In a significant diplomatic breakthrough for India, a recent United Nations Security Council report has for the first time officially linked The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead.

The report was released by the UN Security Council’s monitoring team that tracks the implementation of sanctions against al-Qaeda and Islamic State. It confirms that TRF initially claimed responsibility for the attack and then retracted it days later, a tactic often used to obscure accountability.

On 22 April, five terrorists launched an attack at a popular tourist spot in Pahalgam. The group initially published a photograph of the site while taking credit. The retraction followed within days, and no other organization stepped forward to claim the assault.

The UN report also cites two member states, believed to be India and the United States, who confirmed that TRF carried out the massacre and stated it could not have done so without the support of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Pakistan, however, denied these findings, repeating its long-standing claim that LeT is no longer active due to domestic bans.

This mention is especially significant since Pakistan had earlier managed to remove all references to TRF and the Pahalgam incident from a Security Council press note issued shortly after the attack. However, in this instance, Islamabad failed to block TRF’s inclusion in the official report. Notably, China, which has previously placed technical holds to shield Pakistani-backed groups, did not intervene this time.

The report is the first in years to clearly name LeT and other Pakistan-based groups in direct connection with violence in Kashmir. Security analysts say it undermines Islamabad’s practice of using innocuous-sounding names like TRF or People Against Fascist Front to mask the activities of globally proscribed terror outfits like LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Following the Pahalgam massacre, a senior Indian delegation visited the United States in mid-May to brief the 1267 Sanctions Committee and UN counterterrorism officials. India also submitted an intelligence dossier that built on earlier reports shared in May and November 2024, as well as warnings from December 2023.

The April 22 attack prompted a robust military response under Operation Sindoor, which began on May 7. The operation involved targeted drone and missile strikes across the Line of Control and resulted in a four-day exchange of fire before a ceasefire was restored on May 10.

The naming of TRF in the UN report is now seen as a vital step toward securing its designation as a global terrorist group. The move boosts India’s diplomatic position and puts renewed pressure on Pakistan to act against terror proxies operating from its soil.

A bus assigned to ferry Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel plunged into the River Sindh near the Kullan bridge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district early this morning. The incident occurred at Resin Kullan when the vehicle reportedly lost control while navigating a curve and veered off the road into the river.

According to Ganderbal Police, the bus was empty at the time of the accident. The driver, who sustained minor injuries, has been shifted to a nearby medical facility and is reported to be in stable condition.

Following the mishap, a joint search and rescue operation was launched by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams from Ganderbal and Sub Component Gund. Rescue personnel are currently working to recover equipment believed to have been in the bus, including weapons assigned to ITBP units.

Authorities have confirmed that some weapons were unaccounted for after the crash. So far, three weapons have been successfully recovered from the river. Efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining items, and the area is being thoroughly searched to ensure that no personnel or critical assets are missing.

The rescue operation is facing difficult terrain and strong river currents, but teams remain on high alert. Further updates are expected as recovery efforts continue.

Axiscades Technologies has received defence orders worth Rs 600 crore through its defence subsidiaries, significantly expanding its role in India’s indigenous military modernisation efforts. The orders make up nearly one-third of the company’s current order book, which now stands at around Rs 1,800 crore.

The contracts are spread across multiple domains including airborne, naval, and radar-based systems, and will be executed over the next three to five years. According to the company, the projects cover both prototyping and full-scale production, contributing to long-term capability development for India’s defence forces.

Awarded by defence laboratories and public sector undertakings, the orders include the development and delivery of high-precision sub-systems that are vital to ongoing projects led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other strategic agencies.

Key programmes covered under the orders include:

1. AESA Radar Program for Su-30 MKI Upgrade: Axiscades will develop and supply critical radar sub-systems including the Exciter Unit, Receiver Unit, and Antenna Beam Control Motherboard. These components will replace Russian-origin systems, advancing India’s indigenous radar capabilities.
2. Transmit-Receive Modules for S-Band Surveillance Radars: The company will design and supply TR modules to improve target detection, tracking precision, and signal fidelity for long-range operations.
3. Long-Range Battle Management Radar (LRBMR) – KUSHA: The order includes support for developing indigenous Digital Beam Forming units. Operating in the S-band, the radar offers a detection range exceeding 500 km and can track multiple targets simultaneously.
4. Electric Heavy Weight Torpedo (EHWT): Axiscades will deliver the Homing Receiver, a critical system enabling autonomous underwater target acquisition for submarine-launched anti-submarine warfare torpedoes.
5. Submarine Sonar Systems: This production order reinforces the company’s growing role in undersea warfare technologies by supplying key sonar sub-systems.

Commenting on the development, Axiscades CTO C Manikandan said the orders reflect the company’s core strengths in radar, sonar, and electronic systems, and demonstrate its deep integration into India’s premier defence research and production ecosystem.

These orders are expected to significantly enhance India’s self-reliance in high-end defence technologies and mark a major step forward in the country’s push for indigenous defence manufacturing.

In a major initiative to strengthen leadership development among junior ranks, the Indian Army has released a new guidebook titled The Profession of Arms: A Guide for Young Army Officers. Authored by retired Major General P K Mallick, the book was unveiled today at the Army Headquarters in the presence of senior military leaders.

Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of Army Staff, presided over the launch event alongside Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh, Director General of Organisation and Personnel Services. The book is a curated collection of essays and lectures by esteemed military professionals and is intended to serve as a foundational resource for officers during the early years of their service.

Aimed at reinforcing values such as leadership, discipline, and professional integrity, the guide reflects the Indian Army’s sustained commitment to building capable and ethical military leaders. The electronic version of the book is now available for free download on the Indian Army’s official website, extending its reach beyond traditional classrooms.

Lt Gen Subramani, who took over as Vice Chief of Army Staff on July 1, 2024, brings with him years of operational experience, including command of the Central Command and leadership in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. His presence at the event highlighted the Army’s strategic focus on mentorship as a core element of officer development.

According to recent internal assessments, early career guidance and structured mentorship can significantly reduce attrition rates among officers. The guidebook is expected to support this objective, offering clarity and direction to young officers navigating the complexities of military service.

The launch of The Profession of Arms signals a progressive step in the Indian Army’s modernization efforts, reinforcing its legacy of professionalism while adapting to the challenges of contemporary military leadership.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested 30-year-old Shama Parveen from Bengaluru for allegedly heading a terror module linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent. Officials identified her as the main handler coordinating the module’s operations from Karnataka.

Her arrest comes after four men were taken into custody on July 23 from Gujarat, Delhi, and Noida. The suspects, aged between 20 and 25, have been identified as Mohd Fardeen, Sefullah Kureshi, Zeeshan Ali, and Mohd Faiq. According to investigators, they were communicating via a social media platform and had been assigned to target prominent locations across India.

Authorities believe the group had cross-border connections and was in contact with handlers based outside India. Preliminary findings suggest they were planning coordinated terror attacks and may have been part of a larger network.

The arrest gains further significance in the backdrop of a recent United Nations report. The 32nd report by the UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has warned of AQIS efforts to expand its footprint in the Indian subcontinent. Under the leadership of Osama Mehmood, the group is reportedly increasing its presence in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

The Gujarat ATS is continuing its investigation to uncover the full extent of the network’s operations and its links to global terror outfits.

The Indian Army and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Land Forces convened the 4th India-UAE Army-to-Army Staff Talks on July 29 in New Delhi, reinforcing a growing defence partnership between the two nations. The talks marked another major step in bilateral military cooperation, building on the momentum generated by the historic visit of an Indian Army chief to the UAE in 2020.

Held at a high level, the discussions focused on enhancing joint training, expanding expert-level exchanges, and exploring advanced military domains. Key topics included Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Urban Warfare techniques, and the integration of Unmanned Ground and Aerial Systems into operations. The emphasis on unmanned technologies reflects a shift toward futuristic warfare, with both nations seeking to align with global defence innovations.

These staff talks also represent a broader strategic movement in regional defence dynamics. As India deepens ties with Gulf countries, the growing partnership with the UAE is viewed as a move toward more independent and diversified security alignments. A 2022 report by Hindustan Times had already noted the increasing frequency of UAE defence delegations to India, highlighting a steady and deliberate evolution of military-to-military relations.

Senior officers from both sides participated in the dialogue, exchanging official documents and holding detailed discussions on future cooperation. The ceremonial aspects of the event, including a group photograph and symbolic exchanges, underlined the warmth and commitment shared between the two militaries.

This engagement is expected to pave the way for more robust defence collaboration in the years ahead, contributing to regional security and mutual strategic growth.

The Northern Command of the Indian Army is hosting officers from the 54th Higher Command Course, a prestigious inter-service training program aimed at preparing senior military leaders for complex operational responsibilities. The visit is being held at the Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur and includes a detailed briefing by Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, who assumed charge as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in April 2025.

During the session, Lt Gen Sharma outlined the operational, logistical, and strategic challenges faced in the northern theatre, a region of critical importance due to its borders with Pakistan and China. He also discussed the current security scenario and shared insights into future strategic planning. The briefing concluded with an interactive discussion involving officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, highlighting the increasing focus on joint operations.

The Higher Command Course is affiliated with the Army War College in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. It trains approximately 2,500 to 3,000 officers annually, including participants from paramilitary forces. While the course holds high professional value, it has faced some challenges. In 2019, 18 colonels declined to join the program, citing concerns over a mandatory five-year service bond, which sparked debate over officer retention and morale within the armed forces.

This visit is part of broader efforts to enhance inter-service coordination and joint warfare capabilities, a strategic priority following the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff role in 2020. Defence analysts believe that the evolving role of Northern Command reflects global patterns, drawing comparisons with the U.S. Northern Command’s increased focus on border security amid global tensions in 2025.

The ongoing training initiative reinforces Northern Command’s operational doctrine, aiming to strengthen India’s preparedness for coordinated military responses in high-stakes environments along its northern borders.

In a significant anti-infiltration operation along the Line of Control, alert troops of the Indian Army successfully eliminated two terrorists attempting to cross into Indian territory. The operation, named Operation Shivshakti, was conducted by forces under the White Knight Corps.

Acting on precise intelligence inputs generated through close coordination between the Army’s intelligence units and the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), the troops launched a swift and accurate response. The terrorists were neutralized before they could breach the LoC, and three weapons were recovered from the encounter site.

The operation highlights the effective synergy between security agencies and the Army’s readiness to counter any infiltration threats. Search operations and area sanitization efforts are still underway.