Jammu and Kashmir Pahalgam Terror Attack Highlights: Opposition gives ‘full support’ to govt during all-party meeting, ‘security lapses’ discussed

Reference to the Government of India’s decision (24 April 2025) to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals – It is hereby clarified that the revocation of visas specified in the above decision does not apply to the Long Term Visas (LTVs) already issued to Hindu Pakistani nationals, which remain valid: MEA

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who cancelled his scheduled tour of Uttar Pradesh in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack but, visited Bihar where “assembly elections are round the corner”.

Thousands of tourists returned from Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday with the civil aviation ministry indicating that 110 flights were operated connecting Srinagar airport. This included eight additional services that were run in light of the Pahalgam terror attack. The Srinagar airport handled more than 14,000 passengers on Thursday.

“The meeting went very well, and in fact, all the political leaders unanimously supported the action taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security with regard to Pakistan. The Government made it clear in the meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government will have zero tolerance towards terrorist activities in our country and all the leaders expressed their solidarity with the Government for all the actions being taken by the Government and all the actions to be taken in the future,” said Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.

“The central government can take action against the nation which shelters the terrorist groups. The international law also permits us to do an air and naval blockade in self-defence against Pakistan and impose sanctions on Pakistan on arms sales,” suggested AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

He also raised several questions after emerging from the all-party meeting, but insisted that this was ‘not a political issue’. Owaisi also hailed the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and claimed they would support “whatever decision the central government takes”.

“Why was the CRPF not deployed at the Baisaran meadow?… Why did the quick reaction team take one hour to reach there and they shot people by asking their religion…The false propaganda against the Kashmiris and Kashmiri students should be stopped… I condemn the way the terrorists killed people by asking about their religion,” he said.

TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said security lapses were discussed during the all-party meeting in Delhi.

“We assured the government that all political parties will stand by the government, whatever decisions they take for the interest of the country,” he added.

Meanwhile AAP MP Sanjay Singh reiterated the need for punitive action against Pakistan after emerging from the meeting.

” This incident took place on 22nd April and on 20th April, that place without the information of security agencies was opened…The security agencies had no information about it…We have demanded that the accountability needs to be fixed and action should be taken as to why there was a security lapse,” he told ANI.

“Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also there. All parties condemned the #pahalgamterroristattack. We said that efforts should be made to maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after attending the all-party meeting convened by the central government.

“Everyone condemned the Pahalgam terror attack. The opposition has given full support to the government to take any action,” said LoP Rahul Gandhi after attending the meeting.

The Pakistani stock market witnessed a sharp dip on Thursday with the benchmark KSE-100 index closing at 115,019.81 — down by 2206.33 points from the last close.

“We were about to return from there when my husband told me he needed to use the washroom… When he came out of the washroom, suddenly a loud sound came and we thought it was of ropeway breakage but when we turned around, we saw the first man who was shot. A girl was crying and asking to be killed. Everyone started running and hiding here and there. We hid behind the washroom… All of us started trying to run but the terrorists found us… We were not able to contact each other via phone… The terrorists asked my husband to recite Kalma,” Jennifer, the wife of Sushil Nathaniel, told ANI.

Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to visit Srinagar, J&K tomorrow, April 25

Congress workers led by its Jharkhand president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh took out a candlelight procession in Ranchi on Thursday to protest the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, in which at least 26 people were killed.

The march began from Congress Bhawan, the party’s headquarters here, and culminated at the city’s Albert Ekka Chowk.

The workers raised slogans against the attack and demanded strong action against its perpetrators.

“A total of 28 Pakistani nationals left for Pakistan from the Attari border and 105 Indian nationals have returned from Pakistan…There has been an impact on the number of tourists,” said Punjab Police Protocol Officer Arun Mahal.

The gates at the Attari-Wagah integrated checkpost also remained shut during the beating retreat ceremony on Thursday — with the parade being done in the respective areas.

“Our flights to the UAE from North India will operate via alternate routes. As a result, these flights will carry additional fuel to account for the longer flying time. There is no significant impact on our flight schedules,” said SpiceJet Spokesperson.

In view of the ongoing situation and Pakistan air space closure, a few international flight schedules may be impacted. We’re working to minimise the inconvenience.

“Due to the announced restriction of Pakistan airspace for all Indian airlines, it is expected that some Air India flights to or from North America, UK, Europe, and Middle East will take an alternative extended route. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen airspace closure that is outside our control,” the airline wrote on X.

” We discussed things like how to talk to other state govts. We need to ensure the safety and security of people from other states as well…we heavily discussed how to ensure the safety of J&K people in other states…there might be a special Assembly session that will be called, in which this could be discussed,” said National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi.

A two-minute silence was observed during the all-party meeting called by the Central Government to honour the innocent lives lost in the Pahalgam terror attack. Top leaders from various parties as well as Union Ministers are present for the meeting in Delhi.

All-party meeting called by the Central Government underway at the Parliament Annexe building Union HM Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, EAM Dr S Jaishankar are also present

Resolution passed at all-party meeting in Jammu and Kashmir condemning heinous attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead: CM Omar Abdullah.

“PM Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel called PM Narendra Modi and strongly condemned the terror attack on Indian soil. He expressed solidarity with the people of India, and the families of the victims. PM Modi shared the barbaric nature of the cross border terrorist attack and reiterated India’s firm resolve to bring the perpetrators and their supporters to justice,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have arrived at the Parliament Annexe building in Delhi to attend the all-party meeting.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP & Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrive at the Parliament Annexe building in Delhi to attend the all-party meeting.

“In the wake of the recent tragic attack in Pahalgam, a calibrated decision has been taken to scale down the ceremonial display during the Retreat Ceremony at Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki in Punjab. The key changes include: 1) Suspension of the symbolic handshake of Indian Guard Commander with the counterpart Guard Commander. 2) Gates to remain closed during the ceremony,” the BSF Punjab Frontier wrote on X.

Pakistan has said that it will “hold all bilateral agreements with India including but not limited to Simla Agreement in abeyance” amid escalating tensions.

Assam Police arrested AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam for his derogatory remarks on the terror attack in Pahalgam. Police have taken him to the Nagaon police station: Assam DGP Harmeet Singh

Union Ministers Amit Shah and S Jaishankar called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. It was not immediately clear what was discussed. The interaction however comes amid escalating tensions with Pakistan following a horrifying terror attack in Kashmir.

The NIA and CRPF conducted a joint search operation in Baisaran area of Pahalgam — the site of the recent attack — on Thursday.

“Pakistan suspends all visas under SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals and deems them cancelled with immediate effect, with the exception of Sikh religious pilgrims. Indian nationals currently in Pakistan under SVES are instructed to exit within 48 hours, less Sikh pilgrims,” Dawn quoted the Pakistan National Security Committee as saying.