SOURCE: PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay a five-day visit to Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia beginning March 23 with an aim to boost bilateral ties and discuss regional issues of “mutual concern”.

Jaishankar’s first destination is expected to be Singapore. “External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, at the invitation of his counterparts, will be on an official visit to Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia from March 23 to 27,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a brief statement on Saturday.

SOURCE: PTI

The remains of a Hyderabad resident who was duped into working as a helper for the Russian army and died allegedly in the Russia-Ukriane conflict arrived in Hyderabad on Saturday.

AIMIM sources said late on Saturday that Mohammed Asfan’s remains reached his residence at Bazarghat in Hyderabad. The Indian Embassy in Moscow on March 6 confirmed Asfan’s death and said it was in touch with his family members in Hyderabad.

SOURCE: PTI

A Naxalite was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Saturday, police said. The gun battle occurred in the forest near Chilparas village under the Koyalibeda police station area, where a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, Kanker Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela said.

The District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Border Security Force (BSF) were involved in the operation, he said. After the guns fell silent, the body of a Naxalite, along with a weapon and explosive materials, were recovered from the spot, the official said.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

In a development raising concerns, a Pakistani Navy ship, PNS Rizwan (A294), has been spotted undertaking an inward journey from China. While the exact purpose of the voyage remains unclear, analysts believe it could be linked to intelligence gathering activities in the Arabian Sea.

The ship’s features, as reported by Open Source Naval Intelligence Tracker (OSNIT), point towards potential espionage applications. The presence of tracking radars suggests the vessel might be equipped for telemetry and intelligence collection.

SOURCE: AFI

A recent commentary by Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, a Pakistani analyst and professor, sheds light on how Pakistan perceives India’s successful test of the Agni-V missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.

Dr. Jaspal, writing for Arab News, expresses concern over the implications of this test for Pakistan’s security. He argues that the MIRV technology increases India’s offensive capabilities, bringing cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Islamabad within range of a single missile launch.

SOURCE: AFI

The Airbus C295 continues its reign as the leader in the medium tactical transport category, reaching a significant milestone of 300 orders with the recent acquisition by Kazakhstan. This new aircraft, procured by the National Security Committee Aviation Service, adds to their existing fleet of two C295s.

Dominating the market share with over 80% in its category, the C295 boasts an impressive operational footprint. 41 operators across 37 countries spanning Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia rely on the C295’s capabilities. Notably, 19 operators have placed repeat orders, highlighting the aircraft’s reliability and performance.

SOURCE: AFI

The Ukraine war has cast a spotlight on the growing importance of drones in modern warfare. Among these, First-Person View (FPV) drones have emerged as a game-changer, offering unique advantages on the battlefield. Here’s why India should seriously consider investing in FPV drone development for its military.

FPV goggles provide real-time video feeds, allowing operators to navigate complex environments and precisely target enemy positions with greater situational awareness compared to traditional remote-controlled drones.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently concluded a two-day workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI), marking a significant step towards integrating this transformative technology into its operations. Organized by the Scientific Advisor to the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) in collaboration with DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) labs specializing in AI, the workshop brought together key stakeholders to explore the potential of AI in the aerospace sector.

Held under the aegis of Secretary Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) and chaired by Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy (Scientific Advisor to CAS), Dr. S. V. Kamat (Chairman, DRDO), and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit (Deputy Chief of the Air Staff), the workshop fostered collaboration between the IAF and DRDO’s AI experts. This collaborative approach is crucial for ensuring the successful development and integration of AI solutions into the IAF’s existing infrastructure.

SOURCE: PTI

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan today said Pakistan may be in a kind of economic turmoil but militarily there has been “no denting” in its capabilities and its armed forces “remain a threat for us”.
During an interaction at a conclave in New Delhi, he also said that India has resources to “take care of our borders”, especially disputed borders in the north, very well.

He said this in response to a question on some of the biggest security challenges for India in the 21st century.

SOURCE: PTI

India shred Pakistan to bits and described it as a “broken record” that remains stagnant while the world progresses after Islamabad’s envoy made references to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and Citizenship Amendment Act during remarks to the UN General Assembly.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said this while responding to comments made by Pakistan’s Ambassador Munir Akram during the plenary meeting on Friday where the resolution ‘Measures to combat Islamophobia’, introduced by Pakistan, was adopted by the 193-member UN General Assembly.

SOURCE: PTI

India abstained in the UN General Assembly on a draft resolution introduced by Pakistan and co-sponsored by China on Islamophobia, asserting that the prevalence of “religiophobia” against Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other faiths facing violence and discrimination must also be acknowledged rather than singling out just one religion.

The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution ‘Measures to combat Islamophobia’, introduced by Pakistan on Friday, with 115 nations voting in favour, none against and 44 abstentions, including India, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine and the UK.

SOURCE: ANI

In a bid to make India ‘Atmanirbhar’ in the critical areas of defence and security, Jindal Defence Systems Private Limited (JDSPL) has begun production in its state-of-the-art firearms manufacturing plant in Haryana’s Hisar as part of a joint venture with Brazil-based global leader Taurus Armas S.A., the company said in a release on Friday. Under the brand name J D Taurus, JDSPL is poised to transform the landscape of firearms manufacturing in India and reduce India’s reliance on imports, it said.

The facility, spanning over two acres, represents a fusion of world-class expertise and cutting-edge technology. The manufacturing plant has an annual production capacity of up to 2,50,000 weapons, strategically positioning JD Taurus to address the growing demand in the country. In the next Financial Year, the company said in its release that it aims to manufacture between 25,000 to 30,000 weapons.

SOURCE: ANI

Andriy Yermak, head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, held a telephonic conversation with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday. The two leaders spoke about the preparations for the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, noting the high level of support for the event. Taking to his official X handle, Andriy Yermak posted, “Had a phone call with National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India Ajit Kumar Doval.

Spoke about the preparations for the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland at the level of state leaders and noted the high level of support for the event.” Yermak informed Doval about the situation at the front amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, his country’s ‘success’ in confronting Russia in the Black Sea, the fight against Russian aviation and strengthening Ukraine’s defence production.

SOURCE: UNI

Jammu and Kashmir Government on Friday dismissed an employee under Article 311 of the Constitution of India for his involvement in anti-national activities. Article 311 of the Constitution of India provides for the dismissal of a person employed in civil capacities under the Union or a State. The activities of the employee as per the official communique, namely, Manzoor Ahmed Laway, resident of Manzgam, D H Pora, District Kulgam, a teacher in the education department, had come to the adverse notice of law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

They found him involved in activities prejudicial to the interests of the state, such as involvement in terror related activities. Manzoor Ahmed Laway is involved in two FIRs registered at Police Station DH Pora, Kulgam and was one of the instigators who along with his associates instigated a mob on 09.07.2016 to cause damage and destruction to Government property and in the process, the mob marched towards Police Station DH Pora and looted Arms, Ammunition and other Government property from police station and later set the police station on fire.

SOURCE: PTI

The Modi government has banned the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, led by incarcerated terror accused Yasin Malik, the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League and four Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League factions for their involvement in fomenting terror and secessionism in the Union territory.

Announcing the decisions, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said anyone found challenging the security, sovereignty and integrity of the nation will face harsh legal consequences.