Overview

• Saudi Arabia and Pakistan formalized a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement on September 17 that declares an attack on one as an attack on both, with analysts noting the language does not clearly cover assaults by non‑state actors and is unlikely to deter Indian retaliatory strikes.
• Aaj Tak-reported footage shows Lashkar‑e‑Taiba commander Qasim acknowledging training at Muridke and vowing to rebuild after Indian strikes, while reporting indicates JeM and HM are shifting activity to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with open recruitment in Mansehra and a planned Peshawar event under the name Al‑Murabitun.
• Sources cited by Aaj Tak describe new training hubs such as JeM’s Markaz Shohada‑e‑Islam near Mansehra and a Hizbul Mujahideen facility dubbed HM313 in Lower Dir, developments presented as a post‑Operation Sindoor relocation from PoK.
• In Gurugram, five masked assailants fired more than 30 rounds at a property‑marketing office in Sector‑45; police recovered over 30 shell casings, are examining CCTV footage, and are probing possible rivalry or extortion angles.
• Domestic accountability cases advanced as Newslaundry alleged staged ‘half‑encounters’ by Uttar Pradesh Police in multiple districts and the Mainpuri DM ordered an inquiry after a video showed children sweeping a primary school, while Shillong Police filed a 790‑page chargesheet in the Raja Raghuwanshi murder case.