08:06It's the United States of America which has now picked up the phone and having a conversation
00:08:10with the Pakistani Prime Minister, telling them to restrain.
00:08:18There's massive fear and frenzy at the moment across Pakistan.
00:08:22Top Pakistani ministers have been raising the alarm, crying that Indian attack is imminent.
00:08:26In fact, even the Pakistani Prime Minister sent out an SOS to the United Nations.
00:08:31Pakistan has scrambled the fighter jets and naval warships.
00:08:35It's clear that India's neighbor is getting very, very jittery.
00:08:38Prime Minister Nain de Modi chaired five very crucial meetings.
00:08:41Pakistan is now looking at an unimaginable punishment for the terror that they have been giving to India.
00:08:47Jittery, rattled, panic-stricken.
00:08:59Pakistan runs helter-skelter, fearing retaliation from India.
00:09:03A midnight crisis cabinet briefing.
00:09:10A panic call to the United Nations condemning India.
00:09:13Cutting short air operations by 50 percent, fearing confusion.
00:09:18And two air warfare exercises, including air defence and interception drills.
00:09:23Panic-stricken at 3 a.m., Pakistan Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed that intel sources have revealed
00:09:31that India may carry out a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours.
00:09:36Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends carrying out military action against Pakistan
00:09:48in the next 24 to 36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgaam incident.
00:09:58Pakistan Air Force has cut down at flying operations by over 50 percent
00:10:06and only essential operations are being carried out to avoid any confusion in the airspace.
00:10:13Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is also panicking.
00:10:18He called the UN condemning India's diplomatic strike, alleging false propaganda by India.
00:10:24The Secretary General also expressed his deep concern at the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
00:10:32And he also underscored the need to avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences.
00:10:39The Secretary General offered his good officers to support any de-escalation efforts.
00:10:47Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he pushed to omit mention of Lashkar-e-Toi-ba-proxy,
00:10:53TRF, from a United Nations Security Council press statement.
00:10:58A big admission of Islamabad's role in terror attacks, including the Pahalgaam strike.
00:11:02We refused to budget.
00:11:03We refused to budget.
00:11:04We refused to budget.
00:11:09This is the UN's-City-Ti-Ti-R-F had done.
00:11:10A big admission of the UN's-City-Ti-R-F has done.
00:11:11If the UN's-City-Ti-R-F has done, we refused to budget.
00:11:12If the UN's-City-Ti-Ti-R-F has done it.
00:11:13We refused to budget.
00:11:14The UN's-City-Ti-Ti-R-F has done it.
00:11:15It was the UN's-City-Ti-R-F
00:11:16Pakistan's mortal fear triggered after PM Modi gave a free hand to the security forces
00:11:45in a key security meet on Tuesday evening.
00:12:15Is a devastating attack on Pakistan only a matter of time?
00:12:25Bureau Report, India Today.
00:12:27News that's coming in at the moment.
00:12:36It's the YouTube channel of Pakistani Army, that is the ISPR, has been shut down in India.
00:12:42Now after Pakistani news channels, YouTube pages have been blocked.
00:12:47That's the latest news which is coming in.
00:12:48In fact, the Indian government has been requesting YouTube and other social media platforms like Instagram and X
00:12:55to ban Pakistani handles across social media platforms in India.
00:13:00And now the YouTube channel of the Pakistani Army, that is the ISPR, has been shut down in India.
00:13:06After Pakistani news channels, the YouTube pages have now been blocked.
00:13:11My colleague Shivani Sharma is with me on the story.
00:13:14Shivani, we are seeing it's not just the YouTube channels.
00:13:18Instagram pages, even X accounts have been blocked in India.
00:13:23A very clear message sent out by India.
00:13:25The government has been requesting various social media platforms to block certain pages.
00:13:29Aishwarya, this is a big cyber strike on the fake information of Pakistan that they have been trying to spread in India.
00:13:38And remember, on Monday, there was an action where 16 YouTube channels were already shut down in India.
00:13:46And in a series of expansion of this exercise, yesterday, multiple more Instagram accounts, YouTube channels have been shut down.
00:13:53And this particularly is important because this is the YouTube channel of the Pakistani army that has been now shut down in India.
00:14:01So, this is a big blow to Pakistan's government that their major channels have been now inaccessible in India.
00:14:09And those government channels also have been now shut down in India.
00:14:14Thank you, Shivani, giving us all those details.
00:14:16Now, diplomatic offensive is on from the Indian side.
00:14:19And now, after Pakistani news channels, YouTube pages have also been blocked.
00:14:23Now, we are seeing how India is making sure that most of the things that do not work for it, they are being striked off.
00:14:33It's military plus diplomatic strike that we are seeing.
00:14:36India is also cracking down on Pakistani artists now.
00:14:38In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, India has blocked Pakistani films and also disabled Instagram handles of Pakistani singers, actors and even musicians.
00:14:48Instagram handles of Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Ali Zafar, Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Sajal Elay, all of them have been restricted in India.
00:14:58This comes days after Fawad Khan's upcoming film, Abir Gulal, release was banned in India.
00:15:03India's approach to Pakistani artists and films has shifted dramatically in response to the major terror attack linked to Pakistani-based groups.
00:15:12After the 2016 Uri attack, Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, featuring Fawad Khan, faced a lot of backlash.
00:15:18In fact, Karan Johar publicly promised not to work with Pakistani talent in future.
00:15:23Mahira Khan, who was cast opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the film Raise, was barred from promoting the film in India.
00:15:28The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association passed a resolution prohibiting Pakistani artists from working in Indian films.
00:15:36After the 2019 Fulvama attack, music label T-Series temporarily removed Pakistani songs and also singers like Atif Aslam and Rahatar Fateh Ali Khan from all its platforms.
00:15:48Let's begin with India Today.
00:15:49World exclusive that we are getting you at the moment, the face of evil, that is Hafiz Saeed.
00:15:55He is not hiding in some hole in Pakistan.
00:15:57He lives in a thriving neighborhood, as you and me.
00:16:01He is the hero.
00:16:02He has a mansion.
00:16:03He in fact has 24-7 security.
00:16:05He even has a private park.
00:16:06Those are the images that you are seeing on your screens.
00:16:09These are the satellite images that we have been seeing for the first time on India Today.
00:16:15What you are seeing is the place where Hafiz Saeed, who is the mastermind behind the attack that took place,
00:16:21he is staying.
00:16:21He lives in a thriving neighborhood.
00:16:23He has a mansion, 24-7 security, even has a private park.
00:16:28Those are the images that we are now showing you.
00:16:34Hafiz Mohamed Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief, the Pahlgaam attack mastermind.
00:16:43India's most wanted, an enemy number one.
00:16:47It was as terror proxies that unleashed terror on Indian civilians on April 22nd.
00:16:52The terror mastermind continues to live in Pakistani protection.
00:16:55Here's the proof.
00:17:00India Today has tracked down the current location of Hafiz Saeed.
00:17:03He lives in Lahore, in a densely populated colony, under heavy security provided by the Pakistani government.
00:17:10Right beside this highway, right beside this highway, there is this posh locality.
00:17:17Within this posh locality, there are three structures that I want to, I want to focus on.
00:17:22This structure is where Hafiz Saeed, the Lashkar chief, lives with his family.
00:17:28The structure, the second structure, that is slightly bigger, that will come up on your screens.
00:17:33This one, this one houses a mosque, a madrasa and a residential complex as well.
00:17:40So this is his home, this is his work office.
00:17:46India Today has also exclusively accessed videos of Hafiz Saeed's Lahore safe house.
00:17:51This is how the terror den looks.
00:17:53In one of the exclusive videos accessed by India Today, a man can be heard speaking to personal security of Hafiz Saeed about them.
00:18:03In another video, a man can be seen giving out details about two buildings standing at a vantage point.
00:18:33In a third video, policemen guarding Hafiz Saeed can be seen pushing a car.
00:18:44Another man in the video details buildings around the hideout.
00:18:47You are not going to tell me.
00:18:48Hafiz, you are not going to tell me.
00:18:50You are not going to tell me.
00:18:51You are not going to tell me.
00:18:51You are not going to tell me.
00:18:53You are not going to tell me.
00:18:56Satellite pictures and video footage exclusively accessed by India Today show how India's most wanted terrorist,
00:19:02hides on the plain sight.
00:19:05Globally designated terrorist leader living among common people in the middle of a Pakistani city.
00:19:12With Arvind Doja and Ankit Kumar, Bureau Report, India Today.
00:19:19Now there's a very old saying that in geopolitics there are no permanent friends or enemies, but only permanent interest.
00:19:26And this is true and we can see this unfolding in South Asia.
00:19:29There are shifting alliances that are actually redrawing the regional map.
00:19:32Afghanistan, once a very close ally of Pakistan, now appears to be tilting towards India.
00:19:38New Delhi is seizing this moment.
00:19:40Take a look at this report.
00:19:41A week since the Pahlgaam, India has not just flexed its military muscle, but also its diplomatic and strategic strength.
00:19:57Just days after a deadly terror attack in Pahlgaam, which was carried out by Pakistani-backed TRF terrorists,
00:20:06a high-level Indian delegation led by Special Envoy Anand Prakash held talks with the Taliban leadership in Kabul.
00:20:13Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan, which has been long seen as Pakistan's strategic partner, is re-evaluating its loyalties.
00:20:25Bilateral ties, trade and transit cooperation topped the agenda.
00:20:30But the signal from India was clear.
00:20:34New Delhi won't forget Pahlgaam and Pakistan will have to pay for its sins.
00:20:39The backdrop to this shift is rising tensions along the Duran line.
00:20:47While the Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of sheltering Dharik-e-Taliban-Pakistan fighters
00:20:53and has blamed it for a wave of attacks in Khaybat Patunkhwa,
00:20:59Kabul, meanwhile, decries cross-border shelling and interference by Islamabad.
00:21:05As hostility grows between Kabul and Islamabad, India is quietly deepening its footprint.
00:21:13Beyond politics, cultural ties are blossoming.
00:21:17Cricket is turning into a powerful, soft power tool
00:21:20and is helping forge bonds off the battlefield.
00:21:26In South Asia's volatile political theatre, the equations are shifting fast.
00:21:34Bureau Report, India Today.
00:21:44News that's coming in at the moment.
00:21:45It's an eye-to-eye navy drill that we can see taking place between India and Pakistan.
00:21:49India-Pakistan naval firing drills off Gujarat coast.
00:21:55Sources have told India Today the Indian Army is conducting multiple drills.
00:21:59India has issued four notifications, green, for the naval firing in the coastal area of Gujarat,
00:22:04just 85 nautical miles away from Pakistan.
00:22:08Pakistan also has now started doing its navy drills in the Arabian Sea.
00:22:13Indian Navy has been conducting various exercises.
00:22:15More demonstrations are scheduled in days to come.
00:22:18Eye-to-eye navy drills that are taking place between India and Pakistan now.
00:22:27India-Pakistan naval drills off the Gujarat coast.
00:22:30My colleague Shivani Sharma joining me on the story.
00:22:32Shivani, this is flexing of muscles that we can see both from Indian side and from the Pakistani side.
00:22:37The naval drills off Gujarat coast.
00:22:39India and Pakistan, both of them are now looking at these drills.
00:22:42More drills are scheduled in days to come, Shivani.
00:22:46That's what we understand.
00:22:48I swear we've been seeing how the Indian Navy has been exercising demonstrations and firing of its missile systems.
00:22:55And that has also been conveyed to the Pakistani side that please beware.
00:23:00And now, once again, this NOTAM has been issued where it seems that off the Gujarat coast,
00:23:06there are naval exercises that are scheduled for the coming days.
00:23:11And we've also seen that the similar NOTAMs have been issued by the Pakistani side too in the same region.
00:23:17So, this is a countermeasure that the Indian Navy has been following to counter any kind of misadventures of Pakistan.
00:23:25So, this is a normal, usual standard of operation by the Indian Navy to protect the maritime boundaries
00:23:31and to keep itself operationally prepared.
00:23:34So, these are the exercises that have been happening in the past one week.
00:23:37Even the BrahMos has been successfully launched and fired.
00:23:41We've seen those pictures and videos that have been released by the Indian Navy.
00:23:45And more such exercises are being planned and the NOTAM has been issued for the same.
00:23:50Thank you, Shivani, giving us those details.
00:23:52NOTAM has been issued.
00:23:53Indian Navy has started conducting multiple drills eye-to-eye.
00:23:57Navy drills taking off the coast of Gujarat.
00:24:01Now, in a landmark decision that will actually change the Indian politics forever.
00:24:06It's the central government that has now announced that the caste census will be conducted
00:24:10alongside the upcoming National Population Census.
00:24:13While making this announcement, the central government listed out what it called Congress Party's hypocrisy on this issue,
00:24:19suggesting that there were inconsistencies in what the opposition has been saying with regards to caste-based census.
00:24:25Leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, welcomed Centre's decision, though he described it as being taken under pressure.
00:24:32The Congress Party also claimed credit for pushing the Centre to take up this all-important caste census issue.
00:24:37The other opposition leaders also welcomed the move, though not about raising critical questions.
00:24:42They are saying that they are looking very keenly at the timing and also the way in which this census will be done.
00:24:47That's what the opposition is saying at the moment.
00:24:49This is the debate.
00:25:12foreign
00:25:40of erection, of banchidwarg, and of pichlons,
00:25:45is still a lackadmig.
00:25:47Now, the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and the Virod,
00:25:50all the people who have been running two-muhi-nipi,
00:25:55ate all their minds in their minds.
00:25:58Today, they are saying that we don't have to say that we don't have to say it.
00:26:02They have forgotten that the government of their father-in-law was before.
00:26:06But they couldn't do it.
00:26:08They will say that we have seen the government and said that we have done it.
00:26:38It is the Narendra Modi government that has finally bitten the bullet and have announced the nationwide caste census.
00:26:57The government says the caste enumeration will be a part of the census that is expected to take place next year.
00:27:02Rahul Gandhi who made caste censors the cornerstone of his Lok Sabha election campaign has welcomed this decision.
00:27:09Watch this report.
00:27:32The demand for a caste census blew up politically with the backdrop of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
00:27:57The government, while making the announcement today, stressed on what they deemed has been Congress's double-speak.
00:28:11The Congress, though, was quick to take credit, stressing they have already conducted the caste survey in Telangana and already proposed reservation based on it.
00:28:38Jairam Ramesh tweeted a letter from 2023 stating that the Congress President, Malik Arjun Kharge, then had requested the Prime Minister to conduct a caste survey immediately.
00:28:51While the move will have tectonic political implications, the state of Bihar, going into elections in less than six months,
00:29:19will feel its maximum political impact.
00:29:23The Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar, tweeted, welcoming the move.
00:29:29The political minefield that this move exposes will require deft political manoeuvring.
00:29:36Till now, the dream of Baba Sahib Ambedkar, of a caste-less society, has only but remained a dream and a mirage.
00:29:44The hard reality is that caste continues to play a huge role in governance and social equity and policy.
00:29:52And for that, will it be better to have real numbers or continue to operate blind?
00:29:58The top story that we are following here on India today, coming in with regards to India monitoring the big airspace along with all the Pakistan borders.
00:30:10India has deployed jamming systems to disrupt the global navigating satellite system, signals coming in from the Pakistani aircraft.
00:30:17Pakistani military craft signals can be jammed using these systems.
00:30:21Pakistani craft navigation systems at the moment have been degraded.
00:30:25It is India which has now started the jamming system, which have been deployed to disrupt Pakistan's situational navigation,
00:30:32awareness and precision-guided mutation capabilities.
00:30:38This is India which has now made sure that it looks at the GPS systems of Pakistan and they have been jammed.
00:30:44My colleague Shivani Sharma now joining me on the story.
00:30:47Shivani, this is big news coming in with regards to what India is doing.
00:30:50It has started to monitor the airspace along with the Pakistan borders.
00:30:55Ashwarya, India has always been very vigilant and it has been monitoring the borders not only on the ground but also on the skies.
00:31:04And now, because after the Pahlghaam attack, the situation has escalated.
00:31:08The tensions are high between India and Pakistan.
00:31:10And Pakistan has been issuing notams of multiple air exercises and there is heightened air activity close to the borders.
00:31:17So, India as a standard operating procedure is monitoring the airspace and India has been deploying these jamming systems to disrupt the global navigation satellite system that is the GNSS that is being used by the Pakistani aircraft.
00:31:32So, this is for all the aircraft, the Pakistani military aircraft and the signals can be jammed if they try any kind of misadventure close to the line of control.
00:31:42So, this is how India is prepared to take on to any challenge or any kind of threat from Pakistan because India has been preparing strategically and there are tactical moves that are being planned right now after the CCS have been conducted and authorization has been given to the Indian Army Chiefs for any kind of action.
00:32:02So, the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force, they are already all set for any kind of situation that emerges along the borders.
00:32:10Thank you, Shwarya.
00:32:14Right, Shwarya, please stay on with me.
00:32:16We will get some more news coming in with regards to what the Indian Defence Services are now doing with regards to retaliation.
00:32:2322nd April was the day when the Pakistani terrorist entered India, killed 26 innocent citizens and then fled the spot at the moment.
00:32:30The army is very closely monitoring the situation.
00:32:33In fact, a list of 14 terrorists has also been gathered by the intel in the government.
00:32:39India, in fact, has now gone ahead and shut the airspace for Pakistani flights.
00:32:43India hits Pakistani flight operations.
00:32:46India has no time banning Pakistani aircraft, including Pakistan International Airlines.
00:32:51Now, this means that they will have to reroute with regards to their international flights, especially those to Southeast Asia, the Far East and parts of Middle East.
00:33:00My colleague, Shwarya, must still be with me on the phone line.
00:33:04Shwarya, India has hit back.
00:33:05They have shut the airspace for Pakistani flights, which means the operational cost will increase.
00:33:10The travel time will increase now from Pakistan.
00:33:12Shwarya, this is a decision that was under consideration since past few days from the Indian government.
00:33:19And now, government has issued an OTAM.
00:33:22That means now, no, it's...
00:33:25We'll try and reconnect with my colleague, Shivani Sharma.
00:33:33The visuals, viewers, that you are seeing on your screens are of the route that earlier Pakistani flights used to take.
00:33:38But now, India has gone ahead and they have stopped Pakistani airplanes, Pakistani flights to use Indian airspace.
00:33:45Now, the routes will increase.
00:33:46The operational cost will also increase.
00:33:48What you see now, the old route, a clear-cut route, Lahore to Kuala Lumpur.
00:33:55And now, the new route that you can very clearly see.
00:33:58This is the route that Pakistani flights will now have to take.
00:34:00In yet another big diplomatic strike following the Pahalgam terror attack,
00:34:09India has announced that Pakistani flights will no longer be allowed to use Indian airspace.
00:34:14Now, this marks the latest in the string of strong diplomatic response coming in after the 26 lives were lost in the brutal terror attack in Kashmir.
00:34:22All the flights originating from Pakistan and all the Pakistani aircrafts have been banned from the Indian space till the 24th of May.
00:34:29Now, as a result, Pakistani flights will now be forced to take a longer detour to reach the destinations across the subcontinent.
00:34:37Now, this will raise operational cost and also increase the travel time.
00:34:41Pakistan clearly is rattled.
00:34:43It feels like it is cornered.
00:34:44It is struggling to respond to India's multi-pronged, non-military offensive.
00:34:48It perhaps is the reason why we are seeing Pakistan now mounting pressure.
00:34:52It's Pakistan's Defense Minister, Khwaja Asif, who is now saying that the chances of conflict between India and Pakistan are increasing.
00:34:59This move marks yet another diplomatic strike by India following the suspension of the Indus treaty water.
00:35:05The deportation of Pakistani nationals, their visas were rebuked by the government,
00:35:09the ban on Pakistani news channels and celebrity accounts across Indian national platforms.
00:35:14So, this is a multi-pronged approach that the Indian government at the moment is taking.
00:35:19The military one will follow.
00:35:21Pakistan will not be the first one to resort to any escalatory move.
00:35:31However, in case of any escalatory move by the Indian side, we will respond very strongly.
00:35:42Pakistan has nothing to do with the Pahlkam incident, period.
00:35:47We demand an independent and transparent probe by neutral investigators as announced by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mohamed Shabashree.
00:35:57It is unfortunate that India continues to weaponize unsubstantiated acquisitions and allegations.
00:36:05We are getting ready and prepared for it anyway and these few days, as I said, are very important.
00:36:13We expect some mediation at this time from some friendly countries and we hope that that mediation must take place.
00:36:24Otherwise, India would do anything at this time.
00:36:28I think this is the right time for the international, internationally as a whole and UN Secretary General to play a part,
00:36:37to play some mediating role on Kashmir as well because as it's also mediation for a long time
00:36:44and people of Agoport Kashmir had suffered a lot.
00:36:48This is the right time.
00:37:18Now, let me break it down to you.
00:37:24How will these routes actually change after the signal that India has given that their airspace cannot be used?
00:37:31What you are seeing out here is the old route versus the new route.
00:37:34Now, if we speak about the old route, it was a clear-cut route and this is the old route
00:37:38if you were traveling from Lahore to Kuala Lumpur.
00:37:41Now, if you look at the new route, you understand that it is very difficult
00:37:44to make sure that you somehow go on the other way,
00:37:47which means that the operational cost will increase, the time will increase
00:37:51and the money that people will be shelling out, that will also increase.
00:37:55So, this is something that the Indian government now is clearly looking at.
00:37:58Just a look at the old route and the new route will tell you
00:38:01how substantially the travel time will increase, the operational cost will also increase.
00:38:05It will become more difficult and this is just the big thing.
00:38:08We will see more such offenses coming in from the Indian government.
00:38:12Old route versus new route giving you a glimpse
00:38:14and this is something that all the airlines, all the flights traveling from Pakistan
00:38:18will now have to go.
00:38:20Earlier, it was a straight route.
00:38:21They could use the Indian airspace, but now they will have to take a detour,
00:38:25go all the way around and then reach the destination
00:38:27and this will be the fate of all the routes that Pakistani flights will now be taking.
00:38:34What we are showing you, we are giving you an example.
00:38:36If you were traveling from Lahore to Kuala Lumpur,
00:38:39that it was a straight route, which means the timing was less,
00:38:42but now, since the government has given out a very clear notice
00:38:45that no Pakistani airlines will now be able to use the Indian route,
00:38:49you see the kind of diversion that will now happen.
00:38:57News that's coming in at the moment.
00:39:01It's Pakistan that has given the fourth naval missile firing notification
00:39:05in the last one week, but has not fired even a single missile.
00:39:09Indian Navy is keeping a very close watch on the situation.
00:39:15Eye-to-eye Navy drills are also taking place between India and Pakistan.
00:39:20India-Pakistan naval drills off the Kuj, Gujarat coast at the moment.
00:39:24Indian Navy has started conducting multiple drills.
00:39:27Pakistan is rattled.
00:39:28They feel that they are cornered.
00:39:30That's why we are seeing statements also coming in from Pakistan.
00:39:36Pakistan has given fourth naval missile firing notification in the last one week,
00:39:42but has not fired any missile on the previous three occasions.
00:39:45Indian Navy also keeping a very close watch on the situation and all the activities.
00:39:51If we speak about the Navy,
00:39:53there is an eye-to-eye Navy drill taking place between India and Pakistan.
00:39:57My colleague Shivani is joining me on the story.
00:40:00Shivani, India-Pakistan naval firing drills taking place off the Gujarat coast.
00:40:04And we are also seeing an eye-to-eye Navy drill taking place between India and Pakistan.
00:40:10Aishwarya, remember Indian Navy has been conducting these drills
00:40:13and have been bringing out this information starting from the INS Surat
00:40:18that had fired a successful missile last week
00:40:20and after that also multiple exercises that have been happening in the blue waters,
00:40:25including the long-range firing of the BrahMos missile.
00:40:28And again, one NOTAM has been issued now
00:40:31where it shows that Indian Navy is conducting
00:40:35and is scheduling its exercises in the coming days also
00:40:38as we see that Pakistan has been issuing NOTAM too.
00:40:41So, there is a preparedness not only among the Indian Navy
00:40:46but all the forces to counter and check
00:40:48any kind of misadventures of the Pakistani Army, Navy and Air Force.
00:40:52And these drills are also happening off the coast of Gujarat
00:40:55which is quite close to the area where the Pakistani Navy has issued a NOTAM.
00:41:00So, Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force,
00:41:03they all are ready for any kind of countermeasures and challenges
00:41:06that come their way while they are actually preparing
00:41:09for a strategic and a tactical response to counter-terroristic Pakistan.
00:41:15Shivani, please stay on with me.
00:41:17We've got some more news coming in with regards to
00:41:19at what's happening if we speak about all the three fronts,
00:41:22the Navy, the Army, the Air Force.
00:41:24All of them, in fact, have been given a clear go-ahead from the government.
00:41:28Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat with all the three chiefs,
00:41:31spoke with them at length about what all can be done.
00:41:34It's not just military, but there's also a diplomatic strike
00:41:37that India at the moment is doing.
00:41:38India is also cracking down on Pakistani artists.
00:41:42In the aftermath of the terror attack that took place on the 22nd of April,
00:41:46India has now gone ahead and blocked Pakistani films
00:41:48and also disabled the Instagram handles
00:41:50of various Pakistani singers, actors and musicians.
00:41:54Instagram handles of Mahira Khan, Hania Amir, Ali Zafar,
00:41:59Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Ikra Aziz, Imran Abbas, Sajal Ali,
00:42:03all of them have been restricted in India.
00:42:06Now, this comes just days after Fawad Khan's upcoming film,
00:42:09Abhir Gulal, was banned from being released in India.
00:42:12India's approach to Pakistani artists and films have shifted dramatically.
00:42:15Now, this is with response to the major terror attacks linked to the Pakistani-based groups.
00:42:20If you remember, way back in 2016, when the Uri attack took place,
00:42:24it was Karan Johor's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which featured Fawad Khan.
00:42:27The film faced massive backlash.
00:42:30In fact, Karan Johor had to publicly promise not to work with Pakistani talent in the future.
00:42:35Mahira Khan, who was cast opposite Shahrukh Khan in the film Raees,
00:42:38was barred from promoting the film in India.
00:42:40The Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association passed a resolution
00:42:44prohibiting Pakistani artists from Indian films.
00:42:47After the 2019 Fulvama attack, the music label, T-Series,
00:42:51temporarily removed songs by Pakistani singers like Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
00:42:56from all its platforms.
00:42:58My colleague Shivani is still with me on the story.
00:43:00Shivani, we are seeing it's a simultaneous thing that the Indian government is doing.
00:43:04Isolation of Pakistan also is something that they are very closely looking at.
00:43:08On one side is the military offensive that we are doing.
00:43:11On the other side, it's the diplomatic one.
00:43:15Aishwarya, India is taking on Pakistan on multiple dimensions,
00:43:18not only diplomatic fronts, but on ground with all those exercises.
00:43:22And very important out here to mention that the misinformation campaign
00:43:25and the fake news agenda, the fake narrative that Pakistan carries out
00:43:29needs to be curtailed.
00:43:31And for that matter, India has already banned 16 YouTube channels initially.
00:43:36And this expansion goes on with more and more artists,
00:43:40more and more government handles being now shut down in India.
00:43:43And in a latest, Aishwarya, the YouTube channel of the Pakistan's army,
00:43:48the DGISPR, which was being used to give a false narrative of India's image
00:43:54after the Pahlgahm attack has also been shut down in India.
00:43:58So this is action that's coming Pakistan's way from all directions.
00:44:02And that's why it seems to be agitated and in fear.
00:44:05Thank you, Shivani, for giving us all those details.
00:44:10We are seeing simultaneous action being taken by the Indian government,
00:44:13cutting off Pakistan diplomatically and the military offensive
00:44:16that we are seeing taking place across the border.
00:44:20Now, in geopolitics, there are no permanent friends or even enemies.
00:44:24There are only permanent interests.
00:44:26And that truth is actually unfolding across South Asia.
00:44:29The alliances are shifting and we are seeing the redrawing
00:44:31of the regional map taking place.
00:44:33Now, Afghanistan once was a very close ally of Pakistan.
00:44:37It now appears to be tilting towards India.
00:44:40And New Delhi is seizing the moment.
00:44:42Take a look at this report.
00:44:49A week since the Pahlgahm,
00:44:53India has not just flexed its military muscle,
00:44:56but also its diplomatic and strategic strength.
00:44:59Just days after a deadly terror attack in Pahlgahm,
00:45:05which was carried out by Pakistani-backed TRF terrorists,
00:45:08a high-level Indian delegation led by Special Envoy Anand Prakash
00:45:12held talks with the Taliban leadership in Kabul.
00:45:15Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan,
00:45:19which has been long seen as Pakistan's strategic partner,
00:45:24is re-evaluating its loyalties.
00:45:27Bilateral ties, trade and transit cooperation topped the agenda.
00:45:32But the signal from India was clear.
00:45:35New Delhi won't forget Pahlgahm
00:45:38and Pakistan will have to pay for its sins.
00:45:43The backdrop to this shift is rising tensions along the Duran line.
00:45:49While the Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban
00:45:52of sheltering Tehri-ke-Taliban Pakistan fighters
00:45:55and has blamed it for a wave of attacks in Khaibat Patoonkwa,
00:45:59Kabul, meanwhile, decries cross-border shelling
00:46:03and interference by Islamabad.
00:46:07As hostility grows between Kabul and Islamabad,
00:46:11India is quietly deepening its footprint.
00:46:15Beyond politics, cultural ties are blossoming.
00:46:19Cricket is turning into a powerful soft power tool
00:46:22and is helping forge bonds off the battlefield.
00:46:28In South Asia's volatile political theatre,
00:46:32the equations are shifting fast.
00:46:36Bureau Report, India Today.
00:46:47News that's coming in at the moment.
00:46:49It's the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio,
00:46:51who spoke with the Indian External Affairs Minister,
00:46:54Dr. S.J. Shankar.
00:46:56The Secretary expressed his sorrow
00:46:57for the lives that were lost
00:46:58in the horrific terror attack in Pahlgahm,
00:47:01reaffirmed United States' commitment
00:47:03with regards to cooperation with India against terrorism.
00:47:06Also encouraged that India now needs to work with Pakistan
00:47:09to de-escalate the tension
00:47:10and to maintain security and peace across South Asia.
00:47:15This is the United States of America,
00:47:17which is now saying that they are firmly standing behind India.
00:47:21I am now joined on the broadcast by Bill Drexel,
00:47:25who is geopolitical expert,
00:47:27Hudson University, joining me from Washington, D.C.
00:47:30Bill, first and foremost,
00:47:31we have seen that it was the President,
00:47:34Donald J. Trump,
00:47:35who came out in support of India,
00:47:36said the United States is standing firmly behind India.
00:47:40But one thing which a lot of people,
00:47:41especially experts in India,
00:47:43believe is that there is no condemnation of Pakistan
00:47:45clearly coming out from the United States of America
00:47:48at the moment?
00:47:51Yeah, well,
00:47:52I think that what the United States
00:47:54really wants to project right now are two things.
00:47:57One is support for India
00:48:00in the face of this heinous attack
00:48:02and in fighting terrorism in all of its forms.
00:48:06And the other thing is to de-escalate tensions.
00:48:09So I think that the United States
00:48:13certainly wants to make clear
00:48:14that its support for India in this moment is robust.
00:48:19But at the same time,
00:48:21it's trying to walk a line
00:48:22in terms of making what's one of the scariest borders
00:48:26in the world really not go over the edge.
00:48:33Well, what next can we expect
00:48:35coming in from the United States of America?
00:48:37Calls have been made both to India and to Pakistan.
00:48:41From what we can sense,
00:48:42the United States wants to make sure
00:48:44that the de-escalation happens
00:48:46and it happens very quickly.
00:48:50Yeah, that's right.
00:48:51I think we're going to see
00:48:52more of that message on both sides.
00:48:56We saw Secretary Rubio
00:48:58really urge the Pakistani side
00:49:03to condemn these attacks.
00:49:04And I think we'll continue to see that as well.
00:49:09What remains to be seen is,
00:49:11you know, there are a lot of ways
00:49:12in which this could escalate,
00:49:14ways this could spiral.
00:49:17And in worst case scenarios,
00:49:19yeah, there are ways that
00:49:20Pakistan calls on one of its closest allies,
00:49:24China,
00:49:25and that could complicate things greatly.
00:49:27But for now,
00:49:28I think what we're going to continue to see
00:49:29are more calls from the U.S.
00:49:31to de-escalate
00:49:32and continued support
00:49:34for India
00:49:35in the face of this heinous attack
00:49:39against terrorism.
00:49:42Well, it's a good thing
00:49:42that you spoke about China
00:49:44because we have seen
00:49:44how China also, in fact,
00:49:46has come out with a statement,
00:49:47China very clearly saying
00:49:48that the entire Southeast Asia
00:49:50is very closely looking at
00:49:51what's happening
00:49:52between India and Pakistan.
00:49:53In fact, China is also saying
00:49:55that there should be
00:49:55neutral investigation
00:49:56in this terror attack.
00:49:57Yeah, that's right.
00:50:01And China has vested interests
00:50:03in this region.
00:50:04Really, the whole world,
00:50:06I think, is on edge
00:50:08about this situation.
00:50:09It's developing very rapidly.
00:50:11These are two nuclear-armed states
00:50:13with a history of conflict.
00:50:15Pakistan is in a relatively unstable,
00:50:19fragile place.
00:50:21and this attack
00:50:23is a direct affront
00:50:25to Prime Minister Modi's success
00:50:29in attempting to kind of stabilize
00:50:32this region.
00:50:34So there's a lot of volatility
00:50:35and as a result,
00:50:37I think a lot of countries
00:50:38are heavily invested
00:50:40in trying to make sure
00:50:41that this situation
00:50:43doesn't spiral out of control.
00:50:46Well, you know, Bob,
00:50:47you are right
00:50:48because we have seen
00:50:48many statements coming in
00:50:50from across the world,
00:50:51most of the leaders
00:50:52standing firmly behind India.
00:50:53But, you know,
00:50:54looking at the fact
00:50:55that India has tried
00:50:56to make sure
00:50:57that these incidents
00:50:57do not happen way back,
00:50:59what happened was in 2019,
00:51:00and now we are seeing
00:51:01this attack on civilians.
00:51:03So India responding
00:51:04is something
00:51:05that we will definitely see.
00:51:07But with regards
00:51:07to the United States,
00:51:09do you believe, Bill,
00:51:10that there could also be
00:51:11an offer coming in
00:51:11from the U.S.
00:51:12to mediate
00:51:13in this situation
00:51:14at the moment?
00:51:15Yeah, I think
00:51:17the U.S.
00:51:18could be interested
00:51:19in that.
00:51:19I think the U.S.
00:51:20is invested
00:51:21in anything
00:51:22that can keep
00:51:23the situation
00:51:24from escalating
00:51:27uncontrollably.
00:51:29And so,
00:51:29if that looks
00:51:30like mediation,
00:51:31I think it's likely
00:51:32that the U.S.
00:51:33would be very keen
00:51:34to use its connections
00:51:37with both countries
00:51:38to facilitate
00:51:38more dialogue.
00:51:42Well, please stay on
00:51:43with me.
00:51:43We've got some
00:51:44breaking news
00:51:44coming in
00:51:45with regards
00:51:45to the current
00:51:46situation
00:51:46between India
00:51:47and Pakistan.
00:51:48It's the U.S.
00:51:49Secretary of State
00:51:50who has now asked
00:51:51Pakistan to speak
00:51:52to India.
00:51:54Message coming in
00:51:54from the United States
00:51:55of America
00:51:56to Pakistan,
00:51:56you must condemn
00:51:57an act against terrorism.
00:51:59Punish the terrorists
00:52:00who are behind
00:52:01the Pahalgam attack.
00:52:03Open direct line
00:52:04with India,
00:52:05U.S. also has told
00:52:06Pakistan maintain
00:52:07peace in South Asia.
00:52:11So the United States
00:52:12of America
00:52:12which is now saying
00:52:13that Pakistan
00:52:14must condemn
00:52:15an act against terrorism.
00:52:17Bill, we are seeing
00:52:18these statements
00:52:18coming in
00:52:19and you were also
00:52:20speaking about
00:52:20the fact that
00:52:21we could see
00:52:21the United States
00:52:22of America
00:52:23coming on board
00:52:24or at least
00:52:24giving out an offer
00:52:25both to India
00:52:26and to Pakistan
00:52:26that mediation
00:52:27needs to take place.
00:52:29No one at the moment
00:52:30wants this situation
00:52:31to escalate.
00:52:32Do you also think
00:52:33United States of America
00:52:34at the moment
00:52:35is also looking
00:52:35at the larger
00:52:36South Asia picture
00:52:39when it's trying
00:52:40to make sure
00:52:40that Pakistan
00:52:41comes out
00:52:42and maintains peace?
00:52:45Absolutely.
00:52:45I think the U.S.
00:52:47is concerned
00:52:47about the entire region.
00:52:50Certainly India
00:52:51is, you know,
00:52:52an area,
00:52:53a kind of a country
00:52:54with a special relationship
00:52:55with the United States
00:52:56that has consistently
00:52:58been growing
00:52:59over the recent years.
00:53:00And so, you know,
00:53:02the United States
00:53:02wants to continue
00:53:03that momentum
00:53:04and continue
00:53:04to strengthen ties there.
00:53:05But we do have interests
00:53:07across the entire region
00:53:08and, yeah,
00:53:11we're, I'm sure
00:53:12the United States
00:53:13is primarily concerned
00:53:14with keeping
00:53:15some level
00:53:16of stability
00:53:16and kind of halting
00:53:19any sort of
00:53:20uncontrolled escalation.
00:53:22And, unfortunately,
00:53:24both the United States
00:53:25and India
00:53:27have experience
00:53:28enduring terrorism
00:53:30of this kind.
00:53:32So, you know,
00:53:33there's a common
00:53:35experience there
00:53:36that bonds
00:53:38the two countries,
00:53:39I think,
00:53:39in understanding
00:53:41how heinous
00:53:41these actions are
00:53:42and that decisive action
00:53:44needs to be taken.
00:53:46Right, Bill.
00:53:47You know,
00:53:47that's why we have also
00:53:48seen how
00:53:49the president,
00:53:50Donald Trump,
00:53:51also time and again
00:53:52has said that
00:53:52the United States
00:53:53understand what terrorism
00:53:55can do.
00:53:55And this is not the first time
00:53:56we are seeing
00:53:57the government,
00:53:57the U.S. government
00:53:58coming out and mediating.
00:53:59We have seen
00:54:00how they are pushing
00:54:01Russia and Ukraine
00:54:02to make sure
00:54:02that they come
00:54:03to some sort
00:54:04of a peace treaty.
00:54:05And now we are seeing
00:54:06these statements
00:54:06coming in.
00:54:07The United States
00:54:08also is now asking
00:54:09Pakistan to condemn
00:54:10and to act
00:54:11against terrorism
00:54:12and also to go ahead
00:54:14and to punish
00:54:15those who are
00:54:15responsible for this act.
00:54:17So, a push coming in
00:54:18from the United States
00:54:19of America.
00:54:20Do you think this push
00:54:20will continue
00:54:21in the day to come?
00:54:24I'd be very surprised
00:54:25if it didn't.
00:54:26I think there's a,
00:54:26I'm sure that
00:54:27I mean,
00:54:28this is kind of the,
00:54:30this is the minimum
00:54:31that Pakistan really owes.
00:54:33I think countries
00:54:33around the world
00:54:34can affirm
00:54:35that terrorism
00:54:36is wrong
00:54:36and that the perpetrators
00:54:38of terrorism
00:54:39need to be punished.
00:54:40So, it's the duty
00:54:41of Pakistan
00:54:41to affirm
00:54:43both of those truths
00:54:45and also to
00:54:47kind of assert
00:54:49its willingness
00:54:49to bring the perpetrators
00:54:51to justice.
00:54:53It's not an unfair
00:54:55push for the United States
00:54:56to make
00:54:57and it will continue
00:54:58to make it
00:54:58I suspect.
00:55:02Do you believe
00:55:03we could see
00:55:03more of these
00:55:04kind of statements
00:55:05coming in
00:55:06from the United States
00:55:06of America?
00:55:07Do you think
00:55:07it will keep
00:55:08on pushing Pakistan
00:55:09so that at least
00:55:10condemnation
00:55:11comes in from Pakistan?
00:55:12Because Bill,
00:55:12at the moment
00:55:13the only statements
00:55:14that we are seeing
00:55:14coming in from Pakistan
00:55:15is that Pakistan
00:55:16is not at fault.
00:55:18They in fact
00:55:18are also pointing fingers
00:55:19at India
00:55:20and saying
00:55:21that it was a fault
00:55:22of India
00:55:23that this terror attack
00:55:24took place.
00:55:24Not a single story
00:55:26and definitely
00:55:27not something
00:55:28that, you know,
00:55:29Pakistani leaders
00:55:30are going out
00:55:31and telling
00:55:31their own citizens
00:55:32that what happened
00:55:33was wrong.
00:55:34They in fact
00:55:34have started
00:55:35pointing fingers
00:55:35at the Indian government.
00:55:39Right.
00:55:39And I think
00:55:40it's very likely
00:55:43that the United States
00:55:44continues to press
00:55:45on this point
00:55:46because, again,
00:55:48it's not controversial
00:55:49to say that
00:55:50terrorism is wrong.
00:55:52Obviously,
00:55:53it's a more complex
00:55:55geopolitical picture here
00:55:56where the Indian government
00:55:58has asserted
00:55:59that the Pakistani government
00:56:01is connected
00:56:02to this act.
00:56:03But regardless,
00:56:06again,
00:56:09it is the duty
00:56:09it's incumbent
00:56:11on any government
00:56:12to recognize
00:56:12that terrorism
00:56:13is wrong
00:56:13and an attack,
00:56:14a brutal attack
00:56:15of this nature
00:56:16is unconscionable.
00:56:19Bill,
00:56:21do you also believe
00:56:22that we could see
00:56:23other senior leaders
00:56:24from the U.S. government?
00:56:25In fact,
00:56:25do you think
00:56:26that it could also
00:56:26be the president himself
00:56:28who could at some point
00:56:29of time,
00:56:29given the way
00:56:30things are escalating,
00:56:31could actually
00:56:32pick up the phone
00:56:33and have a conversation
00:56:33with the Indian prime minister
00:56:35on one side,
00:56:36the Pakistani prime minister
00:56:37on the other side?
00:56:38Do you think
00:56:38that also at the moment
00:56:39is something
00:56:40that can happen?
00:56:43There's certainly
00:56:44a wide range
00:56:46of possibilities
00:56:47that are possible
00:56:47right now,
00:56:48and that is,
00:56:48in my mind,
00:56:49one of them.
00:56:51President Trump
00:56:52and Prime Minister Modi
00:56:53have a very close relationship.
00:56:55President Trump
00:56:55has signaled
00:56:56time and again
00:56:57that he's very invested
00:56:58in strong
00:57:00U.S.-India ties.
00:57:02He's already tweeted
00:57:03in solidarity
00:57:03with India
00:57:04in this moment.
00:57:07I suspect
00:57:08that
00:57:08he'll be
00:57:10interested
00:57:10in doing
00:57:11what it takes
00:57:11to try to see
00:57:13a peaceful resolution
00:57:14here.
00:57:15Of course,
00:57:16this is competing
00:57:17with a number
00:57:18of other priorities
00:57:19and the situation
00:57:20is evolving rapidly,
00:57:21but certainly
00:57:22I think it's possible.
00:57:25Bill Drexel,
00:57:26geopolitical expert,
00:57:27joining me
00:57:27from the Hudson
00:57:28in Washington, D.C.
00:57:32News that's coming
00:57:33in at the moment.
00:57:34It's Pakistani markets
00:57:35that have crashed.
00:57:36There is panic
00:57:37that has gripped
00:57:37the investors.
00:57:38Pakistan cabinet
00:57:39met with regards
00:57:40to this.
00:57:41The Pakistani
00:57:42investors are now
00:57:43warning that there
00:57:44could be imminent
00:57:44strike by India.
00:57:45With regards to this,
00:57:46the Pakistani markets
00:57:47have now started to crash.
00:57:48It is the UNSC
00:57:50also that has
00:57:51condemned the
00:57:51Pehalgam terror attack.
00:57:55The Pakistan
00:57:57stock exchange
00:57:58plunged by more
00:57:59than 3,500
00:58:00points on Wednesday
00:58:01as uncertainty
00:58:02took hold
00:58:03due to increasing
00:58:04risk of a
00:58:05showdown with India.
00:58:07The uncertainty
00:58:08caused a midnight
00:58:09crisis
00:58:09cabinet meeting.
00:58:11Pakistan
00:58:12claimed
00:58:12that it has
00:58:13credible intelligence
00:58:14about India
00:58:15carrying out
00:58:16a military strike
00:58:17within the next
00:58:1824 to 36 hours.
00:58:22Pakistan
00:58:23has
00:58:24credible
00:58:25intelligence
00:58:26that India
00:58:27intends carrying out
00:58:28military action
00:58:29against Pakistan
00:58:31in the next
00:58:3224 to 36
00:58:33hours
00:58:34on the pretext
00:58:35of baseless
00:58:36and concocted
00:58:38allegations
00:58:38of involvement
00:58:40in the
00:58:40Pehalgam incident.
00:58:42On Tuesday,
00:58:43UNSC
00:58:44issued a press
00:58:45statement
00:58:45condemning
00:58:46in the strongest
00:58:47terms
00:58:47the terrorist
00:58:48attack in Pehalgam
00:58:49of Jammu and Kashmir.
00:58:51The 15th
00:58:51Asian Council
00:58:52stressed
00:58:52that those
00:58:53responsible
00:58:54should be held
00:58:55accountable
00:58:55and the organisers
00:58:57and sponsors
00:58:58of this
00:58:58reprehensible
00:58:59act of terror
00:59:00should be brought
00:59:01to justice.
00:59:0426 people
00:59:06were brutally
00:59:06killed
00:59:07and UNSC
00:59:08expressed
00:59:08their deepest
00:59:09sympathy
00:59:10and condolences
00:59:11to the families
00:59:12of the victims
00:59:12and to the
00:59:13government of India
00:59:14and the government
00:59:15of Nepal
00:59:15and wished
00:59:17a speedy
00:59:18and full recovery
00:59:19to those
00:59:20who were injured.
00:59:21The press
00:59:21statement
00:59:22is a declaration
00:59:23to the media
00:59:23made by the
00:59:24President of the
00:59:25Security Council
00:59:26on behalf of all
00:59:2815 members.
00:59:29The U.S.
00:59:30had floated the
00:59:31draft statement
00:59:31which was then
00:59:32discussed by
00:59:33council members.
00:59:35Pakistan currently
00:59:36sits in the
00:59:37UN Security Council
00:59:39as a non-permanent member
00:59:41while India
00:59:42is not part of it
00:59:43for the time being.
00:59:44A press statement
00:59:45requires agreement
00:59:46from all council members
00:59:47and is a negotiated
00:59:48text.
00:59:50The statement
00:59:50did not have any mention
00:59:51of the perpetrator
00:59:53terror organization
00:59:54TRF.
00:59:57Pakistan claimed
00:59:58that it pushed
00:59:59for the omission.
01:00:02I said
01:00:03I have told you
01:00:03that the resistance
01:00:04forum
01:00:05has done
01:00:07the TRF
01:00:08and we will
01:00:10leave it
01:00:11or show them
01:00:12their ownership
01:00:13that they
01:00:14have been
01:00:15in a media
01:00:16that they have
01:00:17owned it.
01:00:18It was a mistake.
01:00:19They said
01:00:20no,
01:00:20this is not.
01:00:20We refused
01:00:25to budge
01:00:25in.
01:00:26I had a big
01:00:27big capital
01:00:27call
01:00:28to see
01:00:29this time
01:00:30I have nothing
01:00:32to do.
01:00:33This cannot happen.
01:00:34Pakistan will not accept.
01:00:36UN Secretary
01:00:37General spoke
01:00:38separately on
01:00:39Tuesday
01:00:39with Pakistan's
01:00:41Prime Minister
01:00:41Shahbaz Sharif
01:00:43and India's
01:00:43Foreign Minister
01:00:44S.J. Shankar.
01:00:47In his phone calls
01:00:48the Secretary
01:00:49General
01:00:49reiterated
01:00:50his strong condemnation
01:00:51of the April 22nd
01:00:53terrorist attack
01:00:54that took place
01:00:54in Jammu
01:00:55and Kashmir.
01:00:56The Secretary
01:00:57General noted
01:00:58the importance
01:00:59of pursuing
01:00:59justice
01:01:00and accountability
01:01:01for these attacks
01:01:02through lawful means.
01:01:04The Secretary
01:01:04General also
01:01:05expressed his
01:01:06deep concern
01:01:07at the rising
01:01:08tensions
01:01:09between India
01:01:10and Pakistan
01:01:11and he also
01:01:12underscored
01:01:13the need
01:01:13to avoid
01:01:14a confrontation
01:01:14that could result
01:01:16in tragic
01:01:17consequences.
01:01:18The Secretary
01:01:19General offered
01:01:20his good
01:01:20officers
01:01:20to support
01:01:21any de-escalation
01:01:23efforts.
01:01:25Both UK
01:01:25and USA
01:01:26have reiterated
01:01:27their support
01:01:28to India
01:01:29in its fight
01:01:30against terror
01:01:30and at the same
01:01:32time have called
01:01:33for peace
01:01:33amid escalating
01:01:35tension.
01:01:36Bureau Report,
01:01:37India Today.
01:01:41News that's
01:01:46coming in
01:01:47at the moment.
01:01:47It's UK
01:01:48lawmaker who
01:01:48says that
01:01:49they must
01:01:50now stand
01:01:50with India.
01:01:51Indian origin
01:01:52UK MP says
01:01:53must support
01:01:54New Delhi.
01:01:55Terror is a
01:01:55threat to our
01:01:56freedom.
01:01:57This is a
01:01:57statement which
01:01:58is coming in
01:01:58from Preeti
01:01:59Patel who is
01:02:00Indian origin
01:02:00UK MP.
01:02:01She's saying
01:02:02that the time
01:02:02has come for
01:02:03the UK to
01:02:04now stand
01:02:05in support
01:02:05of New Delhi.
01:02:06Terror is a
01:02:07threat to our
01:02:08freedom.
01:02:09These are big
01:02:09statements coming
01:02:10in from the
01:02:10United Kingdoms.
01:02:11Listen in.
01:02:14Mr Speaker,
01:02:15my condolences,
01:02:16thoughts and
01:02:16prayers are also
01:02:17with all those
01:02:18affected by this
01:02:19murderous,
01:02:21violent terrorism
01:02:22that has taken
01:02:22place in Faglan.
01:02:24And I recognise
01:02:25for India and
01:02:26the diaspora
01:02:26communities in
01:02:27the UK in
01:02:28particular,
01:02:29this has been
01:02:29a really difficult
01:02:30week.
01:02:31This was an
01:02:32act of terrorism
01:02:33and we should
01:02:33call it out
01:02:34for exactly
01:02:35for what it is.
01:02:37And it is part
01:02:38of a long-standing
01:02:38pattern of attacks
01:02:39on civilians,
01:02:41visitors to the
01:02:41region and also
01:02:42minority communities.
01:02:44And the UK must
01:02:45always stand with
01:02:46our friends during
01:02:47times of this
01:02:48nature.
01:02:49We have a series
01:02:50of long-standing
01:02:51security and
01:02:52counter-terrorism
01:02:53partnerships with
01:02:53India going back
01:02:54to the New Delhi
01:02:55declaration in
01:02:562002 and the
01:02:58India-UK
01:02:58strategic partnership
01:02:59in 2016,
01:03:01the comprehensive
01:03:02strategic partnership
01:03:03announced in
01:03:032022,
01:03:04and the UK-India
01:03:062030 road map
01:03:07agreed under the
01:03:08last government.
01:03:09So under that,
01:03:10security issues have
01:03:11been absolutely
01:03:13watertight,
01:03:14which is why we
01:03:14must be always
01:03:16in lockstep with
01:03:16our friends in
01:03:17India.
01:03:18So can the
01:03:18minister tell us
01:03:19what information
01:03:20the UK government
01:03:21has on those
01:03:22responsible for
01:03:23carrying out
01:03:23these terrorist
01:03:24attacks?
01:03:25Does the
01:03:26government believe
01:03:26that Lakshir
01:03:27Tabaya,
01:03:28the terrorist group
01:03:29prescribed in the
01:03:30UK, bears
01:03:30responsibility?
01:03:31Now, ISI chief
01:03:34Lieutenant General
01:03:35Mohamed Asim has
01:03:36been appointed as
01:03:37Pakistan's national
01:03:38security advisor.
01:03:40Now, his
01:03:40appointment comes amid
01:03:41the escalating
01:03:42tensions between
01:03:42India and Pakistan
01:03:43in the aftermath of
01:03:45last week's terror
01:03:46attack that took
01:03:47place in Jammu and
01:03:47Kashmir's
01:03:48Pahlgum region,
01:03:49which claimed 26
01:03:50innocent lives.
01:03:52Now, this is an
01:03:52additional charge that
01:03:53has been given to
01:03:54him in continuation of
01:03:55him being the ISI
01:03:56chief.
01:03:57Asim has also been
01:03:58responsible for
01:03:59overseeing the
01:04:00intelligence
01:04:00operations along
01:04:01the line of
01:04:02actual control and
01:04:03also managing
01:04:04covert support to
01:04:05terrorists.
01:04:06He's also
01:04:06responsible for
01:04:07advising Pakistan's
01:04:09next response and
01:04:10overseeing disinformation
01:04:11operations against
01:04:12India.
01:04:13Asim Malik became
01:04:14the ISI chief in
01:04:15September 2024.
01:04:17Asim Malik will
01:04:18retire from service
01:04:19in October 2025.
01:04:21With the Pakistani
01:04:21army chief, Asim
01:04:23Muni now seeking an
01:04:24extension, Asim
01:04:25Malik likely to
01:04:25retain the chair
01:04:26charge of the NSA
01:04:27and all this will
01:04:29not go down well
01:04:30with the Pakistani
01:04:31army.
01:04:36We are now
01:04:37telling you what
01:04:38is the terror
01:04:39legacy of Asim
01:04:40Munir.
01:04:41In 2025, the
01:04:42Pahlgum attack took
01:04:43place, 26 tourists
01:04:44were killed.
01:04:45Now this, when
01:04:46Asim Munir was the
01:04:47Pakistani army chief.
01:04:49Let's go back a
01:04:50little.
01:04:50In 2019, the
01:04:51Fulvama attack took
01:04:52place in which 20
01:04:53CRPF jawans were
01:04:54killed.
01:04:55It was Asim Munir
01:04:56who was the ISI
01:04:58chief.
01:04:58So this is the
01:04:59history of the man
01:05:00that we are talking
01:05:00about here.
01:05:01In 2019, Fulvama
01:05:03attack, 40 CRPF
01:05:04personnel were killed.
01:05:06It was Asim Munir
01:05:06who was the ISI
01:05:07chief at that time.
01:05:09And on the 22nd of
01:05:10April, we did see how
01:05:1226 innocent tourists
01:05:13were killed in Pahlgum.
01:05:15And that time, Asim
01:05:16Munir is the Pakistani
01:05:18army chief at the
01:05:19moment.
01:05:20My colleague
01:05:20Shivani joining me on
01:05:21the story.
01:05:22Shivani, this shift that
01:05:23we are seeing coming
01:05:24at a time when Pakistan
01:05:25is completely spooked.
01:05:27They do not know from
01:05:28which side India will
01:05:29actually hit.
01:05:30We are now seeing
01:05:31Asim Munir and the
01:05:33rise that the
01:05:34Pakistani government
01:05:35is giving him.
01:05:38Ashwarya, there are
01:05:39reshuffles going on
01:05:40inside the Pakistani
01:05:41army as it remains
01:05:42rattled after the
01:05:44Pahlgum attack.
01:05:45And it is actually
01:05:46expecting a big attack
01:05:48from India's side.
01:05:49Iran, this reshuffle
01:05:50and General Asim
01:05:52Malik, who happens to
01:05:53be the DGISI, has
01:05:54now been given the
01:05:56charge of the NSA
01:05:57of Pakistan.
01:05:58And this is a big
01:05:59shift and empowering
01:05:59this officer means
01:06:01that the chief and
01:06:04the DGISI, who has
01:06:08been now given the
01:06:09charge of being an
01:06:10NSA, will together be
01:06:12seeking for
01:06:13extension.
01:06:14That means that
01:06:15there is a lot of
01:06:17discontinent within
01:06:19the Pakistani army
01:06:20and they are
01:06:21fearing a lot of
01:06:22action from India's
01:06:23side.
01:06:24That is why these
01:06:25sudden changes are
01:06:27taking place within
01:06:27the Pakistan army.
01:06:31Thank you, Shivani,
01:06:32giving us those
01:06:33details.
01:06:33We are now seeing
01:06:34major reshuffling
01:06:35taking place in the
01:06:36Pakistani army.
01:06:37All these attacks
01:06:38that have happened
01:06:39over the past many
01:06:40years, the one person
01:06:41responsible for them
01:06:42in one form or the
01:06:43other has been
01:06:44Asif Munir.
01:06:46Also, there is a
01:06:46landmark decision now
01:06:48which is all set
01:06:49to change the Indian
01:06:50politics forever.
01:06:51It's the central
01:06:52government that has
01:06:52now announced that
01:06:53a caste census will
01:06:54be conducted alongside
01:06:55the upcoming national
01:06:57population census.
01:06:58This census will take
01:06:59place next year.
01:07:00While making this
01:07:01announcement, the
01:07:02central government
01:07:02listed out what it
01:07:04said was Congress
01:07:05Party's hypocrisy on
01:07:06the issue.
01:07:07They said that the
01:07:07opposition is not
01:07:08consistent with regards
01:07:10to the caste-based
01:07:11census that they have
01:07:12been talking about.
01:07:13It was the leader of
01:07:14the opposition, Rahul
01:07:15Gandhi, who welcomed
01:07:16the centre's decision.
01:07:17He said that this
01:07:18decision was taken
01:07:19under pressure.
01:07:20It's the Congress
01:07:20Party that is now
01:07:21claiming credit for
01:07:22pushing the centre to
01:07:23take up the all-important
01:07:25caste census issue.
01:07:26Other opposition
01:07:27leaders have also
01:07:28welcomed the move,
01:07:29but they are raising
01:07:29certain questions.
01:07:31They are raising the
01:07:31question about why did
01:07:32the government come out
01:07:33with this statement
01:07:34now and what is the
01:07:36method that will be
01:07:36used for the caste
01:07:37census?
01:07:38This is the
01:08:08government.
01:08:08It will open up the
01:08:10government.
01:08:10It will open up the
01:08:11government.
01:08:11Everyone will get the
01:08:12government.
01:08:14They have only
01:08:15as an
01:08:15as-
01:08:16as-
01:08:16as-
01:08:17as-
01:08:18as-
01:08:18as-
01:08:20as-
01:08:22as-
01:08:23as-
01:08:24as-
01:08:26foreign
01:08:40foreign
01:08:42foreign
01:08:44foreign
01:08:50foreign
01:08:54is
01:09:24foreign
01:09:54and
01:09:55to speak
01:09:56to
01:09:57the
01:09:58country.
01:09:59So
01:10:00that
01:10:01the
01:10:02country
01:10:03has
01:10:04been
01:10:05to
01:10:06the
01:10:07country.
01:10:08But
01:10:09India
01:10:10has
01:10:11been
01:10:12the
01:10:13country
01:10:14has
01:10:15been
01:10:16to
01:10:17the
01:10:18country
01:10:19to
01:10:20the
01:10:21country
01:10:22and
01:10:24the
01:10:25country
01:10:26is
01:10:27the
01:10:28country.
01:10:29Now
01:10:30I
01:10:31think
01:10:32that
01:10:33he
01:10:34has
01:10:35made
01:10:36a big
01:10:37decision.
01:10:38We have been fighting now for some time.
01:10:41Government has opposed
01:10:42for some reason.
01:10:43We don't understand what that reason is.
01:10:46They have suddenly decided to do it.
01:10:48We welcome that.
01:10:50We are
01:10:51happy
01:10:52that they have done the caste census.
01:10:54I hope
01:10:55they will allot budget
01:10:57and they will start
01:10:59this
01:11:01caste census quickly
01:11:03and
01:11:04general census also
01:11:06and
01:11:07they should
01:11:08release
01:11:09quickly
01:11:10so that people should get benefit.
01:11:12the
01:11:14government
01:11:15will
01:11:16have been
01:11:17to
01:11:18the
01:11:19government.
01:11:20The
01:11:21government
01:11:22has been
01:11:23to
01:11:24the
01:11:25government.
01:11:26the
01:11:28government.
01:11:29The
01:11:30government
01:11:32has been
01:11:33to
01:11:34the
01:11:35government.
01:11:36The
01:11:37government
01:11:38has been
01:11:39to
01:11:40the
01:11:41government.
01:11:42The
01:11:43government
01:11:44has been
01:11:45to
01:11:46the
01:11:47government.
01:11:48the
01:11:49government.
01:11:50Whether this
01:11:51will definitely do any good to the backward classes or scheduled class, scheduled tribes is the question.
01:11:55Because even now there is a reservation percentage of about 49%. I think it should not exceed 50% is what the Supreme Court had stated. Out of this 49%, how many were employed? I have data for all central government institutions, colleges, courts, offices, banks, all public sector
01:12:05retangings, all public sector retangings. In nowhere this data, this 49% seats were filled by the OBC's, SE's and SD's. What they speak is different from what they do.
01:12:31My
01:12:32and
01:12:33I
01:12:34Japan
01:12:35How
01:12:36you
01:12:37My
01:12:38have
01:12:38as
01:12:39as
01:12:40foreign
01:12:47foreign
01:12:56foreign
01:13:01foreign
01:13:06News that's coming in at the moment.
01:13:29It's the Bharati Janata Party which has now slammed the Congress party over the caste
01:13:33census and this with regards to the credit war that we are seeing playing in front of
01:13:38our eyes.
01:13:39The BJP says the Congress ignored the caste census despite the clamor that it has been
01:13:43making over the past many years.
01:13:46Congress only did economic caste survey.
01:13:48Caste census only a political tool for the Congress party.
01:13:52Full on bickering taking place between the BJP and the Congress.
01:13:55The BJP now pointing fingers at the Congress party and saying Congress only did economic
01:14:00caste survey.
01:14:01It's only a political tool for Congress.
01:14:05This is the Bharati Janata Party slamming Congress over the caste census credit war.
01:14:14My colleague Amit is now joining me on the story.
01:14:16Amit, the credit war began last evening.
01:14:18We saw how it was the BJP that went ahead and said that the caste census will be part of the
01:14:23larger census that will be done next year.
01:14:25The Congress was very quick to take credit for it.
01:14:27Rahul Gandhi said that it is because of the opposition, especially the Congress party, that they
01:14:32forced the central government to agree to a caste census.
01:14:35Right Aishwarya, you know, soon after that announcement was made that the Narendra Modi government and
01:14:42the CCP has cleared the pathway for the caste census in the country and that nationwide caste census
01:14:50will be conducted along with the forthcoming general census.
01:14:53It was pretty much clear that the credit war over this particular issue will begin.
01:14:59And the Congress party was quick to say that, look, for the past two years, it was Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition, who has been demanding the central government
01:15:08that caste census should be conducted.
01:15:10And the BJP leaders at different instances have been denying, you know, rejecting the idea
01:15:16of caste census.
01:15:17And under this pressure, the central government has now agreed to conduct caste census in the
01:15:23country.
01:15:24In fact, Rahul Gandhi himself said that, look, you know, it has made it very clear that because
01:15:31of pressure from the Congress party or you can put pressure on the BJP and get work done.
01:15:37But on the other side, now you have Amit Malviyeh, the head of the social media, you know, of the BJP, saying
01:15:45that the Congress party historically has denied the right of caste census to the people of the
01:15:53backward classes.
01:15:54And in fact, there has been a lot of, you know, lip service instead of delivering when
01:16:00they were in power.
01:16:01In fact, he has also mentioned as to how back in Manmohan Singh's regime in 2010, when there
01:16:07was a demand to conduct caste census and every political party was on vote, only socio-economic
01:16:14census was conducted in the similar regard and caste census was not conducted.
01:16:18And he is in fact, I mean, the Congress party for denying the caste census, the right, you
01:16:25know, which is very much being seen from the spectrum of social justice, delivering the
01:16:28promise of social justice and accusing the Congress party of denying that particular right
01:16:33to the backward classes and that the BJP is the one which is delivering in this particular
01:16:38front.
01:16:38So the credit war clearly is exploding right now.
01:16:41Aishwarya.
01:16:43Amit, we have also, you know, have to see how the opposition parties are reacting to it.
01:16:47At the moment, they are looking at it and thinking, how will the government do it?
01:16:52There were initial reactions that came in at the moment.
01:16:54The opposition parties are patting their own back, saying that it is because of the pressure
01:16:58from the opposition parties that the government, the Narendra Modi government, was forced to
01:17:02come out and make the statement that caste census will be done.
01:17:07Right, Aishwarya.
01:17:08No, as far as the opposition parties are concerned, they were very quick as far as the credit,
01:17:13taking the credit for this particular move of the government is concerned, saying that
01:17:17look, we had a long pending demand.
01:17:20And for the past two years, Rahul Gandhi, during his Bharat Dodo Yatra itself, have
01:17:25been, you know, seeking caste census.
01:17:28And because of that, the government has finally agreed to conduct caste census in the country.
01:17:34So that's one threat.
01:17:35But you will also have to look as to how this will be impacting, you know, the elections,
01:17:40forthcoming elections in the country.
01:17:41Bihar, for a matter of fact, we know that in the state of Bihar, you had the Rastri,
01:17:47the JDU and the Congress Party, all of them, when they were together in the government, they
01:17:51had conducted caste census in the state of Bihar.
01:17:54And as the elections were nearing in the state, the caste polarization would have been done
01:18:00around on this particular front of caste census.
01:18:02And, you know, certainly the BJP has taken away that mega blank that the Congress Party
01:18:09or the RJD would have had in the Bihar elections.
01:18:13Because, look, leaders like Tejas Piyadav or Rahul Gandhi, when campaigning in Bihar,
01:18:18would have said that, look, when we were in power in the state, we conducted caste census
01:18:22and the BJP had always been against it.
01:18:24In fact, many of the BJP leaders had taken, you know, a very critical stance when that caste
01:18:29census was being implemented in the state of Bihar.
01:18:33So now that mega blank has been also taken away from the India Alliance parties.
01:18:38And it will be very interesting to see as to whether this message that they want to get
01:18:43resonated, the fact that, you know, the government has delivered caste census because of the pressure
01:18:50from India bloc, whether that resonates among the people as well or not.
01:18:53Back to you.
01:18:54Thank you, Amit, giving us all those details.
01:18:56A bickering taking place between BGP and Congress.
01:18:59BGP saying it was the Congress that ignored caste census.
01:19:02They only did the economic caste survey.