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New Delhi: Uncertainty looms large over the fate of 42,500 Indian Hajj pilgrims registered with private tour operators, as procedural lapses prevented the completion of formalities before the closure of Saudi Arabia's Hajj portal.

Even as hopes were pinned on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia for a resolution, the issue reportedly remained unaddressed, especially after his trip was cut short due to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Private tour operators allege that the central government failed to inform them about the February deadline for completing Hajj travel procedures. However, the government blames the operators for not adhering to required protocols in time.

Saudi Arabia had recently announced an additional quota of 10,000 Hajj slots, reopening the Nusukh portal on Thursday. But tour operators claim that technical issues have stalled the uploading process. The portal is set to close by May 5, leaving very little time. Reportedly, fewer than 500 pilgrims from Kerala may benefit from this new quota.

Out of the 1.75 lakh Hajj slots allotted to India under the India-Saudi agreement, 30%—approximately 52,500—were designated for private operators. It is this quota that is now in jeopardy.

An estimated 11,000 pilgrims from Kerala had registered through private operators, some even switching from the government-run Hajj Committee in hopes of better services. Many of them have already paid up to Rs 6 lakh, either as an advance or in full. Operators claim that these payments were remitted to the central authorities.

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Lahore, May 10 (PTI): Pakistan early Saturday claimed that its three airbases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones.

Pakistan military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry told a hurriedly called press conference in Islamabad at around 4 am that Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot in Jhang district) airbases of Pakistan Air Force were targeted.

"But all assets of the Air Force remain safe," he claimed.

India has fired air-to-surface missiles with its jets, he claimed.

He added that several missiles were intercepted by Pakistan's air defence system.

He said this is a "sinister act of India pushing the region into lethal war and Pakistan will respond to this aggression. India should wait for our response".

Chaudhry did not take any questions and ended the presser abruptly.

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