On May 29, 2025, India introduced a revamped visa system for Afghan nationals, unveiling the 'New AFGHAN Visa' module on its official portal. This initiative offers six distinct visa categories, with a primary focus on medical visas, which will be assessed individually. The move signifies India's cautious yet progressive engagement with Afghanistan under Taliban governance. Additionally, the policy permits Afghan nationals to reside in India for up to two years on humanitarian grounds, granting exemptions from police reporting for individuals below 12 or above 65 years of age. This development follows the Taliban's appeal to India to facilitate visas for Afghan students, patients, and businessmen. (PC: Firstpost)  

In a significant admission, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that India launched preemptive BrahMos missile strikes on key Pakistani airbases during the night of May 9–10, 2025. The strikes, part of India's Operation Sindoor, targeted 11 military installations, including the strategic Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi. Sharif revealed that Pakistan had planned retaliatory action for early May 10, but India's swift offensive disrupted these plans. The operation was a response to Pakistan's drone and missile attacks on Indian civilian areas. Satellite imagery has since confirmed extensive damage to Pakistani military infrastructure, highlighting the precision and impact of India's strikes. (PC: India Today)      

India has suspended the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the decision reflects growing frustration over Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism. The treaty, signed in 1960, governs water-sharing of the Indus river system between the two nations. India declared the suspension will remain until Pakistan dismantles terrorist infrastructure. Additionally, India has shut the Wagah-Attari border crossing, expelled Pakistani diplomats, and revoked all Pakistani visas. (PC: PTI)  

On May 29, 2025, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of planning a special Parliament session on June 25–26 to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Emergency, labeling it a diversion from pressing national issues. Ramesh criticized the Modi government for ignoring calls to convene Parliament to discuss India's cross-border strikes following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. He highlighted that both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Opposition Leaders requested a special session to demonstrate national resolve, which was not accepted. Ramesh alleged that Modi has subjected the nation to an "undeclared Emergency" for 11 years, diverting attention from critical matters. (PC: The Statesman, Business Standard & Indus Dispatch)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's recent commendation of India's Operation Sindoor has sparked internal party tensions. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera responded by highlighting a passage from Tharoor's 2018 book, "The Paradoxical Prime Minister," where Tharoor criticized the politicization of surgical strikes, emphasizing the need for discretion and non-partisanship in national security matters. Khera's move underscores the party's discomfort with Tharoor's current stance, which aligns closely with the government's narrative. This incident reflects ongoing friction within the Congress regarding its approach to national security and its relationship with the ruling party's policies. The situation raises questions about internal coherence and the party's strategic positioning on critical national issues. (PC: The Statesman & Mint)

During a visit to Saudi Arabia, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi refuted Pakistan's claim of representing all Muslims, asserting that India is home to 240 million proud Muslims. He criticized Pakistan for spreading false narratives about Indian Muslims and supporting terrorism. Owaisi urged Pakistan to dismantle extremist groups to bring regional peace and called on the international community to reinstate Pakistan on the FATF grey list. Highlighting Pakistan's alleged ties with terrorists, he cited a photograph showing Pakistan's army chief with a US-designated terrorist. Owaisi is part of a multi-party Indian delegation visiting Gulf countries to inform them about India's counter-terrorism efforts and address concerns following recent terror attacks. (PC: ANI & Ummid)

During his recent visit in Alipurduar, West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the state's governance, stating, "Various problems plague Bengal currently; we have to work together to secure the state’s future." He condemned the recent communal unrest in Malda and Murshidabad districts, attributing it to the "cruelty" of the current regime. Modi accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of corruption, appeasement politics, and allowing hooligans to operate with impunity. He emphasized the need for unity to overcome Bengal's challenges and urged citizens to contribute towards a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India). Modi asserted that the people desire change from TMC's governance, highlighting the urgency for reform in the state. (PC: X & National Herald)

On May 28, 2025, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that former President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by imposing broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court found that the IEEPA does not grant the president unlimited power to regulate imports via tariffs, stating that such actions require clear congressional authorization. This decision blocks the enforcement of the "Liberation Day" tariffs, which included a 10% levy on all imports and higher tariffs on goods from several nations. The court's ruling emphasizes the constitutional role of Congress in regulating trade and sets a precedent limiting presidential power in trade policy. The Trump administration has filed an appeal, potentially bringing the case before the Supreme Court. (PC: CNBC & Financial Times)

A depression has formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and may intensify into a deep depression, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reports. It is expected to move north and make landfall between Sagar Island (West Bengal) and Khepupara (Bangladesh) by the afternoon of May 29. Originating from a low-pressure area near Odisha, it could bring widespread rain, thunderstorms, and winds of 30–40 kmph. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for several West Bengal districts, including Kolkata and Howrah. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also expected in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, and Sikkim. (PC: The Telegraph & India Today)

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Canada’s new Foreign Minister Anita Anand held a telephonic conversation on May 25, marking the first high-level contact since Mark Carney became Prime Minister. The discussion focused on strengthening bilateral ties, deepening economic cooperation, and advancing shared priorities, indicating an effort to reset the strained relationship between the two countries, impacted by allegations made by former PM Justin Trudeau. Anand, a prominent Indian-origin Canadian lawyer and politician, has held several key positions within the Trudeau Caucus. Known for her disciplined and focused approach, she has been described as a “fixer” within the Canadian government. Her appointment as Foreign Minister in Carney’s cabinet is seen as a step to build trust, given her condemnation of hate speech against Indian diplomats and violent imagery by Sikh extremists. During Trudeau’s regime, bilateral ties plummeted to historic lows, catalyzed by the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and subsequent allegations, leading to diplomatic expulsions and suspended trade negotiations. Anand’s pragmatic outlook and professionalism position her well to handle the delicate situation of India-Canada ties. (PC: Sputnik India & Hindustan Times)