NEW DELHI 01 MARCH 2026 SUNDAY `12 PAGES 24 facebook/TheMorningStandard  X.com/TheMornStandard https://epaper.morningstandard.in PLUS: 12 PAGES Skin at Sea EAT PLAY TALK MAGAZINE The Sense of an Ending Devdutt Pattanaik Ravi Shankar Prabhu Chawla Shinie Antony Shankkar Aiyar Dr Alka Pande Debjani Ghosh Tears, Cheers, and Career Detours EXCLUSIVE VOICES The Painter as a Gatecrasher US, Israel launch a flurry of strikes on Iranian targets A Shore Thing Tehran hits back against Tel Aviv, Gulf allies of the US Tabriz TEHRAN Urmia Karaj Damavand Zanjan Qom IRAN Kermanshah Iraq Syria Ilam Israel Lorestan Province Isfahan Jordan Shiraz Busherhr Saudi Arabia Bahrain REGIME CHANGE WAR A G E N C I E S @ Tehran/Tel Aviv THE US and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday with Presi, dent Donald Trump calling on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and US military bases in West Asia. Some of the first strikes on Iran appeared to hit areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Smoke could be seen rising from the capital as part of strikes that Iranian media said occurred nationwide. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was in his offices when the attack occurred. A strike on a school in southern Iran killed 63 people, a local official said. AFP was unable to immediately access the site in order to verify the toll. Iran then launched a counter missile salvo, whose impact could be heard in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE, as well as Israel. “The Iranian armed forces consider as legitimate targets the sites from which the US and Zionist operations were carried out,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Iranian TV . Plumes of black smoke hung over Tehran on Saturday, including in the Pasteur district, site of the home of Khamenei, and there was a huge security deployment in the capital. “Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among the targets of the attack,” Israel’s public broadcaster reported, citing an Israeli source. Iranian local media reported that Khamenei, Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and “all the com- manders” of the Iran’s army were in good health. The attacks came after US President Donald Trump expressed frustration at Iran’s stance in negotiations over its nuclear and missile programmes. “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” Trump said, warning of possible US casualties. Explosions were heard over central Doha and near Al-Udeid military base, the largest US facility in the region. Witnesses in Dubai saw missiles streaking across the sky. The famed Fairmont The Palm hotel and Atlantis The Royal, were attacked, and the area was evacuated. Kuwait and the UAE reported intercepting incoming Iranian missiles. Abu Dhabi said it “reserves its full right to respond”, slamming the attacks as “a dangerous escalation”. P7 & P9 Minab Qatar UAE Combo footage of social media videos — verified by AFPTV teams — of an explosion in Tehran on Saturday, after the US launched attacks on Iran | AFP Sites hit in Iran Iran’s retaliation Mapping the attack and counter-attack The map shows the joint US-Israel strikes targeting key military installations in Iran such as Isfahan, Bushehr, Minab, Tabriz and a host of other regions. In response, Iran struck Gulf allies of the US such as Qatar, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and parts of Israel TALKING HEADS Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations Ensuring nuclear safety and preventing any actions that could further escalate tensions or undermine the global nonproliferation regime is of key importance Ursula von der Leyen, EU chief Donald Trump AMMA SPEAKS In Their Grey Zones New Delhi urges restraint, respect for sovereignty J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi INDIA on Saturday voiced deep concern over the escalating situation in Iran and the wider Gulf region, urging all sides to exercise restraint and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) said: “India is deeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region. We urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians.” The government underscored that talks, not military confrontation, must guide the path forward. “Dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected,” the statement said, reiterating India’s position on adherence to international law and regional stability . External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held separate conversations with foreign ministers of Iran and Israel. After his talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Jaishankar said on X, “Had a telecon with Iranian FM this evening. Shared India’s deep concern at the recent developments in Iran and the region.” Jaishankar also spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. “Spoke with Israeli FM this afternoon. Reiterated India’s call for dialogue and diplomacy to deescalate tensions,” he said. The Gulf region hosts over 10 million Indians, making stability there both a strategic and humanitarian priority for India. The MEA said, “Our missions are in constant touch with Indian nationals and have issued appropriate advisories asking them to remain vigilant.” Baramati air crash’s report Sunjay’s mom, Karisma’s faults plane operator, airport kids can check will: HC FORENSICALLY S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi EXPRESS READ T20 WC 2026 Pakistan win but Kiwis advance Pakistan failed to keep Sri Lanka under 147 after setting a target of 213 in Pallekele and as a result got knocked out of the T20 World Cup despite the win on Saturday. New Zealand edged past Pakistan on net run rate to qualify for the semifinal. The first semifinal will be between South Africa and New Zealand in Kolkata on March 4. Other semifinal is on Mar 5 in Mumbai. P11 Today’s Matches 3pm: Zimbabwe vs South Africa (Delhi), 7pm: India vs West Indies (Kolkata) THE preliminary report on the Baramati air crash that killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar last month revealed the aircraft operator VSR Ventures’ failure to adhere to Standard Operating Procedures, and the bypassing of the visibility norms for safe operation of flights at the aerodrome. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday made public its report on the accident involving Learjet-45XR. Despite poor visibility (3 km instead of the mandatory 5 km), the cockpit crew chose to land and those manning the control gave the go-ahead, the report specified. It pointed to the poor infrastructure and maintenance at the airport where the runway No windsock at 11 The airport lacked navigational aids other than wind socks. “Two windsocks have been installed at the aerodrome, both towards RWY 29 side. No wind sock was available towards runway 11 side,” it said markings, which guide the pilots in landing, had faded as recarpeting was done 11 years ago. The airport also lacked navigational aids. The aerodrome lacked a full boundary wall, it pointed out. “The last runway re-carpeting was carried out in March 2016 and thereafter no runway recarpeting was carried out which resulted into fading of all the runway markings and presence of loose gravels on the runway surface,” the report read. Sharing details of the accident which occurred at 8.46 am on January 28, the AAIB said the aircraft was handed over from Pune ATC to Baramati airport when it was 38 miles away from it. The tower at Baramati airfield that mor ning was manned by a ground instructor of a Flight Training Organisation. He was communicating with the incoming aircraft to assist the landing. “As per the CCTV footage, the aircraft was observed to have banked towards right before impacting the terrain. It first impacted the trees before hitting the ground which is at a lower elevation than the runway surface. The ground impact of aircraft was at a lateral distance of about 50 metres on the left from edge of RWY 11,” the report said. Why do Mahatmas take on Suffering? Brazen bid to disturb peace, say Russia, China Oman  court noted, “The registry shall allow Plaintiffs [children] and THE Delhi High Court has Defendant No. 3 [Rani] to inallowed late businessman spect the original Will of late Sunjay Kapur’s children with Sanjay Kapur kept in the sealed former wife and actor Karisma cover on March 10, 2026, at 3 Kapoor and mother Rani Ka- PM in the presence of authorpur to forensically inised counsel for Despect his purported fendant Nos. 1 & 2 [Priwill. Joint Registrar ya Kapur] as per rules, Gagandeep Jindal albut will not allowed Registry shall lowed their counsels to any party to take phoinspect the will, which allow Plaintiffs tograph or copy of the [children] and is lying with the court Defendant No. 3 said original Will kept registry in a sealed cov- [Rani] to inspect in the sealed cover.” er, on March 10 in the the original Will The court added that presence of the counsel if Priya’s counsels fail of late Sanjay of Sunjay’s third wife Kapur kept in the to remain present on sealed cover on Priya Kapur. the said date and time, The order came after March 10, 2026 Karisma and Rani will the advocates reprebe allowed to carry out Court senting Sunjay and Kathe inspection. risma’s children and Rani The purported will is at the claimed that the inspection of centre of the legal battle bethe original will was essential tween several members of Sunto verify its authenticity. The jay Kapur’s family . U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi Bike-borne men stab YouTuber in Ghaziabad E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi A 50-year-old YouTuber was stabbed multiple times allegedly by two bike-borne men in Loni, Ghaziabad. Saleem Ahmed alias Saleem Wastik, known for taking controversial stand, sustained serious injuries to his neck, abdomen and ear. Ahmed, who runs YouTube channel ‘Salim Wastik’ and goes by the title ‘Ex-Muslim’, was attacked at his office. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Loni) Siddhartha Gautam said that the Loni police station got information on Friday night that a man had been stabbed by two unidentified persons. A police team reached the spot and shifted the injured to hospital. He was referred to GTB Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment, Gautam said, adding additional force has been deployed in the area. RANJI TROPHY Baa-Hubballi, the beginning: Jammu & Kashmir’s crowning moment A M I T S U PA D H Y E @ Hubballi THE champagne was on ice since Friday evening. After 66 years of hardships and painful wait, Jammu and Kashmir, who was once considered the punching bag of North Zone cricket, lifted the Ranji Trophy title, getting better of a more fancied side Karnataka. The team was ecstatic and celebrated with every ounce of whatever energy left after five days of toil. They were dancing, hugging, yelling and shouting. Their chief minister Omar Omdullah was in attendance and stood there watching the team scripting history The sto. ry of an underdog is always special. It is peppered with emotional paeans, untold tales of endurance and is also about what sparked that revival. Jammu and Kashmir too had its share of a such narrative. For a side always embroiled in needless controversies, the title will come more as a balm on a deep wound of neglect. The team was not a hurriedly assembled cast. It was years in the making, brick by brick. They have beaten the likes of Mumbai and came close to making their first semifinals last year when Kerala took a one-run lead. One man who can claim to have brought this kind of semblance in the team is Ajay Jammu and Kashmir players celebrate after winning their first Ranji Trophy title in Hubballi on Saturday evening | D HEMANTH Sharma – the coach. His story is unique, as reported by this newspaper first and multiple times. He was called by now president of Indian cricket board (BCCI) Mithun Manhas when he was heading the J&K panel to look after the day to day affairs of the state cricket. The coach spent sleepless nights before the final too. On Saturday, a draw was all J&K needed after taking a 291-run lead in the first innings. Skipper Paras Dogra, a veteran of many seasons puts it succinctly “I cannot explain and I don’t . have any words. It is the biggest thing in my life. Biggest gratitude I will have in my life before I leave this word,” he said.