- 43 minutes ago
India's top military and political leadership has issued a stern warning to Pakistan amidst escalating tensions and a military buildup along the Sindh-Creek border. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that a "road to Karachi passes through the creek," while Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi cautioned against continued cross-border terrorism, indicating that forces would not show the restraint observed in "Operation Sindoor 1.0." The Army Chief further challenged Pakistan's geographical standing if state-sponsored terrorism persists. Concurrently, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is experiencing intense protests for the third consecutive year, with demonstrators demanding basic rights and accusing Pakistani forces of firing on unarmed civilians. This unrest is compounded by diplomatic friction, including India's objection to former cricketer Sana Mir's "Azad Kashmir" comment as propaganda. Adding to the geopolitical shifts, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaki, is scheduled for his first official visit to India on October 10th, signaling Kabul's desire for closer ties with New Delhi and potentially further isolating Pakistan.
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00:00Good evening. The road to Karachi passes through the creek.
00:04Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's chilling warning to Pakistan amidst reports that Pakistan is ramping up military infrastructure along this Silk Creek border.
00:14That's a disputed area, but it's not just Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
00:18It's the Army Chief General Upeendri Dvivedi.
00:20He is warned if Pakistan does not stop cross-border terrorism.
00:23In the next phase of Operation Zindur, Indian forces will not show the restraint that's been shown so far.
00:31In fact, he's asked his troops to be ready.
00:33He's in fact indicated that DSF could have a role to play across.
00:37Paar jaa ke bethna hoga or worse to that effect.
00:40And Air Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, he said India is aware of terrorists changing their bases from Pakistan's Punjab province now to Khyber Pakhtumkwa.
00:49So, Pakistan clearly has now been put on notice.
01:03India puts Terroristan on notice.
01:11A warning of Paarq's very existence being at stake.
01:15Raksha Mantri issues a Karachi ultimatum.
01:29Pakistan needs to remember that the Karachi is a path of a creek.
01:34Of Sindur is India's path, Pakistan's humiliation.
01:43Pakistan's losses are concerned.
01:47We have struck a large number of their airfields and we struck a large number of their installations.
01:57Three clear voices.
02:00One message.
02:01Terroristan, behave.
02:03That's the big focus on India first.
02:06Pakistan, a state sponsor of radical Islamist terror, has been put on notice.
02:16And trouble mounts for Pakistan in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
02:19The uprising is escalating despite Pakistan army's brutality and the brutal crackdown on thousands of protesters who remain on the streets in this march to Muzaffarabad,
02:29demanding just their very basic rights, aata, they don't even have flour to eat, no jobs, no electricity.
02:38Now, the Ministry of External Affairs, they have reacted to these latest developments in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir,
02:43saying Pakistan should be held accountable for the atrocities in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
02:49The other major development we'll talk about, Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, Aamir Khan Muttaki, is set to visit India in the coming week.
02:57And New Delhi and Kabul look to focus on how India can help the people of Afghanistan better.
03:04Remember, there are historic and civilizational ties between India and the people of Afghanistan.
03:09This visit is hugely significant.
03:11Muttaki, in fact, has been granted exemption by the United Nations Security Council to travel.
03:16We get you details.
03:17I'm Gaurav Savant.
03:19As always, let's get started with the headlines on India First.
03:27Big setback for the TVK in the Karoor Stampede.
03:30Madras High Court pulls up Vijayan TVK leaders for fleeing from the stampede site.
03:35High Court also rejects TVK's CBI pro plea.
03:39Top two TVK netas denied anticipatory bail.
03:46Assam Chief Minister, Himanth Biswasarma, forms a judicial panel to investigate singer Zubin Garg's death.
03:54Chief Minister says we'll hand over a post-mortem report to Zubin's wife.
03:59Assam CID gets custody of all the accused.
04:02After India Today's relentless coverage of the cough syrup death,
04:12Union Health Ministry issues an advisory for rational use of cough syrup for children under five.
04:18Drug body gives a clean shit to the cough syrup makers.
04:21Pilot's body taken on board by AAIB as subject matter experts object to the preliminary report
04:36on Air India crash claims cockpit audio was open to interpretation and this sparked speculation.
04:42Actor Raksha Kumar shares incident of online harassment faced by his daughter
04:52urges Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for cyber classes in school.
05:12Pakistan has made a U-turn on Donald Trump's Gaza plan support.
05:18Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Debris Prime Minister Ghulam Ishaq Dar in Pakistan's parliament
05:24has said Trump's 20-point Gaza plan is not Pakistan's plan.
05:30And that works to the effect that they were not shown the documents that were shared in public
05:37or the plan that was shared in public was not the one that was discussed with Pakistan's
05:41Army Chief Asim Muneer and Prime Minister Shabash Sharif.
05:44And this comes after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shabash Sharif and Army Chief Asim Muneer
05:49faced massive backlash across Pakistan including them being called traitors,
05:55traitors to the cause over-acceptance of Trump's Gaza plan and a massive departure from Jinnah,
06:04Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, talking about not accepting Israel or only accepting
06:11a two-state solution if Jerusalem was a part of Palestine and not Israel.
06:15So announcing his plans last week, American President Donald Trump had claimed both Prime Minister
06:22Shahbash Sharif and Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Muneer were, in his words,
06:28100% with him on the Gaza plan.
06:32Now Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar says the 20-point Gaza plan and the plan that was
06:38announced by Donald Trump this week was not in line with the draft proposed by a group of
06:45Muslim-majority countries in Washington DC. Trump's proposal mandates that Hamas,
06:53that Palestinian terrorist organization, should disarm and will have no role to play whatsoever
06:58in either running Gaza or remaining in Gaza. It also lays out terms for Israel's phased withdrawal
07:06from the Palestinian territories and a swap of hostages and the reconstruction of Gaza,
07:12the bill for which would be footed by the Arab states. The problem? An unclear pathway to
07:19Palestinian statehood in the near future.
07:23Now to end the war in Gaza but it's just a part of the bigger picture which is peace in the Middle East
07:32and let's call it eternal peace in the Middle East. So this is far more than anybody expected but the
07:41the level of support that I've had from the nations in the Middle East and surrounding Israel and
07:48neighbors of Israel has been incredible, incredible. Every single one of them. Pakistan, they were
07:56with us right from the beginning, incredible. In fact, they just put out a statement that they fully believe in
08:03this pact. It just came out just as I was walking around. They said, sir, you have a big notice from
08:09the Prime Minister of Pakistan and from the field marshal that they backed this 100%.
08:16I want to quickly bring in India today's Foreign Affairs editor Geeta Mohan for the latest on this big story.
08:22Geeta, this does appear to be furious backpedaling by Ishaq Dar after Donald Trump claimed not only that
08:30Pakistan was 100% behind this plan or with him from the very beginning, it's also Shabash Sharif who took to
08:37social media platform X to congratulate Donald Trump on this plan. Explain the reasons for this backpedaling
08:43and what's Ishaq Dar saying now? Well, the massive backlash back home. Gaurav, remember Israel is not a
08:51friend of Pakistan and every Pakistani has grown to know that. There was a recent spat between Israeli
08:57and Pakistani diplomats at the Human Rights Council where the Israelis called out Pakistan for the terror
09:04infrastructure in their country. They're no friends and to appease Donald Trump, to appease the American
09:11president. We have Pakistan's premier, Pakistan's army chief bending over backwards but they have to
09:18respond to the public and to the people of Pakistan. So yes, massive backlash. They will have to think
09:24politically whether it will go down well with them, for them, for their party, for their politics in
09:30their own country and it's the reason why we're looking at them tempering down. Look at the words. He's saying
09:36that they're not part of this entire Gaza plan but he stops short of calling it anything else,
09:43saying let's not politic over it because he knows that if they respond to more than this, beyond this,
09:49then they could get into trouble with none other than President Donald Trump himself and that's not
09:55something that Pakistan wants at this point in time. But Geeta, this is almost Pakistan saying either
10:02Donald Trump is a liar or Donald Trump misled Pakistan. Either ways, Donald Trump will not be
10:08very happy about having hosted Aasem Muneer twice and Shabash Sharif in tow the second time.
10:14Well, absolutely. There was an Arab world, Muslim world summit level meeting that was held in Washington,
10:23D.C. And according to Washington, these leaders and these countries were apprised.
10:29They knew what was happening. For Shabash Sharif, for Ishak Dar to now come out and say that this is not ours,
10:36we were not part of it, we weren't party to the fine print of the deal itself or the plan itself is something
10:45that Washington will not take too kindly to. But then again, he was rather circumspect, Gaurav, when he said,
10:51okay, it's not our plan, but let's not politic over it, let's not go beyond. Because here Pakistan is treading a
10:58very, very, very dangerous line, so to say, because this certainly will be noticed by Washington and we'll have to
11:05wait and see how Washington reacts to this major partner and a great leader that Trump calls, walking back on his word.
11:13Well, that's been Pakistan's long history. It's just that public memory is short.
11:18But it's not like Pakistan is treading.
11:22Geetha, for the moment, many thanks for joining me.
11:25But it's a chilling warning for Pakistan. And it comes from India's Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh.
11:30There's also a warning from the Chief of the Army Staff and from the Chief of Air Staff.
11:34Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan that a road to Karachi goes through the creek.
11:39The Army Chief warned Pakistan that if cross-border terrorism does not end, the geography of this region could change again,
11:45unless Pakistan learns from history. He also told his troops to remain prepared. Action could come soon.
11:51The Air Chief gave details of Pakistani losses during Operation Sindhur.
11:55Four radars, two command and control centers, two runways, three hangars, ten aircraft, including five in the air.
12:01Massive ramifications and several of these were US-made F-16 aircraft.
12:07So what's the message to Pakistan? We get you more in this report.
12:10India's military top brass have issued a blistering warning to Pakistan.
12:12India's military top brass have issued a blistering warning to Pakistan.
12:17From Anubhghar in Rajasthan, Army Chief General Upendra Divedi tore into Pakistan.
12:23His words, no more restraint, no more patience.
12:35His words, no more restraint, no more patience.
12:40His words, no more restraint, no more restraint.
12:47His words, no more restraint, no more patience.
12:51This time, the country is with the whole plan.
12:53And this time, it will not be the right thing in Sindhur 1.0.
12:59This time, we will do the future.
13:02In Bhuch, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh turned the heat up further.
13:16His message on Surkreek don't even dream of misadventure.
13:21Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh detailed for the first time what Operation Sindhur achieved.
13:43Pakistan's fighters shot down.
13:46Their radars and runways blown apart.
13:49Their command centres reduced to ruins.
13:55In any place, there was something hit,
13:58something hit, something hit,
13:59something hit, something hit,
14:00something hit, something hit,
14:01something hit, something hit.
14:02We have shown so many pictures.
14:04We have shown so many pictures.
14:06We have shown so many pictures.
14:07So, their narrative is, I think,
14:09their stories are their manohar.
14:14India's defence leadership has sent one blunt message to Islamabad.
14:18Stop sponsoring terror or face consequences beyond rhetoric.
14:22Bureau Report, India Today.
14:27There's another major development that's taking place and that's Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
14:32It's literally burning.
14:33There's trouble for Pakistan from Gilgit and Baltistan,
14:36its so-called northern areas,
14:38part of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,
14:40to Balochistan and Khaybar Pakhtoonghua.
14:42Pakistan Army Chief Aasem Munir is being called a traitor
14:45for virtually his sajdah to Israel and to the United States of America
14:51and accepting President Trump's 20-point agenda on Gaza.
14:54Is that why, to shift focus from domestic troubles,
14:58Pakistan could try something like Pehelgaam last time
15:01to something in Silk Creek this time?
15:03Remember, even in 2008, the 2611 Mumbai terror attacks,
15:08the Pakistani terrorists had taken the sea route
15:10and changed their boat in this Silk Creek area to attack Mumbai.
15:14Joining me on India first is Air Marshal Deeptendu Chaudhary,
15:18former Commandant of India's National Defence College
15:21and author of Indian Air Park Contemporary and Future Dynamics.
15:24Dr. Tara Kartha is former Director of the National Security Council Secretariat,
15:28Ambassador Rajiv Dogra.
15:30He served in Pakistan, former Indian diplomat,
15:33Ambassador to Italy and Council General in Karachi.
15:36Also with me is Senge Sereng,
15:38a very well-respected human rights activist in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir,
15:42currently in the United States of America.
15:44Welcome, Dr. Tara Kartha.
15:46Your assessment of Rajnath Singh's chilling warning to Pakistan
15:49on the road to Karachi, passing through Silk Creek?
15:53I think what you just said is absolutely spot on.
15:57We've got to look out for another Pehelgaam.
15:59Like, precisely because just days ago was the Quetta suicide bombing,
16:04if you noticed.
16:05Yes.
16:06And the President very blamed us.
16:08So, and there are other inputs which have come in,
16:10which shows that these guys are going to try something.
16:13So, I think that warning has gone out.
16:16If I was still in the NSCS, I would put all alerts on.
16:19You know, this is the kind of situation I would look out for.
16:23And this, I think we should see in that context.
16:26Sir Creek, I've been there.
16:28I've been right up to the last, you know, border pole.
16:30This is an area where infiltration happens.
16:33And we've seen also through the sea, through land,
16:36there's been all kinds of stuff going on there though.
16:39And we don't have, the army is not there.
16:41It's the BSF, not to run down the BSF,
16:44but we do have a limited presence there.
16:47So, I think that warning has gone out,
16:49which is why the Defence Minister, the Army Chief,
16:52and the Air Force Chief have all decided to come out with these statements.
16:56Because there's something, yeah, to try, go on ma'am, complete your point.
17:01To try and tell Pakistan that, listen, you lost last time.
17:05They have not accepted it till now.
17:08And trying to tell them for their own good,
17:10that you suffered very serious losses.
17:12But they don't care about Pakistan.
17:14Aasem Munir would only care about himself.
17:16And Ambassador Dogra, if you were to look at his personal glory and gain,
17:20after Pahlgaam, Pakistan may have faced serious reverses,
17:24including their Air Force.
17:26But Aasem Munir's stature increased.
17:28He became Field Marshal.
17:29He's travelled to the United States twice.
17:31Of course, because now he's being called
17:34some kind of a salesman in a departmental store,
17:37will he try and shift focus once again?
17:39Your reading of the Defence Minister's message,
17:42the Army Chief's message,
17:43you know, Air Chief and the Army Chief saying words to the effect,
17:46history will repeat itself.
17:48Geography can change again.
17:50Well, firstly, Aasem Munir,
17:53he's an extremely cunning person.
17:57And he has a chip on his shoulder,
17:59because he was not the so-called direct recruit.
18:02He came in through the officer training school.
18:06So he's not spoken of with great respect in the officer,
18:12regular officer court in Pakistan.
18:14The second thing coming to the larger point,
18:17which you raised about his motivation,
18:20his extension is coming through in November.
18:25And while most speculations are,
18:30then he'll get it at least till 2027,
18:34if not another entire five-year term.
18:37So in order to ensure that his extension is not questioned,
18:43there's no obstacle,
18:45nothing can be put beyond Aasem Munir.
18:48He may even try some kind of a major terror attack in India.
18:52And I think that possibility or a sense that it is developing is what has provoked such strong statements,
19:03starting from Defence Minister to Air Force Chief and the Army Chief.
19:07Normally, I don't recall three of the top minister and two chiefs combining to issue a warning,
19:21not just to Pakistan, but also to the world,
19:24that look, don't blame us if situation goes out of control.
19:27And all of this is happening in border areas,
19:29whether it's happening in Gujarat or happening in Rajasthan.
19:32The forces, the chiefs, they're all at the front lines,
19:35as is the Defence Minister, Air Marshal Chaudhary and the Air Chief.
19:39He exposed Pakistan's false narrative on their so-called Aup Sindur or Banyane Mursus
19:45or whatever they may call it in their country.
19:47The damage caused to Pakistan, loss of five aircraft in the sky.
19:51Any air chief would have gone home after that.
19:53But as far as Pakistan is concerned,
19:55you know, they've gone and they're promoting themselves or seeking extensions.
19:59Five aircraft lost on ground,
20:01the radars that have been lost,
20:03the airfields that have been targeted,
20:05more than impacts just morale, sir.
20:07And a hit 300 kilometers deep inside Pakistan,
20:09that changes the nature of warfare?
20:14Certainly.
20:15You know, let's just go back to history.
20:171965 war started at the Surk in the Kach region.
20:21And that area is an extremely fragile in terms of the kind of terrain it is
20:27because the run of Kach is, you know, the coastline varies seasonally with the water logging.
20:33And it's an incredibly difficult area.
20:35But Pakistan has been operating there on and off for a long time,
20:39has been making efforts to, you know, keep the trouble.
20:43And that's like Ambassador Karthar brought out, that's an access route as well for them.
20:49So that is something we need to bear in mind.
20:51Second aspect, which I want to bring out,
20:53that with the trouble in the POK area,
20:55and now Kach and the Surkreek region coming into, you know, into the prominence,
21:01it's an indication, you know, it's a possibility of shifting of strategic focus,
21:07you know, getting, shifting India's diversion away from the region in the north.
21:14So that's the second aspect.
21:15The third aspect is when you, you know, under the present geopolitical circumstances,
21:19and the internal challenges that Pakistan is facing.
21:23I wouldn't be surprised today if that, you know, Pakistan considers,
21:30and I'm sure because, you know, deep inside,
21:33you don't know how the machinations of the mines work,
21:36that they would look to, you know, create trouble to divert attention from inside.
21:41So that is why I think under the circumstances when the Defence Minister,
21:46the Army Chief and the Air Chief bring together and, you know, statements,
21:51which you bring it out together, I think it's a clear warning to Pakistan
21:56that I think it will be dangerous for them to mess with us.
22:00The Air Chief's scorecard, which he brought out, I think,
22:03I think it showed enormous restraint and maturity that we didn't tom-tom this in the past.
22:09And the fact that we have brought it out now is a clear indication to tell the world,
22:14actually, look, this is what actually happened, and it's a clear warning to Pakistan.
22:18Should they venture in this direction, there will be serious, serious consequences,
22:23and this time we will not hold back as the Defence Minister very clearly brought out.
22:27Both Defence Minister and Army Chief making that point that this time we will not hold back.
22:32Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi having earlier said that now there is no distinction between state actors and non-state actors.
22:39If there is something, there will be consequences for both.
22:43Before I come to Senge Sering, sir, give me a moment, I want to play out a report for the benefit of our viewers,
22:48because Pakistan does not let information filter out.
22:51But the situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir right now is so bad
22:56that Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also had to react about the situation there.
23:01Now, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is burning.
23:04Officially, Pakistan admits nine lives have been lost.
23:07Police have fired point-blank at unarmed protesters.
23:10The unofficial figures are much higher.
23:12And this is the third year.
23:142023, 2024 and now 2025, when people are out asking just for the very basic development, their basic rights
23:23and saying at least don't steal our aata, don't steal our flour, at least let us eat food.
23:29I'll get you more on that, but first this report.
23:32A lot of these players are new.
23:36Natalia who comes from Kashmir, Azad Kashmir.
23:39No end to park provocation.
23:41This time, it's women's cricket after Pakistan's humiliating loss in Asia Cup.
23:47Former Pakistan cricketer Sana Amir has stoked a row on POK.
23:52During Women's World Cup commentary, Sana Amir introduced a player as hailing from Azad Kashmir.
23:58A lot of these players are new.
24:02Natalia who comes from Kashmir, Azad Kashmir, who plays in Lahore, a lot of cricket.
24:07She has to come to Lahore to play most of her cricket there.
24:11The former Pakistan skipper issued a clarification on social media which only made matters worse.
24:18Instead of apologizing, she insisted her words were harmless and blamed websites for mislabeling
24:24and claimed people were politicizing sport.
24:27But her own words that POK is a region in Pakistan only cemented the propaganda line.
24:34This isn't just about cricket commentary.
24:37It's about narrative warfare.
24:39Using sport to push Pakistan's falsehoods.
24:43And the timing couldn't be more damning because Sanami's comment comes at a time Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is on fire.
24:58From the Jhelum Valley to Muzaffarabad, thousands are marching, defying curfews and internet bans.
25:04At least 12 are daring clashes.
25:07Protesters say police opened fire amidst state-sponsored suppression.
25:16Journalists were beaten, protesters were assaulted and cameras smashed.
25:21The very people Pakistan claims are azad are today rising against their occupiers.
25:28India raised strong objections saying that Pakistan must be held accountable for its horrific human rights violations.
25:45So the contradiction is clear.
26:08While Pakistan's elites peddle fantasies of azad Kashmir, the ground reality is blood, bullets and burning streets in POK.
26:17Bureau Report India today.
26:27Senge Serring is a very well-respected activist from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
26:32Hails from the Gilgit-Baltistan area.
26:34Sir, more than 68 days of protests had taken place in Gilgit-Baltistan.
26:39Now for the third year running, POJK is burning 2023, 2024, 2025.
26:46Very little information filters out.
26:48What's happening in POK?
26:51Good morning from Washington, D.C.
26:54Thank you so much for having me.
26:56I'm really honored to be in a great company right now.
26:59Unfortunately, you know, my region, the part of India that I come from, which is in Pakistani occupation,
27:06it's burning there and, you know, we cannot be, you know, happy about that.
27:12I just heard through your program what Sanami said, you know, Pakistanis are known for their emotional cruelty and cold heartedness.
27:21And they do not waste any moment, any time to benefit strategically from anything happening, you know, in the region.
27:30And this brings us, you know, hundreds of people are there injured.
27:34People are on the street, dozens killed because they want their basic political rights.
27:40They want basic autonomy and freedom.
27:43And yet Pakistanis busy, you know, trying to, like, gaining strategic benefits from that.
27:48That brings us to the point that, you know, whether it's men or women, whether it's people in the military uniform or civilians,
27:55they're all part of this foul play against India.
27:58They're part of the strategic tool that they use Gilgit-Baltistan and Jammu Kashmir for, you know.
28:04It also reminds us how the Palestinians do that against Israel, you know.
28:08They use their women.
28:09They use their children.
28:10So Sanami is just part of that ISI tool.
28:13And, you know, what she said today, trying to gain benefits at a time when local people are dying on the streets,
28:21when we do not hear, you know, any basic needs being met or, you know, given to them.
28:29They have lost trust in Pakistan because Pakistan has failed to provide security to the region.
28:34And they are trying to raise voice to join India.
28:39They are trying to raise voice to join a country that could provide basic constitutional rights to them,
28:46which have been denied to them for the last 75, 76 years.
28:49And it's the same in Gilgit.
28:51You saw, you know, all the way on Chinese border.
28:54If you look at that picture behind me, it is not from Gilgit-Baltistan.
28:57That is in Pakistani occupation.
28:59You must have seen it before.
29:01It's from Shaskam.
29:02This is the Chinese occupied Gilgit-Baltistan.
29:05I come from Shigar district.
29:07And this is part of the Shigar district that Pakistan and that China occupies right now.
29:11So this collusion of China and Pakistan that has destroyed our economy, that has destroyed our livelihoods,
29:17that has destroyed our people's, you know, peace and tranquility in the area.
29:21I think that that will only end if we rejoin Ladakh, if we rejoin our lands on the other side of line of control.
29:30I sincerely hope it happens sooner than later, sir.
29:33And have basic constitutional rights.
29:34Absolutely.
29:35Stay with me for a moment.
29:36And Ambassador Dogra, I want to come to you for a moment.
29:38But before that, Nikhil Naz, our consultant editor of Sports, joins me on this show.
29:43You know what Sanami said, Nikhil?
29:45That would hurt at multiple levels and especially at a time when she talks about so-called Azad Kashmir.
29:52Ground realities are so different.
29:54There is nothing Azad about that Kashmir.
29:56People are being shot dead at point-blank range.
29:58So why does India permit all this Pakistani propaganda in cricket matches if we are so powerful on the cricket field?
30:05Well, Gaurav, first things first, you're absolutely right.
30:08I mean, when you look at this comment, it's not a stray comment.
30:11Remember, it comes in the aftermath of what we witnessed at the Asia Cup.
30:15What is to say that there was no ulterior motive by Sanami when she mentions Azad Kashmir in commentary.
30:22And what's interesting is, first she goes on to say it comes from Kashmir and then corrects herself and then says Azad Kashmir.
30:28Eventually, you know, once you say that on air and what's even worse is that you should actually come out and then apologize.
30:35And you could come out and say that maybe, you know, I grew up in a country where they refer to that region such as that.
30:40And I didn't know any better. So I would like to apologize for anything that I may have said that may have hurt the sentiment of anyone.
30:47Contrary to that, she's actually not come out with any sort of an apology.
30:50She comes out and says in her explanation saying that one, this was part of storytelling.
30:55And this is, you know, how you tell a story, which is all very right.
30:59You can tell a story without actually referring to that area in the correct name or the way it should have been.
31:05So that doesn't stand or doesn't hold, you know, water at all.
31:08No, and what is worse, her clarification is malicious, Nikhil.
31:11Because she says it is a part of, in Pakistan, it is not, it's an illegal custody of Pakistan.
31:17If she's, I know she's Pakistani, she may think it's Pakistani, but as in international cricket, she has to follow international terminology.
31:23And if she doesn't, then if India is so powerful in cricket, unless monies are God and not our honour,
31:30neither she nor people like Mohsen Nakwe should be part of any cricket that at least India is ever associated with.
31:37Well, you know, not just India. I'll give you an example, Gaurav.
31:41You know, Dean Jones is someone who I've worked with for a very long time.
31:44He said a very controversial statement while he was on air.
31:47And that actually was the time when he kept the mic down and that was caught on audio.
31:53There were a few viewers that took, you know, exception to that and complained about it.
31:57And after that, for two years, he couldn't do commentary.
31:59What Sana is saying at the moment is that she saw a website and that website happened to mention that.
32:04That's why she went ahead and said it. She's not issued an apology.
32:07So there has to be some sort of an action taken by the ICC at the moment, because remember, as soon as you hold the mic,
32:14everything you say doesn't matter what your source is or which website you're looking it up.
32:18You have to say the right thing when you've got the mic on.
32:20And so clearly there is some sort of an action that needs to be taken against her, especially in the time where she's not even issued an apology.
32:27And I think that is the crux of the matter that when she goes on air, she should know exactly how everything needs to be referred to.
32:34And here clearly she's made a mistake. I can see on social media, there are plenty of people that are up in arms,
32:39suggesting that what she has said, she better apologize for that and shouldn't have been said in the first place.
32:44Just basis that there has to be action that it needs to be taken against Anamir at the moment by the ICC without even the BCCI pushing for it.
32:52And if that action is not taken, then perhaps we know where loyalties lie with money or the country's honor.
33:01Nikhil will keep tracking that story. I will come back to you for more. Nikhil, for the moment, many thanks.
33:06I want to bring in Ambassador Dogra once again into this conversation. Ambassador, you've served in Pakistan.
33:11Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir has erupted in the past, whether it's 2023, 2024, 2025, and I'm not even going back to earlier times.
33:19This time, is it more intense? Because of this, Pakistan's Prime Minister has been forced to react.
33:26Your appreciation of the situation on the ground right now?
33:29Well, I'm glad you brought in Mr. Senge Sereng, because the next problem for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan,
33:41after Pakistan gifted away a chunk of their territory to China, is the fact that even there, Pakistan is trying to change their demographic complexion.
33:52They are bringing in Punjabis to settle there, despite protests from the local people.
33:57Now, this is where the problem started in POK. Because right from 1947, unlike us, where we, our leaders said that refugees from Pakistan will not be settled in Jammu and Kashmir,
34:11Pakistan ensured that Punjabi is coming out of mainly Indian Punjab, who are not allowed to settle in Punjab in large numbers, but taken in large numbers to POK to be settled there, so that they could change their demographic complexion.
34:27And the result is that today, more than 50% of the people are Punjabis. They are the ones who are thriving, they are the ones who are running all the large businesses, they are the ones who are getting all the large military contracts.
34:39The local population is starved financially. Can you imagine a population of 4 million people has only 5,000 income taxpayers?
34:50That is why the kind of clothes that these poor protesters are wearing are such a sharp contrast to our Jammu and Kashmir, which is prosperous, which is thriving.
35:01So, basically, it is human rights violations, it is the poverty of people, and it is the apathy of Islamabad to what they claim is their territory illegally occupied, that people are frustrated.
35:19You know, I think India should be speaking out more, and I think leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Tara Kartha, should be speaking out more against Pakistan's atrocities on people in Jammu and Kashmir,
35:32including Gilgit and Baltistan. But given the trouble in every part of Pakistan right now, Gilgit, Baltistan, as Senge Serring pointed out for more than 60 days,
35:42is that India is unoccupied in Jammu and Kashmir and Muzaffarabad right now, Baluchistan burning, Khaybar Pakhtunkhwa burning, trouble in Sindh.
35:49For Asim Munir to remain in power, especially when he is being called a traitor right now for his sajda to Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu,
35:58is this time that he will try some diversionary tactics? This is why India must be very careful right now?
36:05You know, if I can just say one comment on that, what that, the cricket aspect of, you know, this girl being from POK.
36:14Yeah.
36:15The Pakistan's Attorney General, June 2024, he said, in court, that POK is not part of Pakistan.
36:24I mean, so if she has doubts, she should go and look at that ruling, which he said is not part of Pakistan.
36:29But I think your spot turn on this, that chaos which we saw in Parliament today in Pakistan, where everybody's pulled up saying,
36:38what are you doing? You know, you've overturned our whole policy.
36:41So it is, I think, entirely likely that to try and get out of this, which is what he did last time in Pahlkam,
36:48when they came under pressure from everybody that's launched Pahlkam, that they would try something like this.
36:54There is trouble everywhere. And I think Senghi Sering will bear me out when he says that in POK in particular,
37:01and of course, Gelgit-Baltistan, they've, you know, the number of corruption cases,
37:06these people are fed up of the elite sort of having a blast there.
37:11They have the best, they have the cars, they have everything which the others don't, no power, about one hour of power a day.
37:18I mean, this is not something. Imagine. Yeah, so they are in really, and they provide Pakistan with all the hydropower resources,
37:27which the state has, which is immense. So Pakistan depends on them from power, but they themselves don't have any electricity.
37:33So this is expected. Balochistan is expected. Gilgit-Baltistan, absolutely expected because the traders there are crying because their trucks are pulled back.
37:44And the Chinese trucks are allowed to come in. So how long will this go on?
37:48And Senghi Sering, correct me if I'm wrong, there was a report in Pakistan submitted by the so-called Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Jammu in Kashmir,
37:59where he said that POJK generates some 2300 megawatts of electricity.
38:03Their requirement is just about 3400 megawatts of electricity.
38:06And they don't even get that in Gilgit and Baltistan.
38:09In Pakistan, there's 23 hours of power cuts in sub-zero temperature.
38:13And that's why people hate the atrocities by Pakistani Punjabis on both GB, Gilgit-Baltistan and POJK.
38:21Pakistan-occupied Jammu in Kashmir. Is that a correct appreciation?
38:24And tell me, is Pakistan reacting very adversely to Aasim Munir's sajda to Benjamin Netanyahu?
38:32Well, I mean, it's true that not only they do not get electricity, but if they have a chance to get some kind of trickle down electricity after Punjab has been satisfied,
38:43they get it at two or three times more, you know, per unit rate than the Punjabis get.
38:50And, you know, I want to come back to Dr. Tara.
38:53She was saying that, you know, 60, 70 years ago, they gave away Shah's gum for some crumbs from China to, like, you know, get help from Karakaram Highway.
39:04Now they're going to the United States and Saudi.
39:06They're trying to sell their minerals to get more benefits.
39:09And what are they getting in return? They're getting protection.
39:11You know, they're getting military protection, strategic protection from these countries.
39:17And our situation, as far as China is concerned, is going to get worse.
39:23And, you know, there will be far bigger protests in Gilgit-Baltistan, let me tell you.
39:27Because why? The Chinese companies signed an agreement with Pakistan to establish a special economic zone in Gilgit.
39:35And they're saying it is going to create about 10,000 jobs.
39:39Who's going to get those jobs? Not the local people.
39:42It is going to be the Pakistani Punjabis.
39:44It is going to be the Hans coming all the way from, you know, central China and Xinjiang.
39:50And they will be getting those jobs.
39:52So I think our situation is going to get worse and worse.
39:55Pakistan has used our land just as to hedge and, you know, get more benefits for international community.
40:01But you raised a very pertinent point.
40:04You raised a very pertinent point.
40:05Let me bring one more point.
40:07Go ahead, sir.
40:08And they keep talking about whether they have inflicted big damage on India during Operation Sindhu.
40:15But then right after Operation Sindhu, what you see is that, you know, the tail between their legs.
40:20They ran to the Chinese.
40:21They ran to the Saudis.
40:22They ran to the Americans.
40:24Why?
40:25They're trying to sell every remaining part of, you know, whatever assets they have, whether it's minerals, whether it's some other assets to get military protection from those countries.
40:36If you had a decisive victory, if you were so sure about your own success, you wouldn't be running, going like, you know, headless chicken all around the world.
40:45That shows that you were defeated decisively.
40:48And that's why you have been exposed.
40:50And now you want international community to stand with you.
40:53And that's why you're selling yourself so cheap.
40:56And Aymashal Chaudhary, that's the point I wanted to come to you for.
41:01Will Pakistan get the protection it seeks?
41:04Will it prevent India's response next time?
41:08God willing, a pre-emptive strike to prevent any loss of life on own side.
41:13If it is protected by Saudi Arabia, has this mutual defense pact or America protects it.
41:18Will that deter India's actions?
41:21You know, my personal view is this, you know, the strategic, the deal with the struck with the Saudis is an entirely different kettle of fish, you know, and if they think tomorrow, the Saudis are going to come to Pakistan's aid, should there be an India-Pakistan conflagration is something I think it's an overstated assessment on their part, because, you know,
41:50we have to look at it in a very different dynamics of it.
41:54Pakistan saw this as a strategic opportunity to expand its presence and its influence in the region by stepping in, getting in this deal with Saudi.
42:04And it is sort of, it was sort of dancing on its toes, the fact that, you know, moment, the kind of importance that were given in the US, but that is also already unraveling.
42:16So clearly, you know, there are, there is much more to politics, geopolitics in the world than Pakistan's own assessment of what it sees as a strategic opportunity and how they deal with it.
42:30My personal feeling is that when it comes to, I mean, if it does come to a situation like this, I mean, if the indications are clear, I think Indian leadership has sent out a clear message that under the present circumstances, you know, it's a clear warning that do not,
42:48do not venture into any, any misadventure with India at this point in time. And I think that has been clearly underscored by the, by the Defence Minister, the Army Chief and the Air Chief.
43:01I hope Pakistan terror is punished harder and deeper, but there's another development that's taking place and it's big and stay with me on this big story.
43:08Afghanistan's foreign minister, Aamir Khan Muttaki will be visiting India soon and this will be his first official visit after Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
43:19He arrives in Delhi on the 10th of October. There was some talk that he may visit a state sponsor of radical Islamist terror to ease tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
43:30But Muttaki is heading to India, marking this the first visit by an Afghan foreign minister since Taliban came to power.
43:37Do keep in mind, India does not formally recognize the Taliban regime, but India has consistently helped the people of Afghanistan given the civilizational ties India enjoys with the people of Afghanistan.
43:51After the recent earthquake in Khonar, India's external affairs minister, Dr. S. Jai Shankar, he not only rushed aid to Afghanistan, India was the first responder.
44:00He spoke directly to Aamir Khan Muttaki on the 1st of September. The two had earlier met in Dubai this January.
44:06Afghanistan condemned the Pehalgaam terror attack, a position that isolates that state sponsor of radical Islamist terror of Pakistan even further.
44:15So, with Muttaki's visit, Kabul is sending a strong signal to India. It wants closer ties with India, development ties with India.
44:25Whether it's healthcare, food aid, medicines, education, infrastructure development.
44:31I want to quickly bring in Ambassador Dogra into this conversation.
44:36How do you see the Taliban foreign minister's visit to India, sir?
44:40Well, a couple of ways one can see it. You remember Kandhar?
44:47Yes.
44:48Taliban was very much involved there.
44:50Yes, but that Taliban with Pakistan regime and now the tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, sir.
44:58So, from that point onwards to today, there's a sea change, 180 degree change. And that change has happened because India this time did not shun Taliban, but kept a line open.
45:11Through aid, through contacts, through even setting up some kind of a diplomatic representation there without recognition.
45:19So, all that has gone well. And what has gone particularly well is the fact that Pakistan has betrayed the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, as you also pointed out.
45:32A second indication, besides the traditional relations, people-to-people relations, and Afghan's regard for India, is the celebrations that broke out in Afghanistan after India won the Asia Cup.
45:44So, they are spontaneous recognition of the fact that Afghans, including their government, want the relationship to develop.
45:54And India took care to approach the UN, get the approval of the sanctions committee before inviting the foreign minister.
46:04So, his visit here, almost a week long, is substantial. And I hope it further develops the understanding which is already reasonably strong.
46:16And an understanding which needs to be nurtured because America, China and Pakistan are up to a dirty game in Afghanistan.
46:26Okay. Eh, Marshall Chaudhary, America is desperate to get back to Afghanistan and especially take control of the Bagram Air Base.
46:35And Taliban said no to them. How do you see these dynamics that he is not going to Pakistan, he is coming to India?
46:42That the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan at an all-time low, given the ill-treatment of Afghans by Pakistan for such a long time, they have used them, abused them.
46:51And, you know, now that acrimony is visible for all to see, eh, Marshall Chaudhary?
46:57I think Pakistan has, you know, burned its bridges or burning in the process of steadily burning its bridges everywhere.
47:04And with Afghanistan coming here as a significant aspect, I mean, coming closer to India as a significant aspect,
47:10because for the longest time, Pakistan considered Afghanistan as a strategic depth against India.
47:15And now, clearly, the strategic depth is disappearing.
47:18And, you know, there are, there are a whole lot of dynamics, you know, they're trying to fish in troubled waters,
47:23because they're looking at, they're trying to leverage the aspect that the U.S. is waning foothold in Asia.
47:32And the only place which had, you know, decent foothold was Pakistan.
47:35And when Pakistan had shifted towards China, the U.S., do remember,
47:41that Pakistan has always been a strategic space, which has always been central to the U.S. requirements,
47:48and long-term policies in this region. So, they have been…
47:51Saying it, saying, the last 30 seconds I have on this part of the show,
47:54how would you view closer ties between the people of Afghanistan and the people of India, even if it's the Taliban regime?
48:03You know, I believe Afghanistan is an extremely important country, not for just Gilgit-Baltistan,
48:07for the entire Indian region. And, you know, that relationship needs to continue to grow,
48:12because at some point, when Gilgit-Baltistan, there's no line of control anymore,
48:17and Gilgit-Baltistan becomes this conduit for all the Indians to access, you know,
48:22Afghanistan and Central Asia. I think this relationship is extremely important.
48:25You know, we believe that Afghans, you know, they are a true friend of India,
48:30and, you know, they will continue to emerge as important friends when it comes to promoting strategic interests in Central Asia,
48:38and, you know, far beyond. Yes. I will let that be the last word on this part of the show.
48:43I've run out of time, but this is a story we'll be tracking very, very closely.
48:47Afghanistan, India, a relationship that needs to be nurtured when you keep India first and national interests supreme.
48:55To all my guests, many thanks for joining me.
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