In a proud moment for the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), Major General Rachel Thomas has officially assumed the role of Principal Matron at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) in New Delhi, effective May 1, 2025. The occasion was marked by a formal ceremony and warm felicitations led by Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS).

An alumna of the College of Nursing at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Maj Gen Thomas was commissioned into the AFMS in 1988. Over nearly four decades of dedicated service, she has excelled across clinical, academic, and administrative roles—garnering widespread respect for her leadership, expertise, and commitment to military healthcare.

Photographs released with the announcement captured the solemnity and pride of the moment, including images of Maj Gen Thomas in her new office, adorned with ceremonial military insignia, as well as a touching group photo with family members—highlighting both professional and personal milestones.

The appointment was widely lauded by the broader military community, with tributes from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, demonstrating the unified recognition of her remarkable contributions. Her new role as Principal Matron signifies not only individual achievement but also the growing representation of women in senior leadership positions within the armed forces.

The AFMS reaffirmed its dedication to excellence in military healthcare, noting that leaders like Maj Gen Thomas continue to strengthen its mission of service, compassion, and innovation in patient care.

Rajasthan Intelligence has arrested a Jaisalmer resident, Pathan Khan, on charges of espionage for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), officials confirmed on Thursday. The arrest follows a month-long investigation after Khan was detained in early April under suspicion of engaging in intelligence activities detrimental to India’s national security.

According to an official statement, Khan had first traveled to Pakistan in 2013, where he reportedly established contact with ISI officers. During this initial visit, he was allegedly offered financial incentives and trained in basic espionage techniques. Over the following years, Khan is believed to have maintained regular communication with Pakistani handlers, reportedly transmitting classified information related to Indian military activities and deployments near the Jaisalmer International Border.

The region’s strategic importance, due to its close proximity to Pakistan, has made it a repeated target for espionage operations. Khan allegedly used intermediaries to transfer sensitive data, receiving payments in return from the ISI. Surveillance operations conducted by Rajasthan Intelligence flagged his suspicious movements, leading to his arrest under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

This case is part of a troubling pattern in Rajasthan’s border districts. In 2022, three individuals were similarly arrested for spying activities linked to Pakistan. Authorities believe the ISI continues to target vulnerable local populations in border areas for intelligence-gathering operations.

The Border Security Force (BSF), which manages public access through the E-Pass system for tourism near the Tanot Mata Temple, has intensified security protocols in light of the recent developments. Officials emphasized the need for continued vigilance, especially in militarily sensitive zones.

Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full scope of Khan’s alleged espionage network and any potential collaborators. Rajasthan Intelligence officials reiterated their commitment to safeguarding national security and urged citizens to report any suspicious behavior in the region.

The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, which left 26 people dead and more than 20 wounded, has reignited concerns that echo warnings from a 1993 declassified CIA document. The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been implicated in the killings, though Islamabad denies involvement. The tragic event, however, fits a decades-old pattern that U.S. intelligence anticipated.

The document, a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) prepared under senior CIA analyst Bruce Riedel, painted a stark picture of South Asia’s most volatile fault line. It concluded that Pakistan viewed India not just as a rival but as an existential threat. At the time, India was stabilizing under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, while Pakistan grappled with economic instability and political unrest.

The NIE foresaw that a conventional war between India and Pakistan was unlikely—only a 20% probability, analysts estimated. But the real risk, it said, was a cascading chain of provocation: a terrorist strike, a misinterpreted military movement, or communal violence. In such a scenario, Pakistan would likely respond from a position of fear, resorting to proxy warfare and terrorism to offset India’s growing influence.

The report was chillingly prescient. It predicted that Pakistan might back militant groups in Kashmir, not out of ideological conviction, but as a strategic tool to bleed India while avoiding direct conflict. It also warned that under economic strain or military rule, Islamabad could embrace Islamist factions as a means to channel internal discontent outward.

The assessment noted a growing imbalance: India’s steady rise in economic, military, and diplomatic stature versus Pakistan’s internal volatility. This imbalance, the CIA concluded, would drive Islamabad to asymmetric strategies—using terror as a form of leverage.

Crucially, the document warned that nuclear deterrence might not prevent conflict. Confidence-building measures, it said, could “prove irrelevant” in the face of a high-casualty terror event. In such crises, leaders might act based on instinct rather than protocol—a scenario dangerously similar to the present.

Though the TRF didn’t exist in 1993, the strategy it embodies was already identified. The NIE saw groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba as proxies through which Pakistan could wage undeclared war over Kashmir. It also noted that religious polarization within India could make it easier for Pakistan to justify or amplify its interventions.

The NIE was used to brief President Bill Clinton’s administration, underscoring its gravity. Clinton would later visit India during the 2000 Chittisinghpura Massacre—another terror strike linked to Pakistan-based actors.

Now, as Indian policymakers revisit the Pahalgam tragedy, many are looking back at the 1993 assessment not as an archival report, but as a living document. Its warnings—about proxy conflict, nuclear ambiguity, and the volatility of Kashmir—are no less urgent today.