Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, Western Army Commander, issued a stern warning that India's response under Operation Sindoor 2.0 would be "deadlier and more powerful" if Pakistan provokes further attacks. Speaking at an ex-servicemen rally in Jammu, he asserted Pakistan lacks conventional warfare capability against India but may attempt "Pahalgam-type" attacks following its "bleed India through a thousand cuts" strategy. During Operation Sindoor's earlier phase, India destroyed Pakistani military posts and air bases. Lt Gen Katiyar emphasized complete preparedness for future threats, stating the response would surpass previous actions. He urged veterans to support counter-terrorism efforts, noting Pakistan avoids direct confrontation but won't abandon its destabilizing designs.

India’s Director General of Military Operations, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, said Pakistan faced possible “catastrophic” consequences during Operation Sindoor in May. The operation targeted terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. He said the Indian Navy was ready for action in the Arabian Sea when Pakistan called for a ceasefire. Lt Gen Ghai added that India’s new strategy treats terror attacks as acts of war, with decisive retaliation and no distinction between terrorists and their sponsors. The strikes were coordinated across all forces and agencies.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called India a key ally as tensions rise with China over rare earth exports. He said Beijing has “pointed a bazooka at the supply chains and the industrial base of the entire free world.” The US accuses China of using export controls to pressure global industries. President Trump has announced 100% tariffs on Chinese goods. Bessent said Washington will work with India, Europe, and other democracies to counter Beijing. China warned it would “fight to the end” as the trade war with the US heats up again.

In a historic first, India has sent Buddha's sacred relics to Russia's Kalmykia, Europe's only indigenous Buddhist homeland, for an extraordinary eight-day spiritual exposition. A high-level delegation comprising 11 senior Indian monks accompanies the relics to perform religious services and blessings for the local Buddhist community. This unprecedented cultural and spiritual exchange marks a significant milestone in India-Russia religious diplomacy and highlights India's role as the custodian of Buddhist heritage. The exposition in Kalmykia represents a unique opportunity for European Buddhists to connect with their faith's origins. The initiative strengthens ties between India and Russia's Buddhist regions while showcasing India's soft power through spiritual diplomacy.

Historian William Dalrymple argues in his new book 'The Golden Road' that ancient India's pivotal role in shaping global civilization has been overlooked for centuries. Speaking to Fareed Zakaria on CNN, Dalrymple described India as "the cultural superpower of Asia," whose influence through Buddhism and Hinduism shaped over half the world's current population. Sanskrit united Asia like Latin did Europe between 200 BCE and 1200 AD. Indian mathematician Aryabhatta introduced zero and place value, enabling modern mathematics and computing. Dalrymple noted India's historical trade dominance, with most Roman coins found in India and Sri Lanka. He predicts India will become a top-three global economy by century's end.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif again backed US President Donald Trump's claims of preventing an India-Pakistan war, nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize at a Gaza peace conference in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh. Sharif praised Trump as "genuinely a man of peace" for brokering the Israel-Hamas ceasefire that freed 20 hostages Monday after two years. He credited Trump with stopping eight wars, claiming his intervention during the four days following India's Operation Sindoor, the retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack prevented nuclear escalation between India and Pakistan. Trump called Sharif's praise "really beautiful." India maintains the ceasefire understanding resulted from direct DGMO-level military talks between both nations.

Lyricist Javed Akhtar strongly condemned the Taliban minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's visit to India, calling the Taliban the "world's worst terrorist group." Akhtar expressed shame over the "respect and reception" Muttaqi received, particularly criticizing the reverent welcome at Darul Uloom Deoband seminary in Saharanpur, where flower petals were showered and students took selfies. He condemned honoring someone who banned girls' education. Muttaqi's six-day visit included meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar marking India's first high-level Taliban engagement since 2021. Despite facing UN sanctions, Muttaqi received temporary travel exemption. His initial press conference sparked controversy for excluding women journalists, later dismissed as a "technical issue."

BJP leader Nishikant Dubey strongly condemned Pakistan at the UN General Assembly, calling it "one of the worst violators" of the Children and Armed Conflict agenda. During Monday's session on children's rights, Dubey accused Pakistan of cross-border terrorism affecting Afghan children through military airstrikes near the Afghanistan border and firing at Indian border villages in May 2025, causing civilian casualties. He criticized Pakistan's "highly hypocritical" behavior at international forums while violating child protection norms. Dubey referenced India's Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He urged Pakistan to "stop preaching" internationally and instead protect children within its own borders, condemning attacks on women and children.

Nepalese student Bipin Joshi, kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has been confirmed dead. His body was handed over to Israeli authorities and is being sent to Tel Aviv. Nepal’s ambassador to Israel said the remains will undergo DNA testing before being sent home. Joshi, who studied agriculture near Gaza, was hailed as a hero for saving friends by throwing away a live grenade during the attack. He was taken hostage soon after. His death was confirmed as world leaders marked progress in the Gaza peace deal, highlighting the human cost of the conflict. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump said he believes India and Pakistan will “live very nicely together” while speaking at the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt. Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi without naming him, calling India a “great country” with a “good friend” leading it. He also praised Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. Trump’s comments come after recent border tensions between the two nations. He claimed he helped reduce conflicts by warning both countries of heavy tariffs. Sharif, during his speech, thanked Trump for his peace efforts and said Pakistan had nominated him for the Nobel Prize. (PC: AP)