| Good morning, From India’s storied Golconda mines—the birthplace of legends like the Koh-i-Noor and Darya-i-Nur—emerged The Golconda Blue, once destined to fetch a whopping $35–$50 million at Christie’s. It was poised to become the largest Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ever auctioned. Its anonymous owners have instead opted for a private sale within the family, pulling the gem from public view. But its legacy is anything but quiet. Once owned by the Maharaja of Indore, passed to famed jeweller Harry Winston, and briefly held by the Maharaja of Baroda, the Golconda Blue has a rich history. Read about it in our explainer. On that note, let’s get to today’s edition.
Big Story As the government readies its response to the April 21 Pahalgam attack, India's top defence leaders gathered at the Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday. Per sources, PM Modi told them the armed forces have “complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response”. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS)—comprising the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister—is expected later today. So, what should India’s response be? Our columnists C Raja Mohan, M N Sabharwal, and Manish Sabharwal weigh in. Raja Mohan argues that India’s retaliation must not just punish but compel a political reckoning inside Pakistan. (Read) Meanwhile, the Sabharwals examine the strategic arc of India’s Kashmir policy and why this attack demands a forceful reaction. Adding fuel to the fire, Pakistani minister Attaullah Tarar has warned that Islamabad has “credible intelligence” suggesting India could launch a military operation within the next 24–36 hours.
Only in Express The diplomatic measures in the wake of the Pahalgam attack have spelt despair for several families. As India ordered Pakistani nationals to return to their countries, the Attari border post has become a site of teary farewells and heartbreak. For many, the suspension of visas for Pakistani nationals has meant separation from spouses and children. My colleague, Kamaldeep Singh Brar, documents their stories. Similar scenes are playing out miles away in Jammu and Kashmir, where many fear a midnight knock by the police, which will send them to Attari alongside other deportees.
From the Front Page Bottom line: In the ongoing case over the alleged use of Pegasus, an Israeli-made spyware, to surveil journalists, activists and politicians, the Supreme Court has underlined that there is nothing wrong if a country has spyware and employs it for security. The only question would be against whom it is used. (S)heroes: Last year, Himachal Pradesh's Chief Minister announced his government's plans to create an experimental women-led district administration. In the first such district, Lahaul and Spiti, all seven top governance and administrative posts are now held by women.
Must Read Fair winds: India is all set to acquire 26 Rafale-M fighter jets after its Rs 63,000 crore deal with France. An expert, Rear Admiral Mukul Asthana (Retd), explains the significance of the aircraft for the armed forces and why the Rafale fighter jets would improve interoperability between the Navy and the Air Force. Island Voice: The Great Andamanese, which includes a mixture of tribal languages such as Jero, Sare, Bo, and Khora, has fewer than 10 speakers alive. In the face of this extinction, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have embraced a unique linguistic identity as speakers of Andamanese Hindi. Unlike Hindi, the language does not have any gender agreement or number agreement. Read Adrija Roychowdhury's fascinating piece on the origins and evolution of Andamanese Hindi.
And Finally... A handy companion for many, ChatGPT has a new offering for its users. OpenAI is set to launch a new shopping option, especially for users who research and buy products with the help of the AI chatbot. For now, the feature is advertisement-free, which may have Google worried. 🎧 Before you go, don’t forget to tune in to the latest ‘3 Things’ podcast episode. Today’s lineup: Crackdown on Bangladeshi illegal immigrants in Ahmedabad and the shutting down of tourist sites in J&K. That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta | 
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