Morning Digest: Rajnath Singh briefs PM Modi on security preparedness, Pakistan Defence Minister says ‘military incursion’ by India is imminent; and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on April 29, 2025

Amidst the continuing tense situation along the Line of Control (LoC), and expectations in some sections of possible punitive action by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (April 28, 2025) in what is believed to be a review of security and preparednessdness.

Facing an outcry from regional parties, including the ruling National Conference (NC), security forces’ operation to demolish houses of suspected terrorists was apparently stopped in Kashmir on Monday. However, the major crackdown on supporters of terror outfits intensified. Meanwhile, low-scale skirmishes continued to keep the Line of Control (LoC) tense for the fourth consecutive day in Jammu and Kashmir.

Long term visas (LTVs) and official or diplomatic visas will remain valid even after the April 29 deadline when Indian visas issued to Pakistani citizens will be revoked. Officials in New Delhi clarified on the issue saying that of the 16 categories of visas issued by India to Pakistan nationals, two categories would remain valid after Tuesday (April 29, 2025) and that validity of the LTVs will not be impacted by the religious identity of the visa holders.

The Pakistan Rangers is yet to communicate with the Border Security Force (BSF) the whereabouts of a jawan who was detained five days ago after he inadvertently strayed into the neighbouring country, a senior government official said on Monday (April 28, 2025). The jawan, P.K. Sahu, a resident of West Bengal, had crossed four or five metres into Pakistan, the official said, adding that unlike the usual practice, the Pakistan Rangers was yet to send a protest note to the BSF regarding the incident. A protest note is generally sent within a few hours of such incident.

Nearly 50% of Spain’s electricity supply was restored late Monday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said but added that some workers would have to stay home Tuesday. “According to electrical grid data, nearly 50 percent of the electricity supply has already been restored. The goal is to continue restoring the supply over the coming hours,” he said in a televised address, notably with electricity being sent from France and Morocco.

Pakistan Defence Minister said on Monday (April 28, 2025) “a military incursion” by India was imminent in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. The attack killed 26 people and triggered outrage in India, along with calls for action against Pakistan. “We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. So in that situation some strategic decisions have to be taken, so those decisions have been taken,” Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told Reuters in an interview at his office in Islamabad.

In closely contested polls, both rival student groups — the Left Unity panel and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) — made it to the central panel of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), with the Left Unity clinching three posts and ABVP making a comeback after 10 years by securing victory in one post.