Indian Army Deputy Chief Appointed as National Security Council's Military Adviser Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, currently serving as the Deputy Chief of the Indian Army and previously leading military operations as Director General of Military Operations during Operation Sindoor last year, has been appointed as the new Military Adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat. This marks a historic milestone, as Ghai becomes the first serving military officer to hold the position within the NSCS, which operates under the guidance of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The appointment was finalized earlier this week, with Ghai expected to take up his duties shortly. Ghai’s tenure in the Indian Army extends until December 2027, and his new role is seen as a strategic move to integrate operational expertise into the nation’s highest national security decision-making framework. The NSCS, a critical body for coordinating defense and security policies, has previously been occupied by senior military leaders such as General N.S. Raja Subramani, who later became Chief of Defence Staff, and Air Marshal Sandeep Singh. Before Subramani, General Anil Chauhan held the position. Ghai’s appointment underscores the emphasis on military input in shaping national security strategies. Commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment, Ghai has held numerous key operational and command roles throughout his career. His leadership during Operation Sindoor, which involved complex military coordination, has positioned him as a key figure in India’s defense planning. The decision to appoint a serving officer to the NSCS reflects a shift toward closer collaboration between the military and civilian leadership in addressing security challenges.#indian_army #operation_sindoor #ajit_doval #rajiv_ghai #national_security_council
Audiences brace for arguments as sequel to divisive Bollywood spy thriller hits theaters A controversial Bollywood spy thriller about an Indian operative operating in Pakistan has sparked widespread debate across South Asia and beyond, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi-language film in India and North America. Its sequel, “Dhurandhar: The Revenge,” now opens in theaters, including the United States, with significant presales in India. The film’s release has reignited tensions between India and Pakistan, with critics and officials on both sides accusing it of promoting nationalist agendas. “Dhurandhar,” directed by Aditya Dhar, premiered in December 2023 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. It topped Netflix’s non-English film chart after its January 30, 2024, release, including in Pakistan, where authorities condemned it as Indian propaganda. The film’s depiction of gang violence in Karachi’s Lyari neighborhood drew sharp criticism from Pakistani officials, who argued it misrepresented the community. The Sindh government announced plans for a rebuttal film, calling the original “Indian propaganda.” The sequel, set for release on Thursday, continues the story of Hamza Ali Mazari, a fictional Indian spy played by Ranveer Singh, as he navigates a dangerous mission in Karachi. The film’s blend of action, music, and star power has drawn praise, but its portrayal of real-world events, such as the 2001 Parliament attack and 2008 Mumbai bombings, has sparked controversy. The opening scene references the 1999 hijacking of an Indian passenger plane by Pakistani terrorists, with a fictional intelligence chief modeled after Ajit Doval, Modi’s national security adviser, ordering Hamza’s mission as retaliation.#aditya_dhar #ranveer_singh #hamza_ali_mazari #dhurandhar_the_revenge #ajit_doval
