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

Arunachal governor condemns terrorist attack on tourists in Kashmir. The governor said such attacks are a direct assault on the composite and inclusive fabric of India, which binds the nation in unity and diversity.

Members of the ruling National Conference (NC) staged a protest march on Wednesday to condemn the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. Led by NC MLAs, senior leaders, and party workers—including Nasir Aslam Wani, advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah—the demonstrators assembled at the party’s headquarters, Nawa-i-Subah, and marched towards the Lal Chowk city centre.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s sons, Zahir and Zamir, also joined the march in a show of solidarity with the victims. Carrying placards that read “Stop Innocent Killings,” “United in Grief,” and “Violence Will Never Win,” the protesters raised slogans demanding justice and exemplary punishment for those responsible. The march concluded peacefully at the iconic Clock Tower in Lal Chowk.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday assured that airfares for flights to and from Srinagar are being closely monitored to prevent any price surges. His statement comes in the wake of the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, which claimed at least 26 lives and prompted a sudden rush of tourists looking to return home. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the minister said that measures are being taken to ensure the safe and affordable return of tourists. He confirmed that airline operators have been given strict instructions to avoid fare hikes and maintain reasonable pricing.

The assurance comes amid reports of certain travel websites displaying flight prices exceeding Rs 50,000. Addressing these concerns, Naidu emphasized that he is personally monitoring the situation and remains in constant contact with the Ministry of Home Affairs and airline operators to manage the crisis effectively.

“Food and water are being provided at the airport, and an extra tent has been set up outside for those waiting. Between 6 AM and 12 PM today, Srinagar Airport handled 20 Departures with 3,337 pax,” Naidu said.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday announced that three additional flights will be operated to help tourists return home from Srinagar, following the terror attack in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, which left at least 26 people dead. Due to the unexpected spike in demand, the government is ramping up efforts to ensure smooth and safe travel for those affected. Sharing images of passengers waiting under temporary tents and water dispensers set up outside Srinagar airport, Naidu highlighted the efforts to support stranded travelers.

He noted that between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Wednesday, the airport handled 20 departing flights, carrying a total of 3,337 passengers. Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed airlines to increase flight frequency from Srinagar to accommodate the surge in outbound travelers and ensure timely evacuations in the wake of the tragic incident.

“In addition to the four extra flights already announced, three more flights to Delhi have been added for today — IndiGo 6E 3203 (Dep: 1700, Arr: 1800), IndiGo 6E 3103 (Dep: 1800, Arr: 1930), and a SpiceJet flight scheduled to depart at 10:30 PM. All airlines operating from Srinagar have waived cancellation and rescheduling charges to support passengers,” Naidu said.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Democratic Progressive Azad Party President, on Wednesday termed the Pahalgam terror strike an attack on humanity and Kashmiriyat. “Today, if a militant asks (tourists) what is your religion, it means that Pakistan-sponsored militants have attacked our humanity and Kashmiriyat, and perhaps this is the reason why the Muslims of J&K, a Muslim majority state, have stood up against the militants and said that enough is enough… Earlier, muslims were often accused of giving shelter to such militants. But today, they have shown that they are against such militants… I appeal to everyone to avoid the work of dividing the population. We should instead focus on the positive message given by the muslims of Kashmir that they are with our Hindu brothers and sisters who were killed and are against the militants,” ANI quoted him as saying.

“China has noted the reports,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a media briefing here while responding to a query on the attack. “We strongly condemn the attack. China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism. We mourn for the lives lost and express sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured,” he added.

As a mark of respect for the 26 victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, government employees in Jammu and Kashmir will observe a two-minute silence on Wednesday.

“In light of the tragic killing of innocent civilians by terrorists in Pahalgam, all government office employees across Jammu and Kashmir are requested to observe a two-minute silence at 3:30 PM today as a mark of respect and solidarity,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on his official X handle.

Following Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed at least 26 people, security has been tightened across the national capital, officials said on Wednesday. The officials informed that the security outside the Pakistan High Commission in the capital has been beefed up as well.

“We have deployed paramilitary forces along with Delhi Police personnel outside of the High Commission of Pakistan. No one will be allowed to breach law and order there,” a senior police officer said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the fallout of the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, officials said. The meeting will focus on assessing the impact of the tragedy on the region’s tourism sector, which had been preparing for the peak summer season. Tourism, a vital pillar of Kashmir’s economy, is expected to suffer a significant setback following the attack, officials added.

In light of the gravity of the situation, the government is also considering convening an all-party meeting on Thursday to build consensus on handling the crisis. On Tuesday afternoon, terrorists opened fire in a meadow near the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam—an area often referred to as ‘mini Switzerland’—killing 26 people, most of them tourists. This marks the deadliest attack in Kashmir since the Pulwama bombing in 2019, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday confirmed that over 40 Kannadigas who were on a trip to Kashmir have been stranded following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. He said he has directed officials to arrange a special flight to ensure their safe return to the state.

The Chief Minister also personally reached out to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack, expressing his condolences over the phone. Among the victims were two individuals from Karnataka — Manjunath Rao from Shivamogga and Bharat Bhushan from Mathikere, Bengaluru.

According to a statement from the CM’s office, Siddaramaiah spoke with Pallavi, the wife of Manjunath Rao, and Sujatha, the wife of Bharat Bhushan, offering his heartfelt sympathies and support during this tragic time.

PM Modi’s planned visit to Kanpur on April 24 has been cancelled in the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. The visit was to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore. The cancellation comes as a mark of respect, given the grief and grim sentiments prevailing among the people, it was deemed inappropriate to hold any celebratory in the city at this time.

However, PM Modi is still scheduled to participate in a pre-scheduled official event in Madhubani, Bihar, on April 24, to mark Panchayati Raj Diwas. The programme will also be attended virtually by people from across the country.

Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu informed that the ministry of civil aviation is closely monitoring airfares after the Pehalgam attack. “In the wake of the tragic terror attack, we are constantly making efforts to ensure safe travel of tourists from Srinagar. Strict instructions were given to Airline companies to avoid any fare surges. Fares are being monitored and kept at reasonable levels,” he said.

Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh terms terror attack a conspiracy to break the unity of the country. “The terror incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which several people lost their lives, is extremely painful. This is not just an attack on humanity, but also on the unity and integrity of the nation. The terrorists asked people their religion before killing — this is a dangerous conspiracy to break the unity of our country.” PTI quoted Singh as saying.

The Nepalese embassy in Delhi has confirmed that one of its citizens died in the attack. The person was from Butwal in western Nepal and had gone to Kashmir with his family for a vacation, according to the embassy. Relatives said the victim was a student named Sudip Neupane.

As the nation mourns the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that took place on Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India will observe a two-minute silence on Wednesday to pay tribute to the victims. A notice from the Administrative Security Branch stated that the moment of silence will be held at 2:00 PM across the entire Court and its Registry, in honour of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident, including the tourists in the Union Territory.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high level meeting with NSA Ajit Doval and chiefs of 3 Armed forces that lasted for about 2.5 hours, news agency ANI reported quoting sources. The meeting reportedly covered all issues related to J&K’s security situation.

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir has called for a critical reassessment of the decisions made in August 2019 regarding Jammu and Kashmir, questioning whether they have truly delivered on their promises.

“The decisions taken on 5 August 2019 were intended to transform J&K for the better. However, nearly six years later, it is crucial to assess whether these decisions have achieved the desired results,” Mir said.

He challenged the narrative that terrorism in the region had been curbed, stating that recent events paint a different and troubling picture.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists, expressing profound grief over the tragedy.

In a post on X, Shah said, “Every Indian feels the pain of losing their loved ones in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. This sorrow cannot be expressed in words.”

He assured the bereaved families and the nation that the perpetrators would face justice. “I assure all these families and the entire nation that these terrorists who killed innocent people will not be spared at all,” he stated.

In a gesture of tribute to the victims of the recent terror attack, players and umpires in today’s IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will wear black armbands.

The match, taking place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, will begin with a minute’s silence to honour the 26 lives lost in the tragic incident.

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar called the incident a tragedy. He said that while India has faced similar attacks in the past, the country has always responded strongly. He described terrorism as a “major curse” to the entire world and assured that strict action will be taken against all those responsible for the attack, with no one being let off.

The Resistance Front (TRF), which is linked to the banned Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, has taken responsibility for the attack on tourists at Baisaran, a remote meadow in Pahalgam, South Kashmir. In January 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs had officially declared TRF a terrorist group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. This was due to its involvement in spreading terrorist propaganda, recruiting militants, helping terrorists cross into India, and smuggling weapons and drugs from Pakistan. TRF first appeared online shortly after Article 370 was removed and Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was revoked in August 2019.

Security agencies released the sketches and identities of the 3 terrorists on Wednesday, who were behind the Pulwama attack. The suspects have been identified as Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha. They are also known by their code names – Moosa, Yunus, and Asif. The sketches were made based on descriptions given by survivors. The Resistance Front (TRF), which is linked to the banned Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba, took responsibility for the attack on Tuesday afternoon.

Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut has demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in view of the Pahalgam terror attack. Criticising the government’s focus, Raut said that too much time is being spent on forming and breaking governments, and the constant efforts to weaken political rivals have taken priority over public safety. He added that people’s security now seems to be left to fate.

Senior Advocate N Hariharan, President of the Delhi High Court Bar Association, said that the association has already responded to the incident by issuing a press release. He said that as a mark of protest, members of the bar association will also wear black bands. He described the attack as a cowardly act that strikes at the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of the country. He strongly condemned the incident and called on the government to act quickly and take strict measures to prevent such attacks.

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti took part in a protest march on Wednesday with her party members where she condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam. The protest began from the party office near Sher-e-Kashmir Park and continued to Lal Chowk, the main city centre. PDP workers carried signs with messages like “killing innocents is an act of terror,” and “stop innocent killings.” The attack happened on Tuesday at the Baisaran meadows and is considered one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in Kashmir in recent years.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday confirmed that three people from the state were among those killed in the terror attack in Pahalgam. She said the state government was making arrangements to bring their bodies back. The CM informed that the bodies will be flown to Kolkata, with the flight expected to land around 8:30 pm. She added that officials at the Delhi Airport are helping the victims’ families with the necessary support for their return journey. The victims have been identified as Bitan Adhikari from Baishnabghata, Samir Guha from Sakher Bazar, and Manish Ranjan from Jhalda, Purulia. The Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the loss and said the state stands with the grieving families.

After paying homage to the victims of Pahalgam terror attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Bharat will not bend to terror.” He further added that the perpetrators behind this “dastardly terror attack” will also not be spared.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the victims’ families. The government will also provide Rs 2 lakh to the people who were seriously injured.

Congress has called for an emergency meeting on Thursday in the wake of Pahalgam terror attacks. K C Venugopalan took to X and informed that the meeting will be held tomorrow at 11:00 AM at 24, Akbar Road.

Players and umpires during today’s IPL 2025 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, will be wearing black armbands to honor the memory of Pahalgam terror attack victims, a PTI report said.