Top 5 news of the day : ​​Pakistan suspends Simla agreement; India likely to be first to finalise trade deal with US; and more

Today’s top stories cover major developments in politics, defence, diplomacy and international relations.

Pakistan suspends Simla Agreement

Pakistan has officially suspended the 1972 Simla Agreement, a key peace treaty signed after the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, in protest against India’s strong diplomatic retaliation following the Pahalgam terror attack. The agreement, signed by Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, aimed at ending hostility and promoting peaceful ties between the two nations. Its suspension marks a significant deterioration in India-Pakistan relations during a period of heightened national grief and tension. Read full story

Pakistan blocks airspace for Indian planes
Responding to India’s retaliation to Pakistan, after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26, the latter blocked airspace for Indian airlines and closed the Wagah border. India accused Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism and suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, shut the Integrated Check Post at Attari with immediate effect, and halted Pakistani access to travel under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). Any such visas issued earlier have been cancelled, and Pakistani nationals under SVES have 48 hours to leave. Read full story

INS Surat successfully test-fires Israeli-Indian missile
Amid the rising tensions, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired a medium-range surface-to-air missile from INS Surat in the Arabian Sea. The missile, developed jointly with Israel, has a 70-km interception range and targets sea-skimming threats. INS Surat, a newly commissioned stealth destroyer, is part of India’s Visakhapatnam-class and features high-end indigenous technology and AI systems. The show of military strength comes just days after PM Modi vowed harsh action against those behind the Pahalgam attack. Read full story

Heartbreaking farewell: Nine-year-old performs father’s last rites
In Odisha’s Balasore district, nine-year-old Tanuj Kumar Satpathy performed the last rites of his father, Prashant Satpathy, a victim of the Pahalgam terror attack. The funeral drew hundreds, including the state’s chief minister and other top leaders. A visibly stunned Tanuj followed rituals as his father’s pyre was lit amid chants of ‘Jai Hind’. The state government has announced Rs 20 lakh compensation, a job for the widow, and educational support for Tanuj. Read full story

India might be first to lock in historic trade deal with US
India may soon finalise a bilateral trade agreement with the United States under President Donald Trump’s push for “reciprocal” tariffs. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said negotiations are nearing completion, with India being seen as a cooperative partner due to its lower tariffs and minimal trade barriers. If signed, India would be the first to close such a deal under Trump’s revised trade vision. “India also has fewer non-tariff trade barriers, obviously, no currency manipulation, very, very little government subsidies, so that reaching a deal with the Indians is much easier,” Bessant said. Read full story