MLC Daily Current Affairs – 08 May 2025

Today in History (May 8^th,1933)

Mahatma Gandhi begins a 21-day fast of self-purification and launched a one-year campaign to help the Harijan movement.

Summary of Today’s News

Indian forces hit Pakistan terror bases: Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor – conducted against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Scale of Attack:

• 24 precision strikes on 9 different terror camps.
• Conducted in just 25 minutes between 1:05 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.
• 21 terror camps were identified; 9 were targeted.

Targeted Groups: Camps of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Locations of Strikes:

• In PoK: Sawai Nala, Syedna Belal (Muzaffarabad), Gulpur, Abbas (Kotli), Barnala (Bhimber).
• In Pakistan: Mehmoona Joya, Sarjal (Sialkot), Markaz Taiba (Muridke), Markaz Subhan Allah (Bahawalpur).

Objectives and Strategy:

• Aimed to destroy terror training infrastructure.
• No civilian population or military installations were targeted.
• Described as measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible.

Weapons Used:

• By Air Force: Rafale or Mirage 2000 jets with SCALP & HAMMER missiles.
• By Army: Precision-guided munitions like Excalibur rounds, loitering munitions.
• No border crossing by Indian aircraft.

Outcome:

• Indian Defence Ministry claimed full success with zero collateral damage.
• Pakistan claimed 31 dead and 57 injured.

India’s Justification:

• Response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
• India cited failure of Pakistan to act against terrorists despite warnings.

Official Statements:

• Defence Minister: India acted with precision, precaution, and compassion.
• Foreign Secretary: Intelligence showed threat of further attacks.
• Indian Forces on highest alert anticipating counter-response.

Past Precedents:

• Third major strike in a decade after 2016 (Uri surgical strikes) and 2019 (Balakot airstrike).

Pakistan’s Response:

• Denied targeting terror bases.
• Warned of retaliation “at a time and place of its own choosing”.

Political Backing:

• PM Modi gave complete operational freedom to armed forces.

India shuts Kartarpur Corridor, puts border districts on high alert

Increased Security Measures:

• Punjab’s border districts placed on high alert following India’s military action against terror in Pakistan (Operation Sindoor).
• Schools closed in several districts including Amritsar, Pathankot, Fazilka, and Ferozepur as a precaution.

Kartarpur Corridor Suspension:

• The Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur was shut by order of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Official MHA statement cited the “extant security scenario” as the reason for suspension.
• The corridor, opened in November 2019, allowed visa-free travel for Indian pilgrims to Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.
• Up to 5,000 pilgrims were permitted to visit daily as per India-Pakistan agreement.
• Pilgrims arriving on Wednesday were turned back.

Border Activity and Alerts:

• The beating retreat ceremony at Attari-Wagah border was cancelled on Wednesday.
• Ceremony had already been scaled down post-April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Official Statement:

• Punjab’s Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat warned of possible conspiracies from a “shaken” Pakistan.
• Directed all officials to stay vigilant and act quickly against any suspicious activity.

All-party meeting in Parliament today

Post-Operation Briefings:

• Following Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Droupadi Murmu to brief her on the military action.
• PM Modi also chaired a Cabinet meeting to update his ministers on the operation.

Cabinet Response:

• The Prime Minister praised the precision and effectiveness of the strikes, calling them “perfect”.
• Cabinet ministers expressed full confidence in the Indian armed forces and PM Modi’s leadership.

All-Party Meeting Announced:

• Later, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced an all-party meeting scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday in Parliament.
• The meeting is meant to brief all political parties on the details and implications of Operation Sindoor.

Congress Participation:

• The Congress Party welcomed the move and expressed hope that PM Modi would personally attend the meeting.
• Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge (Rajya Sabha) and Rahul Gandhi (Lok Sabha) will represent the party at the meeting.