Today in History (May 26^th,1739)

1739 – Afghanistan Separated from India

On this day, the historical event known as the Battle of Karnal took place, which eventually led to a significant territorial separation between Afghanistan and the Mughal Empire in India.

During the Battle of Karnal, the forces of the Persian Empire, led by Nader Shah, defeated the Mughal army under the command of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. As a result of this decisive victory, Nader Shah gained control over a large portion of the Mughal Empire, including present-day Afghanistan.

Summary of Today’s News

Caste counts a means to include those left behind, says PM

Caste Enumeration as Inclusion Tool:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the caste enumeration announced under the decennial Census as a means to include the marginalised and those left behind in various sectors.
• He emphasized that this step aligns with the government’s model of inclusive development, aiming to bring disadvantaged communities into the mainstream.

Address at NDA Conclave:

• PM Modi was speaking at a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) conclave in New Delhi, attended by Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled States.
• He highlighted the conclave’s purpose of sharing and replicating successful governance practices across States.

Operation Sindoor and Self-Reliance:

• Modi praised the success of Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of India’s progress toward self-reliance.
• He pointed to the accuracy and effectiveness of indigenous defence technology used in the operation as a sign of national capability.

Advisory on Responsible Communication:

• Sources at the meeting reported that the PM cautioned leaders against making offhand or inappropriate public statements.
• This was likely in reference to recent controversial remarks by some BJP leaders regarding the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.

Assam CM’s Warning to Bangladesh

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded to perceived threats from Bangladesh by highlighting that the country has its own vulnerable narrow corridors, similar to India’s Siliguri corridor (the “chicken neck”).
• He warned Dhaka against threatening India’s strategic Siliguri corridor, reminding that Bangladesh has two narrow land corridors that are even more susceptible.

Details of Bangladesh’s Vulnerable Corridors:

• North Bangladesh Corridor:
  • An 80 km stretch from Dakhin Dinajpur (West Bengal) to South West Garo Hills (Meghalaya).
  • Any disruption could isolate Bangladesh’s entire Rangpur division from the rest of the country.
• Chittagong Corridor:
  • A 28 km stretch from South Tripura to the Bay of Bengal.
  • The only link between Chittagong (economic capital) and Dhaka (political capital); narrower than India’s Siliguri corridor.
• Geopolitical Context:
• Sarma framed his remarks as a reminder of geographical realities that may be overlooked by those making provocative statements.
• His comments were reportedly in response to:
  • Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi government adviser, who proposed economic integration involving Bangladesh, India’s northeast, and Nepal.
  • A retired Bangladeshi Army officer who controversially suggested Bangladesh should occupy northeast India if India were to attack Pakistan.
• Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants:
• Assam police launched a drive to identify and detain illegal Bangladeshi immigrants following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Over 150 individuals were detained from Guwahati and surrounding areas.

U.S. DIA Report: India Views China as Primary Adversary

• India’s Security Priorities:
  • According to the S. Defence Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) Worldwide Threat Assessment 2025, India perceives China as its primary adversary, while Pakistan is considered an ancillary problem to be “managed.”
  • Despite ongoing cross-border incidents, India sees Pakistan as less of a strategic threat compared to China.
  • In contrast, Pakistan views India as an existential threat and continues to modernize its military, particularly its battlefield nuclear capabilities.
• Modi Government’s Defence Strategy:
  • The report states PM Narendra Modi’s defence priorities include:
    • Demonstrating global leadership
    • Countering Chinese influence
    • Enhancing India’s military capabilities
  • India is advancing bilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region, focusing on exercises, training, arms sales, and intelligence sharing.
• Multilateral Engagements:
  • India has intensified engagement in multilateral forums such as:
    • Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)
    • BRICS
    • Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
    • ASEAN
  • Trilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific has also increased.
• India’s Defence Modernisation:
  • India is committed to its “Made in India” initiative to:
    • Strengthen domestic defence manufacturing
    • Mitigate supply chain risks
    • Reduce reliance on foreign arms suppliers
  • Key recent developments include:
    • Test of the Agni-I Prime MRBM and Agni-V MIRV-capable missile
    • Commissioning of a second nuclear-powered submarine to bolster its nuclear triad
  • India–Russia Relations:
    • Despite reducing procurement of Russian-origin arms, India maintains ties with Russia due to:
      • Dependence on spare parts for Russian tanks and aircraft
      • Strategic need to balance Russia-China ties
      • Importance of economic and defence cooperation
    • India–China Border Developments:
      • The October 2024 India-China disengagement at Depsang and Demchok eased tensions but did not resolve the broader border demarcation dispute.
      • Lingering tensions remain from the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which resulted in casualties on both sides.

Tharoor: Pakistan Cannot Kill Indian Citizens with Impunity

• Strong Message to Pakistan:
  • Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, speaking in New York, declared that Pakistan must not believe it can attack India without consequence.
  • He emphasized that cross-border attacks will be met with a firm response, and India will ensure there is a price to pay.
• Context of Operation Sindoor:
  • Tharoor elaborated on the recent conflict leading to Operation Sindoor, stating:
    • India did not initiate the conflict but responded to terrorist actions.
    • The message was clear: “You start, we reply. You stop, we stop.”
    • The conflict lasted 88 hours, and while tragic, it strengthened India’s resolve against terrorism.
  • New Diplomatic Norm:
    • Tharoor stressed the need for a new norm in regional security, where cross-border terrorism is no longer tolerated.
    • Shared his remarks via a video on social media platform X, reinforcing India’s firm stance on national security.
  • Parliamentary Delegation’s Outreach:
    • Tharoor is leading a delegation of Indian parliamentarians to:
      • Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and the United States
    • The mission aims to highlight Pakistan’s links to terrorism and garner international understanding.
  • South Korea Engagement:
    • In a parallel diplomatic effort, JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha is leading a delegation to South Korea.
    • Met with Indian Ambassador Kumar Amit to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation.
    • Jha echoed the message of Operation Sindoor, citing PM Modi’s “New Normal” policy: no distinction between terrorists and their supporters.