India in April 2026: the most important developments in security
India's security news in April 2026 was dominated by shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. On April 18 Iranian forces fired on two Indian-flagged ships, forcing them to turn back; the crews were reported safe. India summoned Iran's ambassador and voiced deep concern, and it lodged a further protest the next day after reports of Iranian gunboats and an unidentified projectile hitting the ships. Tehran said relations with India remained strong. On April 20 about 14 Indian ships were still in the area. Around April 22 and 23, Iran seized two vessels near the Strait, including a Gujarat-bound ship. Earlier in the month eight Indian-flagged ships had left the Persian Gulf, and the first Indian vessel crossed after the US-Iran ceasefire on April 11. After Trump announced a blockade of Iranian ports, two supertankers carrying Iranian crude anchored off India. The US seized an Iranian oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, and reports said Trump had issued a lethal order in connection with the seizure.
Tension with Pakistan was the second theme. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned India against a "false-flag operation" and said he would take the conflict to Kolkata after a warning from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. A Lashkar-e-Taiba co-founder was shot dead in Lahore on April 16. On April 22, global leaders marked the first anniversary of the Pahalgam attack and backed India's counterterrorism efforts. Indian police arrested a Lashkar operative in Punjab and, separately, men accused of working for a Pakistani intelligence proxy over a terror plot. Pakistan extended its ban on Indian aircraft over its airspace until May 24.
India also moved on defence. The nuclear-powered submarine INS Aridhaman joined the fleet, and a pact letting India and Russia station troops, warships and aircraft on each other's territory took effect. Rajnath Singh travelled to Germany, with submarine talks expected. A large fire broke out at the HPCL refinery in Rajasthan hours before a launch event with Prime Minister Modi; no casualties were reported. Four people were killed in violence in Manipur.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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