Days before the April 22 Pahalgam massacre that claimed 26 lives, intelligence agencies had warned of a potential terrorist attack targeting tourists in and around Srinagar. Despite heightened security in the Zabarwan foothills and combing operations in areas like Dachigam and Nishat, the attack occurred in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam. Investigations reveal that four terrorists, including two from South Kashmir, orchestrated the assault. These individuals had traveled to Pakistan via the Attari border, where they received training and possibly herded tourists to the attack site. Security agencies are now focusing on identifying the remaining perpetrators and understanding the lapses that led to this tragedy. (PC: PTI)

Amid heightened tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan’s military is grappling with a critical shortage of artillery ammunition, limiting its warfighting capability to just four days, ANI reported citing sources. The shortfall is attributed to recent arms deals with Ukraine and Israel, which depleted reserves, while outdated production at Pakistan Ordnance Factories struggles to keep up. Intelligence reports suggest emergency ammunition depots are being built near the India border. The issue triggered alarm at the May 2 Special Corps Commanders Conference. Experts warn the situation leaves Pakistan vulnerable to high-intensity conflict. (PC: Reuters)

On May 4, 2025, an Air India flight (AI139) en route from Delhi to Tel Aviv was diverted to Abu Dhabi following a missile attack near Ben Gurion Airport, allegedly carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The missile struck close to Terminal 3, creating a crater and injuring four people. In response, Air India suspended flights to Tel Aviv until May 6. The Houthis claimed the strike was in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned, “Whoever harms us, we will harm them sevenfold.” Investigations and security reviews are ongoing. (PC: Reuters)

A stampede broke out during a festival in Goa, causing injuries to several attendees. Goa's tourism official downplayed the severity of the incident, stating, "A minor incident happened at the same site during last year’s fest." This remark highlights the recurring nature of such incidents at the event's venue. Authorities are now investigating both occurrences to implement better safety protocols for future festivals. The government has assured that measures will be taken to avoid similar events in the future to ensure public safety. (PC: PTI)

On May 4, 2025, at the Arctic Circle India Forum in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that India seeks “partners, not preachers” from Europe, urging a shift from moralistic diplomacy to equitable, interest-based collaboration. He criticized the West’s exclusionary stance on Russia, calling for “Russia realism” and emphasized India’s practical relationship with Russia as a resource partner. Jaishankar also advocated “America realism,” focusing on mutual benefits rather than ideological alignment. His remarks reflect India’s broader foreign policy push for balanced, sovereign decision-making in global affairs. (PC: Wikipedia)

On May 3, 2025, Israel called up thousands of reservists to reinforce forces in Gaza, the West Bank, and along the Lebanese border, following a major escalation in military operations against Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed his official trip to Azerbaijan due to heightened security and diplomatic concerns. The Israeli security cabinet approved renewed offensive measures after ceasefire negotiations stalled, with Hamas demanding a total end to the war in exchange for 59 remaining hostages. The conflict, ongoing since October 2023, has killed over 50,000 Palestinians and displaced much of Gaza’s population. (PC: CNN)  

The Indian Army has received the first batch of 24 Russian-made Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) and 100 missiles, enhancing its Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities. This acquisition is part of a larger contract for 120 launchers and 400 missiles, with subsequent units to be assembled in India through a technology transfer agreement with Russia's Rosoboronexport, involving Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited. The Igla-S systems are intended for deployment in high mountainous terrains along the northern borders, replacing the outdated Igla-1M systems. This move aligns with India's efforts to modernize its military and achieve greater self-reliance in defense production. (PC: OpIndia & The Economic Times)

Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has issued a stern warning to India, asserting that any construction by India on the Indus River that violates the Indus Waters Treaty will be met with direct military action. This statement comes amid escalating tensions following India's suspension of the treaty after a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which India attributes to Pakistan-based militants. Asif accuses India of using the attack as a pretext to unilaterally exit the treaty, labeling it a "false flag" operation. He emphasizes that any unilateral suspension of the treaty is unacceptable and warns that such actions could lead to war. The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, has been a cornerstone of India-Pakistan relations, surviving multiple conflicts. Its suspension marks a significant deterioration in bilateral ties, with both nations taking retaliatory measures, including expelling diplomats and halting trade. (PC: Reuters)

Samsung is contesting a $520 million tax demand from Indian authorities over alleged misclassification of Remote Radio Head components imported between 2018 and 2021. The company filed a 281-page appeal, asserting that officials were aware of the classification method, as Reliance Jio had imported similar equipment until 2017. Samsung claims Reliance was warned by tax authorities in 2017 but did not inform Samsung, and officials raised no concerns during the years in question. Additionally, seven Samsung employees face $81 million in fines, totaling $601 million—significant relative to Samsung's $955 million net profit in India last year. Samsung alleges the tax order was hastily passed without a fair hearing. (PC: Reuters)

At least 57 Palestinians, predominantly children, the sick, and elderly, have died from starvation in Gaza amid Israel’s blockade, now in its third month. The Gaza Government Media Office condemned the use of food as a weapon of war and urged international intervention. Aid trucks are stalled at the Egyptian border, while children scavenge for food. Hospitals face acute shortages, with over 9,000 children treated for malnutrition this year. The Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah reports only a week's supply of essential medicines remaining. The blockade, the longest in Gaza's history, coincides with ongoing Israeli bombardments, resulting in at least 70 deaths and 275 injuries over two days, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. (PC: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP Photo)