#Pakistan missile development

[milfstalin]

from that drop site news article,

In conversations with U.S. officials around that time, Bajwa agreed to a longstanding U.S. demand to curtail Pakistan’s ballistic missile program in order to alleviate Washington’s concerns about the possibility that Pakistani long-range missiles could one day threaten Israel. This concession was previously reported by Pakistani journalists and later confirmed by sources to Drop Site News.

jeez i wonder why the us would want to keep that particular state with nuclear weapons away from its colony with nuclear weapons.

[news-for-muslims]

28/04/2025

📰 Recent news highlights:

🇮🇳

In a surprise attack that shook the once peaceful valley of Pahalgam in Indian administered Kashmir, 4 terrorists, allegedly backed by Pakistan made an incursion and shot 28, mostly civilians and tourists who were killed after being asked their religion. The incident has shook the state as well as the country with India cancelling almost all Pakistani Visas and repatriating all visiting pakistanis with Pakistan doing likewise.

India has accused Pakistan of orchestrating these attacks by a little known Islamist group known as TRF or The Resistance Front. Pakistan has accused India of creating a false flag event. The two have been engaged in gun fights at the border on a near daily basis, while communal violence and hate crimes in India seem to rise.

🇹🇷

An earthquake in Türkiye's Istanbul of 6.2 magnitude struck, damaging several buildings but no casualties were reported.

🇪🇨

A similar earthquake of 6.3 magnitude struck the coastal city of Esmeraldas in Ecuador with damages appearing in infrastructures and no casualties.

🇮🇷

The port city of Bandar Abbas in Iran suffered a massive explosion which have been pointed by authorities as improper handling of chemical storage units. At least 40 are reported dead and 1,000 injured. This comes in the backdrop of Iran-US nuclear talks and is being investigated further. Iranian allies poured words of support and Russia lended a hand in extinguishing of the fire.

🇨🇩

DRC has come close to a ceasefire with the M23 rebel group in Qatar mediated talks. Rwanda has been accused of helping the M23 insurgency in DRC and attempting to topple the government. So far, the ceasefire talks appear to be going positively.

🇺🇲

United States military has appeared to make a breakthrough in the hypersonic missile tech as it nicknamed the newest test missile as "Dark Eagle".

Hypersonic missiles have been the most coveted weapon by many of the world's militaries but few have come close to even inventing it. Travelling at more than 5 times the speed of sound (Mach 5+), China and Russia are usually known for having these missiles, although several other countries claim to possess this sophisticated technology.

🇪🇺

NATO "kill switch" paranoia in Europe:

Rumours spread across NATO allied countries across Europe about the procurement of the advanced F-35 fighter jets from US, which critics said had a hidden embedded code which can be remotely used by the US to switch off offensive, if not all capabilities of the F-35 fighter jets manufactured in US; if it were to be used not in the way or liking of US policymakers.

This rumour, whether true or not, set alarm bells ringing throughout European members of NATO, with Denmark saying it regrets the purchase. France and other European countries urged Europe to be independent from the US military industrial complex, which is the largest in the world, and pursue their own military development. France also made its pitch for selling its Rafale jets to the continent.

United States and its manufacturer have completely denied the accusations and rumours.

🇪🇸

Massive power outage across Spain and Portugal:

Spain and Portugal suffered a massive power outage with traffic lights, electricity, and hospital equipment out of service. A cyberattack has not yet been ruled out.

🇨🇦

A car ramming attack in a filipino festival in Vancouver, Canada has killed at least 11. Vancouver police chief has said this was committed by a lone perpetuator and therefore not a terrorist incident.

��🇩

In the city of Omdurman, close to the capital of Sudan's Khartoum, which was recently liberated by the Sudanese army, the RSF paramilitary forces committed a massacre of at least 31 people, among them, women and children.

🇾🇪

Yemen was recently bombed by the United States Airforce, killing 68 at a migrant detention centre. This comes amid the intensified and escalating force against Iran's "Axis of resistance" as Israel has stepped up its attacks on Lebanon and breaking the ceasefire. This strategy of simultaneous action against the Yemen's Houthis, Lebanon's Hezbollah and occupation of Southern Syria which is disrupting the supply chain of Iranian militias is creating a chokehold against any resistance against Israel.

🇵🇸

Gaza's population is said to be in a looming famine as Israel's blockade of incoming aid is crippling the needs of the Palestinian population. Meanwhile, it's bombardment is also not leaving Palestinians with any respite.

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Come join our welcoming Discord community open for all:

[mariacallous]

The recent conflicts in the Middle East have ignited open debate among Iran’s political elite over whether the country should weaponize its vast nuclear program. The rationale for doing so, from Iranian leadership’s perspective, appears more convincing than ever.

Above all, Iran needs to reestablish deterrence equilibrium with its longtime foes Israel and the United States. Traditionally, to deter its adversaries from attacking or implementing regime change, Tehran relied on a three-pronged approach focused on missiles, militias, and a nuclear program.

To offset its weak air force, Iran invested heavily in its missiles program, making its arsenal one of the most advanced in the region. Iran also anchors its asymmetric warfare strategy through the so-called “forward defense” policy of using militarized nonstate actors to encircle Israel and the U.S. regional military presence and to mobilize these forces to attack if required. Iran has cultivated its relations with groups that are hostile to the United States and Israel, building the so-called Axis of Resistance, providing them with arms—including sophisticated missiles and drones—as well as training and financial support.

However, Iran’s missiles capabilities and the Axis of Resistance have taken a hit in recent months. The Israeli onslaught against Iran’s most trusted partner, Hezbollah in Lebanon, has delivered a blow to its arsenal, fighters, and command and control structure. Iran was left humiliated by Israel’s ability to assassinate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Tehran this summer. Following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar this month, Israel seems determined to keep upping the ante to establish a new regional order.

Although Hamas and Hezbollah will continue to undermine Israeli security, the ability of these groups to mobilize in defense of Iran seems severely diminished while they fight for their own survival. Meanwhile, the United States has doubled down on its efforts to shield Israel, moving new anti-missile systems into the country, together with American troops to operate them, in a bid to defang future attacks from Iran and its allies.

Perhaps Iran’s biggest Achilles’s heel is its self-restraint. Over the past year, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has repeatedly held back from a direct war with Israel and the United States. He has also shied away from triggering a full assault by the Axis of Resistance front. Israel has interpreted this restraint as a weakness and exploited it.

This shift in regional deterrence has strengthened the argument in Tehran favoring a nuclear umbrella. Iran has already obtained nuclear threshold status, placing it at the tipping point of weaponization. Iran can develop enough material for a nuclear bomb in just over a week, with some experts assessing that it could build a nuclear warhead to carry these bombs within several months. In the same way that India and Pakistan achieved a relative cold peace, Tehran may look to check Israeli behavior through rebalancing the nuclear playing field.

Another argument for why Iran could dash for the bomb is that the country has already paid the high cost of becoming a nuclear weapons state without receiving the perceived benefits of having the bomb.

Ever since the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, which Iran was in full compliance with at the time, the United States has imposed its largest-scale sanctions to date against Iran. Western relations with Tehran further plummeted over Iran’s abysmal human rights record, its regional posture, and military assistance to Russia during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Given the anti-Iran sentiment across Western capitals, the Iranian leadership would be correct to conclude that major U.S. sanctions relief of the type seen in 2015 is not on the horizon. If Iran is already being treated as a nuclear pariah state by the West, then why not secure the perceived security benefits of going nuclear?

Finally, the broader geopolitical conditions today mean the costs associated with Iran becoming a nuclear state are lower than a decade ago. Tensions between world powers now make it increasingly unlikely that Russia, and possibly China, will stand in Iran’s way. Tehran can also capitalize on the Ukraine war by pushing to trade its military equipment—which Moscow desperately needs—for Russian nuclear know-how, technology, and defense at the U.N. Security Council. The United States already fears this could be happening.

Against this backdrop, those inside Iran favoring nuclear weaponization likely see two choices ahead: either Iran’s nuclear facilities are eventually destroyed by Israel and the United States first, and then Tehran stumbles toward nuclear weapons over a longer timeframe with depleted resources, or Iran starts the weaponization now while it has advanced nuclear capabilities and Israel is bogged down in Gaza and Lebanon. Iranian strategists may be swayed for the latter option when faced with a weakened Axis of Resistance, a formidable Israeli-U.S. military force and an Israel poised to strike at Iranian nuclear sites. Despite the strong likelihood that the country will be bombed throughout this process by Israel and the United States, Iran’s leadership may conclude it can bear the brunt of military action and come out of it stronger.

Following the hits Iran has taken to its deterrence capabilities, there is an acute risk of Iran reaching for the bomb. Western governments should act now to shape the internal debate inside Iran to avoid this outcome. A nuclear Iran can act with greater impunity at home and abroad. It will almost certainly trigger a nuclear arms race across the Middle East. This outcome would make a region close to Europe even more dangerous, not just because of the increased risk of violent conflict among states but also the risk of terrorist groups gaining access to nuclear weapons.

Western governments need to warn Iran’s leaders that if they decide to weaponize the country’s nuclear program, it will backfire. Becoming a nuclear state will likely offer Iran’s leaders greater guarantees against large-scale military intervention and externally imposed regime change. But it will expose Iran to vicious cycles of military strikes, cyberattacks, and assassinations. Future Iranian nuclear weapons will not deter Israel against striking Iran—just as Tehran was not deterred against taking the unprecedented step this year of barraging Israel, itself a nuclear power, with missiles.

Over the past year, Europe and the United States have not seriously pursued a political off-ramp with Tehran. The United States has been trapped—by both Israeli and Iranian conduct—into an escalation cycle and seems willing to only play a military card. Absent a political agenda, Iran’s dash to the bomb is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. History reveals that the more the United States and Israel carry out attacks inside Iran, the more Iran inches closer to the bomb.

The instances when Washington and Europe have shifted Iranian calculations away from weaponization involved serious diplomacy. The new Iranian government comprises technocrats who have a long history of supporting negotiations with Europe and the United States and have implemented the deals struck. Iran’s new reform-minded president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has amplified his government’s openness to diplomacy with the West—and this intent must now be put to the test.

In this diplomatic endeavor, a coalition of willing Western governments should ally themselves with Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Iraq, which among them have notable influence with Iran, Israel, and the United States. A new track of pursuing diplomacy with Iran within a coalition of regional actors is the best door opener for the West to prevent the Iran-Israel war spiraling out of control and to wedge open wider space to reduce tensions on other issues.

While there is considerable distrust between Iran and the West at this moment, both sides need to engage in transactional hard-nosed diplomacy to make a course correction. Otherwise, the current path will lead to the worst of all worlds.

[stele3]

[nicklloydnow]

“Russia said it would revoke its ratification of a major international nuclear-test-ban pact, a move that threatens to exacerbate global instability brought on by the war in Ukraine.

The step comes at a time when no arms talks between the U.S. and Russia are under way, Moscow has suspended its participation in the New START strategic-arms treaty, and ties between Washington and Moscow have reached lows not seen since the Cold War.

(…)

Though the treaty isn’t legally in force because not enough nations have ratified it, major powers including Russia, the U.S. and China say they are abiding by its terms.

A State Department spokesman said that the Russian move “needlessly endangers the global norm against nuclear explosive testing,” and that the U.S. remains committed to observing a moratorium.

Some former U.S. officials noted the revocation comes at a time when Russian military experts have been discussing whether Moscow should resume tests to confirm the effectiveness of some of Moscow’s new nuclear weapon systems.

“The Russians are clearly having a debate about resuming nuclear testing and this is moving them one step closer to such a move,” said Lynn Rusten, a former U.S. arms control official who is now a vice president of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a nonprofit organization on security issues.

“If Russia were to test, other states would follow,” she added. “It would open the door for China to resume testing, for India and Pakistan and other states to follow.”

(…)

The U.S., which was the first nation to sign the treaty, has observed a moratorium on nuclear tests since 1992. But it never ratified the agreement in the face of congressional objections over verification and other issues. China, whose last nuclear test was in 1996, has also signed but not ratified the treaty.

A total of 187 nations have signed the accord and 178 have ratified it. For it to take legal effect, eight nations would need to ratify it: China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the U.S.

(…)

The U.S. has said that Russia has likely undertaken experiments that exceed that “zero yield standard” at its site at Novaya Zemlya, a remote archipelago in the Arctic Circle, an allegation Moscow has denied.

(…)

On Thursday at the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin said Russia had almost finished working on new types of strategic weapons and that it had successfully tested the Burevestnik, a global-range nuclear-powered cruise missile, and finished work on the Sarmat, an intercontinental ballistic missile that carries a heavy nuclear payload.

“As a rule, specialists say, [with] a new weapon it’s necessary to make sure that a special warhead will work smoothly, and tests need to be carried out,” Putin said.”

“Satellite imagery and aviation data suggest that Russia may be preparing to test an experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile — or may have recently tested one — with a theoretical range of thousands of miles.

Movements of aircraft and vehicles at and near a base in Russia’s remote Arctic region are consistent with preparations that were made for tests of the missile, known as the Burevestnik or SSC-X-9 Skyfall, in 2017 and 2018, according to a New York Times analysis.

(…)

Russia previously conducted 13 known tests between 2017 and 2019, all of which were unsuccessful, according to a report from the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a nonprofit group focused on arms control. And mishaps can be deadly. A missile launched in 2019 crashed and eventually exploded during a recovery attempt, killing seven people, according to U.S. officials.

“It is exotic — it is dangerous in its testing and development phase,” Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said. Whether the Burevestnik has been tested again since 2019 isn’t clear, but even with a successful launch, the missile would still be years away from “operational deployment,” Mr. Kimball added.

In previous tests, the missile failed to fly a distance anywhere close to the designed range, estimated to be around 14,000 miles. U.S. officials assessed that during its most successful test flight, lasting just more than two minutes, the missile flew 22 miles before crashing into the sea. In another test, the missile’s nuclear reactor failed to activate, causing it to go down only a few miles from the launch site. For a test to succeed, the missile’s nuclear reactor would need to initiate in flight, so that the missile can cover much more ground.

According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative report, the missile is a “second-strike, strategic-range weapon,” intended to be launched after a wave of nuclear strikes have devastated targets in Russia. The missile could carry a conventional warhead but, in practice, would likely carry a nuclear payload, albeit a smaller one than most other nuclear-capable weapons. If used in wartime, the missile could have the potential to destroy large urban areas and military targets, experts say.

(…)

The Burevestnik is one of six strategic weapons, along with others such as the Kinzhal ballistic missile and the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, that Mr. Putin introduced in a 2018 speech. He asserted that the weapons could overpower and outmaneuver existing U.S. defenses. Addressing the West, he said, “You have failed to contain Russia.”

Visual evidence of testing preparations includes before-and-after satellite images.

Imagery taken on the morning of Sept. 20 shows numerous vehicles present on a launchpad at the base, including a truck with a trailer that appears to correspond to the dimensions of the missile. A weather shelter that typically covers the specific launch site had been moved about 50 feet. By the afternoon, the trailer was gone and the shelter was moved back to its original position.

Additional imagery captured on Sept. 28 shows the launchpad active again, with a similar trailer present and the shelter again drawn back.

On Aug. 31, the Russian authorities issued an aviation notice for a “temporary danger area,” advising pilots to avoid part of the Barents Sea off the coast and 12 miles from the launch site, known as Pankovo. The notice has since been extended several times and, as of Sunday, was scheduled to be in force through Oct. 6. Russia issued a similar notice before a Burevestnik test in 2019.

Additionally, two Russian aircraft specifically used for collecting data from missile launches were parked about 100 miles south of the launch site in early August, at the Rogachevo air base, according to analysis of satellite images by Bellona, a Norwegian environmental organization. The aircraft are owned by Rosatom, the Russian atomic energy company. They remained at that base at least through Sept. 26, according to additional satellite imagery. During Burevestnik tests in 2018, aircraft of the same type were also in the vicinity.

(…)

The highly secretive nature of the Burevestnik missile initiative and the remote launch location make it difficult to determine if a test is forthcoming or if the weapon may have already been recently retested — or perhaps both. While launch tests of the Burevestnik have been conducted at the Arctic base in the past, Russia could also test just the missile’s rocket motor or a component of the missile itself.

(…)

Experts said the missile is dangerous not only in its ability to carry a powerful nuclear warhead but in its potential to release harmful radioactive emissions if the missile were to explode or malfunction during a test.

If put into use, the Burevestnik would be considered part of Russia’s nuclear arsenal, making it subject to a nuclear arms reduction treaty that Moscow signed in 2011. That agreement limits the total number of warheads and delivery vehicles the country can deploy.

But with the treaty, known as New START, set to expire in February 2026, the missile could contribute to “the leading edge of an uncontrolled arms race” if no new agreement were to replace the expiring treaty, Mr. Kimball said.

Ultimately, he said, a test of the missile would be a “sign that Russia is moving in the wrong direction.””

“President Vladimir Putin has said Russia successfully completed the testing of a new nuclear-powered strategic missile and could revoke its ratification of a nuclear test ban treaty, raising fears that Moscow could resume nuclear testing for the first time in decades.

The Russian leader’s renewed nuclear talk on Thursday came against the backdrop of escalating rhetoric among Kremlin hawks, with a prominent propagandist drawing criticism this week for claims Russia should detonate a nuclear weapon over Siberia to send a message to the West.

(…)

“The last successful test of the Burevestnik, a global-range cruise missile with a nuclear propulsion system, was carried out,” Putin said.

The question now, Putin said, was about resolving some “purely administrative and bureaucratic” procedures in order to move on to mass production of these weapons and putting them on combat duty. “We will do this soon,” he added.

(…)

“This is a stupid weapon system, designed by stupid people for operational reasons that are not tremendously useful,” William Alberque, the director of strategy, technology and arms control at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told NBC News.

(…)

Since the start of his war in Ukraine, the Russian leader has repeatedly threatened to unleash the country’s powerful nuclear arsenal should its sovereignty or territorial integrity be threatened.

It’s part of the country’s so-called nuclear doctrine, which Putin said Thursday there was no reason to update, when asked if the threshold for employing nuclear weapons should be lowered to restrain the West. “No person in his right mind and clear memory” would think of using nuclear weapons against Russia, Putin said.

He added that he was not ready to say whether nuclear testing is actually needed, but threatened to revoke Moscow’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which bans all nuclear explosions, whether for military or peaceful purposes. It would mirror Washington signing but not ratifying the treaty, Putin added.

(…)

It comes just months after Russia suspended its involvement in the last remaining arms control treaty with the U.S., which limits nuclear stocks.

Putin did not specify when or where the alleged testing of the Burevestnik missile took place.

But the New York Times reported earlier this week, citing satellite imagery and aviation data, that Russia may be preparing to test an experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile, or may have recently tested one.

(…)

A suspected failed test of Burevestnik in 2019 killed five scientists and caused a radiation spike in a nearby city.

Technologically, the weapon is not that much of a challenge, said Alberque, but safely deploying it is much more difficult. “There is a reason the U.S. abandoned this technology in the Cold War. It’s just a bad idea,” he added.

The failed test in 2019 illustrates the dangers of this technology, he added.

Talking about its testing may primarily be an attempt to intimidate the West and force concessions on Ukraine, but Moscow withdrawing from the nuclear test ban treaty would be a huge deal, Alberque said. Russia is part of the global monitoring system that helps detect nuclear explosions and losing Russian sensors would deal “a hammer blow” to that ability, he added.

According to the United Nations, the Soviet Union’s last nuclear test took place in late 1990, so the resumption of nuclear testing by Putin’s Russia would be a major development that could further escalate global tensions.

(…)

Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia’s English-language RT network, suggested Sunday that there is no need for nuclear strikes on Washington when a thermonuclear explosion over Russian territory, like Siberia in Russia’s far east, would knock out all radioelectronics and satellite systems, in a major blow to the West. “Nothing so terrible would happen” to the area or locals, she said, adding that it’s one of the “most humane” options she sees available.”

[darkmaga-returns]

Ukraine and US sign minerals deal. Zelensky Threatens Russian WW2 Victory Parade. Pentagon chief warns Iran. Wildfires rage around Jerusalem. "Where are the 349,000 missing children?"

Lioness of Judah Ministry

May 01, 2025

Ukraine and US sign much-awaited minerals deal: Live updates

The two countries have agreed to establish a joint “reconstruction” investment fund.

Ukraine and the United States signed an agreement on Wednesday that will direct a portion of the revenues from the development of Ukraine’s natural resources into a joint investment fund. Kiev hopes the deal will incentivize US President Donald Trump to maintain military and financial aid amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. The US has been attempting to broker a ceasefire since February, as Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and other top officials in Kiev have accused the Trump administration of promoting “pro-Russian” narratives.

Zelensky Threatens Russian WW2 Victory Parade Which China’s Xi Will Attend

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a thinly veiled threat against Russia’s upcoming Victory Day parade, set for May 9. Zelensky stated that Russia was worried about attacks on the event, and was right to be.

Set to be attended by thousands of Russian civilians, including elderly Second World War veterans, and world leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping, the May 9 Victory Parade celebrates the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany and its allies in the Second World War. In a video published on April 30, Zelensky stated, “Right now, they are worried about whether they can hold their military parade—and rightly so. But what they should be worried about is that this war is still ongoing.” Some have pointed out that a large contingent of military personnel and equipment will take part in the parade, with pro-Ukrainian social media accounts calling for outright missile or drone strikes on a “legitimate military target.”

Trump Chief of Staff Gives Rare Interview Signaling Frustration With Ukraine, Russia

Susie Wiles, the White House Chief of Staff, says President Donald J. Trump‘s first 100 days in office have been notably productive. Speaking to the New York Post on Tuesday, Wiles noted the America First leader has signed 142 executive orders since January 20 and mentioned the administration’s focus on trade agreements and curbing illegal immigration.

However, the first-ever female White House Chief of Staff did express consternation regarding the lack of progress in reaching a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting peace may not be achievable in the time frame President Trump wants. “The President has devoted 100 days and his very top people to Russia and Ukraine, and if peace is not achieved, it will be because it can’t be achieved. It just cannot,” Wiles said. She continued: “I don’t know whether that will be the case or not. I mean, it may well be that we can make some headway in the next couple of weeks, but nobody would have tried it but Donald Trump.”

Tucker Carlson accuses Ukrainians of trying to kill Trump

The journalist argued it is “obvious” that Kyiv was behind the plot to kill the U.S. president in Florida

Ukraine was involved in a plot to assassinate US President Donald Trump during his 2024 reelection campaign, American journalist Tucker Carlson has claimed. In September 2024, pro-Ukraine activist Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested after setting up a firing position with a rifle near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was spotted by Secret Service agents before he could open fire and was detained following a brief manhunt. “It’s very obvious that the Ukrainians were involved in the attempted assassination on the golf course in Florida,” Carlson said on The Megyn Kelly Show on Tuesday.

Modi to miss Moscow Victory Day visit as Pakistan tensions mount

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to represent India at the annual Red Square parade

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be among high-profile foreign guests at the World War II Victory Day commemoration in Moscow on May 9, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. The country will instead be represented by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, sources close to the Indian government told RT. The announcement comes amid soaring tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad over an April 22 terrorist attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists.

India must send a ‘serious message’ to Pakistan – ex-foreign secretary

Kanwal Sibal has told RT that Islamabad has a policy of denying its role in terrorist attacks

New Delhi must send a much stronger signal to Pakistan over its support of terrorist activities, former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has told RT. Sibal’s comments come after several high-level Pakistani officials claimed that India was planning an imminent strike in the wake of last week’s terrorist attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. “India does not want war, but this can’t carry on,” Sibal said. “At some stage, this situation has to be handled in a way where Pakistan gets a serious message that it has to change its ways and has to give up the option of using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.”

Aggressive NATO and EU Rhetoric Hinders Efforts to Reduce Strategic Risks Between Russia and US

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Militarization of Europe and aggressive rhetoric on the part of NATO and the EU hinder the success of Russia and the United States' efforts to reduce strategic risks, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday.

"Today we continue to consistently convey to the Americans the need to work together on comprehensive reduction of strategic risks, which should have positive impact on the international security. However, militarization of Europe and aggressive rhetoric of NATO and the EU hinder achievement of positive results in this area," Shoigu said at the meeting of high representatives of BRICS countries in charge of security issues, which is taking place in Brasilia.

EU readies 'plan B' should Trump walk away from Ukraine talks, FT reports

April 30 (Reuters) - The European union is preparing a "plan B" on how to keep economic sanctions against Russia should the Trump administration abandon Ukraine peace talks and seek rapprochement with Moscow, EU's high representative for foreign and security policy, Kaja Kallas told the Financial Times on Wednesday.

"We see signs that they are contemplating whether they should leave Ukraine and not try to get a deal with the Russians because it’s hard," she told the FT.

'Annihilate the Christians': Imams in the West Preach Anti-Christian Hate, Supremacy, and Conquest in Chilling Compilation

It is time to demand that religious freedom not be used as a shield to wage ideological warfare on Western soil.

A newly released compilation by MEMRI TV exposes a chilling and deeply troubling reality: imams and Islamic scholars preaching in Western mosques are openly spewing hatred against Christians, demonizing Christianity, and calling for Islamic conquest—right from the pulpits of Canada, the United States, and Europe. The video, published on April 18, 2025, draws from MEMRI’s “Sermons by Imams in the West” project and includes sermon clips from October 7 onward. These are not stray comments or isolated incidents. They are consistent, unapologetic, and increasingly militant declarations of ideological supremacy, designed to inspire hostility, reject coexistence, and accelerate Islamization through conversion, takeover, and domination.

Don’t worry, this isn’t Mogadishu, it’s just another “enriched” bus ride in modern Germany.

Diversity in full swing!

[talphaend]

Indian Politics: A Dynamic Democracy Navigating Challenges and Aspirations

India, the world’s largest democracy, boasts a vibrant yet complex political landscape shaped by its diversity, historical legacy, and evolving socio-economic priorities. Governed by a parliamentary system enshrined in its 1950 Constitution, Indian politics reflects both democratic ideals and persistent challenges, from corruption to identity-based divisions. This essay explores the structure, key players, contemporary issues, and future prospects of Indian politics in 2025.

1. Political Framework and Democratic Structure

India operates as a federal parliamentary republic, with power divided among the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. The President serves as the ceremonial head, while the Prime Minister leads the government. The bicameral Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Rajya Sabha (Upper House), representing the people and states, respectively .

The 2024 general elections saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secure a third term, albeit reliant on alliances with regional parties like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) . This underscores the growing influence of regional parties, which dominate states such as West Bengal (Trinamool Congress) and Tamil Nadu (DMK) .

2. Key Political Parties and Electoral Dynamics

India’s multi-party system features national and regional players. The BJP and Indian National Congress (INC) remain dominant nationally, while regional parties advocate state-specific agendas. The 2024 elections highlighted voter turnout at 67%, with youth and digital campaigns playing pivotal roles . However, challenges like electoral fraud allegations and the criminalization of politics persist, with many legislators facing criminal charges .

The BJP’s consolidation since 2014 has reshaped politics, emphasizing Hindu nationalism, economic reforms, and centralization. Critics argue this has marginalized minorities and weakened federalism, while supporters credit it with infrastructure growth and global stature .

3. Challenges in Indian Politics

A. Corruption and Governance

Corruption remains systemic, exemplified by scandals like the 2G Spectrum scam. Initiatives like the Lokpal Act and digital governance (e.g., Digital India) aim to enhance transparency, yet implementation gaps endure .

B. Identity Politics

Caste and religion often dictate electoral strategies. The BJP’s policies, such as revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy (Article 370), have intensified debates on secularism and minority rights .

C. Security and Internal Conflict

The 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, attributed to Pakistan-based militants, reignited India-Pakistan tensions and scrutiny of intelligence failures . Meanwhile, Naxalite insurgencies in Chhattisgarh and ethnic violence in Manipur underscore internal security challenges .

D. Economic Disparities

Despite being a $3.7 trillion economy, wealth inequality and unemployment persist. Welfare schemes like MNREGA and PM-KISAN aim to alleviate poverty, yet informal sector workers (94% of the workforce) remain vulnerable .

4. Recent Developments and Policy Shifts

A. BJP’s Third Term Agenda

Modi’s 2024–2029 agenda focuses on “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India), defense modernization, and Hindu cultural revival. The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, sparked protests in West Bengal, reflecting tensions over religious property rights .

B. Foreign Policy and Global Partnerships

The 2025 U.S.-India COMPACT initiative strengthened defense and trade ties, including co-production of Javelin missiles and a $500 billion trade target by 2030 . India’s leadership in the G20 and Quad alliances underscores its rising global influence .

C. Social Reforms

The Women’s Reservation Bill (pending) and appointments like Rekha Gupta as Delhi’s Chief Minister signal incremental progress in gender representation .

5. The Road Ahead: Opportunities and Reforms

A. Youth and Digital Engagement

With 65% of the population under 35, youth-driven movements and digital platforms (e.g., MyGov) are reshaping political participation .

B. Judicial and Electoral Reforms

Calls to decriminalize politics and abolish sedition laws (IPC 124A) highlight the need for judicial accountability . The Election Commission’s use of EVMs and VVPATs aims to ensure fair elections .

C. Sustainable Development

Initiatives like the Green Hydrogen Mission and amendments to nuclear liability laws (CLNDA) aim to balance energy security and climate goals .

Conclusion

Indian politics, a tapestry of democracy and diversity, faces a critical juncture in 2025. While the BJP’s dominance reflects a shift toward majoritarianism, regional parties and civil society push for pluralism and equity. Addressing corruption, enhancing inclusivity, and fostering youth leadership will determine whether India realizes its potential as a global democratic exemplar. As historian Ramachandra Guha noted, India’s democracy is “a marathon, not a sprint”—a testament to its resilience amid evolving challenges .

References: Insights synthesized from constitutional frameworks , electoral dynamics , policy initiatives , and contemporary events .

[ptrcbtnm]

The Cuban Revolution broke out during Eisenhower's second term, resulting in the replacement of pro-U.S. military dictator Fulgencio Batista with Fidel Castro. In response to the revolution, the Eisenhower administration broke ties with Cuba and Eisenhower approved a CIA operation to carry out a campaign of terrorist attacks and sabotage, kill civilians, and cause economic damage. The CIA also trained and commanded pilots to bomb civilian airfields. The CIA began preparations for an invasion of Cuba by Cuban expatriates, ultimately resulting in the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion after Eisenhower left office.

Eisenhower did provide France with bombers and non-combat personnel. After a few months with no success by the French, he added other aircraft to drop napalm for clearing purposes.

.The Pact of Madrid, signed on September 23, 1953, by Francoist Spain and the United States, was a significant effort to break international isolation of Spain, together with the Concordat of 1953. This development came at a time when other victorious Allies and much of the rest of the world remained hostile[a] to a fascist regime sympathetic to the cause of the former Axis powers and established with Nazi assistance. This accord took the form of three separate executive agreements that pledged the United States to furnish economic and military aid to Spain.

On 1 May 1960, a United States U-2 spy plane was shot down by the Soviet Air Defence Forces while conducting photographic aerial reconnaissance deep inside Soviet territory. Flown by American pilot Francis Gary Powers, the aircraft had taken off from Peshawar, Pakistan, and crashed near Sverdlovsk (present-day Yekaterinburg), after being hit by a surface-to-air missile. Powers parachuted to the ground and was captured.

Initially, American authorities acknowledged the incident as the loss of a civilian weather research aircraft operated by NASA, but were forced to admit the mission's true purpose a few days later after the Soviet government produced the captured pilot and parts of the U-2's surveillance equipment, including photographs of Soviet military bases.

The incident occurred during the tenures of American president Dwight D. Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, around two weeks before the scheduled opening of an east–west summit in Paris, France. Khrushchev and Eisenhower had met face-to-face at Camp David in Maryland in September 1959, and the seeming thaw in U.S.-Soviet relations had raised hopes globally for a peaceful resolution to the Cold War. The U-2 incident shattered the amiable "Spirit of Camp David" that had prevailed for eight months, prompting the cancellation of the summit in Paris and embarrassing the U.S. on the international stage. The Pakistani government issued a formal apology to the Soviet Union for its role in the mission.

Fuck off

1956 Republican Platform

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 3.23 (after 1940)

1940 – The Lahore Resolution (Qarardad-e-Pakistan or Qarardad-e-Lahore) is put forward at the Annual General Convention of the All-India Muslim League. 1956 – Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world. This date is now celebrated as Republic Day in Pakistan. 1965 – NASA launches Gemini 3, the United States' first two-man space flight (crew: Gus Grissom and John Young). 1977 – The first of The Nixon Interviews (12 will be recorded over four weeks) is videotaped with British journalist David Frost interviewing former United States President Richard Nixon about the Watergate scandal and the Nixon tapes. 1978 – The first UNIFIL troops arrived in Lebanon for peacekeeping mission along the Blue Line. 1980 – Archbishop Óscar Romero of El Salvador gives his famous speech appealing to men of the El Salvadoran armed forces to stop killing the Salvadorans. 1982 – Guatemala's government, headed by Fernando Romeo Lucas García is overthrown in a military coup by right-wing General Efraín Ríos Montt. 1983 – Strategic Defense Initiative: President Ronald Reagan makes his initial proposal to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles. 1988 – Angolan and Cuban forces defeat South Africa in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale. 1991 – The Revolutionary United Front, with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia, invades Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow Joseph Saidu Momoh, sparking the 11-year Sierra Leone Civil War. 1994 – At an election rally in Tijuana, Mexican presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio is assassinated by Mario Aburto Martínez. 1994 – A United States Air Force (USAF) F-16 aircraft collides with a USAF C-130 at Pope Air Force Base and then crashes, killing 24 United States Army soldiers on the ground. This later became known as the Green Ramp disaster. 1994 – Aeroflot Flight 593 crashed into the Kuznetsk Alatau mountain, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia, killing 75. 1996 – Taiwan holds its first direct elections and chooses Lee Teng-hui as President. 1999 – Gunmen assassinate Paraguay's Vice President Luis María Argaña. 2001 – The Russian Mir space station is disposed of, breaking up in the atmosphere before falling into the southern Pacific Ocean near Fiji. 2003 – Battle of Nasiriyah, first major conflict during the invasion of Iraq. 2008 – Official opening of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, India 2009 – FedEx Express Flight 80: A McDonnell Douglas MD-11 flying from Guangzhou, China crashes at Tokyo's Narita International Airport, killing both the captain and the co-pilot. 2010 – The Affordable Care Act becomes law in the United States. 2014 – The World Health Organization (WHO) reports cases of Ebola in the forested rural region of southeastern Guinea, marking the beginning of the largest Ebola outbreak in history. 2018 – President of Peru Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigns from the presidency amid a mass corruption scandal before certain impeachment by the opposition-majority Congress of Peru. 2019 – The Kazakh capital of Astana was renamed to Nur-Sultan. 2019 – The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces capture the town of Baghuz in Eastern Syria, declaring military victory over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant after four years of fighting, although the group maintains a scattered presence and sleeper cells across Syria and Iraq. 2020 – Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the United Kingdom into its first national lockdown in response to COVID-19. 2021 – A container ship runs aground and obstructs the Suez Canal for six days.

[biographeur]

India in the 21st Century

It is very interesting to speculate about India's position during the 21st century. The picture that we envision at the beginning of the 21st century is not one of unmixed blessing, but a mixed fabric of black and white. However, we peer into the future and look ahead.

India is reeling under the tremendous pressure of population explosion. The population of India has risen to 1.42 billion (142 crores). If it keeps increasing at the present rate of 2.5%, the country will face a serious problem in providing food and accommodation to this growing mass of people. Instead of becoming a national asset, such a large population would become a national liability. More children do not mean more future workers, but more mouths to feed and more unemployment.

Yet, we expect a great improvement in the condition of our people. The shape of towns and villages will change beyond recognition. Towns will expand into villages, and villages will gradually lose their traditional character. There will be greater ease in communication as well. Space and time will be shortened with telephones and cellphones. Internet services will bring the world into our homes, reducing it to a global village. Yet, for spiritual fulfillment, the world would probably turn to India, where spirituality still lingers.

Communal harmony is another point. We hope that people will realize the danger of communal disharmony and try to maintain a balance in India's multi-religious society. They will refuse to be pawns on the chessboard of politics. But I am afraid the reservation policy for the Scheduled and Backward Classes will continue to spread discontent among the people. The simmering resentment of the economically backward classes, irrespective of caste, may burst into a revolt. Democracy will be meaningless to the majority of people below the poverty line. However, India will emerge as a super military power in the 21st century. India and Pakistan will compete in developing nuclear weapons and long-range guided missiles. War tensions between India and Pakistan may unfortunately continue to rise, but relations between India and Bangladesh are expected to remain peaceful.

During the 21st century, India will make great advances in science, technology, agriculture, medicine, electricity, communications, computers, etc. We hope that we shall overcome fatal diseases like cancer or AIDS. The government will undertake a series of plans for economic development to raise the standard of living of the people. But the growth of population may upset all the plans. Yet, we hope to fight for a new world—a decent world that will give our youth a bright future and ensure security for the elderly.

Written by Biographeur

[mariacallous]

On March 15, 2019, floodwaters breached the gates of Offutt Air Force Base. Two days later, one-third of the base was inundated—and at least $1 billion worth of damage done.

Offutt is perhaps best known as the home of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), the central node of the country’s nuclear command-and-control system. While the flood stopped short of STRATCOM headquarters, this incident paints an all-too-clear picture about the potentially catastrophic ways climate change and nuclear weapons could intersect.

Most nuclear-armed states are undertaking significant efforts to modernize their nuclear programs. Their goal? Ensuring their arsenals remain viable deterrents for decades to come, prepared to address a changing geostrategic environment. But can their arsenals continue to deter in a rapidly changing geophysical environment?

Climate change could hit every leg of the U.S. nuclear triad hard. Sea level rise, extreme flooding, and extreme heat could challenge U.S. ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and bomber aircraft; the infrastructure for their basing; and the personnel who operate them.

At the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, for example, rising sea levels and flooding could significantly affect the Navy’s capacity to service and maintain the submarines. Under various climate change scenarios, rising waters could inundate facilities throughout the base, disrupting SSBN servicing and crew exchanges and compromising roads connecting a key missile facility to the waterfront—potentially delaying the transport and maintenance of the submarines’ nuclear missiles. These issues would only get worse if climate change effects prevented the submarines from entering port. Since Kings Bay is one of only two bases equipped to support SSBNs, this could have serious repercussions for the broader health and stealth of the fleet.

Elsewhere, warming temperatures may accelerate extreme flooding that could limit access to ICBM silos and facilities at Minot Air Force Base—not to mention displace base personnel and their families, such as with what occurred during the devastating Souris River flood of 2011. This could disrupt the base’s staffing and maintenance operations, with potential cascading effects for the ICBM leg of the triad if delays in critical, time-sensitive maintenance such as the replacement of limited-life components reduce the reliability of some missiles.

Projected increases in extreme heat conditions and flash flooding at Whiteman Air Force Base—home to the nation’s B-2 stealth nuclear bombers—pose potential risks to the aircraft. These climate effects could limit the times and conditions under which the bombers can freely take off from or land at Whiteman, which could have implications for the readiness of the larger bomber fleet, especially if the aircraft couldn’t access relevant nuclear weapons storage sites.

But the impact could be even more significant in other nuclear states that are already feeling the effects of extreme climate hazards—and have less robust infrastructure than the United States. Take North Korea and Pakistan, both of which have experienced severe flooding in recent years. In 2020, the Kuryong River in North Korea spilled its banks and threatened the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center, which contains many nuclear weapons-related development and production facilities. Because key reactors were offline at the time, flood-induced damage to the dam that helps ensure a constant reservoir for the reactors’ cooling systems didn’t inflict much harm—but projections suggest North Korea might not be so lucky in the future.

In a worst-case scenario, a flood could disrupt online reactors from functioning safely or even damage on-site facilities that store nuclear materials, which, if not contained, could release radioactive hazards into the environment.

In 2022, record-breaking floods in Pakistan submerged a third of the country, wreaking havoc on food security, health care, and critical infrastructure. While the country’s nuclear energy facilities were spared, southern regions, where experts suspect nuclear weapons sites are located, were among the most devastated. Climate change is only expected to cause more extreme precipitation events, bringing further risk with it.

And these aren’t the only states at risk, nor are floodwaters the only danger. Wildfires that have previously threatened Russia’s nuclear sites are likely to get worse with more extreme heat. The United Kingdom, which relies only on SSBNs operated out of a single coastal base, may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of sea level rise. And India’s coastal nuclear facilities are projected to face more intense cyclones as global temperatures rise.

A shifting world will also likely affect where nuclear weapons are deployed. Leading climate security experts have been warning about rising temperatures and tensions in the Arctic for years. Russia has already been bolstering its Arctic military infrastructure, including through an increasing concentration of nuclear assets in the region—as well as displays of nuclear capabilities.

Meanwhile, the United States may look to increase its own Arctic nuclear activity. For instance, it is not currently known to conduct SSBN patrols in the region, likely because of associated challenges—to launch a nuclear weapon, a submarine would have to break through thick layers of ice, a time-consuming maneuver that risks damage to the multibillion-dollar submarines. An ice-free Arctic environment, however, might change Washington’s calculus, leading it to expand its deterrent patrols to the region due to potential operational advantages such as reduced attack warning times.

And yet, climate change may also present new opportunities for risk reduction. If all nuclear-armed states are vulnerable to climate impacts on their nuclear arsenals, they may be mutually interested in adopting measures to reduce associated risks. At minimum, this could entail a dialogue on best practices for assessing and mitigating climate change challenges to their nuclear programs. The dialogue could open up avenues for cooperation, such as sharing the latest climate research, to help states better prepare to address these common challenges.

More ambitiously, common climate change vulnerabilities could also incentivize arms control, as nuclear-armed states will face mounting financial pressures in ensuring the safety, reliability, and resilience of their arsenals to climate change impacts. The U.S. Department of Defense, for example, estimates that taking measures to increase just one base’s resilience to coastal flooding alone would cost at least $44.65 million. Accounting for all the measures necessary to increase the resilience of all their nuclear facilities and systems, states may find it mutually beneficial—and fiscally necessary—to reduce the size of their arsenals.

Climate change is very unlikely to undermine the complex web of facilities, bases, and operations involved in nuclear programs and their deterrence missions. But even small incidents and accidents are potentially devastating. After all, increased force vulnerability is widely recognized as a driver of escalation risks.

More concerted efforts must be made to assess these challenges—and potential opportunities—and equip states with the knowledge and insight they need to mitigate and adapt. Given the already high stakes and risks of nuclear weapons, failing to do so is not an option.

[pakscimission]

No compromise on Pakistan’s nuclear program: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said there will be no compromise on Pakistan’s nuclear program. The premier believes there is no need to impose restrictions on Pakistan’s ballistic missile development. Pakistan’s nuclear program is only for defense purposes and would not be utilized aggressively, the prime minister stated while speaking to the federal cabinet today. The PM also said that there…

[aqurette]

Pakistan Is Developing Long-Range Missile

“Weeks before it leaves office, the Biden administration said that Pakistan is developing a long-range ballistic missile that could eventually provide nuclear-armed Islamabad with a weapon capable of striking the US.” Read it at the Wall Street Journal. https://aqurette.com/diary/2024/12/23/pakistan-is-developi

[darkmaga-returns]

The future of Indo-US relations under Trump 2.0 will ultimately play the largest role in determining the degree of tumult that South Asia experiences next year.

South Asia is generally thought of as a comparatively stable region whose primary problems are socio-economic development, which shouldn’t be underestimated but isn’t the same as the geopolitical turbulence that West Asia and Europe have recently experienced. That might be about to change. From Afghanistan to Myanmar, the latter of which can be included in South Asia due to its former role in the British Raj, the entire region is bracing itself for a tumultuous 2025.

Beginning with Afghanistan, the latest tit-for-tat attacks between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan across the Durand Line bode ill for the future of their bilateral relations. Kabul never recognized the British-imposed border between Afghanistan and what later became Pakistan. It’s also accused by Islamabad of harboring the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the “Pakistani Taliban”, which is a designated terrorist group. The Afghan Taliban, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of killing civilians in its latest strike.

At the same time, Pakistan’s relations with the US are also deteriorating. The Biden Administration imposed new sanctions on its ballistic missile program, unprecedentedly targeting a state agency, while the State Department just condemned a military court’s conviction of 25 civilians. Returning US President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions Richard Grenell is also advocating for the release of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Ties will likely become more complicated.