The Navy is extensively carrying out exercises in the Arabian Sea amid the ever-rising tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, with warships on alert against any unusual activity.
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00:00Good evening, the Indian Navy has issued a notice, a NAV area notice in the Arabian Sea
00:08and this means the Indian Navy is to carry out perhaps some rocket tests and missile tests in
00:13the Arabian Sea. Pakistan has also issued a series of NAV area warnings for the Arabian Sea. So
00:19barely 85 nautical miles from each other in the Arabian Sea. In India's exclusive economic zone,
00:25you have the Indian Navy that's carrying out exercises and you have the Pakistan Navy
00:28in the same Arabian Sea. It's carrying out exercises. The Arabian Sea is now really,
00:35really tense and that is our top focus story on India First.
00:42Tension spike in the Arabian Sea.
00:45Tension spike in the Arabian Sea. Indian Navy carries out multiple anti-ship and anti-aircraft
00:58firing drills. Navy issues notice for missile tests in the Arabian Sea.
01:12Barely 85 nautical miles away, Pakistan Navy carries out their own war drills.
01:30Park Navy issues notice for missile firing, fearing, and Indian Navy assault.
01:48Indian Navy's Air Arm keeps a hawk eye on Park ships and submarines.
01:54Now, that's our top focus on India First.
02:06The army had carried out surgical strikes about 10 days after the Uri terror attack in 2016.
02:15The Indian Air Force had carried out the Balakot airstrikes. That was about 12 days after the
02:20Pulwama terror attack. That was in 2019. So will it be the Indian Navy that bleeds Pakistan's military
02:28jihad complex? Remember in Pakistan, it's their army that strains, arms, launches, and funds terrorists
02:35to bleed India. So this time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warning is not that action will be taken
02:42against a Lashkar-e-Thayb or a Jaish-e-Mohammed or a Hezbollah Jai-Deen. These radical Islamist
02:47terrorist organizations haven't even been mentioned. It's terrorists and their backers. The implication very
02:53clearly is it's the Pakistani military jihad network that's on target. So multi-domain operations of
03:01the Indian Armed Forces, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, sea, land, air, subsurface, cyber,
03:09and more. That's currently being tested and checked for operations. The aim is to give a crippling blow,
03:17deal a crippling blow to Pakistan's military jihad complex that has bled India for decades. The latest
03:24of course being that horrific singling out of Hindu tourists and massacring them in Pehlga. So there
03:31will be costs for General Aasem Munir and that military jihad network. That's for sure. When remains
03:38the big question, but preparations are underway and we get you details. Also coming up on India first,
03:43after announcing that the Indus waters treaty is being held in abeyance, Union Home Minister Amit
03:48Shah has tasked Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil to work out a strategy on better harnessing
03:56resources of the Indus waters for the benefit of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the short term
04:03and in the long term for the rest of the country too. Now from desilting operations that Pakistan objected
04:09to seeking a feasibility study on enhancing their existing infrastructure, to upgrading dams and
04:14canals for hydro power and irrigation. Wide range of steps that India is looking to exercise. It's not
04:21just an announcement, there's action that is happening on ground. What are India's options for
04:27the Narendra Modi government? Is it going for Pakistan's juggler? We get you details. I'm Gaurav
04:33Saavant. As always, let's get started with the headlines on India first.
04:42Union Home Minister Amit Shah issues a huge warning to Pakistan, says every single terrorist will be
04:48hunted down and neutralized. This is his first statement after the Pehalgaam terror strike.
04:54U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also speaks to Dr. Jayshankar.
04:57U.S. Secretary of Defense Peek Hexet dials Rajnath Singh. Hexet reiterates U.S. Government's support for
05:16India's fight against terrorism. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also speaks to Dr. Jayshankar.
05:28Ten days after 26 tourists were killed in Pehalgaam, the hunt for Pakistani terrorists
05:32continues. NIA's top cop reaches Pehalgaam. Could the terrorists still be hiding in the forest,
05:38not far from the meadows, is the big question. Deadline for Pakistani nationals to leave India
05:50extended. Deportees permitted to leave from the Atari border. But Pakistan dumps its own passport
05:56holders, shuts the VAGA border gates and creates a huge hurdle for the immigration.
06:08Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the WAVE Summit in Mumbai, calls for global creative
06:14collaboration, says it's the right time to create in India and create for the world. Pushes for a creator economy.
06:22There's breaking news that's coming in from Pakistan. Pakistan Navy has issued a notification for air and sea.
06:41Perhaps they will carry out more missile tests, naval missile tests, gun firing. And they're saying they're going to do that in the upper reaches of the Arabian Sea,
06:50near its Ormara port. There is an ongoing Pakistan Navy exercise in the region.
06:57Remember, Pakistan has approximately a 1,000 kilometer long coastline or border. It has multiple ports. Ormara is crucial.
07:06So is Karachi and of course Gwadar, where China and Pakistan are cooperating. But then there are others also.
07:13So what we are being told is not only is Pakistan carrying out sea drills, it's also now carrying out aerial exercises, air routes.
07:25We are told near the Sonmayani missile test range is also unavailable. So this means Pakistan wants to carry out a missile test.
07:36It's a sea of tensions between India and Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan are conducting virtual simultaneous naval drills.
07:48As far as India is concerned, it's off the coast of Gujarat. As far as Pakistan is concerned, it's carrying out its naval exercises not far from its coastline.
07:57But do keep one thing in mind. The two navies, and we'll show that to you on the map, they're carrying out an exercise barely 85 nautical miles from each other.
08:07The Indian Navy has conducted multiple anti-ship missile firings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a free hand to the armed forces, army, navy and air force.
08:15They will decide the response. They will decide the manner in which the response has to be given. But that message has to be sent across post-Pahalgam that a crushing blow will be dealt, will be given to Pakistan's military jihad infrastructure.
08:31Multiple anti-ship firings and long-range precision offensive strikes.
08:42Indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Surat successfully hitting a sea skimming target.
08:50Indian Navy is carrying out exercises in the Arabian Sea extensively in its exclusive economic zone.
09:00War ships are on alert and Indian Coast Guard vessels also deployed in forward areas near the international maritime boundary off Gujarat coast.
09:15Both India and Pakistan are conducting simultaneous naval drills off the Gujarat coast, approximately 85 nautical miles away from each other.
09:25India has issued four notifications for naval firing exercises in the Arabian Sea.
09:30Meanwhile, Pakistan issued the fourth notification for naval firing in last one week, but has not carried out firing till now.
09:39According to sources, India is closely monitoring the situation.
09:44And naval forces remain on high alert.
09:48India is also keeping a close eye on the airspace along the Pakistan borders.
09:53India has deployed jammers to disrupt global navigation satellite system signals of Pakistan aircraft.
10:00With India's jamming systems, Pakistani aircrafts, GPS and other navigation tools, especially those made in Cheyenne, can be degraded, disrupting their situational navigation, awareness and precision-guided munitions capability.
10:15In a top-level security meeting with India's top military officers, Prime Minister Modi had given complete operational freedom.
10:24He had also left it to India's top defence brass to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
10:33With Manjeet Nagy, Bearer Report, India Today.
10:42There's more breaking news coming in.
10:44India has also issued four notifications for naval firing in the coastal area off the coast of Gujarat.
10:50Again, the exercise is about 85 nautical miles from where Pakistan is carrying out its exercises in the Arabian Sea.
10:58Now, the dates for the Indian exercises are between the 30th of April and the 3rd of May 2025.
11:05So, over the next two days, there are additional exercises and firing that is to be carried out.
11:10And I want to explain this to you on the map here.
11:12When you look at this map, it very clearly explains where off the coast of Gujarat.
11:18Now, you're looking at Saurashtra, the coast of Gujarat and then India virtually at the tip of its exclusive economic zone.
11:26That is where India is carrying out the exercises.
11:30Then, you have the Pakistani Navy that's carrying out its exercises.
11:34And they've issued a Nortam once again from the 30th of April till the 2nd of May 2025.
11:41But that may actually increase from what information that's coming in from across the border in Pakistan,
11:49where Pakistan is planning or is about to issue another notification for drills and for firing, not just at sea, but from land into sea.
12:00So, what's the situation right now?
12:02The Indian Navy on a state of operational readiness.
12:07It's conducting exercises in India's exclusive economic zone in the Arabian Sea.
12:11Anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile firing.
12:15That's happening right now.
12:16Not just that, the Indian Coast Guard has also been deployed.
12:20But of course, the Coast Guard is at India's maritime boundary.
12:24This is off the coast of Gujarat.
12:26This is where the Indian Navy is carrying out its exercises.
12:30But remember, you have also to ensure that subversive activity does not take place.
12:35Both in 1993 and in 2008, Pakistani terrorists had used the sea route to, not just for terrorists to come into India,
12:44but also to send explosives and RDX in 1993 into India.
12:50That is why the seacoast is being protected in multiple tiers.
12:54Aggressive posturing by the Navy and defensive deployment by the Coast Guard and the Marine Police very close to the coast.
13:02Let's do a strength analysis of the Indian Navy and the Pakistani Navy.
13:08When you look at the strength of the Indian Navy and the Pakistani Navy.
13:10Well, the Indian Navy far superior in terms of strength.
13:14293 fleet strength as against 121 of Pakistan.
13:18But do keep in mind, India has a huge coastline.
13:217,500 kilometres as against only 1,000 odd kilometres of Pakistan that Pakistan has to protect.
13:28So the fleet strength, there's a huge difference.
13:31The big difference also comes in India's air arm and of course aircraft carriers.
13:37India has two aircraft carriers.
13:39INS Vikramaditya and INS indigenously manufactured INS Vikrant.
13:45Pakistan doesn't have a single aircraft carrier.
13:47Of course, India believes in sea control.
13:49Pakistan believes in sea denial.
13:51But India has 18 submarines including nuclear submarines.
13:55Arehanth and Areghat.
13:57Pakistan has eight submarines.
13:59But Pakistan is acquiring a lot more in coming years from China.
14:04If we were to talk about the destroyers.
14:07And these are those huge ships with missiles on board.
14:12With helicopters on board.
14:13You have the Shivalik class.
14:16The INS Surat for example.
14:18The latest has just conducted a test.
14:20India has 13.
14:21Pakistan doesn't have a destroyer.
14:23India has 14 frigates.
14:25Pakistan has nine.
14:27If we were to talk about corvettes.
14:28And let's now talk about, you know, the faster, the missile boats.
14:32The faster moving ships that can carry out, inflict massive damage on the adversary.
14:39Especially if you remember 1971.
14:41Those missile boats.
14:42India has 18.
14:43Pakistan has nine.
14:44Petrol vessels.
14:45India 135.
14:46Against Pakistan 69.
14:48Mine warfare.
14:49Pakistan has three.
14:50Again, they want to protect their coast.
14:52And this, of course, information comes from global firepower.
14:57But when we talk about Indian Navy's air arm.
15:00Remember, we also have that flying frigate.
15:03The P-8I.
15:04The navies of India and Pakistan.
15:07When you look at the map carrying out an exercise.
15:09Barely 85 nautical miles from each other in the Arabian Sea.
15:13Tensions very clearly are mounting.
15:15How much of this is pure posturing as some would say.
15:20How much of this is signalling and what's the message that's being sent across.
15:24Remember 2016.
15:25The army went in.
15:262019.
15:27The Indian Air Force went in.
15:292025.
15:30Will the Indian Navy send out that message that terror is not acceptable to India at all.
15:35Whether in Jammu and Kashmir or in any other part of our country.
15:39That punishment that has to be given to Pakistan's military jihad infrastructure.
15:44That and a lot more.
15:46Joining me on this India first special broadcast is Captain DK Sharma.
15:49Former spokesperson of the Indian Navy and Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor.
15:52Former Director General of Flight Safety and Inspections.
15:54And as a sailor, Captain Sharma, let me come to you first.
15:58You've been a part of a series of these exercises on the western seaboard.
16:03Both Indian and Pakistani navies are carrying out exercises.
16:07Barely 85 nautical miles from each other.
16:09This part of Arabian Sea.
16:11Is this now becoming very dangerous territory?
16:14What do you make of the exercises that both India and Pakistan are carrying out right now?
16:19Well, Gaurav.
16:21Good evening to you and your viewers.
16:23First of all, as you have brought out.
16:25This is postering.
16:26Yes, the message is very clear.
16:28And let me tell you.
16:29A little bit of exercise.
16:33We are exercising a little bit of caution.
16:35Because you know it.
16:37We have a very huge coastline.
16:39And there will be a lot of fishermen.
16:41Which will be outside.
16:42Maybe from the last 5, 7, 10 days.
16:45And they probably will not know.
16:46And that is what you have rightly brought out.
16:48That the Indian Navy has issued NAV area warnings.
16:51And the Coast Guard has been put out.
16:53So that there should not be any collateral damage.
16:56But the intent is very clear.
16:58And Gaurav, this time, whether it is the Navy, Army or the Air Force.
17:03It will be a very, very synchronized kind of an action.
17:07And let me, let me, let me be very curt and clear.
17:10What they have done is not acceptable.
17:13And they should now be ready.
17:15And that is why they are all spread out all over.
17:18But they will be picked up.
17:20And they will be addressed nice and proper.
17:22So just wait and watch.
17:24Should the, you know, as such, the highest leadership has already given us the green signal.
17:31They have given the permissions that whatever is required.
17:35Please go ahead.
17:36And this kind of posturing right now.
17:40If you are monitoring all the press releases and various other things coming out.
17:44Since Sunday, the Navy has been out all over in the North Arabian Sea.
17:50They have carried out missile firings.
17:52And the latest of our destroyer, Surat, which is not yet commissioned, is also out.
17:57And they have carried out a synchronized kind of a firing.
18:00Where the target is being acquired by somebody else.
18:04Designated by somebody else.
18:06And is being addressed and shot down by Surat.
18:09So you can see this is comprehensive kind of, you know, engagements which are happening.
18:14And the strongest point of India right now, whether it is Army, Navy or first.
18:18Is the battlefield transparency.
18:21Which we have enough and adequate assets.
18:24We know it.
18:25Who is friend, who is foe.
18:27And that is why probably the NAV area warning.
18:30So that all the neutral and the wide shipping moves out of this area.
18:34Before we go in for off.
18:36Very crucial.
18:37Very crucial.
18:38You should mention the wide shipping.
18:40You know, all those super tankers that may be coming in.
18:43All the other merchant vessels that are coming in.
18:45Because that is where India is playing a big role.
18:49Expects to play a bigger role in times to come.
18:52And perhaps a state sponsor of radical Islamist terror.
18:56Would not want India to be the next service provider across this region.
19:01But for the benefit of our viewers.
19:03And a lot of our viewers.
19:04Especially viewers of India first.
19:05They know the significance.
19:06What's a NAV area warning.
19:08What's a NOTAM.
19:09But Air Marshal Kapoor would request you to explain this to our viewers.
19:13NAV area notices.
19:15NOTAMs being issued.
19:16These notices to airmen.
19:18Are we likely to see more missiles being fired.
19:22More missiles being tested.
19:24Pakistan's issued similar warnings.
19:26How would you read the signals.
19:27The next 48 hours we are told.
19:29Will be very crucial in terms of these exercises by both sides.
19:34See, for the benefit of your viewers.
19:37The NOTAMs are issued by the Air Defence Identification Zones.
19:41They are called ADIZs.
19:43So in India we have five of these.
19:45Four geographically and one Guwahati.
19:47North Delhi.
19:49Mumbai.
19:50Chennai.
19:51Kolkata.
19:52Every aircraft which transits through the Indian airspace.
19:56The clearances to overfly.
19:59The Indian airspace is given by the Air Defence Identification Zones.
20:03And each aeroplane which flies through Indian airspace.
20:06Is given a code.
20:08Which they have to select in the aeroplane.
20:10And this code is being picked up by our radars.
20:13So that it identifies by the number which has been provided to them.
20:16And what they are showing.
20:18So the radar screen tells us that this is a friendly aircraft.
20:22Now if any aircraft which is not friendly means.
20:25Who does not have these numbers and the codes.
20:28And have not taken the clearances.
20:30It indicates on the radar on a different colour.
20:32So that's why the first thing which happens when the conflict begins.
20:36Is stoppage of the airspace overflight clearances.
20:40Like India yesterday stopped the Pakistani aircraft flying.
20:44So every aircraft which originates from that country.
20:47Which has to go over the other country.
20:49Yes.
20:50And when you want to do any exercise.
20:52Or when you want to conduct any operation.
20:56You stop the YNOTAM.
20:59It's an issue in advance by that ADAS.
21:02Indicating that this ordinance is not available.
21:05So this is an indication that.
21:07If any civilian aircraft is coming to that area.
21:10Should not inadvertently get damaged.
21:13And also.
21:14So let me quickly pose a counter question.
21:17So we issue a code for example.
21:20To a commercial aircraft that's coming in.
21:22What if that aircraft passes on that information.
21:26To a Pakistani hostile aircraft.
21:28That aircraft uses that code.
21:30And tries to come in.
21:32Would it then on our radars reflect as a friendly?
21:35Every aircraft has its own depiction.
21:38It indicates the size and the speed.
21:41So a commercial aeroplane will look different.
21:44A fighter aircraft will look different.
21:45So the speed.
21:48The size.
21:49The cross section areas.
21:52Everything is different.
21:53So the radar identifies the aeroplanes.
21:56Fair enough.
21:57Captain Sharma.
21:58How strong is the Indian navy vis-a-vis the Pakistani navy.
22:01In terms of.
22:02Let's say cutting edge technology.
22:04Air assets.
22:05Surfer ships.
22:06Submarine.
22:07Take air assets for example.
22:09I mean we have that flying frigate.
22:10The P8Is.
22:11We have the MiG-29Ks.
22:12We have the Sea Guardian drones.
22:14So manned.
22:15Unmanned.
22:16Those operations.
22:17When you look at our strength.
22:19And when you look at the adversaries strength.
22:21What do you make of it?
22:22Firstly.
22:23Firstly.
22:24Gaurav.
22:25I will first.
22:26You know.
22:27Add.
22:28To what.
22:29Air Mash was saying.
22:30All types of deceptions.
22:32Will be.
22:33Undertaken.
22:34By anybody and everybody.
22:35And that is why.
22:36I was telling you.
22:37That we have the.
22:38Kind of.
22:39Battlefield.
22:40Visibility.
22:41Transparency.
22:42The maritime.
22:43Domain.
22:44Awareness.
22:45That we.
22:46Are very proud of it.
22:47And you must have also heard.
22:48The naval chief.
22:49During his.
22:50Various addresses.
22:51In every vessel.
22:52Aircraft.
22:53Contact.
22:54Which is now.
22:55Presently.
22:56In the Indian Ocean region.
22:57Is.
22:58Under our.
22:59Total surveillance.
23:00We know.
23:01Everything.
23:02And that is why.
23:03We are very sure.
23:04That.
23:05All these.
23:06White shipping.
23:07People.
23:08Who are you know.
23:09Conducting trade.
23:10Who are using.
23:11Our sea lens.
23:12Of communication.
23:13And.
23:14If they are coming in.
23:15That part of the.
23:16Area.
23:17Of North Arabian Sea.
23:18They should move out.
23:19And that is why.
23:20Time.
23:21Comparisons.
23:22First of all.
23:23We do not believe.
23:24In bean counting.
23:25Agorap.
23:26We have a bigger.
23:27Adversary.
23:28And we have.
23:29Adequate assets.
23:30To address.
23:31Any kind of threat.
23:32All.
23:33The inventory.
23:34Of Indian Army.
23:35Navy Air Forces.
23:36Today.
23:37Based on the.
23:38Threat assessment.
23:39For today.
23:40Tomorrow.
23:41And 10 years.
23:42Down the line.
23:43So.
23:44If.
23:45We have.
23:46I will come down.
23:47To the naval aviation.
23:48First.
23:49If you see.
23:50We started.
23:51We started.
23:52With the PA tie.
23:53Then we moved.
23:54Towards.
23:55The PA tie.
23:56Is.
23:57Long range.
23:58Maritime.
23:59Reconnaissance.
24:00Medium range.
24:01No.
24:02Maritime.
24:03Reconnaissance.
24:04Anti submarine.
24:05Warfare.
24:06Very long range.
24:07Very long range.
24:08It can address.
24:09Anti shipping.
24:10It can.
24:11Take on.
24:12Anti submarine.
24:13Warfare.
24:14And it has been also.
24:15Very very helpful.
24:16To the establishment.
24:17When we had this.
24:182019.
24:19Galwan thing happening.
24:20So.
24:21Everybody is aware of it.
24:22Then next is.
24:23The MH-60.
24:24Romeos.
24:25Which are the.
24:26Anti submarine.
24:27Warfare.
24:28Helicopters.
24:29Multi role helicopters.
24:30They can also be used for.
24:32Anti shipping.
24:33Anti submarine.
24:34And the works.
24:35Then you come to the sea guardians.
24:37Which are on the wet leagues.
24:38Right now.
24:39So they are the.
24:40The first line of defense.
24:41Massive capacity.
24:43And.
24:44Flying endurance.
24:45To.
24:46Keep the battlefield.
24:48Awareness.
24:49To give it to the commanders.
24:51The total awareness.
24:52The maritime domain awareness.
24:53Is being.
24:54The plot.
24:55Is developed from there.
24:56Then comes.
24:57The.
24:58The.
24:59Two aircraft carriers.
25:00With the.
25:01Yes.
25:0240 plus.
25:03MiG-29Ks.
25:04All ready.
25:05Then.
25:06As you have already brought out.
25:0713 destroyers.
25:08So.
25:09Followed by.
25:10Shivalik class.
25:11Submarines.
25:12Let me.
25:13Let me take this one by one.
25:14Let me take this one by one.
25:15And since you talk about.
25:16Air Assets.
25:17Air Marshal Kapoor.
25:18You are an aviator.
25:19About.
25:20Air power.
25:21And naval power.
25:22In the Arabian sea.
25:23And air power over Arabian sea.
25:24In your appreciation.
25:25Do we have total sea control.
25:27Um.
25:28And do we see this as a single service operation.
25:30Or exercise.
25:31Or do we see.
25:32Uh.
25:33You know.
25:34Not just multi domain operations.
25:35But we also see.
25:36Uh.
25:37The.
25:38Navy and the air force coming together.
25:39They have been carrying out a lot of exercises.
25:40I believe together.
25:41Even.
25:42Uh.
25:43Over.
25:44Not just over land.
25:45But over sea.
25:46See.
25:47Uh.
25:48There are a few dedicated squadrons.
25:49With Indian air force.
25:51Which.
25:52Specializes in maritime operations.
25:54And these.
25:55Uh.
25:56Regularly.
25:57Interact.
25:58And participate.
25:59With navy.
26:00On routine basis.
26:01So.
26:02We have.
26:03Our.
26:04Jaguars.
26:05We have.
26:06Our.
26:07Party.
26:08flyers.
26:09Caric.
26:10In synchronization.
26:11With the naval exercises.
26:12That is the surface navy.
26:13And.
26:14the submarines.
26:15And strike aircraft.
26:16Regularly.
26:18Participate.
26:19For this kind of contingencies.
26:20Which you are just mentioning.
26:21So.
26:22The training.
26:23Goes on.
26:24Unabated.
26:25And we have.
26:26A specialized.
26:27Kind of.
26:28Of.
26:29Weapons.
26:30And also the qualifications of air crew is done in the manner, because sea flying over night is one of the most tricky things.
26:41Because on a dark night, flying over sea, there is no horizon.
26:46So typically a pilot which flies in the aeroplane during the daytime is used to certain features.
26:52And on land you have various lights and other features, contours.
26:55But over sea, in dark night, the flying is absolutely tricky.
27:02And as they say, the toughest landing is on a deck by a pilot in dark nights.
27:09So that is the most difficult thing which an air crew goes through.
27:13And these are regularly practiced.
27:16Amazing. You know, because the ship is moving, the aircraft is moving, the ship is, you know, sea is choppy at times.
27:25So the pitch and the roll really makes it extremely difficult for the aircraft pilot to land.
27:30But Captain Sharma, if we were to talk about the current, the clear and present danger that our country faces from the radical Islamist terror sponsor country, Pakistan.
27:38Pakistan believes in sea denial.
27:41And apparently they have potent sea denial capabilities.
27:44The use of their submarines against a gigantic aircraft carrier battle groups and larger warships.
27:50Does that take India's advantage away or does that check India's sea control capabilities?
27:57No, not at all, not at all, Gaurav.
27:59The aircraft carrier today will be moving around with the carrier battle groups.
28:04So there will be adequate assets which are equipped with sonars, with the towed air sonars.
28:11Then I have told you already that P8Is will be there.
28:14They will be putting the fields of sonar boys and they will make sure that the area of operations where the carrier is going to operate.
28:22You see, the carrier doesn't have to go up to the last mile.
28:25We have the big 29ks on top, which will address the threat.
28:32Otherwise, we will pick and choose.
28:35The target is to be picked by us.
28:38So whether it will be taken off by the destroyers or will it be taken addressed by the P8Is or once if the threat emanates from the northern side, if they venture out to sea, then we have enough and adequate assets which will take on them.
28:54Rest be assured.
28:56But wait for the action whenever it happens.
28:58I will not speculate what will happen.
29:00But it is going to be a much synchronized, very, very potent and debilitating, let me tell you that, whenever it happens.
29:09Well, 1971 certainly was debilitating.
29:12Karachi was burning for 11 nights and days.
29:15Eh, Marshal Kapoor, if we were to use either the Navy or the Naval Air Arm or the Air Force together, what do you hit in Pakistan?
29:23How do you inflict pain on General Aasem Munir's military jihad complex, either through sea or land through the sea route, sir?
29:34See, I just was watching the promos and the other activities before the program began.
29:40And you only mentioned, your channel mentioned that Hafiz Sayyid is locked up in some area in the city, safe house.
29:49Yes, in Lahore.
29:49And if you are following the Russian-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas war, a new feature that has emerged now in the warfare is urban warfare.
30:00Now, it is becoming increasingly difficult to go into cities and to take out your targets.
30:08And the Indian and the responsible countries always make sure that there is least collateral damage and there are no civilians killed.
30:17So, this kind of, and they, it is for the masses of that country and place who should realize that these targets are being hidden in populated and congested areas,
30:30wherein, when any action is being taken, there is likely hood of any, you know, damage with which they will go to international media and say that so many children or siblings are killed,
30:41wherein, the first hand.
30:42And if you see the tactics in Hamas and other things, they have kept their ammunition dumps, their headquarters below hospitals, schools, others.
30:51So, similar kind of tactics now from earlier, the targets which are in open, which we could pick it up for miles, have now shifted into urban, this thing.
31:00And the good part is that with correct intelligence, we have precision weapons, both from all vectors.
31:08It is, it is, can be fired from a ship, it can be fired from an aeroplane and it can exactly take out the target, the coordinates.
31:17Now, it is how and when and what kind of decision is taken.
31:22It could be like the captain said, it could be in synchronous with the other two services.
31:29It could be in isolated.
31:31Any of the services could take the lead.
31:32And it has to be factored in for the escalatory ladder.
31:36I was covering with your program the other day.
31:38Yes.
31:39The beginning would be small, but catering for the escalatory ladder.
31:46Now, it is like a game of chess.
31:48You have made a move.
31:49You now factor in that what would be the move from the other side.
31:53And if they move this, so that is it.
31:56And that is where India's defense preparedness, perhaps, you see the scale, you see the size, and you see the scope, how well India intends to inflict pain on that state sponsor of radical Islamist terror.
32:12Air Marshal Kapoor and Captain Sharma for joining me here on the first part of this India First special broadcast.
32:18Many thanks.
32:18But remember, it's a multi-domain operation, and there are many ways to inflict pain on that radical Islamist state sponsor of terror.
32:27What's the aim?
32:28The aim is to ensure that terror is no longer a low-cost option for Pakistan to continue to bleed us, especially for the likes of General Aasem Munir.
32:38And we've been bleeding, we've been bleeding from the times of General Ziaul Haag, through General Musharraf, through Ashwaak Parvez Kayani, to Kamar Javed Bajwa.
32:47Of course, they may talk peace, but then they intend and they continue to bleed us.
32:51And there's a laundry list of generals who see themselves as Mohammed bin Qasim and attackers of Hindus in India.
33:00This Aasem Munir is perhaps amongst the worst, if not, you know, the worst of the lot.
33:05But how is India responding?
33:08Big story.
33:09The Jal Shakti Ministry is working on a feasibility project on better harnessing the waters of the Indus rivers for the benefit,
33:18not just of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, in the short term, but in the medium and long term for the rest of the country.
33:25So Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patal has been instructed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to work to ensure India works quickly on multiple projects.
33:35Multiple projects that Pakistan was objecting to and throughout.
33:40River desilting, for example.
33:42Reservoir flushing projects, for example.
33:44And these are just some instances that India is now going to start working on very fast.
33:50Pakistan has repeatedly objected to desilting project.
33:54Sources are telling India today that multiple projects that have been held up due to Pakistan's objections,
33:59now these projects will be taken up on a war footing for better utilization of the waters of the Indus rivers.
34:06And not just the Satluj, Ravi and Bayas, the eastern rivers that are meant for India, but also Chinab, Jhelam and Indus, the western rivers.
34:17India can officially utilize 20% of these waters.
34:21Pakistan didn't even permit that.
34:23Imagine.
34:24It would cry foul.
34:25It would go to the court of arbitration.
34:28It would go to the World Bank.
34:30It would object.
34:31It would delay.
34:33But now the treaty is in advance.
34:35So for the betterment of people of Jammu and Kashmir, and remember, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, has already said,
34:42the Indus Waters Treaty was not in favor of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
34:46It did not benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
34:49This is one more step that the Narendra Modi government is taking.
34:52It's not just about the eastern rivers, like I said, Satluj, Ravi and Bayas, but also western rivers, Chinab, Jhelam and Indus.
34:58The rivers that flow through Jammu and Kashmir and also in Ladakh.
35:02There are multiple projects that were cleared post-Pulvama, some in 2019, some in 2022.
35:09They are now being speeded up.
35:11What is India doing?
35:12And you're hearing this on India today, and this is Pakistan's worst nightmare coming true.
35:18India is working on building 10 hydropower projects that's totaling 6.8 gigawatts in Jammu and Kashmir and in Himachal Pradesh
35:29to fully utilize its share of the waters under that 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.
35:35The project's being undertaken, and that's a huge investment that's already being made.
35:40It's 68,000 crore rupees by NHPC Limited.
35:46Now they're part of the plans to exercise our right, India's right, to stop excess water from flowing into Pakistan.
35:53The projects are being constructed by the public sector undertaking.
35:58Let me list out some of these projects.
36:01It will be heartening for you, and it will be a nightmare for those radical Islamist terrorists.
36:07Because they now have to choose.
36:09They either want water, or they want to continue bleeding India.
36:13Blood and water cannot flow together.
36:15That's very clear.
36:16So, the 1,000 megawatt Pakadul project.
36:21The 850 megawatt Ratle project.
36:25The 624 megawatt Kiru project.
36:29The 540 megawatt Kwar project.
36:32These are projects in the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir.
36:37India plans to build 1,856 megawatts in Saval Khod.
36:43Now, that's to harness that kind of electricity.
36:45It's in Jammu and Kashmir.
36:47930 megawatts of Keerthai.
36:50This is part 2 in Jammu and Kashmir.
36:53Dugar in Himachal Pradesh.
36:54That's 500 megawatts.
36:56Then, there's Uri 1.
36:57And there's stage 2 of it in Jammu and Kashmir.
37:00Then, the Dulhasti stage 2, which is 260 megawatts.
37:03These are some of the projects I'm telling you in Jammu and Kashmir.
37:07But, that's not all.
37:09The Narendra Modi government has cleared 8 hydropower projects of 144 megawatts on the Indus River.
37:16And its tributaries.
37:18Even in Ladakh.
37:19Now, the project, the highest of these projects that will come up in Kargil and in lay districts of Ladakh.
37:27So, the Durbuk-Shok project.
37:29It's 19 megawatts.
37:30But then, it's good for the people of Ladakh.
37:33In Shanku village, it's 18.5 megawatts.
37:37Now, this is music to the ears of people who live in either Durbuk or Shok region.
37:44It's great for environment because now it's not that expensive diesel electricity that they will have to generate power through diesel generators.
37:54Whether it's the security forces, the army that's deployed there or the locals, they can get water from the Indus rivers.
38:01Electricity from the Indus rivers.
38:03And the tributaries.
38:04Shanku, for example.
38:05Neemu project.
38:06Neemu chilling project.
38:0724 megawatts.
38:08Rongdo project.
38:0912 megawatts.
38:10Ratan Nag.
38:11It's 10.5 megawatts.
38:12Hydropower project.
38:13That's been cleared for Leh.
38:15The Mangdum Sangra project.
38:17It's again 19 megawatts.
38:19The Kargil, Hundarman.
38:20It's 25 megawatts.
38:22Imagine how this will be a game changer for the people of Ladakh.
38:27Of Leh.
38:28Of Sanku.
38:30Of Minji.
38:31Of Kargil.
38:32It's amazing what will happen.
38:34And there is no Pakistan that can object to it anymore.
38:38They've been cleared for the Kargil region.
38:40It's a huge step that's been taken.
38:42So under the Indus waters treaty, when Pakistan was granted waters of the western river, Indus
38:47Chinab and Jhelam for unrestricted use, India was granted the eastern rivers, Ravi, Bias
38:52and Satluj.
38:53India gives 80% of the western river water for Pakistan.
38:57It does not even harness the remaining 20%.
38:59Now there are plans.
39:01Some already there.
39:04Some that are now going to be speeded up.
39:06What is the advantage that India now has?
39:09And I want to explain this to you.
39:11You're looking at those projects.
39:12You're looking at the eastern river projects.
39:14And look at the eastern river projects closely.
39:16The Satluj, Ravi and Bias.
39:21The five rivers that flow to Punjab, Satluj, Ravi, Bias, Chinab, Jhelam, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
39:27And undivided Punjab initially.
39:29So look, eastern rivers for India.
39:31Western rivers for Pakistan.
39:34But Uri, Baglehar, Salal, Pakaldul, Chutak, Neemu, Basgo.
39:40These are some of the projects.
39:42Some that were held up.
39:43Some that government has cleared.
39:45And some where work will go on.
39:48What's the big advantage?
39:51No inspection by Pakistani officials needed now.
39:54So Pakistan cannot stop your projects at all.
39:57It can do nothing.
39:58No restriction on flushing of rivers.
40:00For example, the Kishan Ganga reservoir.
40:02Pakistan would object to it.
40:04So if you can't flush, if you can't desilt,
40:06then you can't hold water or hold sufficient water.
40:09You can't generate enough electricity.
40:11No operational restriction on filling of reservoir.
40:14You can flush when you want.
40:15You can fill just when you want.
40:17And not just in the month of August, the peak monsoon period.
40:20No data to be shared with Pakistan.
40:22And I want to bring in our guests on this special broadcast.
40:25Because I want our guests to explain why this is so crucial.
40:29And I will continue to explain why this is so crucial.
40:32And how it will cripple Pakistan.
40:35Joining me on this India Today special broadcast are Professor Brahma Chilani.
40:41And Professor Brahma Chilani is someone who studied the Indus waters very closely.
40:46Also with me on this special broadcast is Ambassador Yash Sina,
40:49former Chief Information Commissioner, top diplomat,
40:53who was a High Commissioner UK, has dealt with this issue.
40:56And apologies for coming late.
40:58Ambassador Sina, your appreciation,
41:00not just of the announcement of the treaty being held in abeyance,
41:03but the steps that the government is taking that we are breaking here on India today, sir.
41:10Thank you, Gaurav, for having me.
41:11I think this is very significant because the treaty was heavily weighted in favor of Pakistan.
41:20I think India was very generous in allocation of water.
41:2440% of the water of the Indus Basin, the catchment area, was in India.
41:31And yet we gave up, what, 80% and just took 20%.
41:34I think we were very generous.
41:36And now what we are doing is harnessing the water to the Western rivers.
41:42And incidentally, all these run-of-the-river projects that you mentioned,
41:47hydroelectric projects, are very much in line with the treaty.
41:51But we could never really implement them.
41:53And even the ones that we implemented, whether it was Salal or Baglihar or Kishan Ganga,
41:59Pakistan always objected.
42:01They were obstructionists.
42:03And I think it's high time we called their bluff.
42:06And we've held it in abeyance.
42:08And we'll have to see how Pakistan behaves and then decide how we want to decide
42:14and how do we proceed with the treaty itself.
42:17Okay, so you are saying Pakistan was being an obstructionist.
42:20Professor Chilani, Pakistan was objecting to everything, even if it was right.
42:25It only wanted to delay.
42:26And that increased costs for India.
42:28It delayed the development of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
42:32Now, Pakistan can continue to cry,
42:35will India or is India on the right track in your appreciation, sir?
42:40Gaurav, building leverage in the Indus Basin is a cheaper option for India
42:47to reform Pakistan's behavior than fighting a war.
42:51As the upper riparian state, India is in a position to mount escalating riparian pressures on Pakistan.
43:00After all, as you pointed out, India's water generosity cannot be repaid with blood.
43:06So building Indus Basin leverage can serve as the most potent instrument in India's arsenal against Pakistan,
43:17potentially more powerful than even the nuclear weapons option, which essentially is for deterrence.
43:23So this step of keeping the treaty in abeyance, which is pausing the treaty without formally suspending or withdrawing from the treaty,
43:32if we stay on the coast, if we stay on the coast, I say, I emphasize that because, you know, we never had a consistent approach to Pakistan.
43:43It's always been a roller coaster ride in relation to India's policy on Pakistan.
43:50If we stay on the present coast, and if we start building the leverage, if we start building the hydrological infrastructure on the western rivers,
44:04on the eastern rivers too, we should not forget that the three eastern rivers that are reserved for India's exclusive use,
44:12take the Ravi, the smallest river. Of the six rivers in the Indus Basin, the smallest is the Ravi.
44:17Yet even today, bonus waters from the Ravi flow to Pakistan, even as Punjab and Haryana fight over water,
44:27Haryana fights with Delhi over water, Haryana and Rajasthan and Punjab and Rajasthan fight over water.
44:33It's shameful that even the waters that are, that have been given to India, we are not fully utilizing them.
44:40We are giving bonus supply to Pakistan. That has to stop.
44:45We have to build the storage on the western rivers too. It's very important to understand that
44:54issue is not about India cutting off water close to Pakistan. Shutting off water supply isn't quite
45:02like turning off a tap. It will take a couple of decades to build massive dams, barrages,
45:09reservoirs, reservoirs, and other structures on different rivers. In fact, India has no intention
45:14of turning off or even disrupting water flows to Pakistan. But it certainly should be seeking to
45:23use leverage, use leverage in the Indus Basin to reform Pakistan's behaviour. And that means building
45:34the requisite hydro infrastructure. For example, if you look at the...
45:40Some of it is, some of it is already starting. But go on, sir, complete your point before I bring in
45:43Ambassador Sinna. Go on, sir.
45:45Now, if you take the three western rivers, the largest river in terms of cross-border flows
45:50is the Chinab followed by the Jeddah and the Indus is the third largest river.
45:55Now, on the three western rivers, India is allowed to build run-of-river hydro power plants
46:00without any dam reservoirs. Yet, India's total installed generating capacity in JNK today
46:09does not match the electric output of a single major dam in Pakistan, such as Tarvela.
46:16Tarvela was built in 1976. So, you know, we are so way behind. And even in terms of storage,
46:22the Indus water study allows India to build storage of 3.6 million acre feet on the western rivers.
46:31You know, today...
46:31What I want to understand... No, you're absolutely right. But, you know,
46:34what I want to understand is, Pakistan was just being obstructionist. Ambassador Sinna,
46:39restricting even flushing of rivers. Kishan Ganga, for example, wouldn't let us desilt that area.
46:46Why was Pakistan, one, being so difficult? Two, why were we permitting it? And three,
46:51now, if it goes to the World Bank or the Permanent Court of Arbitration,
46:54and India says, sorry, we don't believe in it, can Pakistan do anything about it? You know,
46:58they're threatening us with war. You've handled Pakistan for a very long time. As JSPI,
47:03an additional secretary of the Pakistan-Afghanistan, Iran desk, your appreciation of the impact on Pakistan.
47:09Kaurav, I mean, Pakistan threatens us, the drop of a hat, sabre-rattling. They think this... I'm not
47:19saying you call the nuclear bluff, but what I'm trying to say is that we have been confronted with
47:26this bogey for a long time. And they feel that under that nuclear threat or overhang,
47:35they can continue to impart a thousand cuts and undertake state-sponsored terrorism against
47:43India. And I think a time has come, and this government is quite firm, that it cannot be
47:48business as usual. And I mean, despite the fact that they have said that if you disrupt the waters,
47:54or you stop the waters, it will be an act of war. As Professor Chilani is saying, we are not,
48:00we are not stopping the waters and we can't. But what we are doing is, we are fully utilizing
48:06the capacities of the western rivers and the eastern rivers for our benefit. So I think that's
48:13very important. We know it will take time. And now we won't let them come. Now we won't let them
48:17come to inspect. Now we won't let them obstruct. They can go crying wherever they want. Professor
48:22Chilani, can we do that? I mean, the government says, we've already done it. We've held the treaty
48:26in abeyance just for this. And it hasn't been abrogated. It hasn't been called off. Even if they
48:30go to permanent court of arbitration, what can they say?
48:33The question is, why hasn't India withdrawn from the treaty? What more does India need to withdraw from
48:43the treaty? Our approach isn't consistent. For example, eight years ago, after the UNI attack,
48:51the prime minister said, blood and water cannot flow together. And then minister after minister
48:56said that we will ensure that not a single drop of water flows to Pakistan from the eastern rivers.
49:01Yet even today, eight years later, bonus waters are flowing from the eastern rivers to Pakistan.
49:07Yeah. We suspended the Permanent Indus Commission meetings for three years after 2019. Then,
49:16for no reason, we revived the Permanent Indus Commission. So we have, we are not consistent. And
49:22we can blame Pakistan for internationalizing every engineering dispute. But it's our own slow
49:31pace of work in building infrastructure that has left us with little, little concrete
49:42leverage to mount sufficient pressure on Pakistan. If we had better infrastructure,
49:50hydro infrastructure, then Pakistan today would feel very threatened. But we have, you know,
49:57we have allowed projects to go on for a decade and longer. And we permitted them to obstructed
50:02delay. Of course, partly because of Pakistan. Yeah. But partly because of us.
50:07Partly because of us. But now, you know, Ambassador Sina, has Prime Minister Narendra Modi gone for
50:12Aasem Munir? Or if I may, has he gone for Pakistan's jugular vein? 80% of, you know, Pakistan
50:19cultivated land is dependent on Indus Rivers. 25% of Pakistan's GDP is supported by Indus Rivers.
50:24Disruption, you know, not just unemployment or rural migration, loan default,
50:29Tarbela Mangla dams, they will, you know, they provide 30% electricity to Pakistan.
50:34All of that will be adversely impacted. Power cuts in Pakistan, not enough water for farming in Pakistan,
50:40not enough water to drink for the population of Karachi, Lahore and Multan,
50:45when they want it. And perhaps more than enough when they don't want it.
50:48You know, Gaurab, I think what the message that this government has sent is, I mean,
50:56what Prime Minister had said earlier, that blood and water don't go hand in hand and can't flow
51:01together. So what I'm trying to say is that because we've held it in abeyance, it's a very clear message
51:08to Pakistan, get your act together, behave and eschew state-sponsored terrorism. And once they do that,
51:17then perhaps you could go back to the treaty and ensure while we utilize what is due to us,
51:25we will give them what is due to them. But the problem is that they don't want us to utilize what
51:32is what we can under the treaty. And then they don't want us to touch any of the waters that go on
51:37the, that flow on the Western rivers. Now, you can't have it both ways. It's not going to work.
51:43So I think the message to the general in Rawalpindi at GHQ and to the people of Pakistan, because the
51:50thing is that the people of Pakistan must realize there's a price to pay when the generals play this
51:58sort of game with India and they will be a price to pay in the future too. Fair enough. I will let
52:05that be the last word on this part of the show today, but there's much more that we have lined
52:10up on the Indus waters treaty, because many say, as Professor Brahmachalani also pointed out that
52:16this is perhaps the most potent weapon or strike that India has done in response to Pakistan state-sponsored
52:24radical Islamist terror. And as Ambassador Sina said, blood and water cannot float together,
52:30quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Uri attack. So warnings and messages had been given to
52:36Pakistan in 2016, again in 2019. Multiple letters had been issued, had been written and issued in 2023
52:46and 24, action finally taken in 2025. To my guests, many thanks for joining me. And that's the story
52:52we'll be tracking very, very closely. Blood and water cannot float together.