Content:
- Indian forces hit Pakistan terror bases
- India shuts Kartarpur Corridor, puts border districts on high alert
- Pakistan’s complex web of terror networks
- India briefs envoys of 13 Security Council members
- PMLA ruling review: SC seeks issues for consideration
- Climate change is disrupting the human gut in a new path to illness
Indian forces hit Pakistan terror bases
Operation Details:
- Name of Operation: Operation Sindoor
- Objective: Target terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)
- Execution:
- 24 precision strikes
- Across 9 different sites
- Conducted in just 25 minutes
- Time of action: Early hours of Wednesday
Relevance : GS 3(Defence)
Justification & Official Stand:
- Trigger: In response to the Pahalgam terror attack on Indian soil
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: India exercised its right to respond
- Action taken with “precision, precaution, and compassion”
- Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri:
- Action was measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible
- Aimed at breaking the morale of terrorist groups
Target & Damage:
- Only terror camps and training infrastructure targeted
- No harm to civilian population
- No Pakistani military facilities targeted
- Ensured restraint and selectivity in target choice and execution
Preparedness & Anticipation:
- Indian air defence network: Placed on highest alert
- Prepared for any Pakistani counter-response
- Wing Commander Vyomika Singh: Forces ready to counter any misadventure
Conclusion:
- Indian Government: Reiterated commitment to hold Pahalgam attackers accountable
India shuts Kartarpur Corridor, puts border districts on high alert
Security Measures Initiated:
- Kartarpur Corridor shut temporarily by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
- Reason: Prevailing security scenario post-Operation Sindoor
- MHA issued official suspension notice on its website
- Schools closed in several border districts of Punjab:
- Amritsar, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security)
About Kartarpur Corridor:
- Opened on November 9, 2019 (550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev)
- Facilitates visa-free travel for Indian pilgrims to Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan
- Agreement allows 5,000 pilgrims per day
- On Wednesday, pilgrims were turned back due to the sudden shutdown
Strategic Locations Affected:
- Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur, India — Indian end of the corridor
- Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib, Narowal district, Pakistan — across the Ravi River
Government and Security Forces’ Response:
- High alert sounded across border districts
- Punjab’s Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat:
- Warned of possible Pakistani retaliation or conspiracy
- Directed officials to stay vigilant and act on suspicious activity
- Border Security Force (BSF) enhanced deployment and monitoring
Pakistan’s complex web of terror networks
Historical Roots of Terror Infrastructure
- Soviet-Afghan War (1979): A watershed moment where Pakistan’s ISI, with CIA funding, cultivated jihadi groups to fight the Soviets.
- This initial alliance institutionalized the use of non-state actors as instruments of foreign policy, particularly for influence in Afghanistan and Kashmir.
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security)
Strategic Use of Terror as State Policy
- ISI’s “S-Wing” functions as the strategic arm that oversees terror groups, with:
- Planning, training, funding, and intelligence coordination.
- Systematic classification of ‘good’ terrorists (anti-India/Afghan operations) vs. ‘bad’ terrorists (targeting Pakistan).
- State patronage includes:
- Military support.
- Legal protection (e.g., Lakhvi and Hafiz Saeed).
- Infrastructure for operations and radicalisation.
Key Proxy Terrorist Groups
a. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)
- Leadership: Hafiz Saeed, Lakhvi, Zafar Iqbal.
- Infrastructure: 200-acre headquarters at Markaz-e-Taiba near Lahore; over 16 training camps.
- Global Network: Presence in 21 countries; support from diaspora and Gulf-based donors.
- Ideology: Ahl-e-Hadith (Salafi strain) focused on anti-India jihad.
- Attacks:
- 2008 Mumbai attacks (166 dead).
- 2006 Mumbai train bombings (209 dead).
- 2025 Pahalgam attack (26 civilians killed).
- Funding Sources: ISI ($25–50 million), charities, commodity trading, real estate.
b. Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)
- Leadership: Masood Azhar, Abdul Rauf Asghar.
- Infrastructure: HQ in Bahawalpur; training camps in KPK, PoK, and Afghanistan.
- Ideology: Deobandi radicalism, martyrdom-centric jihad.
- Attack Strategy: Suicide bombings (fidayeen); VBIEDs.
- Attacks:
- 2001 Indian Parliament attack.
- 2019 Pulwama bombing (40 CRPF personnel martyred).
- Funding: Al-Rehmat Trust ($10–15 million), ISI intermediaries, real estate (~$30 million).
c. Supporting Entities
- Haqqani Network: Acts as ISI’s Afghan arm; now part of Taliban governance (Sirajuddin Haqqani).
- ISIS-K: Initially antagonistic to ISI, but selective tolerance observed.
- HUM: Recruiter and feeder network; deeply linked with seminary system.
Radicalisation & Madrassa Network
- Over 30,000 madrassas in Pakistan; 10–15% tied to extremist recruitment.
- Terror curriculum promoting jihad against India.
- Channels of indoctrination:
- Media (print, digital).
- Social media propaganda.
- Community outreach via religious preachers.
Terror Financing Architecture
- Charity Fronts: 40+ groups raising $150–200 million annually.
- Hawala and laundering: Dubai, Karachi, Peshawar as key nodes.
- State allocations: Covert budgets (~$100–125 million/year).
- Narcotics trade: Generates $75 million/year (Af-Pak-India corridor).
- Cryptocurrency: At least $15 million moved in 2023.
FATF Greylisting & Global Scrutiny
- Repeated greylisting: 2008–2010, 2012–2015, 2018–2022 — proof of systemic non-compliance.
- Cosmetic compliance: Renaming orgs, temporary arrests.
- Self-admissions: Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif, and recent ministers have acknowledged support for terror activities.
Evolution & Adaptability of the Network
- Tactical Shifts:
- From overt insurgency (1990s) to covert operations post-9/11.
- Integration of cyber jihad, media warfare, and cross-border coordination.
- Post-2021 Taliban resurgence: Rebuilt camps in Afghanistan, intensified infiltration along the LoC (2023–2024).
- Synchronized proxy activity across LeT, JeM, and Taliban groups.
Strategic and Security Implications
For India:
- Persistent threat from state-supported terror.
- Challenge of cross-border infiltration, urban terrorism, and cyber recruitment.
- Security burden and civilian toll (e.g., 2025 Pahalgam attack).
For Global Order:
- Erosion of the rules-based international system.
- Direct threat to regional stability, peace processes, and counter-terrorism frameworks.
What Needs to be Done
India’s Approach:
- Continued use of surgical strikes, diplomatic isolation, and OSINT-exposed operations.
- Strengthening border surveillance and counter-radicalisation programmes.
Global Response:
- FATF and UNSC must enforce real accountability.
- Aid to Pakistan should be conditional on verifiable action against terror.
- Greater intelligence cooperation to disrupt transnational funding and recruitment.
India briefs envoys of 13 Security Council members
Context and Purpose of Briefing
- Trigger: The briefing follows India’s military strikes in response to the Pahalgam terror attack (26 killed).
- Audience: India briefed 13 of the 15 UN Security Council members (excluding Pakistan and Sierra Leone).
- Objective: Clarify that India’s strikes were targeted, non-escalatory, and aimed at pre-empting further attacks.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)
India’s Stand at the UNSC
- Framing the narrative: India emphasized that the strikes were a measured response, not an act of aggression.
- Strategic communication: Intended to pre-empt Pakistan’s diplomatic offensive at the UNSC and FATF.
- Direct message: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri warned that India would respond to any escalation by Pakistan.
Key Concerns Addressed by India
- Civilian casualties: Misri denied targeting civilians; said terror camps were embedded within larger complexes (e.g., damaged mosques).
- Damage assessment: Too early to comment on damage to Indian infrastructure.
- Operations outcome: Nine intended terror-linked sites were successfully hit.
Diplomatic Reactions and Questions
- Envoys from key countries (U.S., U.K., China, Russia, France, etc.) raised questions on operational details and escalation risks.
- UK envoy’s concern: Civilian impact in mosque strikes – addressed by clarifying target specifics.
- Chinese envoy included: Important, given China’s alignment with Pakistan at UNSC.
UNSC Dynamics & Terror Listing Challenges
- Pakistan’s diplomatic move: As a UNSC non-permanent member (2025–26), it seeks to shape narratives with China’s support.
- April 25 UNSC statement: Pakistan (aided by China) succeeded in removing references to The Resistance Front (TRF) from the press note.
- India’s aim: Push for TRF’s terrorist designation at the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee and scrutiny by FATF.
Broader Strategic Implications
- India’s proactive diplomacy: Reflects a shift from reactive to pre-emptive and assertive international positioning.
- Countering proxy war: Efforts aimed at exposing Pakistan’s support to terror groups at global forums.
- UN engagement: Sign of India’s intent to maintain narrative control and block adversarial statements or resolutions.
PMLA ruling review: SC seeks issues for consideration
Background of the Case
- 2022 Supreme Court Verdict: Upheld amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
- Key Features of the Verdict:
- Gave wide powers to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) – including arrest, summons, and search.
- Placed the burden of proof on the accused, not the prosecution – a reversal of criminal jurisprudence norms.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance, Transparency & Accountability)
Current Review Proceedings
- Review Petitioners: Include politicians like Karti Chidambaram; argue the judgment violates basic rights of the accused.
- SC Bench: Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and N. Kotiswar Singh are hearing the review.
Centre’s Position
- Represented by Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta and ASG S.V. Raju.
- Wants the review limited to two issues:
- Right to receive the ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report).
- Reversal of burden of proof.
- Filed an affidavit confirming the scope of review, which petitioners did not initially object to.
Next Steps by Supreme Court
- Court’s Direction: Petitioners and Centre’s legal team to jointly formulate key issues for consideration.
- Timeline:
- July 16: Bench to finalise the list of issues.
- August 6–7: Final hearing on the matter.
Broader Implications
- Rights vs. National Security: Case touches on civil liberties, due process, and the power of central agencies.
- Legal Uncertainty: Conflicting SC judgments create ambiguity for both prosecution and defence in PMLA cases.
- Potential Constitutional Bench: Signals the gravity and complexity of the issue related to fundamental rights under Article 21.
Climate change is disrupting the human gut in a new path to illness
Climate Change and Nutrition
- Climate-induced nutrient loss: Rising CO₂ levels reduce essential nutrients (phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron, protein) in key crops (e.g., wheat, rice, maize).
- Reduced food diversity: Lower yields in plant, seafood, dairy, and meat due to climate change shrink dietary diversity, crucial for gut health.
- Increased malnutrition: Undernourishment linked to poor agricultural output particularly affects LMICs (Low and Middle-Income Countries).
Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)
Impact on Gut Microbiota
- Gut dysbiosis risk: Climate-induced dietary shifts may promote harmful microbial strains, disturbing the natural balance.
- Loss of microbial diversity: Disrupted diet affects beneficial bacteria that regulate metabolism, immunity, and intestinal health.
- Heat and infection link: Heatwaves correlate with a rise in foodborne/waterborne diseases, further harming gut integrity.
Environmental Microbiota Disruption
- Indirect effects: Climate impacts soil, water, and environmental microbes, influencing the human microbiome via food/water contamination.
- Cumulative exposure: Urban low-income groups face overlapping stressors—heat, pollution, poor diet, and unsafe water—affecting gut health collectively.
Health and Disease Implications
- Widespread health impact: Gut dysbiosis is linked with eczema, diabetes, IBD, and possibly neurological disorders.
- Microbial interdependence: Breakdown in microbial synergy leads to impaired metabolic functions in the host.
- Diagnostic value: Dysbiosis may serve as an early marker for various chronic diseases.
Challenges in Research
- Complex causality: Effects of climate on gut health are non-linear and influenced by multiple confounding variables.
- Understudied domain: Climate’s impact on the gut microbiome lacks attention due to disciplinary silos and insufficient data.
- Unique microbiota: Individual variation makes standardized interventions (e.g., probiotics) unpredictable.
Emerging Research & Solutions
- Metagenomics progress: Tools like GutBugBD help decode gut microbe functions and drug/nutraceutical interactions.
- Need for data: More population-specific microbiome data required to draw climate-health links.
- Multidisciplinary push: Collaboration across ecology, medicine, nutrition, and data science is vital.
- Funding gaps: Lack of targeted funding hampers integrated global research in this space.
