Two suspected terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad were gunned down in an overnight operation in the Brattal-Sohan and Khubban forest belt of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir.

Security forces launched the joint operation, codenamed Operation Sohan, during the night of September 16-17 after confirmed inputs on terrorist presence in the Brattal area.

The Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF carried out the counter-terror operation in difficult terrain and poor visibility, establishing contact with the terrorists late at night.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the site, with no injuries reported among the security personnel involved.

The operation remained active as of the latest update, with search and surveillance efforts continuing in the surrounding area.

Contact with the terrorists was established late at night, with firing and blasts reported during the initial phase of the operation targeting a suspected hideout.

No casualties were reported among the security forces involved in the operation.

The two terrorists killed are suspected to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit.

Identification of the slain terrorists was still being ascertained by security agencies at the time of reporting.

Search and surveillance operations were continuing in the Brattal Sohan and Khubban areas of Majalta tehsil as a precaution against any remaining threats.

Udhampur district, part of the Jammu region, has periodically seen anti-terror operations targeting militant movement through its forested and hilly terrain.

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have stepped up counter-infiltration and search operations in recent months across the Jammu division’s forested belts.

The joint operation was code-named Operation Sohan by security forces.

It was launched during the intervening night of September 16 and 17 after confirmed inputs about the presence of terrorists in the general area of Brattal.

Troops of the Army’s White Knight Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF carried out the targeted counter-terrorism operation despite hostile weather, difficult terrain and poor visibility.

Indian Army soldiers (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

India has boosted its power supply to Nepal following flood damage to the country’s electricity infrastructure, approving up to 18 hours of daily supply.

The extended arrangement runs through December 31 and is intended to help Nepal manage demand while recovering from the flooding.

India and Nepal operate under an existing cross-border electricity trade framework, with power flowing between the two countries based on seasonal need.

Nepal’s hydropower-reliant grid faces particular vulnerability during severe monsoon flooding, which can take river-based generation offline.

The new 18-hour daily supply level is a substantial jump from Nepal’s typical cross-border power import volumes.

Nepal’s hydropower-dependent grid can be particularly vulnerable to disruption during severe monsoon flooding, when river-based generation facilities may be damaged or forced offline.

India’s power ministry coordinates cross-border electricity supply arrangements with neighbouring countries through mechanisms that account for both grid capacity and diplomatic considerations.

The 18-hour daily supply figure represents a significant increase over Nepal’s typical cross-border import levels during non-emergency periods.

Officials have not specified the exact quantum of additional power being supplied, though the arrangement is described as a direct response to the flooding-related shortfall.

India has periodically extended similar emergency power support to neighbouring countries during natural disasters affecting their domestic electricity infrastructure.

The move comes amid broader efforts by India to strengthen its regional standing through infrastructure and energy cooperation with South Asian neighbours.

The extended power supply is intended to help Nepal manage electricity demand after recent severe flooding disrupted parts of its domestic generation and distribution infrastructure.

India and Nepal have an existing framework for cross-border electricity trade, with power flowing both ways depending on seasonal demand and generation capacity in each country.

The enhanced supply arrangement is set to remain in effect through December 31, covering peak periods of electricity demand in Nepal.

High voltage power transmission line, India, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

The 18th BRICS Summit closed with leaders unanimously adopting the New Delhi Declaration on September 12.

The declaration called for restraint in the Middle East and addressed AI cooperation, energy security and local-currency trade, while stopping short of condemning the US-Israeli strikes or Iran’s targeting of Gulf countries.

India played a mediating role at the summit, helping secure a joint statement between the UAE and Iran after talks that continued until 4 am on September 12.

PM Modi said the Declaration reflected a BRICS that is ‘wider in reach and stronger in purpose’, calling for time-bound follow-through.

Security was tightened significantly at the Bharat Mandapam venue on the summit’s closing day, with thousands of personnel deployed across the capital.

PM Modi described the Declaration’s outcome as reflecting a BRICS that is ‘wider in reach and stronger in purpose’, urging members to translate the outcomes into time-bound action.

Security was tightened significantly at the Bharat Mandapam venue for the summit’s final day, with thousands of personnel deployed across New Delhi.

The 18th BRICS Summit brought together leaders and senior delegations from member states including Russia, China, South Africa, Iran and several newer bloc entrants.

Major summit themes included artificial intelligence cooperation, energy security, and stronger representation for Global South nations in international institutions.

The declaration’s adoption came after member states worked through sharp differences on the West Asia conflict and other contentious geopolitical issues in the lead-up to the summit.

The New Delhi Declaration called for restraint in the Middle East but stopped short of condemning either the US-Israeli strikes or Iran’s targeting of Gulf countries in the region.

The declaration also criticised the ongoing global trade war without directly naming the United States, reflecting the bloc’s effort to balance differing member positions.

BRICS did not launch a common currency at the summit, with the focus instead remaining on promoting local-currency trade and cross-border payment systems among member nations.

Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0