Pahalgam Terror Attack Highlights: Pakistan hackers attempt to breach Indian websites; Bilawal Bhutto admits Pak’s links to terror groups

Mufzala, a Pakistani national returning home through the Attari Border, told ANI that she is originally from Muzaffarabad and had been living in Baramulla for the past six years after marrying there. Both her children were born in India, and the family had been staying legally on a long-term visa. She mentioned that they had been applying for visa extensions for the last three years, but none were approved. She said they were suddenly told to leave the country just two days ago. Referring to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, she called it an act of terrorism in which innocent people lost their lives, and said the attackers must be punished. She questioned why families like hers were being made to suffer because of it and expressed a desire to return home.

Another Pakistani national crossing back via the Attari Border said that he had arrived in India on a 45-day visa but was being sent back within just a week. She had only come to visit her relatives but was asked to leave in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident, which she acknowledged was a terrible tragedy.

Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao stated that AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal has directed party members not to comment on the Kashmir issue. He added that during the all-party meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given full responsibility to Amit Shah, and it is up to the government to handle the situation. Rao emphasized that the Congress will not issue any statements on the matter, as per the instructions from the party’s top leadership.

BJP MP Sambit Patra slammed the Congress party over its recent ‘Gayab’ social media post aimed at PM Narendra Modi. He claimed that the INDI alliance, previously referred to as the INDIA alliance, now seemed more aligned with Pakistan’s interests.

Patra said the alliance should now be called the “Pindi alliance,” suggesting a connection with Rawalpindi, a city often associated with Pakistan’s military. He accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others of being praised in Pakistani media and went on to say that at this rate, members of the alliance might even consider contesting elections in Pakistan.

Responding to the Opposition’s call for a special Parliament session to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the government has received their letter and the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) will review and discuss the request, news agency ANI reported.

Hours before Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Amethi on Wednesday, posters labeling him as “supporter of terror” appeared at multiple places in the city, including near the Congress office and the main bus stand, reported PTI. The posters, which read “Aatank ka saathi Rahul Gandhi” (Supporter of terror: Rahul Gandhi), triggered political unrest, despite the presence of a strong police force aimed at maintaining order and preventing such provocations. Authorities have not yet identified who is responsible for putting up these posters.

A Pakistani woman, Minal Khan, who had married a CRPF jawan online, was sent from Jammu to the Wagah border for deportation, officials said on Tuesday, a Times of India report said. She was accompanied by her husband, Munir Khan, a resident of Gharota.

Before leaving, Minal requested the government to differentiate between those who came to India through marriage and others, saying such families should be allowed to live together. She also strongly condemned the recent killings of innocent people in the terror attack, stating that those responsible must face strict punishment.

Pakistan claimed on Wednesday that it has reliable intelligence indicating that India may carry out military action in the near future. This statement comes amid growing tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations following a deadly terrorist attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Indian authorities have identified the three attackers involved, saying they include two Pakistani nationals and have labeled them as terrorists involved in the ongoing insurgency in the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir. Pakistan, however, has denied any involvement in the attack and has called for an impartial investigation.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Wednesday appealed for political unity following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, stressing that all parties should stand behind the government’s response instead of using the situation for political advantage.

Mayawati took to social media to urge political parties to support the government’s measures and avoid actions or statements that could mislead the public or create confusion. She said that this is not the time for divisive politics or controversial campaigns, as such behaviour goes against the national interest.

Congress leader Ramchandra Kadam on Wednesday called for a special session of the assembly in Odisha to address the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people and left several others injured. Kadam said he has written to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Governor Kambhampati Hari Babu, urging them to take up the issue. He stressed the need to raise public awareness about the tragic incident and said it was important for the assembly to hold a discussion on the matter.

A local of J&K’s Akhnoor area said that Pakistan continued the firing and India retaliated. He said that the region is on high alert now.

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#watch | Pargwal, Akhnoor, J&K: Ankur Singh, a local says "10-12 rounds were fired last night. The Indian Army also retaliated to the firing. This ceasefire violation took place after 7-8 years. We are used to all of this. We are on high alert right now..."

During the night of… https://t.co/OfKdCZPbB8 pic.twitter.com/IT1B4OFfjH

— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025

Indian students at Harvard Kennedy School have urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to cancel the visas of Pakistani officials scheduled to visit the campus for the upcoming Pakistan Conference 2025 at Harvard University. The appeal comes in the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where terrorists killed 26 people. In their letter, Harvard students Surabhi Tomar and Abhishek Chaudhari, speaking on behalf of other concerned students, expressed deep concern over the April 22 attack. According to survivor accounts, the attackers reportedly asked victims to reveal their religion and recite Islamic prayers—those who failed or identified as Hindu were killed. The students stressed that this was not a random act of violence but a deliberate religiously motivated killing. The letter also criticised the reaction of Pakistani officials. While the Pakistani Foreign Ministry offered formal condolences, the students noted that other leaders made indirect threats toward India and voiced continued support for Kashmiri insurgents, including groups linked to the perpetrators.

Pakistani forces opened unprovoked fire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in several areas across four border districts in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday. In response, Indian troops too returned the fire effectively. The firing, which started with small arms, was reported from the Pargwal sector in Jammu district and the Sunderbani and Naushera sectors in Rajouri district. This incident marks the sixth night in a row that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire agreement along the LoC. These repeated violations come amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.

Between April 24 and April 30, a total of 786 Pakistani nationals departed from India through the Attari-Wagah border crossing, according to a senior official quoted by news agency ANI. During the same period, 1,376 Indian citizens returned to India from Pakistan using the same border route.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres over the phone on Tuesday and requested an independent and unbiased investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack. In a post on social media, Sharif said that during the conversation, he highlighted Pakistan’s stand against terrorism, dismissed India’s allegations as unfounded, and stressed the need for a fair probe into the incident. He also stated that while Pakistan supports peace, it will not hesitate to defend its sovereignty if threatened. His remarks come in response to India’s strong measures against Pakistan following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead.

The Congress party has taken down the controversial social media post that showed a headless image with the word “GAYAB” (missing), aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The post drew heavy criticism from BJP leaders, especially in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The image featured a kurta-pyjama and black sandals along with the word “GAYAB” and a caption that read, “Jimmedariyo ke samay – Gayab” (Missing during the time of responsibility). The BJP strongly condemned the post, accusing Congress of promoting a narrative similar to that of Pakistan. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that Congress was forced to remove the post due to strong public reaction, referring to it as a “Sar Tan Se Juda” imagery tweet.

The Congress party has issued clear instructions to its leaders on how to respond publicly to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. In a circular, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal directed all party members to strictly follow the position outlined by the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in its resolution dated April 24, 2025. The directive emphasized that only designated spokespersons are allowed to speak on the party’s behalf and that their statements must align with the official stance taken in the CWC resolution. Venugopal urged leaders to maintain discipline and ensure a unified message in public communications during this sensitive time.

He also warned that any violation of these instructions would lead to firm disciplinary action, with no exceptions. Venugopal reminded party members to uphold the principles and values of the Congress Party, and to respond to the situation with the seriousness, dignity, and restraint expected by the nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a key security meeting on Tuesday with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was also part of the discussions. The meeting was held just days after the Cabinet Committee on Security met on April 23, in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam.

According to government sources, ANI reported that the Prime Minister has made it clear that India is fully committed to taking strong action against terrorism. He expressed complete trust in the Indian Armed Forces and their capabilities. The sources added that PM Modi has given the military full freedom to decide how, when, and where to respond.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has spoken separately with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He has also strongly condemned the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of at least 26 persons, mostly tourists. In a statement released by the UN, Guterres put spotlight on the need for justice via lawful means. He also voiced deep concern over rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the attack and warned against any confrontation that could lead to serious consequences. Guterres offered the UN’s support to help reduce tensions and called for efforts to prevent further escalation.

Many tourist spots have been shut down in Kashmir after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam last week raised tensions between India and Pakistan. According to two police officers and three government officials, who spoke anonymously, 48 out of 87 approved tourist resorts have been shut down as a safety measure, as per Reuters. There is no news on when these spots will be reopened. The move comes after terrorists killed at least 26 people—mostly Indian tourists in Pahalgam. Following the attack, both India and Pakistan took strong diplomatic steps against each other, including cancelling visas and recalling their diplomats.

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah had on Tuesday dismissed Congress‘ claim that PM Narendra Modi was “missing” during the ongoing tensions with Pakistan. Abdullah said the Prime Minister was very much in Delhi and questioned the basis of the accusation. Congress had shared an edited image on social media, showing an old photo of the PM with his body erased, leaving only the outline of his clothes, hinting at his absence without directly naming him.

Welcome to our live coverage on the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. In latest developments, Pakistani Army opened unprovoked small-arms fire on the night of April 29-30,
across the Line of Control in the Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor sectors of Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian Army responded quickly and in a measured manner, reported ANI.