The Supreme Court on Monday expressed serious dissatisfaction with Madhya Pradesh Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah’s apology over his defamatory remarks against Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, calling it inadequate and lacking sincerity.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi reprimanded the BJP minister for failing to issue a proper public apology and said his conduct was “testing the court’s patience.” The bench added that the minister’s actions were making it difficult to believe his intentions were genuine.

The remarks came during the hearing of a case concerning Shah’s controversial statements about Col Qureshi, who had briefed the nation on the Army’s actions during Operation Sindoor. The minister had faced backlash after a widely circulated video showed him making offensive comments following the operation.

Shah’s lawyer, K. Parmeshwar, told the court that an apology had been posted online and that it would be submitted on record during the next hearing. However, the court made it clear that a mere online apology would not suffice and insisted on a more meaningful acknowledgment of wrongdoing.

Seeking clarity on the investigation’s progress, the court questioned a member of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and directed the team to file a status report by August 13. The court noted that the SIT had examined 87 individuals so far and was still reviewing statements.

The three-member SIT was set up following directions from the apex court. The bench instructed the investigators to take the probe to its logical conclusion within the statutory 90-day timeframe. The matter will next be heard on August 18.

The controversy erupted after Shah’s remarks about Col Qureshi were widely condemned. During a previous hearing, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had described the language used by the minister as “language of gutters,” reflecting the severity of the allegations against him.

The Indian Army has tested a suite of advanced surveillance and artificial intelligence technologies during a high-altitude military exercise named ‘Divya Drishti’ in East Sikkim. Held in July 2025, the exercise aimed to assess the Army’s preparedness for future warfare scenarios by integrating AI-driven tools with ground and aerial surveillance systems.

Troops from the Trishakti Corps simulated realistic combat conditions using unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, and ground-based platforms to evaluate sensor-to-shooter capabilities. Key systems on display included AI-enabled sensors that were networked through secure communication systems, allowing seamless data flow from forward areas to command centres in real time.

The Ministry of Defence said the exercise focused on enhancing battlefield awareness and reducing decision-making time. “On the modern battlefield, the ability to see more, understand quickly, and act fast decides success,” it stated.

Lieutenant General Rakesh Kapoor, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (IS&C), reviewed the exercise on behalf of Army Headquarters. General Officer Commanding of Trishakti Corps, Lt Gen Zubin A Minwalla, said that the technologies were tested under demanding conditions to draw actionable insights that would influence future doctrine and tactics.

The Army’s Eastern Command described the exercise as a step toward greater self-reliance and digital transformation, in line with the Army’s Decade of Transformation plan and the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Officials indicated that lessons from ‘Divya Drishti’ will be incorporated into training and procurement strategies to ensure the Indian Army stays ahead in modern high-tech conflict environments.

India is on the brink of signing a significant defence agreement with US-based Shield AI that would enable the local manufacturing of the advanced V-BAT vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) combat drones. The deal is part of India’s emergency procurement programme worth 4.5 billion dollars, launched in response to urgent defence requirements following Operation Sindoor.

The Indian Air Force is likely to procure an initial batch of V-BAT drones for an estimated 35 million dollars under the emergency acquisition route. In parallel, a larger 90 million dollar joint venture between Shield AI and India’s JSW Defence is close to being finalised. This agreement is expected to include a full transfer of proprietary V-BAT drone technology to India, laying the foundation for large-scale production within the country.

JSW Defence is preparing to invest the full 90 million dollars over the next two years, with 65 million to be deployed in the first year. The investment would focus on establishing manufacturing infrastructure, training skilled personnel, and implementing global compliance protocols required for defence exports and operations.

The V-BAT drone is designed for high-end intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. It features a unique combination of ducted-fan VTOL capability and fixed-wing endurance, making it suitable for a wide range of missions. Currently in use by the United States Marine Expeditionary Units and other international forces, the V-BAT is valued for its operational flexibility and rapid deployability in complex environments.

Once signed, the agreement is expected to position India as a regional hub for V-BAT drone production. Local manufacturing is likely to reduce procurement timelines, lower costs, and boost India’s defence self-reliance.

Officials familiar with the matter say the proposed deal reflects a larger shift in India’s defence strategy, moving from direct imports to co-development and domestic production of high-end military technologies. If concluded, it would mark a major milestone for the Make in India initiative in the defence sector and set a precedent for future tech-transfer agreements involving advanced unmanned systems.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar informed Parliament that only three United Nations member states, apart from Pakistan, opposed Operation Sindoor — India’s precision military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The statement, made during a high-stakes Lok Sabha debate, marks a major diplomatic milestone in India’s global fight against cross-border terrorism.

Operation Sindoor was launched in the early hours of May 7. It involved coordinated air and missile strikes across nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Over 70 militants were reportedly neutralised. The operation included the use of Rafale and Mirage 2000 jets, BrahMos cruise missiles, and surveillance drones. By May 9, Pakistan sought a ceasefire through the DGMO hotline, which India accepted after claiming mission objectives were achieved.

Dr Jaishankar said India had conducted “anticipatory diplomacy” in 32 capitals and within key UN circles to prevent backlash. As a result, during the emergency session of the UN General Assembly convened at Pakistan’s request, only three countries raised objections to India’s actions. These are widely believed to be China, Turkey, and Iran, though the government has not officially named them.

“Of the 190 countries represented that day, barring Pakistan and three others, no one accepted Islamabad’s narrative. That is the outcome of strategic engagement,” said Jaishankar during his speech.

He added that the international community had already condemned the Pahalgam massacre, which killed 26 civilians, and this helped India frame its response as legitimate self-defence. Notably, countries like the United States, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Israel publicly backed India’s right to retaliate. Even members of the Global South and BRICS, excluding China, maintained neutrality or showed quiet support.

The minister also detailed the five core pillars of India’s new counter-terror doctrine: no dialogue with terror proxies, calibrated retaliation, zero tolerance for nuclear blackmail, no peace under the shadow of terror, and clear messaging that peace and terrorism cannot coexist.

Opposition parties welcomed the operation’s success but raised concerns over transparency regarding casualties and military losses, which the government dismissed as misinformation spread by Pakistani channels. Some also questioned the sudden ceasefire, suggesting further pressure could have been maintained.

Strategic experts say the strong global backing for Operation Sindoor signals a new era in India’s counter-terror posture. By combining military action with diplomatic pre-emption, India has set a precedent that could guide future operations. The government is also expected to leverage this support to push for reforms in the UN Security Council and tougher global action against Pakistan-based terror networks.

A brief satellite phone signal from a banned Chinese device led Indian security forces to the hideout of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) module responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. This triggered a swift and coordinated counter-terror operation codenamed Operation Mahadev in the Dachigam forests near Srinagar.

Also Read: Pahalgam Attack Mastermind Suleiman Shah Killed in Operation Mahadev

According to military officials, a dormant Huawei satellite phone that had been illegally smuggled into India was inadvertently activated late last week. The signal was intercepted by units in Delhi and traced to the Lidwas area of the Dachigam wildlife sanctuary. Based on the pinpoint location, the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, Para Special Forces, CRPF, and Jammu & Kashmir Police launched a joint operation at dawn on Monday.

Drone surveillance confirmed the presence of three militants concealed beneath a forest trench. Within 90 minutes of engagement, all three were eliminated. Among them was Hashim Musa, also known as Suleiman Shah, the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam massacre in which 26 civilians were killed.

Operation Mahadev followed a 14-day intelligence build-up that included intercepted encrypted chatter on T82 ultraset radios, satellite geolocation data, and local inputs. At 2 AM on Monday, the terrorists reactivated their encrypted communication, enabling Indian signals-intelligence teams to lock onto their coordinates.

By 8 AM, drones began relaying visuals of the Dachigam ridgeline. At 9:30 AM, Rashtriya Rifles and Para SF units cordoned off the Mahadev hill feature. The initial firefight occurred at 11 AM, resulting in two immediate kills. One militant who attempted to escape was shot by 11:45 AM. By 12:45 PM, the operation concluded with body recovery and area clearance.

Recovered items included carbine and AK-47 rifles, multiple rifle grenades, and satellite-navigation tools linked to China’s BeiDou system. These tools have increasingly been used by terrorist groups to avoid detection through conventional GPS surveillance.

Investigators confirmed the use of a Huawei satellite phone connected to the Tiantong-1 network. These phones provide low-bandwidth communication independent of terrestrial infrastructure and are equipped with strong encryption and frequency-hopping features that complicate interception. Experts say decryption of such signals often requires days of work and assistance from allied agencies.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the successful mission in Parliament and stated that terrorism would no longer find refuge in Kashmir. The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir called the strike a result of improved intelligence coordination but acknowledged lapses that allowed the April 22 massacre to occur.

Security officials believe that more members of the terror module may still be hiding in the expansive Dachigam forest. Search operations remain ongoing in the region.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday strongly refuted US President Donald Trump’s claim that he helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during a debate on the terror incident and Operation Sindoor, Jaishankar categorically stated that no phone call took place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump during the period in question.

“No phone call took place between PM Modi and US President Trump between April 22 and June 17,” Jaishankar told Parliament. He added that after India’s retaliatory strikes, the government received backchannel messages indicating that Pakistan was ready to halt further escalation. However, India made it clear that any such communication must formally come from Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).

On July 23, President Trump claimed in a speech that his intervention prevented a full-blown war between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. He said both countries had been exchanging air strikes and claimed, “They shot down five planes in the last attack. It was back and forth, back and forth. I called them and said no more trade if you do this… and I stopped it.”

The White House reiterated Trump’s version, crediting his call for helping reach a ceasefire after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to destroy terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Countering this narrative, Jaishankar clarified the timeline and events. He revealed that on May 9, US Vice President JD Vance had warned the Indian leadership about a possible large-scale Pakistani offensive expected within hours. In response, Prime Minister Modi conveyed that any such attack would be met with a strong and proportionate response. The attempted strike was ultimately foiled by Indian armed forces on May 9 and 10.

“Our forces prevented a major Pakistani attack. I believe this House should collectively appreciate their efforts,” Jaishankar said.

He also highlighted the success of India’s diplomatic outreach in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack. The Resistance Front (TRF), which claimed responsibility for the killings, has now been designated as a global terrorist organisation. International platforms such as BRICS and the Quad condemned the attack, while individual countries including Germany, France, and members of the European Union expressed support for India’s right to self-defense.

Jaishankar underlined that seven parliamentary delegations had visited 33 countries to explain India’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism. He said the current government had done what previous ones never imagined, including the targeted destruction of terror hubs in Bahawalpur and Muridke.

He further noted that Pakistan’s longest period under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list occurred during the Modi government, and warned of growing Pakistan-China collaboration, something he said had been in motion for decades.

The minister concluded by stating that Operation Sindoor marks a shift in India’s approach to counterterrorism.

“Operation Sindoor is a new normal in how we respond to terror,” he said.

Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi visited the headquarters of the Fire and Fury Corps and the Siachen Brigade in Ladakh to assess operational readiness and review the current security situation along the northern borders with China and Pakistan.

The visit comes shortly after the tragic Pahalgam terror attack earlier this month, in which 26 civilians were killed by militants targeting tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack has led to increased vigilance and an intensified focus on military preparedness across the region.

During his interaction with troops deployed in Kargil-Leh and the Siachen Glacier, General Dwivedi commended their professionalism, courage, and endurance in extreme high-altitude conditions. He emphasized the critical importance of remaining alert and technologically equipped in one of the world’s most hostile operational environments.

He also highlighted the need for rapid technological adoption within the armed forces to maintain a combat-ready and future-focused Indian Army. His remarks aligned with the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, promoting self-reliance and modernization in the defense sector.

The Fire and Fury Corps, which holds strategic significance due to its proximity to the LAC and its historical role in the 1999 Kargil War, continues to play a central role in safeguarding national interests in Ladakh. General Dwivedi’s visit underscored the Army’s commitment to adapting to evolving threats and maintaining a robust defensive posture amid growing geopolitical and cross-border challenges.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday successfully test-fired the ‘Pralay’ surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) from Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

The test was conducted at 9:35 AM and achieved all its mission objectives, validating key performance parameters and reinforcing India’s growing expertise in indigenous missile systems. The development aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative aimed at reducing dependence on foreign defence imports.

‘Pralay’ is a canisterised, road-mobile ballistic missile designed for precision strikes on high-value military targets such as enemy air bases, logistics hubs, and troop concentrations. With a strike range of 150 to 500 kilometers and the ability to carry payloads of up to 1,000 kg, it provides the Indian armed forces with strategic depth and quick-launch capabilities.

What sets ‘Pralay’ apart is its quasi-ballistic flight profile. Though it follows a ballistic trajectory, the missile’s warhead has the ability to maneuver mid-course and during terminal stages, making it harder to intercept. It features advanced guidance systems, including inertial navigation and a radio frequency seeker for enhanced accuracy in terminal guidance.

The missile’s quick reaction time, less than 10 minutes from transport to launch, ensures operational flexibility and survivability in contested environments. While comparable in size and weight to the Prithvi series, ‘Pralay’ delivers far greater range and lethality without breaching the nuclear threshold.

According to defence sources, the missile is tailored for deployment along both the Line of Control with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China, offering a robust and swift conventional strike option in response to provocation or aggression.

This successful test further reinforces India’s tactical missile capabilities and reflects DRDO’s continued progress in developing indigenous, next-generation weapon systems.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed Parliament on Monday that India’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) directly contacted his Pakistani counterpart shortly after the execution of Operation Sindoor, a targeted counter-terror strike conducted in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Speaking during a special debate in the Lok Sabha, Singh revealed that the Indian DGMO called Pakistan’s DGMO via a hotline at around 1:35 am on May 7, just minutes after India launched precision missile strikes on nine terror hubs located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Punjab province.

“Through the hotline, he explained the rationale and methodology behind the operation. He also made it clear that the strikes were not meant to escalate tensions further and that we had no intention of prolonging the conflict,” Singh said.

However, the Defence Minister said that Pakistan failed to comprehend India’s limited intent and responded with ceasefire violations in the following days, targeting both civilian and military areas along the Line of Control. Despite provocations, Singh said, India exercised restraint and focused solely on eliminating terror infrastructure.

“Our armed forces were instructed to avoid any damage to civilian areas. This was an act of self-defence. We struck only at the sources of terror. I am proud to say that the armed forces carried out the mission successfully and with precision,” he added.

Rajnath Singh likened the operation to Lord Hanuman’s symbolic act of burning down Lanka in the Ramayana, highlighting its moral and strategic justification. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had similarly invoked the epic in a social media post ahead of the debate.

Operation Sindoor was launched in the early hours of May 7, between 1:05 and 1:30 am, and resulted in missile hits on nine identified terror targets. The Press Information Bureau had issued a statement at 1:44 am confirming the operation and clarifying that no Pakistani military installations were targeted.

Singh also reassured the House that no major Indian military assets were lost during the subsequent retaliatory firing and drone strikes from Pakistan.

“This operation was our response to the barbaric killing of 26 civilians by three terrorists in Pahalgam. We acted in self-defence, with precision, and with humanity,” Singh concluded.