Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif admitted that Indian BrahMos missile strikes during Operation Sindoor pre-empted a planned Pakistani response. “We were ready to act after Fajr prayers, but India launched BrahMos,” Sharif said in Azerbaijan. The May 9–10 strikes targeted terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK following the deadly Pahalgam attack. “Missiles hit provinces including Rawalpindi airport,” Sharif added, confirming prior damage reports. India reportedly eliminated 100 terrorists in the operation. The MEA reaffirmed, “Terrorism and talks cannot go together.” The swift Indian offensive also exposed Pakistan's defense lapses despite Chinese support. (PC: Reuters)

At MIT’s 2025 graduation ceremony, Indian-American Class President Megha Vemuri delivered a bold speech denouncing the university’s research ties with the Israeli military. Wearing a keffiyeh in solidarity with Palestinians, Vemuri accused MIT of complicity in the Gaza crisis and called for alumni to demand an arms embargo and the severing of ties with Israel. She praised student activism and highlighted the destruction of Gaza’s education system, declaring, “There are no universities left in Gaza.” Her statement, “MIT students will never tolerate a genocide,” drew national attention amid rising campus protests and scrutiny of institutional roles in global conflicts. (PC: India Today)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading a multiparty delegation to Colombia, expressed disappointment over Colombia's sympathies for Pakistan following India’s Operation Sindoor. Tharoor stated on May 29, 2025, that India was only exercising its right to self-defence after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. He emphasized there can be no equivalence between terrorists and those defending against them. Citing proof of Pakistani involvement, Tharoor criticized the lack of accountability from Islamabad. He also condemned the presence of Pakistani military officials at funerals of designated terrorists, calling it evidence of state complicity in terrorism. (PC: X/ Shashi Tharoor)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has admitted that India's BrahMos missile strikes on May 9–10 disrupted a planned Pakistani military offensive against India. Speaking at a summit in Azerbaijan, Sharif said Pakistan’s forces were preparing to strike early on May 10, but Indian missiles hit key sites, including Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan Airbase, preempting their plans. The strikes were part of India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Despite the setback, Pakistan promoted General Asim Munir to Field Marshal. Sharif also reiterated calls for dialogue, though India maintains its firm stance against engaging amid cross-border terrorism. (PC: AFP)

On May 26, 2025, Indian-American entrepreneur and Republican politician Vivek Ramaswamy shared a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter) celebrating his 10th wedding anniversary with wife Apoorva. The post recounted their first date hiking Flattop Mountain in 2011 and their recent return to complete the hike. However, the post attracted racist and anti-immigrant comments, with users telling the couple to "go back to India" and questioning their skin tone. The backlash is linked to Ramaswamy's controversial stance on the H-1B visa program, which he has criticized despite his own Indian heritage. (PC: MSN)

On May 29, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio submitted a reorganization plan to Congress, proposing an expanded role for the India Desk within the State Department. The plan suggests that the official currently overseeing India and Bhutan would also manage relations with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. This restructuring aims to streamline operations by reducing the number of Deputy Assistant Secretaries in the South and Central Asia Bureau from four to three. Afghanistan and Pakistan would remain under a separate deputy assistant secretary. The initiative aligns with the Trump administration's goals of enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness in foreign policy operations. (PC: Reuters)  

India has urged Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to conduct inclusive, free, and fair elections promptly. The call comes amid escalating protests by government employees and demands from opposition parties, including the BNP, for elections by December 2025. Yunus, however, has proposed June 2026 after reforms. India’s foreign ministry emphasized the need to respect the people's mandate and warned against deflecting governance issues onto external factors. Relations between the two nations have strained since former PM Sheikh Hasina sought refuge in India, following accusations of minority repression under the interim administration. (PC: ANI)

India has urged Canada to avoid giving political space to pro-Khalistan extremist elements promoting violence and separatism. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s long-standing concerns and urged Canada to take concrete action against those advocating anti-India agendas. The call comes amid recent diplomatic exchanges, including a phone call between Indian EAM S. Jaishankar and Canadian FM Anita Anand, the first since she assumed office. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed interest in improving ties with India, following strained relations due to allegations involving the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar under the previous Trudeau administration. (PC: PTI)

On May 29, 2025, New York City's iconic Wall Street experienced an unexpected cultural celebration as a 400-person Indian wedding procession, known as a 'baraat,' turned the financial district into a lively dance floor. The groom's entourage, adorned in traditional Indian attire, danced energetically to a mix of Bollywood and pop music spun by DJ AJ. The groom himself was seen dancing atop a car, accompanied by American groomsmen in coordinated ethnic outfits. The event, capturing the fusion of Indian traditions with the urban backdrop of Manhattan, quickly went viral on social media, highlighting the global reach of Indian cultural festivities.    

India has firmly responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer for talks, setting clear preconditions: Islamabad must hand over wanted terrorists and vacate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that "terror and talks cannot go together." He added that any future dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir would only be about the process of vacating PoK. Jaiswal also confirmed the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty until Pakistan ends support for cross-border terrorism. The response follows Sharif’s remarks in Iran, where he expressed willingness to resolve issues, including Kashmir and water security, through dialogue. (PC: News18)