Author: Bhakti Narayanan

 Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated during a joint press briefing in Tehran that his country is prepared to hold talks with India aimed at resolving longstanding disputes including Kashmir, water-sharing, and trade. Speaking alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Sharif emphasized that Pakistan wants to promote peace through dialogue and cooperation on issues such as counter-terrorism and economic ties. “We seek peace and will strive for it through dialogue to resolve our outstanding issues,” Sharif stated, adding that India’s acceptance of Pakistan’s peace offer would show genuine commitment. Sharif was visiting Iran after a trip to Turkey, with further visits…

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow in Vadodara on Monday, the family of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, including her twin sister Shyna Sunsara, joined in by showering flower petals on him as he passed. The Prime Minister is currently on a two-day visit to Gujarat, his home state, where he is set to inaugurate a range of development initiatives. Colonel Qureshi is one of two women officers who led the press briefing on Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory military campaign following the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives. Her parents, Taj Mohammad and Halima Qureshi, expressed pride…

In a fresh embarrassment for Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir have come under severe ridicule for circulating a doctored image during celebrations of their Operation Bunyan al-Marsus against India. The photo, which shows the two leaders proudly holding a framed picture, was exposed as a manipulated version of a 2019 Chinese military drill image. This altered photo was reportedly gifted by Sharif to Munir during a high-profile dinner honoring the Pakistani military’s patriotic spirit and resolve. The event, attended by senior officials including President Asif Ali Zardari, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Senate Chairman…

India delivered a scathing critique of Pakistan during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on civilian protection in armed conflict, labelling its participation as “grossly hypocritical.” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Puri, responded sharply to what he called “baseless allegations” from Pakistan, highlighting the irony of a nation long accused of sponsoring cross-border terrorism taking part in a discussion on civilian safety. “India has endured decades of terrorism backed by Pakistan,” Puri stated during the UNSC Open Debate. “That a country which fails to distinguish between civilians and terrorists speaks on civilian protection is an affront…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly denied US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington was involved in facilitating the India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement concluded on May 10. Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, Jaishankar stated clearly, “The US was in the United States,” emphasizing that the ceasefire was a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan with no external mediation. Jaishankar explained that India’s position has always been straightforward: if Pakistan wanted to halt hostilities, the Pakistani military leadership had to communicate directly with their Indian counterparts. This communication took place as Pakistan’s army initiated the ceasefire by reaching out through the hotline.…

The Baloch diaspora has strongly backed India’s Operation Sindoor, denouncing Pakistan’s decades-long use of terror proxies and calling for global support to dismantle its extremist infrastructure. Prominent voices, including Mir Yar Baloch and Tara Chand, accused the Pakistani military and ISI of creating and supporting “terror franchises” that have executed attacks on Indian soil—ranging from the Parliament attack to assaults on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Mir Yar Baloch, a noted Baloch writer and activist, appealed to the international community to stand with India, saying, “India being a civilized and peaceful country has every right to defend her people.…

Cedille Records, the acclaimed nonprofit classical music label based in Chicago and led by founder James Ginsburg, has named oboist Oliver Talukder the winner of its second Emerging Artist Competition. Sponsored by the Zell Family Foundation, the competition aims to spotlight promising classical musicians under 35 with ties to the Chicago area who haven’t yet been featured on a commercial CD. This year, 23 applicants vied for the opportunity, with Cedille’s board selecting seven semi-finalists from the pool. Following a live semi-final round held on May 17, three finalists advanced to the public showdown at the Spertus Institute’s Feinberg Theater…

 Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California and one of President Joe Biden’s prominent defenders during the 2024 campaign, acknowledged on Sunday that he was wrong to support Biden’s re-election bid. Speaking to Jonathan Karl on ABC News’ This Week, Khanna openly admitted, “I made a mistake,” regarding his judgment of Biden’s capacity to serve another term. He clarified, however, that he didn’t believe there was an intentional cover-up of the President’s physical and cognitive decline, but emphasized that Biden’s advisers should take responsibility and be transparent about their roles. “I don’t think it was a cover-up … but…

The phrase “Operation Sindoor,” associated with a recent Indian cross-border military response, is rapidly turning into a coveted intellectual property asset. Trademark applications for the term have been submitted in the United States, the United Kingdom, and India, targeting sectors like media, streaming, advertising, and entertainment. On May 9, 2025, New York-based Rohith Baharani filed for the trademark in the United States under International Class 041. This category includes entertainment-related services, specifically the intent to license or sell the title to production houses, OTT platforms, or distribution channels. Filed under an “intent to use” basis, the mark hasn’t yet been…

The recent military tensions between India and Pakistan, especially following Operation Sindoor, have once again brought defense budgets into sharp focus. According to government sources, India is poised to approve an additional $600 million for defense through a supplementary grant. If passed in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, India’s total defense allocation for the fiscal year will exceed $87 billion, setting a new record. This additional funding builds on the Union Budget’s earlier provision of $84 billion for defense in 2024–25, which was already a 9.5% increase from the previous year’s $76.7 billion. Since 2014, the BJP government has…