MONDAY 100 FLIGHTS CANCELLED AT IGI AIRPORT 12 Around 100 flights from Delhi airport were cancelled on Sunday. According to sources, 32 airports remained shut for operations. Airport officials said as many as 96 domestic flights and one international flight were cancelled. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has issued a travel advisory urging passengers to brace for possible flight schedule adjustments and longer wait times at security checkpoints. | P7 MAY, 2025 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard AFTER POPE LEO XIV CALLS FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE AND GAZA MAJOR HITS ■ Air Marshal AK Bharti, during a joint press briefing with defence officials on Sunday, showed detailed video of the effects of Indian Air Force operations during its air raids at Arifwala air defence radar in Pakistan, the Chaklala airfield and Sargodha airfield ■ Sargodha is designated as a “Major Operational Base” and reportedly houses Pakistan’s fleet of F-16s ■ Other targets in Pakistan hit by IAF were Murid, PAF base at Rafiqui and units at Lahore and Gujranwala BEFORE In his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 11  NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 14 1 ARIFWALA AIR DEFENCE RADAR AFTER Losses are a part of combat. The question to be asked is, have we achieved our objectives of decimating the terrorist camps? The answer is a thumping yes BEFORE —AIR MARSHAL A K BHARTI Director General of Military Operations Lt General Rajiv Ghai (2nd from left) with Air Marshal A K Bharti, Vice Admiral A N Pramod, and Major General S S Sharda | PTI INDIA’S IRON FIST CRUSHED PAK’S HIGH HOPES: FORCES 100 terrorists, including high-value targets, killed in May 7 strikes; Pak Army lost 35-40 personnel between May 7 and 10; India downed Pak jets; All Indian pilots safe INDIA SENDING TEAM TO UN AGAINST PAK NEW DELHI: With the United Nations Security Council’s 1267 committee set to meet next week, India will send a team with evidence highlighting Pakistan’s complicity in terrorism and TRF’s role in Pahalgam attack | P9 CONG SEEKS SPECIAL PARLIAMENT SESSION NEW DELHI: Leaders of the opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have written to PM for a special session of Parliament to discuss Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor RAJNATH INAUGURATES NEW BRAHMOS UNIT LUCKNOW: BrahMos is not just a weapon but a “message” of India’s military strength, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday at the inauguration of the largest integration and testing facility of the missile system here M AYA N K S I N G H @ New Delhi INDIAN forces inflicted heavy losses to the Pakistan side via Operation Sindoor by destroying key military installations and downing fighter jets, apart from razing down nine identified terrorist camps, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai said on Sunday . Giving details of Operation Sindoor at a detailed media briefing in New Delhi on Sunday evening, attended by senior military officials of the Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, the DGMO said that India achieved its desired objectives and Pakistan will have to pay a very heavy price if it resorts to any misadventure. Lt Gen Ghai said over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudasir Ahmed, who were involved in the hijacking of IC 814 and the Pulwama blast, were eliminated during Operation Sindoor. He said all Indian pilots are safe while Pakistan lost 3540 Pakistani military personnel in the three-day combat. The military officials, however, did not comment on the losses on the Indian side, saying it would give an advantage to the adversary . “We are in a combat scenario and losses are a part of combat. The question to be asked is have we achieved our objectives of decimating the terrorist camps? The answer is a thumping yes. At this time I would not like to comment on the numbers, which platforms did we lose? We are still in a combat situation. If I comment, it will be advantageous to them. All our pilots are back home,” said Air Marshal A K Bharti. In response to a question, Air Marshal A K Bharti said India “definitely” downed a few Pakistani planes but refused to confir m the numbers. “Their planes were prevented from DAY 5 coming inside our border. So we do not have the wreckage with us but definitely we have downed a few planes,” he said. The officials stressed that Indian forces were extra careful not to inflict any casualties on civilians, and they stuck to this policy even though it meant some tactical disadvantage to the Indian side. Vice Admiral A N Pramod, DGNO said, “Along with kinetic actions by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, the overwhelming operational edge of Indian Navy at sea contributed towards Pakistan’s urgent request for a ceasefire.” He added that India Navy remains deployed at sea in a credible deterrent posture, so that it can respond decisively to any inimical action by Pakistan, or Pakistan based terrorist. Adding on Air Force’s operational capability, Bharti said, “We can target every system at Pakistan’s bases.” DGMO Lt Gen Ghai also paid tribute to five Indian fallen heroes and civilians who “tragically lost their lives” during Operation Sindoor. “We have thus far exercised immense restraint and our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory How. eve r, a n y t h r e a t t o t h e sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety of our citizens will be met with decisive force,” he said. The DGMO said it was his Pakistani counterpart who made a call to him on Saturday afternoon, requesting a way out to stop the hostilities. Following this, the two DGMOs agreed to stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 5 pm Saturday The officials said that the . Pakistani DGMO’s call came after Indian forces launched a fierce counter-attack on several Pakistani military installations including Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian on Saturday morning. MORE REPORTS ON P6, 7, 9 & 10 2 CHAKLALA AIRFIELD India rejects Trump’s offer to solve Kashmir J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi INDIA has rejected US President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue, making it clear that the only issue on the table is Pakistan vacating the territory it illegally occupies in PoK. Government sources made it unequivocally clear that India sees no role for external intervention in the matter. “We have a very clear position on Kashmir, there is only one matter left- the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). There is nothing else to talk. If they talk about handing over terrorists, we can talk. We don’t want anyone to mediate. We don’t need anyone to mediate.” The Indian position is that the whole of Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the US President’s mediation offer and thanked Trump for his willingness to step in. Trump, commenting on the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan following four days of heightened military tension over the Pahalgam terror attack, praised the leadership of both countries. He also said that while mediation hadn’t been discussed, the US would substantially increase trade with both nations and was willing to assist in resolving the Kashmir dispute. AFTER 3 SARGODHA AIRFIELD (WHERE F16 JETS WERE PARKED) India issues Pak an ultimatum—fire for fire new normal Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to sources, gave the armed forces a clear INDIA has drawn a red line directive: “Wahan se goli in its security posture with chalegi, toh yahan se gola Pakistan: any provocation chalega” (If bullets come will trigger a sharper, more from there, shells will be forceful response. “If they fired from here). fire, we fire”— Sources said India that’s the new noris deter mined to mal, sources said, raise the cost of following the crosscross-border terrorborder strikes ism, making it clear under Operation that Pakistan cannot S i n d o o r, wh i c h selectively seek cothey emphasised is operation while constill on. tinuing to shelter “Operation Sinand support terror Wahan se goli door has not connetworks. cluded, there is a chalegi, toh yahan Prime Minister se gola chalega (If new normal in In- bullets come from N a r e n d r a M o d i dia’s response to there, shells will firmly told US Vice cross-border terrorPresident JD Vance be fired) ism,” said sources that any hostile acNarendra Modi familiar with the tion from Pakistan matter. Launched would invite a “far after the Pahalgam terror at- stronger and more devastattack that killed 26 civilians, ing Indian response.” That the operation targeted ter- same night, after Pakistan ror infrastructure in Paki- targeted 26 sites, India retalistan and Pakistan-occupied ated with overwhelming Kashmir (PoK). force at Pakistan air bases. J AYA N T H J A C O B & M AYA N K S I N G H @ New Delhi Uneasy calm in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab as ceasefire takes effect F AYA Z W A N I A N D H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Srinagar / Chandigarh CAUTIOUS optimism prevailed among residents of the border states of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab as the ceasefire appeared to take effect on Sunday , a day after Pak forces breached their commitment. In Jammu and Kashmir, residents of Uri and other border areas heaved a sigh of relief with no fresh reports of attack from across the border, while authorities in Punjab advised residents to continue voluntary blackout and be at home by 8 pm as a measure of caution. In stark contrast to the past few days, no sirens or explo- EXPRESS READ Mann warns BJP, BBMB over water dispute In a sharp escalation of the ongoing water dispute between Punjab and Haryana, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann accused the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities of attempting to release additional water to Haryana. For the third time in 15 days, Mann visited the Nangal Dam and warned BJP and BBMB that any such attempt could create a major law and order problem in the state, adding that both would be held responsible. sions were heard in J&K on Sunday. However, police officials advised residents who had moved to safer places not to retur n until the unexploded shells are cleared. On Sunday, the markets in Srinagar were abuzz with activity as shoppers thronged to buy essential goods. NO SIRENS OR EXPLOSIONS No sirens or explosions were heard in J&K on Sunday. However, police advised residents who had moved to safer places not to return until the shells are cleared. “Yesterday was very scary as loud explosions could be heard. Soon, there was a blackout. It was tough to convince my children that things will become normal,” said Mushtaq Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar. In Uri, where at least 100 houses were damaged amid heavy shelling by Pakistan, life was slowly returning to normal. “There has been no shelling since yesterday morning. This is a big relief. We pray that there is permanent ceasefire,” said a Uri resident Abdul Qayoom Ganai. In Punjab, educational institutions in five border districts will remain closed on Monday as a matter of precatuion. WOMAN AMONG TWO HELD FOR ESPIONAGE Two persons, including a woman, were arrested in Punjab for their alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani official posted at the High Commission in Delhi, police said on Sunday. The suspects were arrested for leaking information regarding Army movements. DEFENCE HUBS IN DEHRADUN ON ALERT Kashmir residents checking out cloths and backpacks at a market area in Srinagar on Sunday | PTI Even as the agreed ceasefire has put a pause on tensions, India is reportedly not lowering its guard on defence preparedness, leading to increased demand for defence scientists and their expertise. Defence scientists stationed in Dehradun have been despatched to various fronts, said an official. ‘Supreme Court can’t be aloof...’, says Justice Gavai on Pahalgam SAD STATE A CITY WITH BROKEN S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi WHEN the country is in danger, the Supreme Court cannot be aloof as it is a part of the country, said Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, who will take oath as the Chief Justice of India on May 14. He made the observation while reflecting on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack on Sunday . “We were stunned to hear the news. I convened a full court after taking permission from the Chief Justice (Justice Sanjiv Khanna) since he was not in the country. We immediately observed a two-minute silence across the court to pay homage to the victims of the attack,” the CJI-designate told a group of reporters during an informal interaction. Regarding the tense situation between India and Pakistan, he said that no one benefits from a war; a ceasefire is good. “As citizens of this country, everybody is concerned. Whatever happens, affects everyone.” Though he hailed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan and calling it a posi- tive development, Justice Gavai lamented the attacks that followed it. “But by 12 pm tomorrow, we will get to know more,” he said. Justice Gavai, who is scheduled to retire on November 23 this year, clarified that he will not take any post-retirement assignments. On incidents of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and BJP leader Nishikant Dubey slamming the Supreme Court and the CJI recently, Justice Gavai said, “What is supreme is already known. It’s the Constitution that is supreme.” Stating that he will be the first Buddhist CJI, he said, “It’s, however, a coincidence that I am taking oath a day after Buddha Purnima.” On April 29, the President appointed Justice Gavai as the next CJI, effective May 14, 2025. He will be the 52nd CJI. The incumbent CJI, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, is slated to retire on May 13. INFRA, CIVIC APATHY Unchecked dumping, and administrative lapses continue to define much of the cityscape. What emerges is a grim scenario — a city struggling to maintain its public infrastructure, which, if not addressed threatens citizens safety & health | P4