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

BJP leader Harsh Vardhan said that the Delhi unit of the BJP is voicing the feelings shared by the 140 crore people of India. He assured Prime Minister Modi of their full support and urged the United Nations and the global community to recognise Pakistan as a country that backs terrorism.

The first group of 65 tourists from Maharashtra, who were stuck in Jammu and Kashmir, arrived in Mumbai early Thursday as part of the evacuation efforts led by the Shiv Sena under Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Shinde had travelled to Srinagar on Wednesday evening to speed up the process of bringing back the stranded tourists after 26 people, including six from Maharashtra, lost their lives in the terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday.

Jairam Ramesh posted on X that the Indian National Congress had called for an All-Party meeting on the night of April 22 itself, after the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of many tourists. He said that given how serious the situation is and the strong emotions across the country, the Congress expects the Prime Minister to lead the All-Party meeting scheduled for 6 PM today. He added that it is important for the PM to take all political parties into confidence and work together to build a united response.

Congress leaders seen observing a moment of silence to pay tribute to the Pahalgam terror attack victims. The picture is captured before the CWC meeting began in the National capital today.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that his government is coordinating with other state governments where reports have surfaced about Kashmiris facing harassment after the Pahalgam terror attack. He mentioned that he has personally reached out to the Chief Ministers of those states and asked them to ensure the safety of Kashmiri residents and take special care during this sensitive time. Abdullah made this statement in response to a post by National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, who had called for his help after videos showing alleged mistreatment of Kashmiris appeared on social media.

Pakistan is holding a high-level security meeting on Thursday to plan its response to India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty and downgrade diplomatic relations, a PTI report said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for a meeting of the National Security Committee to discuss what Pakistan described as India’s “irresponsible actions” following what it claims was a false flag operation in Pahalgam.

According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting will be attended by the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with key ministers, the PTI report said. On Wednesday, India suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty and announced a downgrade in diplomatic ties with Pakistan. This includes the removal of Pakistan’s military attachés, following evidence of cross-border links to the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people on Tuesday.

A high-level meeting is currently being held at the Ministry of Home Affairs, news agency ANI reported. The report, citing sources, revealed that the meeting is being attended by Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director of Intelligence Bureau, and Chief of R&AW.

Government of Pakistan’s account on ‘X’ has been withheld in India. If you go to their X page, it boldy says ‘Account Withheld’.

A video of a local carrying the Pahalgam terror attack survivor on his back, is going viral on social media. Watch the video here:

See more

#watch | Pahalgam, J&K | In a viral video on social media, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, a shawl hawker from Pahalgam, can be seen carrying a tourist injured in the #pahalgamterroristattack to safety on his back.

He says, "... The Pahalgam Poney Association president, Abdul Waheed Wan,… pic.twitter.com/cBNTFu3LDA

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2025

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Indian actress Vaani Kapoor have expressed deep sorrow over the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, even as calls to ban their upcoming film Abir Gulaal in India continue to grow. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has called for a complete industry boycott, specifically targeting the film.

After the terror attack on Tuesday that killed 26 people in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, protests have broken out in many parts of the country. People are expressing their anger and sadness over the loss of innocent lives. In Delhi, members of the Indian Youth Congress held a candlelight protest on Wednesday. They also burned Pakistani flags and demanded strong action against those responsible for the attack. In Telangana, the Youth Congress organized street protests, calling for answers and tough steps to stop cross-border terrorism. In Pahalgam, hotel owners and shopkeepers also held a candlelight protest to show their sorrow and anger. In Srinagar, Sajad Lone, the head of the J&K People’s Conference, led a protest march against the tragic incident.

In response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the US Department of State repeated its travel advisory for Americans to avoid traveling to Jammu and Kashmir. The warning points out the ongoing risks of terrorist attacks and unrest in the region, especially near the LOC between India and Pakistan, a repot by TOI said. The Kashmir Valley—including well-known tourist spots like Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam—is again under spotlight due the the recent attack. The advisory also says that the Indian government does not allow foreign tourists to visit certain areas near the LOC. US government staff are not allowed to travel to Jammu and Kashmir, and American citizens are strongly advised to stay away for their safety. More information is available on the official US travel website.

Currently, there is an encounter going on between the security forces in kashmir and the terrorists, news agency ANI reported. The encounter is taking place in Dudu Basantgarh area of Udhampur, the J&K Police said.

Delhi Police said they got a call late last night from a man who claimed he had advance information about the Pahalgam terror attack. However, during questioning, it was found that the man was drunk when he made the call. Multiple agencies later questioned him, and it was confirmed that his claim had no truth to it.

Speaking about the severe impact of the Pahalgam terror attack on the local tourism industry, a chef who has worked in a Pahalgam hotel for the past 30 years said he had never witnessed such a major attack in the area. He shared that he is financially struggling and relies completely on tourism for his income. Now, with the drop in tourists, he’s unsure how he will survive, as he doesn’t own enough property or resources to fall back on. He urged the government to take the strongest possible action against the attackers. The chef also mentioned that the tourist season was going very well, with hotels fully booked, and said the financial loss from the incident would run not just into crores, but into billions.

The body of Indian Air Force Corporal Tage Hailyang, who was from Arunachal Pradesh, was brought to Guwahati by a special flight early Thursday morning. Assam minister Jayanta Malla Baruah received the body at the Air Force base around 1 am. He said it was heartbreaking to receive the remains of someone who had traveled far, only to return like this. He called Corporal Hailyang a brave son of Arunachal who lost his life in the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. The minister also expressed hope that terrorism would be wiped out and said he was confident the Indian government would take strong action in response to the attack.

Speaking to ANI, businessmen from Attari have said that their business will take hit due to the closure of Attari integrated checkpost. However, they said they still stand with the nation. “We stand with the decision of PM Modi,” a businessmen said. Meanwhile, the security in Jammu and Kashmir has been tightened with high alert on National Highway-144.

A father and son from Gujarat went to Kashmir for a spiritual trip, not knowing it would be their last. Yatish Parmar and his son Smit were part of a group of 19 people from Bhavnagar who traveled to Kashmir on April 16 to attend a religious event by preacher Morari Bapu in Srinagar, according to PTI sources. After the event, they went to visit Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday. It was there that terrorists attacked and killed 26 people, including the father and son. They lived in the Kaliyabid area of Bhavnagar city. In another tragic incident, Suresh Kalathiya from Surat, who was on vacation in Pahalgam with his wife and two children, was also shot dead by terrorists.

The Centre will hold an all-party meet today to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and listen to the opinions of all the other parties. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to give details about the attack during the meeting. Rajnath Singh will lead the discussion, reported PTI.

Since the government has already taken several strong steps against Pakistan after the attack — in which at least 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed — the PTI sources said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar might also speak at the meeting.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has lauded India’s suspension of Indus Water Treaty. Dubey said that Pakistan “will die without water, this is the 56-inch chest”. Dubey on X also wrote that food, water and hookah will be stopped and that “sanatani BJP workers would kill after torturing them”

PM package employees have been directed to work from home till April 27th.

See more

Employees engaged under the PM Package are directed to work from home with immediate effect till 27th April, orders the Chief Education Officer, Baramulla, J&K pic.twitter.com/xccayhM8kj

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2025

NCP-SCP leader Sharad Pawar visited Pune to pay his final respects to Santosh Jagdale, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack. He also met and offered his condolences to the mourning family.

Prashant Satapathy’s sister said they had a hard time getting in touch with him and his family. When they finally made contact, they were initially told he was safe. However, they later received the heartbreaking news that he had died in the attack. She said they found out about his death while they were at the Delhi airport.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. He said China is against all types of terrorism. He also expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the families of the victims and those who were injured.

Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, India announced five key decisions on Wednesday:

– Indus Waters Treaty Put on Hold

– Attari Border Crossing Closed

– SAARC Visa Ban for Pakistan Nationals

– Declared Pakistan’s Defence, Military, Navy, and Air Advisors in New Delhi as persona non grata (unwelcome persons). They have been given one week to leave the country.

– India to Recall Its Defence Officials from Pakistan

– India will also pull back its own Defence, Navy, and Air Advisors from its High Commission in Islamabad.

The Indian government took the decision of shutting down the Attari border on Wednesday. Newsagency ANI has captured some glimpses of Attari integrated check post in Amritsar early morning today. Watch here:

See more

#watch | Morning visuals from the Attari Integrated checkpost in Punjab's Amritsar.

In the wake of the horrific #pahalgamterroristattack, the government of India has decided to close the integrated checkpost Attari with immediate effect. Those (Pakistani nationals) who have… pic.twitter.com/nfYIA8OsjX

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2025

When asked if the speech by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir could have encouraged the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told ANI that the speech clearly seemed to support terrorism. He pointed out that Munir called Kashmir the “jugular vein,” and suggested that India should respond strongly by targeting Pakistan’s key vulnerabilities.

Rubin stated that there’s no room left for doubt or half-measures. He said that Pakistan is known to host multiple terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba. He blamed the growing threat on the failure to take strong action against terrorism, and accused Pakistani diplomats of misleading Western countries. According to him, the issue is now spreading beyond Pakistan, even affecting countries like Bangladesh.

Rubin said that while detailed intelligence reports are still expected in the coming days—through both signals and human sources—existing evidence such as geography, past incidents, and ideological links all point toward Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, as the main force behind the attack.

Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney on Wednesday and said that he was “horrified” by the terrorist attack that was carried out in Pahalgam. He called it a “senseless and shocking act of violence” that claimed the lives of innocent civilians and tourists. He extended his full support to India saying and strongly condemned the attack.

Responding to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, a former Pentagon official and current senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute said the United States should officially label Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism and declare Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir a terrorist. He compared Munir to Osama Bin Laden, saying the only difference is their lifestyle—one lived in a cave, the other in luxury—but both share the same role in spreading terror and should face similar consequences.

He added that while the attack was shocking, it reflects a larger truth: attempts to present Pakistan in a better light don’t change its support for terrorism. He pointed out that, just like during President Bill Clinton’s visit to India when a terror attack took place, this incident seems intended to distract from U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s current visit to India. He urged the U.S. not to overlook Pakistan’s actions or treat the incident as a random act.

The Chinar Corps of the Indian Army has found a large number of weapons and ammunition in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday. In a post on social media platform X, the Chinar Corps shared that they recovered two AK series rifles, five magazines, one pistol, 10 kilograms of remote-controlled explosive device (RCIED), and other items used in war.