Pahalgam terror attack: PM Modi holds high-level meeting after cutting short Saudi Arabia trip
As soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in New Delhi early Wednesday, after cutting short his visit to Saudi Arabia following the Pahalgam terror attack, he took stock of the situation during a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at the airport.
PM Modi is likely to hold a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Security on the Pahalgam terror attack in the first half of the day, wherein India will formulate its response and defence strategy for the days to come.
On Tuesday, PM Modi “strongly” condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and extended his condolences to those who lost their family members. “I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” the Prime Minister posted on X.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is part of CCS, besides PM Modi, Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, has also cut short her official visit to the US and Peru. “She is taking the earliest available flight back to India to be with our people in this difficult and tragic time,” her office said in a post on X.
Amid reports that two foreign nationals were also among the victims, including one from Nepal and one from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli said they were still trying to verify the reports of a Nepali national among those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.
“Deepest condolences to the victims of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Nepal stands firmly with India & strongly condemn any & all acts of terrorism. Close coordination is established to verify reports of a Nepali national among the victims & will provide all necessary assistance,” Oli said in a message Wednesday.
Messages of support for India and condemnation for the attack continued to pour in from leaders around the world, including European Union President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
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“There is no justification for this violence and Australia condemns it. Our hearts go out to the injured, to those mourning loved ones and to everyone in Australia touched by this terrible news,” Albanese said.
Australia is India’s partner in the Quad grouping, and Albanese is slated to visit India later this year for the key Quad Summit, along with US President Trump, and Japanese Prime Minister.
At least 26 people were killed and several others injured after militants opened indiscriminate fire at tourists in Baisaran, a popular tourist destination in Pahalgam. After the Pahalgam terror attack, the Jammu region was put on high alert, and protests erupted in several areas.
Security forces had on April 10-11 killed three militants, believed to be foreigners, in Kishtwar district’s Chatroo, which is near the area where Tuesday’s attack took place. On Wednesday, the Indian Army said it had foiled an infiltration bid by militants, killing two of them during a gunfight, when they tried to infiltrate into Kashmir through the Uri sector in Baramulla.
© The Indian news Pvt Ltd
