- 18 minutes ago
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard identified Pakistan, Russia, China, and North Korea as the most significant nuclear threats to the United States in a Senate testimony.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening, you're watching India First. I'm Gaurav Savan.
00:03Big story coming in. The United States has called Pakistan the biggest nuclear threat.
00:10U.S. Director for National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in a statement that said
00:15Pakistan poses the biggest nuclear threat to the United States of America.
00:21Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate panel that Pakistan, China, North Korea and Russia pose the biggest nuclear threat to the
00:33United States of America.
00:35Tulsi Gabbard also flagged growing coordination between Pakistan and North Korea.
00:41Warned that North Korea is strengthening its partnerships both with Russia and with China.
00:48On Iran, Tulsi Gabbard said that the country's nuclear enrichment program was effectively obliterated in the June 2025 strikes.
01:00Dodi, she did caution that the regime remains intact even if significantly degraded.
01:08She then went on to tell this panel, if the Iranian regime survives, it could begin years-long effort to
01:17rebuild its missile and drone capabilities.
01:21Tulsi Gabbard warned that Iran and its proxies still retain the ability to target the United States and interests of
01:30the United States and its allies across the Middle East or West Asia.
01:35On the Ukraine war front, the American assessment is clear.
01:40Russia continues to hold the upper hand and is likely to sustain its military campaign.
01:47On China, Tulsi Gabbard says Beijing's demands for raw material is driving deeper outreach even into Latin America.
01:57The Western Hemisphere, remember, remains Donald Trump's core area of interest and all his efforts have been to ensure that
02:06Chinese influence is significantly reduced.
02:09Actions in Venezuela were also seen in the light of trying to remove Chinese presence from Latin America.
02:18One step taken, multiple other steps perhaps in the world.
02:22But breaking news and our top story is America looking at Pakistan as a significant threat.
02:30Because remember, this comes at a time when President Donald Trump has invited Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime
02:40Minister Shabazz Sharif,
02:41who's called Form 47 Prime Minister even in Pakistan, to the White House.
02:46In fact, Pakistan's Army Chief and Field Marshal, they've been repeatedly wined and dined at the White House.
02:53But the question remains, is this now America going to extract their pound of flesh when it comes to deployment
03:01in the Gaza Strip?
03:03And whether Saudi Arabia would want them to take on Iran?
03:07But here, the United States calls Pakistan the biggest nuclear threat to the United States of America.
03:14And I quickly want to bring in my colleague Akshita Nand Gopal for more on the story.
03:19Akshita, bring us details.
03:21On the one hand, we saw pictures of Asim Munir at White House.
03:25On the other hand, Tulsi Gabbard calls Pakistan the biggest national security threat.
03:30That's right, Gaurav. Big, big statement that's come in from Tulsi Gabbard.
03:34Our briefing is live right now, so we're going to be getting your highlights of what she said.
03:38But essentially highlighting the nuclear threat to America, she's listed out a series of countries, including Pakistan.
03:47Now, the irony of this is that in the last many months, we've seen how Pakistan has been doing everything
03:51they can to get into the good books of America.
03:54You highlighted how Asim Munir, Shahbaz Sharif have repeatedly met with President Trump.
03:59So much so that they even joined the Gaza Board of Peace.
04:01All of this in an attempt to ensure that the White House is happy with them.
04:06With this kind of a comment now coming in from Tulsi Gabbard, the question is, where does this leave Pakistan?
04:11Because in the last many weeks, during the West Asia conflict, there have been questions about who Pakistan will side
04:17with.
04:17Because on one hand, they've been going all out, doing everything they can to please America.
04:21On the other, they've also been condemning what's been happening with Iran.
04:24It's very clear, however, how America views them, that they are a nuclear threat.
04:29And what does that mean, really? What does America plan to do about it?
04:32Because, mind you, Gaurav, the situation that we're seeing right now in Iran stemmed from a similar statement,
04:38a similar concern, a similar worry that America had voiced.
04:42Now, with Tulsi Gabbard very publicly stating that Pakistan is one of the biggest nuclear threats to us,
04:48what does this really mean for Pakistan, which, as you know, and you've been reporting on India First,
04:53is as unstable as can be right now?
04:56In fact, this has been a threat.
04:58There are many in Pakistan who are very apprehensive that America is first going after Iran,
05:03which is still in the process of attempting to make a bomb, a nuclear bomb,
05:08even though officially they say they don't want to.
05:10But Pakistan is a radical Islamist terror state that already has a nuclear bomb.
05:16And that bomb is a threat not just to India, not just to the United States of America,
05:22but to the world, because Pakistan is increasingly becoming a failed state, Akshita.
05:27And this is a very, very major statement.
05:29And Tulsi Gabbard should know she's a soldier and she's director of national intelligence.
05:36So she would be getting intelligence inputs from multiple agencies.
05:39She coordinates them and then puts them to the White House.
05:42So this is definitely not a light statement to come in from the U.S.
05:47And the timing of it, as you pointed out also, Gaurav, is crucial.
05:50This is something that India has been repeatedly saying about Pakistan being an irresponsible country
05:55that cannot have nuclear weapons because of how unstable they are.
05:59But Pakistan right now is in a diplomatic mess.
06:02They're going to have to figure out how to iron out these issues with America.
06:05Now that they've been called out so publicly,
06:06you've been also reporting on the Pakistan-Afghanistan war.
06:09So on that front already, they're putting out fires across.
06:13And now with America also calling out Pakistan,
06:16referring to them as the biggest nuclear threat,
06:18what they're looking at is largely also global isolation,
06:21not just in the neighborhood, but otherwise.
06:24Because the countries that they've been working so hard to get onto their side
06:27and have the kind of backing that they can go all out and take on their neighbors,
06:30no longer there with them.
06:32They have no protection.
06:33They have no upper hand blessing them.
06:34That's very clear in the statement that America has made.
06:37Something's changed in the last few weeks, Gaurav.
06:39Maybe it's the statements that came in from Pakistan
06:41in light of what's happened with Iran.
06:43But clearly, America hasn't taken to it kindly.
06:46In fact, let us for a moment dip in
06:48because that Senate hearing is right now live.
06:52Let's listen in to what Tulsi Gabbard is saying for a moment.
06:55And I'll come back to you for more on this story.
06:56However, these assessments will clearly be updated
06:59as the full impact of Operation Epic Fury's devastating strikes
07:02on Iran's missile production facilities,
07:05stockpiles, and launch capabilities is determined.
07:08These nations collectively will likely seek to understand
07:11U.S. plans for advanced missile defense for the homeland,
07:14probably for the purpose of shaping their own missile development programs
07:17and assessing U.S. intentions regarding deterrence.
07:21Shifting to the cyber domain,
07:23the IC assesses that China, Russia, Iran, North Korea,
07:26and non-state ransomware groups
07:27will continue to seek to compromise U.S. government
07:31and private sector networks,
07:32as well as critical infrastructure,
07:34to collect intelligence,
07:35create options for future disruption,
07:38and for financial gain.
07:40The IC assesses that China and Russia
07:42present the most persistent and active threats
07:45and are continuing their R&D efforts.
07:47North Korea's cyber program is sophisticated and agile.
07:51In 2025 alone,
07:53North Korea's cryptocurrency heist
07:54probably stole $2 billion,
07:56which the IC assesses is helping to fund the regime
07:59and include further development of its strategic...
08:03We'll be tracking this story very closely,
08:05but for the moment,
08:06I want to take you for the latest developments
08:09that are coming from the Iran-Israel-United States war.
08:14And latest coming in,
08:15the Iranian media has just reported
08:17Iran's natural gas facilities at the offshore.
08:20South Park's field has been targeted
08:23according to Iran by Israel,
08:26and this would mark a massive escalation
08:28on day 19 of the conflict.
08:31The South Park's field
08:32is actually the world's largest natural gas field
08:35that Iran actually shares with Qatar.
08:38Qatar has the north side,
08:40Iran has the south side.
08:41As of now, details are very sketchy,
08:43but reports from Tehran indicate
08:45strikes at the facilities
08:46in a place called Asal-UA area,
08:49and this is in the Buchehr province.
08:53The onshore processing plant
08:55linked to the offshore phase
08:56apparently has been targeted.
08:59Images on your television screen,
09:00no independent confirmation
09:02either from Israel or from the U.S. CENTCOM,
09:05the Central Command,
09:06on strikes on gas facilities just as yet.
09:09But South Park's is very critical.
09:12South Park's supplies majority
09:14of Iran's domestic gas needs.
09:16The apprehension now is
09:18that this damage could worsen
09:19Iran's energy crisis.
09:21It could disrupt supply within Iran.
09:24It will reduce revenue
09:25for the Iranian government.
09:27It could well compel people
09:29to take to the streets and protest.
09:32But the war is escalating
09:33on multiple fronts
09:34because Iran now is targeting
09:36similar infrastructure
09:38across the Gulf region.
09:40And this is something
09:41that would directly impact supplies.
09:44This could lead to cost escalations
09:46across the world.
09:48Oil cost escalations
09:49and gas price escalation.
09:51Israel, on the other hand,
09:53continues with its intelligence-based
09:55precision strike operations
09:56to kill top Iranian leadership.
09:59After Israel's Prime Minister,
10:00Benjamin Netanyahu,
10:01confirmed the killing
10:03of Ali Larijani.
10:04Ali Larijani was the secretary
10:07of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
10:09Israel's defense minister,
10:11Israel Katz,
10:12he's confirmed the killing
10:13of Ismail Khatib,
10:15Iran's intelligence minister
10:17and top official in the government
10:19in overnight strikes,
10:20which Iranian president
10:21has now confirmed
10:22in a social media post.
10:25Masood Pazishkian has said,
10:27cowardly assassination
10:29of my dear colleagues,
10:30Ismail Khatib,
10:32Ali Larijani
10:33and Aziz Nasirzadeh
10:36alongside some of the family members
10:38and accompanying team
10:39has left us
10:40in deep mourning.
10:42The U.S. has used
10:435,000-pounder GPS-guided
10:46special steel case
10:47bunker buster,
10:48ground penetration,
10:49bombs,
10:50targeting,
10:50sea skimming,
10:51anti-ship missile launch facilities
10:54and silos
10:54along the Strait of Hormuz.
10:56And I'm going to show you
10:57those visuals
10:58in just a moment.
10:59But on the other hand,
11:01U.S. President Donald Trump
11:02is extremely miffed
11:03that NATO partners
11:04are still not sending ships
11:06to assist in operations
11:07to keep sea lanes
11:08of communication open
11:10and especially
11:10the Strait of Hormuz.
11:12In Tehran,
11:13thousands of people
11:14turned up
11:15at the funeral
11:15of Ali Larijani
11:17in Tehran.
11:18Perhaps,
11:19perhaps,
11:19and that's a very major indication.
11:21And we will show you
11:22images
11:22of the funeral procession
11:25of Ali Larijani
11:26when thousands of people
11:27took to the streets
11:28of Tehran.
11:29Because that will give you
11:31an idea
11:31if the U.S. thought
11:33that decapitation strike
11:34will lead to people
11:35coming,
11:36taking to the streets
11:37and rising against the regime,
11:39the impact is actually
11:40just the opposite.
11:41The decapitation strategy,
11:43if it's working,
11:44at least it's not visible
11:45on ground.
11:46There is no open revolt.
11:48People actually appear
11:49to be rallying
11:50around the flag.
11:53But first,
11:54we bring you
11:54our top story.
12:07A dramatic escalation
12:09in West Asia war.
12:11The U.S. forces
12:13have launched
12:13heavy strikes
12:14on Iranian missile positions
12:16along the coastline,
12:17deploying some of
12:18the most powerful
12:19bunkerbuster bombs
12:20in their arsenal.
12:25The Americans
12:26used 5,000-pound bombs
12:28to target
12:28the hardened
12:29underground facilities
12:30near the Strait of Hormuz.
12:34This,
12:35as Washington,
12:36is increasingly isolated.
12:41Allies are refusing
12:43to join U.S. patrols.
12:46Some saying
12:48this is not
12:49our war.
12:52Meanwhile,
12:53inside Iran,
12:54Israel has expanded
12:55its high-value
12:56target strikes.
12:58Iran's intelligence
12:59intelligence minister,
13:00Ismail Khatib,
13:02is killed
13:02in overnight
13:03airstrike in Tehran,
13:04says the Netanyahu government.
13:08This comes a day
13:09after the killing
13:10of top security chief
13:11Ali Larijani,
13:13who died alongside
13:14his son,
13:15aides and guards.
13:19Israel's defense
13:20Israel's defense minister
13:20is warning.
13:22More significant
13:22surprises are coming,
13:24confirming that the military
13:25now has the clearance
13:27to eliminate
13:28any senior Iranian figure
13:29without further approval.
13:33This was followed
13:34by a swift crackdown
13:35by the Iranian authorities.
13:37An alleged Mossad spy
13:38was executed.
13:40Tehran says
13:41he passed
13:41sensitive intelligence
13:43to Israel.
13:45And Iran
13:46is not stopping there.
13:48Tehran responded
13:49with force,
13:50raining missiles
13:50on Israel,
13:52targeting Tel Aviv
13:53and surrounding areas.
13:58In Ramat Gan,
13:59a deadly strike
14:00on a residential building
14:01reduced homes
14:02to rubble
14:03and took many lives.
14:06Iran deployed
14:07advanced missiles,
14:09including cluster-capable
14:10systems,
14:11which are harder
14:11to intercept
14:12and deadlier
14:13on impact.
14:16Top commanders
14:18eliminated,
14:19retaliation underway,
14:21a widening war
14:22and West Asia
14:23is on the brink.
14:26Here are a report,
14:27India Today.
14:35And in a major
14:36military operation
14:37on the night
14:37intervening March 17 and 18,
14:39the United States
14:40dropped multiple
14:41GBU-72
14:43advanced 5K
14:44penetrator,
14:46penetrator bunker
14:47buster bombs
14:48to strike Iranian
14:49military installations
14:51near the
14:51Strait of Hormuz.
14:52Now,
14:52according to the
14:53U.S. Central Command,
14:55multiple
14:555,000 pound
14:57and 5,000 pound
14:58is approximately
14:582,270 kilograms.
15:01Deep penetration
15:02munitions
15:03were deployed.
15:04I'll show you
15:05those images.
15:06these special
15:07bunker busters
15:08are actually
15:08designed with
15:09a hardened
15:10steel casing
15:11to drill deep
15:12into the ground
15:13even through
15:14reinforced concrete
15:16before detonating.
15:17The strikes
15:18were reportedly
15:19carried out
15:19by the B-2 bombers,
15:21the B-2 Spirit
15:21stealth bombers
15:22and of course
15:23the F-15
15:24Strike Eagle
15:24fighter jets.
15:26Each of these
15:27GBU-72
15:28bunker buster
15:29bombs,
15:29it's estimated
15:31to cost
15:32approximately
15:332,88,000
15:35U.S.
15:37dollars.
15:37The GPS-guided
15:39bombs
15:39ensure
15:40pinpoint
15:41accuracy
15:42irrespective
15:43whether it
15:44come rain,
15:45come shine,
15:46come hail,
15:47come thunder,
15:48they'll drop
15:48with pinpoint
15:49accuracy.
15:50The bombs
15:51are not
15:52dependent
15:52on laser
15:53targeting
15:54from the
15:54ground
15:55and that
15:55is what
15:56makes it
15:56the newer
15:57generation
15:57weaponry.
15:58The primary
15:59objective
16:00of the
16:00strike
16:00was to
16:01neutralize
16:02threats
16:02to
16:02international
16:02shipping
16:03in the
16:04Strait of
16:04Hormuz.
16:05The bunker
16:05buster bombs
16:06were dropped
16:06at Iranian
16:07missile launch
16:08sites
16:08and underground
16:09storage
16:09silos.
16:10The strikes
16:11hit multiple
16:12hardened
16:13underground
16:13facilities
16:14that were
16:15housing
16:15Iranian
16:16anti-ship
16:17cruise
16:17missiles.
16:18Now,
16:19the US
16:19Central
16:20Command
16:20in a
16:20statement
16:21said
16:21the
16:21sites
16:22targeted
16:22house
16:22anti-ship
16:23cruise
16:23missiles
16:24and
16:24Iranian
16:24coastal
16:25defense
16:26cruise
16:26missiles
16:27or the
16:27CDCMs.
16:28These
16:29coastal
16:29defense
16:30cruise
16:30missiles
16:31pose
16:31a direct
16:32threat
16:32to
16:33international
16:33shipping
16:34and to
16:34naval
16:35vessels
16:35according
16:36to
16:36CENTCOM
16:36officials.
16:37The
16:37Iranian
16:38anti-ship
16:38cruise
16:39missiles
16:39in
16:39these
16:39sites
16:40pose
16:40a
16:42major
16:43threat.
16:43Now,
16:44we'll
16:44show you
16:44images
16:45of the
16:46Strait of
16:46Hormuz
16:46and ships
16:47that are
16:47sailing
16:48through
16:48the
16:48Strait
16:48of
16:48Hormuz.
16:49Remember,
16:49we've
16:50explained to
16:50you in
16:50the
16:50past
16:51that
16:51the
16:51Strait
16:51of
16:52Hormuz
16:52is
16:52barely
16:53at its
16:54choke
16:54point
16:5433
16:55kilometers
16:55wide.
16:56When you
16:56look at
16:57the
16:57Strait
16:57of
16:57Hormuz,
16:58that
16:58is
16:58where
16:58the
16:58ships
16:58are
16:58very
16:59slow.
16:59Barely
17:0015
17:00to
17:0020
17:01knots
17:02is
17:02their
17:02speed
17:02and
17:03that's
17:03the
17:03time
17:03if
17:04these
17:04sea-skimming
17:05missiles
17:06that can
17:06dodge
17:06any
17:07radar,
17:07if
17:07they
17:07hit
17:07them,
17:08there's
17:09nothing
17:09that can
17:10stop
17:10these
17:11missiles
17:11from
17:11taking
17:12down
17:12a
17:12tanker.
17:13Iran
17:13has
17:14deployed
17:14a
17:14number
17:14of
17:15sea-skimming
17:15anti-ship
17:16cruise
17:16missiles
17:17in
17:17the
17:17Strait
17:17of
17:18Hormuz
17:18that
17:18can
17:18evade
17:19radars,
17:19that
17:20can
17:20strike
17:20slow-moving
17:21ships
17:21with
17:22pinpoint
17:22deadly
17:23accuracy.
17:24The
17:24warheads
17:25on
17:25the
17:25sea-skimming
17:25missiles
17:26are
17:26specially
17:27made
17:27to
17:27penetrate
17:28the
17:28hull
17:29and
17:30then
17:30hit
17:30the
17:30ship
17:31before
17:31exploding.
17:32And
17:32imagine
17:32if
17:32it's
17:33a gas
17:38it's
17:39going
17:39to
17:39be
17:39a
17:39disaster.
17:41The
17:41Strait
17:42of
17:42Hormuz
17:42effectively
17:43remains
17:44close
17:44for
17:44movement
17:44of
17:45majority
17:45of
17:45ships
17:46carrying
17:46oil
17:47and
17:47gas
17:47amidst
17:48Iran's
17:48threat
17:48to
17:48international
17:49shipping.
17:50Iran
17:50of course
17:50is
17:51selectively
17:51giving
17:51clearance
17:52to
17:52ships
17:52to
17:52cross
17:52the
17:53Strait.
17:53And
17:53there
17:54is
17:54a
17:54sharp
17:55spike
17:55in
17:55the
17:55threat
17:56matrix
17:56including
17:57whether
17:57it's
17:57cruise
17:58missiles,
17:58drones
17:59or
18:00reports
18:00that
18:01even
18:01sea-mines
18:02are
18:02being
18:02laid.
18:03So
18:03despite
18:03US
18:07the
18:08region
18:08to
18:08send
18:09warships
18:09to
18:09keep
18:09the
18:10Strait
18:10of
18:10Hormuz
18:10open,
18:11the
18:11response
18:11has
18:12been
18:12mostly
18:12negative,
18:13giving
18:13Iran
18:14the
18:14leverage
18:14it
18:15needs
18:16in
18:16this
18:17war.
18:19We're
18:20hammering
18:20their
18:20capacity
18:21to
18:21threaten
18:22commercial
18:22shipping
18:23in
18:24the
18:24Strait
18:24of
18:25Hormuz
18:25with
18:26more
18:26than
18:2630
18:27mine
18:28laying
18:28ships
18:29destroyed.
18:29We
18:30have it
18:31in
18:31very
18:31good
18:31shape.
18:32The
18:32countries,
18:32I
18:33said,
18:33we've
18:33already
18:33taken
18:34care
18:34of
18:34Iran
18:34but
18:35now
18:36because
18:36of
18:37a
18:38single
18:39terrorist
18:39can
18:39put
18:40something
18:40in
18:40the
18:41water
18:41or
18:41shoot
18:41something
18:42or
18:42shoot
18:42a
18:42missile,
18:43a
18:43small
18:43missile,
18:44and
18:45it's
18:45fairly
18:45close
18:45range
18:46because
18:46it
18:46is
18:47a
18:47tight
18:47area,
18:49which
18:49is
18:49one
18:49of
18:50the
18:50reasons
18:50they've
18:51always
18:51used
18:51that
18:52as
18:52a
18:52weapon.
18:53Iran
18:53has
18:54always
18:54used
18:54that
18:54as
18:55an
18:55economic
18:56weapon,
18:57and
18:58it's
18:58not
18:58going to
18:59be
18:59able
18:59to
18:59be
19:00used
19:00very
19:00long.
19:01In
19:01getting
19:02America's
19:02allies
19:03to
19:03assist
19:03the
19:03U.S.
19:04and
19:04escorting
19:05those
19:05oil
19:05attackers
19:05through
19:06the
19:06strainer
19:06form
19:06moves.
19:07Well,
19:07we don't
19:07need
19:07too
19:08much
19:08help,
19:08and we
19:08don't
19:09need
19:09any
19:09help.
19:10I was
19:13watching
19:13over the
19:14last couple
19:14of weeks,
19:15and all
19:16of our
19:16NATO
19:17allies
19:17were very
19:18much in
19:19favor of
19:19what we
19:20did.
19:20They
19:20thought it
19:20was
19:20very
19:21important.
19:22We
19:22were just
19:22discussing
19:23it,
19:23actually.
19:24Very
19:24important
19:24that we
19:25take out
19:26the nuclear
19:27threat
19:27from Iran,
19:28and we've
19:29done that
19:30very
19:30strongly,
19:31very
19:31powerfully.
19:31We've
19:32wiped
19:32out
19:32their
19:32navy,
19:33wiped
19:33out
19:33their
19:34military
19:34in
19:34every
19:35aspect.
19:36Their
19:36air force
19:37is now
19:37decimated.
19:38They have
19:38no air
19:39force,
19:39no navy.
19:40They have
19:41no radar.
19:42Their radar
19:43is entirely
19:44gone.
19:44Their
19:44anti-aircraft
19:45machinery
19:46is gone.
19:47Everything
19:47is gone.
19:48Their
19:48leaders
19:48are
19:49gone.
19:52Thousands
19:52and thousands
19:53turned up
19:53for the
19:54funeral of
19:54Ali
19:55Larijani
19:55today.
19:56Does
19:56that
19:57indicate
19:57that this
19:58decapitation
19:59strategy
19:59is not
20:00working?
20:00Joining
20:01me on
20:01India
20:02first
20:02is
20:02Adil
20:03Nazarian.
20:04She's
20:04a senior
20:05fellow at
20:05the Gold
20:06Institute of
20:06International
20:07Strategy.
20:08Also
20:08with me
20:08is
20:09Colonel
20:09Jeffrey
20:09Fisher.
20:10Colonel
20:10Fisher
20:11is a
20:12former
20:12military
20:13veteran,
20:13a diplomat,
20:14and current
20:14CEO of
20:15Fisher
20:16Aerospace.
20:17Welcome.
20:17Adil,
20:18if the
20:19US thought
20:20the moment
20:21Ayatollah
20:21Ali
20:22Khamenei
20:22is decapitated
20:23or assassinated,
20:24people in
20:25Tehran would
20:26flood the
20:26streets and
20:27there would
20:27be an
20:27uprising against
20:28the regime.
20:28The images
20:30are very
20:31different.
20:32Top leaders,
20:33including Ali
20:34Larejani,
20:34have been
20:34killed.
20:35People now
20:36appear to be
20:36rallying around
20:37the flag.
20:40So,
20:40if anyone was
20:41advising,
20:42great to be on
20:42with you again,
20:43Gaurav,
20:44if anyone was
20:44advising President
20:45Trump that
20:46once removal of
20:48Khamenei would
20:48take place,
20:49that this would
20:50result in the
20:50people rising up
20:51and taking
20:52control of their
20:53country,
20:53then that person
20:55needs to be
20:55fired.
20:56That is
20:56exactly the
20:57opposite of
20:58what would
20:58be expected.
20:59And you
21:00can see that
21:00it's taken
21:02decapitation
21:02after decapitation
21:03of follow-up
21:04leaders,
21:05including
21:05up to
21:05Larejani now.
21:06So,
21:07I personally
21:08will say that
21:09based on my
21:09contact with
21:10people within
21:10Iran,
21:11years of
21:11covering this
21:12over almost
21:13two decades,
21:14that I think
21:15the regime
21:15has only 10%
21:17support,
21:18frankly.
21:18But,
21:19that said,
21:20that doesn't
21:20mean that the
21:21people who are
21:22opposed to it
21:22are going to
21:23get out into
21:24the streets and
21:24rise up the
21:25way they did.
21:26leading up to
21:26the February
21:2728th assassination
21:28of Khamenei.
21:29They know
21:3033,000,
21:31the numbers are
21:32up and down
21:33depending on
21:33which media
21:34sources you're
21:34sourcing and
21:35referring to,
21:36people who have
21:37been exterminated
21:38by the regime.
21:39They are not
21:40armed,
21:41the civilians
21:41don't have any
21:42way of fighting
21:42back.
21:43So,
21:43I really think
21:44that this is
21:45far from over.
21:46Okay.
21:47Colonel Fisher,
21:48I want you to
21:49just consider this.
21:51Ayatollah Ali
21:51Khamenei,
21:52Supreme Leader
21:52of Iran,
21:53killed.
21:54Ali Shamkhani,
21:55Secretary of
21:56the National
21:56Security Council,
21:57killed.
21:58Major General
21:58Muhammad Pakpur,
21:59Commander-in-Chief of
22:00the Islamic
22:01Revolutionary Guard
22:01Corps,
22:02decapitated.
22:03Brigadier General
22:04Aziz Nazirzadeh,
22:06Defense Minister.
22:07Major General
22:07Abdul Rahim
22:08Mousavi,
22:08Chief of Staff
22:09of Iran Armed
22:10Forces,
22:10Ali Larijani,
22:11just yesterday.
22:13Ghulam Razaj
22:14Soleimani,
22:14Commander Basij
22:15Forces,
22:15killed.
22:16So,
22:16one rung
22:17decapitated,
22:18another rung
22:19takes over,
22:20no mass
22:21uprising on
22:22the streets.
22:23Was
22:24U.S.
22:25ill-advised
22:26to think
22:27decapitation
22:27would lead
22:28to a mass
22:29movement on
22:30the streets
22:30or a revolution
22:31on the streets?
22:34Yeah,
22:34it's a good
22:35question.
22:36I would say
22:36this,
22:37right,
22:37that air
22:38power
22:39alone
22:41usually cannot
22:42bring an end
22:42to a war.
22:43There's very
22:44few cases.
22:45I think
22:45the only
22:46one that I
22:46could cite
22:47would be
22:48the Serbian
22:49war where
22:49after 60
22:50plus days
22:52Milosevic
22:53decided to
22:53actually relent
22:54and he backed
22:55away.
22:55Now,
22:55he wasn't
22:56killed.
22:56He was the
22:56leader of
22:59Serbia
22:59and we
23:00were able
23:01to end
23:01that war
23:01with just
23:02air power.
23:03However,
23:04even though
23:04you ended
23:05the air
23:05war,
23:06I mean,
23:06even to
23:06this day,
23:07we're 20
23:07plus years
23:08into this
23:08and there's
23:09still a
23:09peacekeeping
23:10mission going
23:10on in
23:11Kosovo.
23:11So,
23:13there's
23:13this notion
23:14of a
23:14quick war
23:14doesn't
23:15really exist.
23:16I would
23:16say that
23:17what the
23:18Trump
23:18administration
23:19is trying
23:19to do
23:20is it's
23:22clear they're
23:23going to
23:24continue to
23:25ramp up
23:25and escalate
23:26and you
23:27used that
23:27word very
23:27wisely earlier
23:28that the
23:29strikes are
23:30escalating in
23:31severity for
23:32the Iranians
23:33and you're
23:34also seeing
23:35that he's
23:36doing everything
23:36he can to
23:37actually remove
23:38the eyes
23:39or the
23:39ability of
23:39Iran to
23:40see into
23:41the Straits
23:41of Hormuz
23:42trying to
23:43free up
23:44and unblock
23:45that log
23:45jam.
23:47All right.
23:48And Adel,
23:49Israel seems
23:49to have
23:50penetrated
23:50deep inside
23:51Iran.
23:52After all,
23:53it can't just
23:53be technical
23:54intelligence,
23:56must be human
23:57intelligence on
23:58ground that's
23:59resulting in
24:00killings with
24:01pinpoint accuracy.
24:02Otherwise,
24:03how would Israel
24:04know where
24:05Ali Larajani is
24:06spending the
24:07night?
24:07It's not in
24:08Tehran.
24:08It's not
24:09his own
24:09house.
24:09It's not
24:10some safe
24:10house.
24:10It's his
24:11daughter's
24:12house some
24:1220-25
24:13kilometers on
24:13the outskirts.
24:14And that's
24:15where the
24:15missile strike
24:16takes place.
24:17There is no
24:18doubt in my
24:19mind that
24:19Israel has
24:20one of the
24:22top intelligence
24:22apparatuses in
24:23the world.
24:24And they
24:24certainly have
24:25assets in
24:25Iran.
24:26You know,
24:26there's been
24:27reports,
24:27Iran claims that
24:28they eliminated
24:28all the
24:29Israeli assets.
24:30It's pure
24:30propaganda.
24:31I am certain
24:32that there are
24:32people there who
24:33are still very
24:34much embedded
24:34within Iranian
24:35society,
24:35that the
24:36Iranian
24:36leadership has
24:37no idea that
24:38they're even
24:39playing for the
24:40other side.
24:41And I think
24:41that's why they
24:42were able to
24:42hit with such
24:43precision these
24:44targets.
24:45And at this
24:46point, frankly,
24:47Iran has become
24:47personal.
24:48It wasn't just
24:49targeting U.S.
24:51bases or
24:51Israeli bases.
24:52It's been
24:53targeting civilian
24:54structures with
24:55its neighbors and
24:56supposed allies
24:56like the UAE.
24:57And so I think
24:59the way that
24:59things are going,
25:00I expect Iran to
25:01act even more
25:01erratically and
25:02irrational, which
25:03is to be expected.
25:04But unfortunately,
25:05I have a fear that
25:06it may actually
25:07end up reaching
25:08U.S.
25:09shores.
25:09I hope it
25:09doesn't.
25:10But I can
25:10guarantee that if
25:11any such thing of
25:12that nature does
25:13occur, boots on
25:14the ground will
25:15unfortunately be an
25:16inevitable result.
25:17And I frankly
25:19think that we all
25:20know how that
25:21will end.
25:23Carl Fischer, is
25:24that also your
25:25assessment?
25:26Because tactically,
25:27Israel and the
25:28United States, they
25:29may have notched
25:30multiple successes,
25:31but strategically, are
25:33they anyway close to
25:34achieving any of
25:35their war aims or
25:36tactically brilliant
25:37operations, but
25:38strategically, the
25:40regime survives.
25:41And as Ambassador
25:41John Bolton told me
25:43on India First just
25:43yesterday, that a
25:45wounded regime in
25:47power would be even
25:49a more dangerous
25:50regime.
25:53Yeah, look, I think
25:54Adele made a great
25:55point there, and I'd
25:56like to amplify on
25:58that.
25:58I think that it's not
25:59only that there's
26:00amazing intelligence
26:01apparatuses of the
26:02Israelis in Iran, but
26:05they're able to still
26:06communicate.
26:06The vast majority
26:07of communications
26:08coming in and out of
26:09Iran are pretty much
26:10shut down, but yet
26:11they're still being
26:12able to get
26:12targetable information
26:13and actionable
26:15intelligence back
26:16into Tel Aviv and
26:17into the Israelis.
26:18So she's right on
26:20that point.
26:21She's also right that
26:22you've got an even
26:23more erratic
26:24leadership to expect
26:27out of Iran.
26:28I am also with her on
26:30the fact that, you
26:31know, boots on the
26:31ground is a very,
26:33very scary situation.
26:35We know that the
26:36United States is
26:37actually put to see a
26:39large marine
26:40contingency force.
26:41They're steaming
26:42forward.
26:43Now, is that a
26:44bluff or is that not
26:44a bluff from the
26:45United States?
26:46I don't think we
26:47know at this point,
26:48but we also, I would
26:50point out gently that I
26:51think, you know,
26:52President Trump has
26:53been somewhat erratic
26:54as well.
26:55He's saying, you know,
26:56that he needs NATO,
26:57that he doesn't need
26:58NATO.
26:59Having, you know,
27:00Marines in Camp
27:02Pendleton is one thing
27:03where he might say
27:04send them or don't.
27:05Having them literally
27:06off the shore of Iran
27:08and radically changing
27:09his mind could also
27:11be very, very
27:14escalatory and
27:14concerning.
27:15It indeed is.
27:17But stay with me for
27:18a moment because for
27:18the benefit of our
27:19viewers, I want our
27:21viewers to understand
27:22how Israel was able
27:24to pinpoint where
27:26top leaders of the
27:28regime are and
27:30eliminate them at
27:32will.
27:32We now get you the
27:33inside story.
27:35So, Ali Larajani was
27:36tracked, he was
27:38followed and
27:39ultimately taken out
27:40in a precision strike.
27:42strike and on top of
27:44it, a couple of days
27:45earlier, Israel actually
27:46indicated that some of
27:48the people were there
27:49on ground.
27:50What emerges now in a
27:52detailed intelligence
27:53operation was that
27:55Ali Larajani was under
27:56constant surveillance,
27:5824-7.
27:59So, there was an
27:59intelligence build-up
28:01tracking his movements
28:02through real-time inputs.
28:04A key breakthrough came
28:05when he changed his
28:07routine and moved from
28:08his residence to a
28:10secret hideout on the
28:12outskirts of Tehran.
28:13And that secret hideout
28:15was his daughter's home.
28:17An initial strike was
28:18actually planned on the
28:1915th of March.
28:20But it was called off at
28:22the last minute because
28:23the target peeing at that
28:25location could not be
28:27confirmed 100%.
28:28But 16th of March,
28:31critical intelligence
28:32inputs were received,
28:34locked, loaded about
28:36his exact location and
28:38put on the table of
28:39Israel's Prime Minister
28:40Benjamin Netanyahu.
28:41And that is where
28:42Israel's Prime Minister
28:44authorized the operation.
28:45The forces launched a
28:47precision strike.
28:49The safe house was hit.
28:51There was no escape
28:52window.
28:54Larajani, his son and
28:56key aides were killed.
28:58We'll get you more in
28:59this report.
29:10Crowds filled in Gilab
29:12Square in the Iranian
29:12capital with mourners
29:14holding pictures of
29:15Larajani who was killed
29:17in an Israeli strike on
29:19Tuesday.
29:20Mourners held his
29:21pictures as the coffins
29:22of him and his son
29:23slowly passed, lined
29:25with banners and flags.
29:33Iran has suffered a
29:35heavy blow, losing
29:37several of its key
29:38security figures,
29:39several of its most
29:40reliable men.
29:42From the security chief
29:44Larajani to the
29:45basiq commander Soleimani.
29:48Larajani was widely
29:50viewed as one of Iran's
29:51most powerful figures.
29:52He's now gone.
29:54But the question remains,
29:56how did it happen?
29:59Larajani was placed under
30:01intense surveillance,
30:02with local speeding
30:03real-time movement data
30:05to intelligence agencies.
30:07After routine changes,
30:08he moved to a secret
30:09hideout.
30:10An initial strike plan
30:12for March 15 was
30:13aborted due to
30:13unconfirmed target
30:14information.
30:16But by March 16,
30:17his location was
30:19verified.
30:20Israeli Prime Minister
30:21authorized a precision
30:22air operation and
30:23then his forces
30:24carried out a strike
30:25on Larajani's safe house,
30:28resulting in the
30:29immediate death of
30:30Larajani and his son.
30:33The event has
30:34intensified tensions
30:35in the region,
30:36with Iran bowing
30:38retaliation.
30:40Iranian foreign
30:41minister says Iran is
30:43unshaken after
30:44Larajani's death.
30:46He also says
30:47that the killing
30:48won't destabilize Iran.
30:51But this isn't the
30:52first high-profile
30:53killing that has
30:53happened recently.
30:55Israel has also
30:56killed Iranian
30:57intelligence minister
30:58Ismail Khatib
30:59in an overnight
31:00airstrike in Tehran.
31:02Iranian president
31:03has confirmed
31:04Khatib's death.
31:06Needless to say,
31:07these high-profile
31:08killings have sent
31:09a powerful message
31:10of intent from
31:10Israel and America.
31:12These killings
31:13have sent a clear
31:14and powerful message
31:15that Israel and the
31:16U.S. are going
31:17after Iran's top
31:18leadership.
31:19By taking out
31:20senior figures
31:21like Larajani,
31:22they've boosted
31:23their own morale,
31:24while also
31:25signalling a direct
31:26effort to weaken
31:27and decapitate
31:27Iran's decision-making
31:29core.
31:30Bureau Report,
31:31India Today.
31:36Adel, what next?
31:38Do you see massive
31:39escalation given
31:40the fact that
31:41petrochemicals unit
31:42Southpars has now
31:43been targeted?
31:44Iran would do
31:45the same?
31:46Would this then
31:47naturally, over the
31:48next several days,
31:49lead to more
31:50escalation?
31:52I do believe so,
31:53unfortunately.
31:53You know, I was
31:54just in Delhi and I
31:55just spoke with
31:56someone who was in
31:56Gaia, India, and I
31:57can tell you that
31:58the severe shortage
32:01of LPG in India
32:03has actually caused
32:04for in Gaia, for
32:05example, 50% of some
32:06businesses to have to
32:07shut down.
32:08And this is directly
32:09attributed to even
32:09though the trade
32:10has been open to
32:11India, which is an
32:13ally of Iran, of
32:13course, it's still
32:15causing disruptions.
32:16So I think other
32:17nations are going to
32:17start feeling the
32:18pinch.
32:19I think this is why
32:20we've also seen a
32:21tremendous shift away
32:22from oil.
32:23I think people were
32:23kind of aware of the
32:24fact that Iran's
32:26governance structure is
32:27on its way out.
32:28So I do see
32:29escalations,
32:29unfortunately,
32:30occurring.
32:31I think, look,
32:32removing people like
32:33Larajani, Ghulam
32:35Reza Soleimani,
32:36Khomeini, all these
32:37senior officials,
32:38whoever pops up
32:39next, I guarantee
32:40you, they will
32:40become a target.
32:41So this isn't just
32:42removing names.
32:43It's ripping out the
32:44regime's operating
32:45system at its worst
32:46possible moment.
32:47And I have to say,
32:48Iran isn't just a
32:49regime.
32:49It is an actual
32:50system, a very
32:51sophisticated system,
32:52and they're not
32:53willing to go out
32:54without a fight.
32:54I can dare say that
32:56they're not willing to
32:57give up without
32:59honestly sacrificing
33:00their own people.
33:01And I think we've
33:01seen that firsthand.
33:02So I don't see this
33:04going away anytime soon.
33:05I think it's going to
33:05get a lot more worse,
33:06unfortunately.
33:07And I think it's going
33:08to be up to really
33:09GCC nations and the
33:12West to unite behind
33:13the powers and for the
33:14sake of, you know,
33:15democracy to see that
33:16the current regime
33:17structure is finally
33:19and formally eliminated
33:20and trustfully put an end
33:22to this war as soon as
33:24humanly possible.
33:26It does appear the worst
33:28is yet to come.
33:29Ariel, for joining me here
33:30and on this India Today
33:31special broadcast,
33:33and Colonel Fisher,
33:33many thanks.
33:34I now want to shift focus
33:35to the other war that's
33:37happening on the other
33:38front.
33:38That's Israel intensifying
33:39attacks on Lebanon.
33:41Dozens have been killed
33:43and wounded.
33:44Israel systematically
33:45targeted a particular
33:47building in Beirut,
33:49which was seen as a
33:50stronghold of the
33:52Hezbollah.
33:52And this building was
33:53targeted in the heart
33:54of Beirut.
33:55In fact, residents in
33:57this building, they were
33:58given one hour's notice
33:59to wicket.
34:01Initial reports seem to
34:02indicate 20 people have
34:03been killed, dozens
34:04wounded.
34:05India Today's Ashraf Vani
34:07was on ground zero.
34:08So, he gets us this
34:09report.
34:24A precise strike,
34:25a loud explosion
34:26followed by clouds
34:27of black smoke,
34:28and a building turning
34:29into rubble in seconds.
34:32Ejeet, Ejeet.
34:36On day 19 of the
34:37West Asia war,
34:38Israel continued its
34:40attacks on Lebanon
34:40and launched strikes
34:41on the capital city.
34:47The airstrike flattened
34:49a 22-story apartment
34:50building in Bachora,
34:51in central Beirut.
34:52The powerful strike
34:53destroyed the building
34:54within seconds.
34:58The Israeli army
34:59had warned residents
35:00to evacuate about
35:01an hour earlier
35:02before completely
35:03flattening the structure
35:04at daybreak.
35:11Ejeet, Ejeet.
35:13In other days,
35:14Ashraf Vani was
35:15right at the spot,
35:16reporting from ground zero,
35:18amid smoke and rubble.
35:20One of the 22-story tall
35:23building has been
35:24brought down
35:25by the IDF 4-2.
35:27As you can see,
35:29now the rest of
35:29work is going on here.
35:31The two are the
35:32building.
35:33The rest of the
35:35U.S.
35:35building has been
35:37trying to bring
35:38the rest of the
35:42teams,
35:4213-partisan
35:44of the
35:46building,
35:47which was targeted
35:47for the last
35:48few days,
35:49continuously
35:49with the missiles,
35:50but today,
35:51one of the bigger
35:52bombs had been
35:55penetrated
35:56by the
35:56IDF
35:57aerial forces.
36:00It marks the
36:01fourth time
36:02the building
36:02has been targeted
36:03after three strikes
36:04on March 12
36:05failed to bring it
36:05down.
36:08Locals expressed
36:09the agitation of
36:10the strike and
36:11condemned Israel.
36:25The Israeli army
36:26had earlier said
36:27that it was
36:27targeting the site,
36:28accusing the
36:29Hezbollah of
36:29storing millions
36:30of dollars intended
36:31to finance its
36:32activities without
36:34providing evidence.
36:35We had earlier
36:36seen during the
36:38last two weeks
36:38only the south
36:40suburb of Beirut
36:41was targeted,
36:42which is being
36:42considered as a
36:43stronghold of
36:44the Hezbollah.
36:47But also now the
36:47pattern has been
36:48changed by the
36:49idea of where
36:49the central Beirut
36:51is being targeted.
36:52During the last
36:5312 hours,
36:54three aerial strikes
36:56were carried out
36:57in the Beirut,
36:59where one building
36:59was also brought
37:00down to ground
37:0122-story tall
37:03building and also
37:05we are seeing
37:06now in the other
37:06part, not far
37:07from that place
37:08where another
37:10building has been
37:10targeted.
37:11You can see behind
37:12me three stories
37:13of these buildings
37:14had been struck
37:16with the missiles
37:17by the warplanes
37:19of IDF.
37:21Israeli strikes
37:22targeting central
37:22Beirut have become
37:23increasingly frequent
37:24in recent days
37:25with or without
37:26prior warning.
37:30With no signs
37:31of the war
37:32coming to an end,
37:33the attacks may
37:33only intensify
37:34in the days ahead.
37:36With Ashraf Wani
37:37reporting from
37:37Beirut,
37:38Bureau Report,
37:39India Today.
37:43And for the first
37:44time since the war
37:45began,
37:45Lebanon's ambassador
37:46to India
37:47has spoken out.
37:49He's raised
37:50serious questions
37:50about who really
37:52is in control
37:53of Lebanon.
37:54He's admitted
37:54that the country
37:55was dragged
37:56into a war
37:56that the country
37:57did not choose.
37:58He acknowledged
37:59Hezbollah acted
38:00without state approval.
38:01It's a rare
38:02and candid insight
38:03of a nation
38:04caught in conflict.
38:06My colleague
38:06Geetha Mohan
38:07spoke to him.
38:07Listen in.
38:14You've taken over
38:15as the ambassador
38:17of Lebanon
38:18to India,
38:19but you've had
38:20a huge experience
38:22when it comes
38:23to your posting
38:24almost in five
38:25continents also.
38:28The fact that
38:29you have dealt
38:30with the situation
38:31in Lebanon
38:32also very closely.
38:33Let's begin
38:34with what's happening
38:35on the ground.
38:35We saw one building
38:36taken down.
38:37We are seeing
38:38civilians also
38:39impacted by the war.
38:40How is Lebanon
38:41looking at the situation
38:43right now?
38:44First,
38:45I would like to thank you
38:45for having me here.
38:48I would like to say
38:50that no,
38:51no war is good.
38:52Always wars
38:53are very bad.
38:55However,
38:56unfortunately,
38:57the war has started
38:58without even
39:00the will
39:00of the Lebanese government.
39:02we didn't decide
39:04to go into it.
39:06We were dragged
39:06into it,
39:08as you said.
39:09Unfortunately,
39:10we're suffering.
39:11As you know,
39:12the Israeli aggression
39:14and the destruction
39:15that they are doing
39:16into Lebanon
39:17is very huge.
39:19It's taking its toll
39:22on the number
39:23of martyrs
39:25and injuries.
39:26You said
39:27above 800.
39:28Now,
39:28it reached 912 martyrs,
39:32more than 2,200 injuries.
39:36We have more
39:37than 1 million
39:37displaced Lebanese.
39:39They are leaving
39:40their homes,
39:41their houses,
39:42their lands
39:43in the south.
39:44We are going
39:45to safer places,
39:46to shelters.
39:49The destruction
39:49is very vast.
39:52There are so many
39:53villages in the south.
39:54They have been
39:55destroyed,
39:56destructed,
39:56and demolished
39:57many, many houses,
39:59buildings,
40:00demolished completely.
40:02We hope that
40:03this will come
40:04to an end
40:05very soon
40:06with the help
40:07of the international
40:08community.
40:10Hopefully,
40:11we'll see it
40:12very soon.
40:12And India,
40:13of course,
40:13is one of the
40:14friendly countries
40:15to Lebanon.
40:16But Ambassador Jabber,
40:18you spoke about
40:19the civilians
40:20and the fact
40:21that the situation
40:22is dire.
40:23But there is
40:24a very important
40:25decision that
40:26was taken by
40:26the Lebanese
40:28cabinet on
40:28the 2nd of March.
40:30And that has
40:31to do with
40:31prescribing or
40:32banning an
40:34armed Hezbollah.
40:35But Hezbollah
40:36is part of the
40:37Lebanese government
40:38as well,
40:39or the parliament.
40:42How does then
40:43the government
40:44balance Hezbollah,
40:46which is armed,
40:47and Hezbollah
40:49being part of
40:49your political system?
40:50Actually,
40:52Hezbollah was
40:54had a very important,
40:56crucial role
40:57in liberating
40:59the south of
40:59Lebanon
40:59until the year
41:002000.
41:02Unfortunately,
41:03after that period,
41:07Hezbollah still
41:08have their
41:09independent
41:10entity,
41:12regardless of
41:13the country,
41:15of the government.
41:17on the eve of
41:19March 2nd,
41:21Hezbollah has
41:22launched six
41:23rockets against
41:24Israel,
41:25without the
41:26willing or
41:26even informing
41:28anybody.
41:30And we all
41:31know that the
41:32effects of few
41:34rockets against
41:35Israel will do
41:36nothing.
41:37It will only
41:38entail a huge
41:39destruction to
41:40two.
41:40Big story coming
41:41in a major
41:42anti-India plot
41:43has been busted
41:44by national
41:45investigation
41:46agencies.
41:47Seven foreign
41:47nationals,
41:48including six
41:49Ukrainians and
41:50one American
41:50identified as
41:52Matthew Van
41:52Dyke have been
41:53arrested in a
41:54coordinated crackdown
41:56by the agencies
41:57and the arrests
41:58were made in
41:59Delhi, in Lucknow
42:00and Kolkata,
42:01including at the
42:02airports.
42:02Investigations
42:03reveal that the
42:04accused had
42:04entered restricted
42:07areas without
42:08having an inner
42:09line permit.
42:10They went to
42:11places like
42:11Mizoram and then
42:12illegally crossed
42:13over into
42:14Myanmar.
42:15The accused
42:16were allegedly
42:16planning to
42:17meet terrorist
42:18linked groups
42:19operating across
42:20the border.
42:21Sources say the
42:22accused were also
42:23looking to supply
42:24weapons and provide
42:26logistic support to
42:27terrorist elements and
42:28insurgents.
42:29This has agencies
42:30suspect a much
42:32wider conspiracy to
42:33facilitate terror
42:34activities targeting
42:35the northeastern part
42:37of our country.
42:39According to
42:39officials in the
42:40NIA, the accused
42:42have made key
42:43admissions.
42:44They have confessed
42:45they entered India
42:46illegally through
42:47Myanmar.
42:48They also visited
42:50Mizoram.
42:51They admitted they
42:53trained Myanmar-based
42:54ethnic armed groups.
42:56Those they trained
42:57including were giving
42:59training in drone
43:00warfare and drone
43:02jamming techniques.
43:03They also gave
43:04information about
43:05drone equipment that
43:06was being moved from
43:07Europe to India to
43:10support these
43:10operations.
43:11And most critically,
43:13they are suspected to
43:14have provided weapons
43:15to banned
43:17organizations.
43:18So these admissions,
43:20of course, made to
43:21investigators at this
43:22stage, point to a
43:23very well-structured
43:24cross-border terror
43:26network with technology,
43:28with training, with
43:30logistics and tactics
43:31all feeding into a
43:33larger anti-India
43:34plot.
43:35Jeetendra Bahadur
43:36Singh gets us more
43:38in this report.
43:41A major
43:42anti-national terror
43:43plot busted.
43:45Foreign nationals,
43:47covert movement.
43:48And a drone training
43:50network now under
43:51the scanner.
43:52The National
43:53Investigation Agency
43:54cracks down detaining
43:56seven foreign
43:57nationals, including
43:58a US citizen and
43:59Ukrainian nationals.
44:01Probe allegedly
44:02reveals drone
44:03training modules.
44:04The NIA registered
44:05a case under UAPA
44:07on March 13th,
44:08following intelligence
44:09inputs.
44:11An American citizen
44:12now identified as
44:14Matthew Van Dyke,
44:15along with six
44:16Ukrainians, are
44:17under investigation.
44:19investigators say they
44:21allegedly sourced drones
44:22from Europe, moved
44:24from Guwahati to
44:25Mizoram, before
44:26illegally crossing into
44:28Myanmar.
44:29No permits, no
44:30clearance.
44:31A covert route through
44:32India's sensitive
44:33north-east corridor.
44:36According to the NIA,
44:38this was not just a
44:39routine breach, but a
44:40full-fledged terror
44:42conspiracy.
44:43Charges include
44:44smuggling of drones from
44:45Europe, training modules in
44:47drone warfare and jamming,
44:49and suspected links to
44:51ban insurgent groups.
44:52These groups are now
44:54suspected to have links with
44:55extremist outfits active
44:57inside India, with plans to
44:58supply weapons, hardware, and
45:00tactical training.
45:03The United States acknowledged the case, but
45:06is maintaining distance.
45:09Ukraine has strongly objected to the
45:12arrests, demanding immediate release of its
45:14nationals, saying there is no proof of terror links.
45:17Ukraine claims reports are distorted and is seeking full consular access to detainees.
45:24The NIA is now widening its investigation, tracking terror links, drone training networks, and
45:30Myanmar connections.
45:32A foreign network exposed, a diplomatic row unfolding, and a deeper conspiracy still
45:38under investigation.
45:40Bureau Report, India Today.
45:46Joining me now on this broadcast is my colleague Jitendra Bahadur Singh.
45:50Also with me is Vikram Singh, former Director General of Police and a top national security expert.
45:57Jitendra, Matthew Van Dyke, what do we know about Matthew Van Dyke?
46:00Who is Matthew Van Dyke?
46:02And these Ukrainian people who are arrested, what do we know about them?
46:05We know about them.
46:05What do we know about them?
46:08What do we know about them?
46:09We know about them.
46:09Matthew Van Dyke, who tells us about NIA, that this is the main mastermind,
46:15which has been the conspiracy and has been the conspiracy.
46:18And there is a larger conspiracy that has been seen in this investigation.
46:22The investigating agency, whether NIA or intelligence agency,
46:26the intelligence agency.
46:26The most important thing is that these agencies are charged with the Ukrainian people,
46:29and the most important thing is that the Ukrainian people who have been the
46:34the
47:00Jitendra, let me quickly bring in Dr Vikram Singh into this conversation.
47:03Dr. Singh, this Matthew Van Dyke seems to have been a foreign fighter.
47:08He's supposed to have fought in Libya.
47:10He's supposed to have been in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine.
47:14Part of some sons of international liberty organization.
47:18Each place where he visited, there was kiosk.
47:21And now he is visiting the northeastern part of our country.
47:24What do you make of this, sir?
47:29Good evening, Gaurav.
47:30It couldn't be more ominous and venomous as it is just now.
47:34And to say that Matthew Van Dyke is from Baltimore, U.S.,
47:38say he claims to be a graduate from the Baltimore University in security matters.
47:42He claims to be a war correspondent.
47:44He claims to be an expert.
47:46But yes, you very rightly said he is a mercenary and a freebooter.
47:50Wherever there is trouble, Libya, Iraq, wherever.
47:54And it is eliz that he is a CIA asset also.
47:57But the fact of the matter with which you and I are concerned in the nation,
48:00is that he went into a prohibited area where you and I will also require a permit to go there.
48:05But these six plus one, six Ukrainians and one U.S. national, Matthew,
48:09went there without proper permission.
48:12And what do you have with the incriminating material?
48:15Drones, drone technology, smuggling routes, supply chain,
48:18and also lots and plots of money.
48:20The fact of the matter is that Section 18 of the UAP has been invoked,
48:24and that too also by legal vetting.
48:26And the court has given them a remand of 11 days with the NIA.
48:31The matter is being investigated by the NIA.
48:33This man is somebody who is a rogue element,
48:35and he is in touch with the NSCN,
48:37and also the cookies.
48:40What was he doing there?
48:42Was he there for an absolutely holy purpose?
48:44No, certainly not.
48:45He wasn't picticking there.
48:46Gaurav ji, he was there for an insidious purpose.
48:49Now you can put pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together,
48:51and people are saying,
48:52Padahan Mantri Modi,
48:54when will we go to Manipur?
48:55They also wanted Modi,
48:56the elected prime minister of the country,
48:58to walk into a booby trap.
48:59And then I shudder to think,
49:01what could be the consequences
49:02if we would have rushed in?
49:04That's a very pertinent point you make.
49:10How are these chaps getting visa to get to a country,
49:13is again a question that needs to be asked.
49:16How are these people getting visas?
49:18Is there no vetting?
49:19Can anybody take tourist visa and walk into a country?
49:22Should there be more vetting,
49:23or because of their passport,
49:25they get easier access,
49:26including like that Pakistan-born American terrorist,
49:29David Coleman Headley,
49:30he had an American visa and he just breezed in?
49:44Okay, let me try and re-establish that link
49:46with Dr. Vikram Singh in just a moment.
49:48But Jitendra,
49:49how did they get visa?
49:51How did this visa get reached?
49:53How did Myanmar get out?
49:54Why did they not go in the beginning?
49:59Look, in the beginning,
50:01people took this visa to get visa.
50:02The visa was there.
50:13But it was a long time ago,
50:17it was a long time ago,
50:31after the refugee visa
50:42Thank you very much.
51:02Ukrainian Nagarik is the question of which the American Nagarik is talking about.
51:07This is the case that there is also a local support for them to meet here in Mijoram.
51:14Who can be the people of sleeper cells?
51:16This is a big deal, Karen.
51:20Dr. Vikram Singh, the enemy within the sleeper cells in our country who are assisting these people,
51:27they should also be investigated.
51:29There should be a much wider investigation.
51:31Because wherever these people go, they carry out, you know, there is kiosk in those countries.
51:37And now perhaps kiosk in our country is what CIA and some of these elements may be trying.
51:47Okay, we will try and reestablish that link with Dr. Vikram Singh in just a moment.
51:52Jitendra continued tracking that story.
51:54I will come back to you for more.
51:56So, one American national, six Ukrainians, they have been taken into custody.
52:02They are being put through custodial interrogation by the National Investigation Agency and court is monitoring these developments.
52:10Seven foreign nationals have been taken into custody so far.
52:13But the local elements who are supporting them, what is this wider network that was operating in our country and
52:20was the attempt to light a fire in the northeast?
52:24And do keep in mind, a spark neglected, then ends up burning the house.
52:28Was that their wider game plan?
52:31Remember trouble in Manipur in the past?
52:33There were armed insurgents who were walking into our country from across the border.
52:38And these are certain border areas that require a lot more attention.
52:41Because border guarding in some of these areas is very dodgy or patchy at best.
52:47We will be tracking that story very closely.
52:49That is all I have for you on this India First special broadcast.
52:52Many thanks for watching.
Comments