Jammu and Kashmir Pahalgam Terror Attack Highlights: PM Modi chairs top-level meeting, gives free hand to Indian armed forces

The League of Arab States has strongly condemned the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, with its Secretary-General Ahmed Aboulgheit saying that the league expresses solidarity with the “friendly nation” of India as it mourns the loss of lives of innocent civilians.

The note of condolence and solidarity was shared by the mission of the League of Arab States in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The secretary-general, in his message dated April 28 to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, expressed heartfelt condolences to the government and the people of India.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. The meeting came almost immediately after the PM chaired a meeting of the top defence establishment, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval and all three chiefs of the armed forces.

With the Hindutva organisation considered the ideological mentor to the ruling BJP and spread across the country, the meeting assumes significance. Sources said the meeting was in connection with the terror strike.

“If BJP starts discussing posters, it is their insensitiveness that when a woman lost her husband, they made a Ghibli art. BJP’s official handle made indecent remarks on the LoP regarding this terrorist attack. BJP’s official handle posted Congress‘ CMs and leaders and termed them ‘Pakistani agent’. You go to Lahore, you call their ISI on our land after the Pathankot incident, you go there to have Biryani and Sewai…I believe that the language being spoken by Pakistan is what the BJP speaks. Hindu-Muslim and creating divides in the name of religion. We have said that we are completely supporting the Government but there are questions that will be asked of the Government,” said Congress leader Supriya Shrinate.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate issued a clarification on Tuesday — noting that the contentious ‘gayab’ poster did not name or identify Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“BJP is full of venom and people with such polluted mind that they saw ‘sar tan see juda’ in a poster. But that (the post) is inspired by the poster of a film, ‘Gayab’, which starred Tusshar Kapoor…It (post) does not have PM Modi’s name. So, why does BJP feel that this is about PM Modi? Do they also accept that PM Modi is ‘Gayab’? That the PM should not have gone missing from Kashmir and gone to Bihar, that he should not have missed all-party meeting? Are they accepting that the PM should have addressed the nation? Are they accepting that one of our BSF jawans is being held captive by Pakistan and the PM is missing and not saying anything? Are they accepting that there was a major security failure and PM is missing and not speaking on it?” she asked.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment towards ‘crushing’ terrorism on Tuesday during a meeting with top officials. He also expressed “complete faith and confidence” in the abilities of the Indian Armed Forces and reportedly gave them “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of the Indian response.

Modi affirms resolve to end terrorism in meeting with top officials

Visuals shared online showedc Defence Minister Rajnath Singh leaving from 7 Lok Kalyan Marg around 7 pm — approximately 1.5 hours after he reached the PM’s residence for a top level meeting. PM Narendra Modi chaired a meeting with Singh as well as NSA Ajit Doval, CDS and the chiefs of all the Armed Forces this evening.

“This attack is very unfortunate and we all should take strict action against terrorists and it will not be tolerated that someone enters our country and kills our people and we remain silent,” the AAP MP and former Team India cricketer said.

PM Modi chaired a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Doval, CDS Anil Chauhan and chiefs of three services at his residence on Tuesday evening.

Top officials including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan and others have reached 7 Lok Kalyan Marg for a high-level meeting.

“There has been a lot of damage because when the houses of terrorists were demolished, the houses of the common man were also demolished…It should be ensured that the houses of the common man are not demolished while dealing with terrorists…Some women have been married for 30-40 years and their home is India. They consider themselves Indians and where will they go?…They have never done anything against the country and they consider themselves Indians, not Pakistanis,” she said.

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday have set the ball rolling for the deportation of 60 Pakistanis, one of them the mother of Shaurya Chakra awardee who was killed in a terror attack, officials said.

They were all collected from various districts and taken in buses to Punjab, where they will be handed over to the Pakistani authorities at the Wagah border, they said.

In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack last week, the Centre announced a slew of measures, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, downgrading diplomatic relations with Islamabad, and ordering all Pakistanis on short-term visas to leave India by April 27 or face action.

The 60 deportees comprise wives and children of ex-militants, who returned to the valley under the 2010 rehabilitation policy for former ultras.

Of them, 36 had been living in Srinagar, nine each in Baramulla and Kupwara, four in Budgam, and two in Shopian district, officials said.

Shameema Akhtar, the mother of Constable Mudasir Ahmad Shaikh, who died in May 2022 while fighting terrorists, is one of the deportees.

Mudasir was part of the team of undercover operatives of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which intercepted a group of foreign terrorists.

Shaikh was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra. Shameema, accompanied by her husband, received the award from President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi in May 2023.

(via PTI)

Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar claimed that Pakistan is on the verge of disintegration, with regions like Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PoJK, and Punjab seeking independence. He stated that Pakistan’s attempts to foster hatred against India will not prevent its collapse.

“Today, Pakistan is standing on the brink, and Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, POJK, and Punjab are demanding independence from it. Pakistan is standing on the brink of breaking up. They think that by creating hatred against India, they will save themselves but this is not possible,” he said.

The Indian Army, in coordination with Central Armed Police Forces, conducted a joint training exercise “Sanyukt Abhyas” to enhance readiness for multi-agency operations.

“Indian Army conducts a joint exercise with Armed Police Forces. Sharpening skills for joint operations, we stand ready for all operational scenarios,” the Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army wrote on X.

“What Congress wanted to say was – where is Mr Modi, is he addressing the media? Is he clarifying anything? Can people ask him what has happened?…Pulwama helped him in his Lok Sabha elections, Godhra helped him in his Gujarat elections, and now he is using it for Bihar elections. You should think of the country first. This is why the poster was put out. We want him to come and talk to the people,” said Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.

A high-level meeting begins in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Those present in the meeting include Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director Generals of Border Security Force, Assam Rifles and National Security Guard; senior officials of Central Reserve Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and the Central Industrial Security Force.

“Government will give jobs to kin of Maharashtra residents killed in Pahalgam attack,” said Fadnavis after a cabinet meeting.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and demonstrate a collective resolve. Several opposition MPs have also made similar demands following the horrifying attack last week.

“Earlier, people used to come to the streets only when the protests were leader-sponsored. This was the first time I saw people taking the initiative and coming to the streets. People condemned the terrorist attack at religious places. For the first time, I have seen such an anti-terrorist environment in Kashmir among Muslims…If the protests were covered by the media properly, Pakistan would have got a good reply…There is no sympathy for Pakistan in the hearts of Kashmiris,” the Democratic Progressive Azad Party President said.

PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti has urged the government to reconsider its decision of deporting all Pakistani nationals, saying that it raises “serious humanitarian concerns”.

She added that it would also be “inhumane” and “distressing to families who now know no other home”.

“The recent government directive to deport all Pakistani nationals from India has raised serious humanitarian concerns, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir. Many affected are women who came to India 30–40 years ago, married Indian citizens, raised families, and have long been part of our society,” Mufti wrote on X.

She added, “We urge the government to reconsider this decision, and adopt a compassionate approach regarding , women , children and elderly. Deporting individuals who have lived peacefully in India for decades would not only be inhumane but would inflict deep emotional and physical distress on families who now know no other home.”

PDP Spokesperson Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo has defended the zipline operator who chanted “Allahu Akbar” thrice moments before the gunshots were faintly heard in the background of a video accidentally captured by a tourist from Ahmedabad.

He said that every Kashmiri chants Allahu Akbar, and people don’t know anything about their culture.

“They don’t know anything about our culture. Whenever there is a disaster, every Kashmiri says Allahu Akbar. At the time of any incident, we remember Allah. Everything is being done to hide the failure… Police and security will have to change their system… This has nothing to do with militancy and the common Kashmiri would always cry out loud, Bismillah, Allahu Akbar if something happens…They are misinformed about everything…,” he said.

“The IMF has just announced that its Executive Board is meeting on May 9th, 2025, to consider Pakistan’s request for a new $1.3 billion loan under the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility,” Jairam Ramesh said.

He added, “The INC expects India to strongly oppose this assistance.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level review of the country’s security preparedness on Tuesday, following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 people. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will meet at 11 am to assess the situation and deliberate on further security measures. This will be the second CCS meeting since the attack. Following this, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), also headed by PM Modi, will convene. The CCPA includes key ministers such as Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari, and others.

India has blocked the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, accusing him of spreading disinformation and fake news related to Jammu and Kashmir, and promoting terrorism in the country.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari has demanded a thorough investigation into a viral video showing tourist Rishi Bhatt ziplining in Pahalgam, moments before the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people. Bhatt alleged the zipline operator shouted “Allahu Akbar” thrice before the firing began, raising suspicion. Tiwari stressed the need to uncover the truth, noting the lack of security deployment in the area. The attack at Baisaran meadow was among the deadliest since Pulwama in 2019. The government has vowed strict action against the perpetrators and those behind the conspiracy.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday defended the Congress party amid criticism over remarks made on the Pahalgam terror attack, stating that the party has made “immense sacrifices” for the country’s security. He urged all political parties to speak in one voice on national security. “We don’t need lessons from anyone,” he said. Parameshwara also addressed an incident in Belagavi where Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was seen angrily gesturing at a police officer, saying he would comment after gathering full details, possibly linked to a BJP protest near the event venue.

After suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, India is likely to tighten curbs on exports of electronics and e-commerce goods to Pakistan, sources said. Although direct trade between India and Pakistan is limited, a significant volume of Indian products reaches Pakistan through third countries, notably the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Singapore. According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), Indian goods worth over $10 billion per year are re-exported to Pakistan through these routes. The move signals a broader strategy to apply economic pressure amid heightened tensions following the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a special session of Parliament in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In his letter, Gandhi stressed that the attack has “outraged every Indian” and called for a unified response. Kharge echoed the sentiment, stating that a joint parliamentary session would reflect national solidarity. Both leaders said such a move would show the country’s collective resolve against terrorism and allow elected representatives to express unity at a critical moment.