After major hits ■ Before 1 Arifwala Air Defence Radar HYDERABAD l monday l may 12, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l LATE city EDITION After Before ■ Director General of Military Operations Lt General Rajiv Ghai (2nd from left) with Air Marshal A K Bharti, Vice Admiral A N Pramod, and Major General S S Sharda | pti India’s iron fist crushed pak’s high hopes: forces 2 Chaklala Airfield After ■ Air Marshal AK Bharti, during a joint press briefing with defence officials on Sunday, showed detailed video of the effects of Indian Air Force operations during its air raids at Arifwala air defence radar in Pakistan, the Chaklala airfield and Sargodha airfield Sargodha is designated as a “Major Operational Base” and reportedly houses Pakistan’s fleet of F-16s Other targets in Pakistan hit by IAF were Murid, PAF base at Rafiqui and units at Lahore and Gujranwala 100 terrorists, including high-value targets, killed in May 7 strikes; Pak Army lost 35-40 personnel between May 7 and 10; India downed Pak jets; All Indian pilots safe 3 India sending team to u.n. against pak India issues Pak an ultimatum—fire for fire new normal New Delhi: With the United Nations Security Council’s 1267 committee set to meet next week, India will send a team with evidence highlighting Pakistan’s complicity in terrorism and TRF’s role in Pahalgam attack | P9 Cong seeks special Parliament session New Delhi: Leaders of the opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabhahave written to PM for a special session of Parliament to discuss Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor Rajnath inaugurates new Brahmos unit Lucknow: BrahMos is not just a weapon but a “message” of India’s military strength, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday at the inauguration of the largest integration and testing facility of the missile system here M AYA N K SI N G H @ New Delhi indian forces inflicted heavy losses to the Pakistan side via Operation Sindoor by destroying key military installations and downing fighter jets, apart from razing down nine identified terrorist camps, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai said on Sunday . Giving details of Operation Sindoor at a detailed media briefing in New Delhi on Sunday evening, attended by senior military officials of the Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, the DGMO said that India achieved its desired objectives and Pakistan will have to pay a very heavy price if it resorts to any misadventure. Lt Gen Ghai said over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudasir Ahmed, who were involved in the hijacking of IC 814 and the Pulwama blast, were eliminated during Operation Sindoor. He said all Indian pilots are safe while Pakistan lost 3540 Pakistani military personnel in the three-day combat. The military officials, however, did not comment on the losses on the Indian side, saying it would give an advantage to the adversary . “We are in a combat scenario and losses are a part of combat. The question to be asked is have we achieved our objectives of decimating the terrorist camps? The answer is a thumping yes. At this time I would not like to comment on the numbers, which platforms did we lose? We are still in a combat situation. If I comment, it will be advantageous to them. All our pilots are back home,” said Air Marshal A K Bharti. In response to a question, Air Marshal A K Bharti said India “definitely” downed a few Pakistani planes but refused to confir m the numbers. “Their planes were prevented from DAY 5 coming inside our border. So we do not have the wreckage with us but definitely we have downed a few planes,” he said. The officials stressed that Indian forces were extra careful not to inflict any casualties on civilians, and they stuck to this policy even though it meant some tactical disadvantage to the Indian side. Vice Admiral A N Pramod, DGNO said, “Along with kinetic actions by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, the overwhelming operational edge of Indian Navy at sea contributed towards Pakistan’s urgent request for a ceasefire.” He added that India Navy remains deployed at sea in a credible deterrent posture, so that it can respond decisively to any inimical action by Pakistan, or Pakistan based terrorist. Adding on Air Force’s operational capability, Bharti said, “We can target every system at Pakistan’s bases.” DGMO Lt Gen Ghai also paid tribute to five Indian fallen heroes and civilians who “tragically lost their lives” during Operation Sindoor. “We have thus far exercised immense restraint and our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory How. eve r, a n y t h r e a t t o t h e sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety of our citizens will be met with decisive force,” he said. The DGMO said it was his Pakistani counterpart who made a call to him on Saturday afternoon, requesting a way out to stop the hostilities. Following this, the two DGMOs agreed to stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 5 pm Saturday . The officials said that the Pakistani DGMO’s call came after Indian forces launched a fierce counter-attack on several Pakistani military installations including Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian on Saturday morning. Sargodha Airfield (Where F16 jets were parked) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to sources, gave the armed forces a clear INDIA has drawn a red line directive: “Wahan se goli in its security posture with chalegi, toh yahan se gola Pakistan: any provocation chalega” (If bullets come will trigger a sharper, more from there, shells will be forceful response. “If they fired from here). fire, we fire”— Sources said India that’s the new noris deter mined to mal, sources said, raise the cost of following the crosscross-border terrorborder strikes ism, making it clear under Operation that Pakistan cannot S i n d o o r, wh i c h selectively seek cothey emphasised is operation while constill on. tinuing to shelter “Operation Sinand support terror Wahan se goli door has not connetworks. cluded, there is a chalegi, toh yahan Prime Minister se gola chalega (If new normal in In- bullets come from N a r e n d r a M o d i dia’s response to there, shells will firmly told US Vice cross-border terrorPresident JD Vance be fired) ism,” said sources that any hostile acNarendra Modi familiar with the tion from Pakistan matter. Launched would invite a “far after the Pahalgam terror at- stronger and more devastattack that killed 26 civilians, ing Indian response.” That the operation targeted ter- same night, after Pakistan ror infrastructure in Paki- targeted 26 sites, India retalistan and Pakistan-occupied ated with overwhelming Kashmir (PoK). force at Pakistan air bases. J aya n t h J a c o b & M aya nk s i ng h @ New Delhi Uneasy calm in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab as ceasefire takes effect F aya z W a n i a n d H a r p r e e t B a j w a @ Srinagar / Chandigarh Cautious optimism prevailed among residents of the border states of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab as the ceasefire appeared to take effect on Sunday , a day after Pak forces breached their commitment. In Jammu and Kashmir, residents of Uri and other border areas heaved a sigh of relief with no fresh reports of attack from across the border, while authorities in Punjab advised residents to continue voluntary blackout and be at home by 8 pm as a measure of caution. In stark contrast to the past few days, no sirens or explo- express read 10 booked for attack on Karachi Bakery Hyderabad: At least 10 BJP supporters, including party town president Vamshi, were booked for allegedly defacing the Karachi Bakery outlet at Shamshabad on Saturday. The protesters did not enter the bakery but damaged its signboard, demanding a change of its name, police said | P7 Miss World contestants to visit Buddha Vanam Nalgonda: On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, 30 Miss World 2025 contestants are set to visit Buddha Vanam in Nagarjuna Sagar on Monday. Officials said the participants would depart from Hyderabad at 1 pm, rest at Vijay Vihar and then proceed to Buddha Vanam for a meditation session and a photoshoot before returning to Hyderabad | P2 sions were heard in J&K on Sunday. However, police officials advised residents who had moved to safer places not to retur n until the unexploded shells are cleared. On Sunday, the markets in Srinagar were abuzz with activity as shoppers thronged to buy essential goods. Two arrested for espionage Two persons, including a woman, were arrested in Punjab for their involvement in leaking sensitive clues to a Pakistan-handler on the Army’s movements | P10 “Yesterday was very scary as loud explosions could be heard. Soon, there was a blackout. It was tough to convince my children that things will become normal,” said Mushtaq Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar. In Uri, where at least 100 houses were damaged amid heavy shelling by Pakistan, life was slowly returning to normal. “There has been no shelling since yesterday morning. This is a big relief. We pray that there is permanent ceasefire,” said a Uri resident Abdul Qayoom Ganai. In Punjab, educational institutions in five border districts will remain closed on Monday as a matter of precatuion. TG-EAPCET 2025: Overall pass rates see slight decline Express News Service @ Hyderabad The results of TG-EAPCET 2025, released on Sunday by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, saw a slight decline in the qualification rates for both the engineering and agriculture & pharmacy (A&P) streams. In the engineering stream, 2,20,326 candidates had registered, of whom 2,07,190 appeared and 1,51,779 qualified, resulting in 73.26% pass rate. In the A&P stream, 86,762 candidates registered, 81,198 appeared and 71,309 qualified, which translates to 87.82% pass rate. Palla Bharath Chandra from Parvathipuram Manyam in AP topped the engineering stream with a score of 150.08. He was followed by Udagandala Rama Charan Reddy from Madhapur with 148.28 and Pammina Hema Sai Surya Karthik from Vizianagaram, AP, who secured the third rank with 147.08. In the A&P stream, Saketh Reddy Peddakkagari from Medchal secured the first rank with 141.68 marks, followed by Sabbani Lalith Varenya from Karimnagar with 140.47 and Chada Akshith from Warangal with 140.   Continued on P3 Kashmir residents checking out cloths and backpacks at a market area in Srinagar on Sunday | pti CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI ■ ■ Losses are a part of combat. The question to be asked is, have we achieved our objectives of decimating the terrorist camps? The answer is a thumping yes —Air Marshal A K Bharti India rejects Trump’s offer to solve Kashmir J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi INDIA has rejected US President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue, making it clear that the only issue on the table is Pakistan vacating the territory it illegally occupies in PoK. Government sources made it unequivocally clear that India sees no role for external intervention in the matter. “We have a very clear position on Kashmir, there is only one matter left- the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). There is nothing else to talk. If they talk about handing over terrorists, we can talk. We don’t want anyone to mediate. We don’t need anyone to mediate.” The Indian position is that the whole of Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the US President’s mediation offer and thanked Trump for his willingness to step in. Trump, commenting on the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan following four days of heightened military tension over the Pahalgam terror attack, praised the leadership of both countries. He also said that while mediation hadn’t been discussed, the US would substantially increase trade with both nations and was willing to assist in resolving the Kashmir dispute. “I am very proud of the strong and powerful leadership of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much. Millions of good and innocent people could have died! Your legacy is greatly enhanced by your brave actions. I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision. While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade substantially with both of these great Nations. Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a “thousand years,” a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. BRS-era aides on government radar B K a r t h e e k @ Hyderabad Amid rising concerns over the unauthorised disclosure of sensitive information, the state government has launched an internal review to identify private individuals from the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime who continue to serve in key ministerial offices under the current Congress administration. According to high-level sources, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has directed the state intelligence department to compile a detailed record of personnel working in the offices of all Cabinet ministers. The focus is on identifying private aides — particularly personal assistants (PAs), private secretaries (PSs), public relations officers (PROs) and other support staff — who have ei- Staff continuity in minister’s offices Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy’s PA also served as PA to former finance minister T Harish Rao. Similarly, Forests Minister Konda Surekha’s PA is a holdover from the previous regime. Several PROs across ministries are also said to fall into this category ther remained in their posts or been reappointed despite the change in government. The move follows repeated incidents where internal documents and policy decisions surfaced on social media and Opposition-affiliated platforms before their official release. Officials suspect that individuals retained from the BRS government may be leaking information to their former political networks. One example cited is Revenue and Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy’s office, where his current PA, Venkat Reddy, also served as PA to former finance minister T Harish Rao during the BRS tenure. Similarly, Forests and Environment Minister Konda Surekha’s PA, P Krishna, is a holdover from the previous regime. Several PROs across ministries are also said to fall into this category . Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy sources say was initially , , opposed to re-employing staff from the previous government. However, some ministers opted to retain or reappoint their preferred aides, exercising discretion in these appointments.  continued on p5 doctor tells people to Sweat smart, feast wise In this edition of Hyderabad Dialogues, Dr Ravi Andrews, nephrologist at Apollo Hospitals and motivational speaker, urges people to sweat smart, feast wisely and steer clear of unscientific fads to stay fit | P4