New Delhi, April 24, 2025: In one of the deadliest terror attacks in recent years, at least 26 people, most of them tourists, were killed in a targeted strike in South Kashmir\u2019s Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam on Tuesday. The brutal attack, believed to be orchestrated by a Pakistan-backed terror module, has evoked strong condemnation from across the world and triggered a massive retaliatory response from the Indian government.<\/p>\n
The Attack<\/strong><\/p>\n The attack took place in broad daylight, as families and pilgrims were enjoying the scenic Baisaran region of Pahalgam. Armed militants ambushed several vehicles, opening indiscriminate fire and detonating explosives. Among the dead are children, women, and two members of the Indian Armed Forces. Dozens more have been injured, many critically.<\/p>\n Security agencies have identified five attackers \u2014 three Pakistani nationals and two local Kashmiri operatives \u2014 believed to be affiliated with a new coalition of terror groups operating out of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Modi: “Will Pursue Them to the Ends of the Earth”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on an official visit to Bihar when news of the attack broke, delivered a strong message during a public address:<\/p>\n \u201cIndia\u2019s spirit will never be broken by terrorism. The masterminds and their backers will face consequences beyond their imagination. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Modi later chaired a special Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on Wednesday, which lasted over two hours and included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Key Decisions by CCS<\/strong><\/p>\n In a significant escalation of diplomatic and strategic responses, the CCS announced the following five major measures:<\/p>\n Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said these steps were taken after intelligence confirmed direct links between the attackers and handlers based in Pakistan.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n All-Party Meeting: Unprecedented Unity<\/strong><\/p>\n In a rare display of political unity, the government convened an All-Party Meeting on Thursday in New Delhi. Present at the meeting were senior leaders including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, among others.<\/p>\n Rahul Gandhi<\/strong>, who returned from the US after cutting his trip short, expressed his full support:<\/p>\n \u201cThe opposition stands with the government. In matters of national security, there is no space for division.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Congress, JD(U), TMC, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), AAP, and Left parties all echoed a common message \u2014 a united front against terrorism.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Global Reactions and Support<\/strong><\/p>\n India\u2019s strategic allies condemned the attack and expressed solidarity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni personally called PM Modi.<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s Prime Minister Mark Carney described the attack as \u201csenseless and shocking,\u201d while the UK\u2019s Lisa Nandy reaffirmed Britain\u2019s support for India. American singer Mary Millben, a popular voice in Indian diaspora circles, said, \u201cInnocent tourists never returning home \u2014 it\u2019s heartbreaking. I stand with India.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Pentagon officials likened the attack to Hamas\u2019 October 7, 2023, strike on Israel. One senior U.S. analyst even called for Pakistan to be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kashmir Reacts: Grief and Solidarity<\/strong><\/p>\n Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while condemning the attack, made an appeal to the rest of India:<\/p>\n \u201cPlease do not equate Kashmiri civilians with the terrorists. Kashmir is mourning too. We must protect the idea of Kashmir as a part of India, not let it be alienated.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Sajad Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People\u2019s Conference termed the strike a \u201cdirect attack on Kashmir\u2019s identity.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The state government has declared three days of mourning. A high-level security review chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has led to deployment of additional forces across the Valley.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Public Grief and Protest<\/strong><\/p>\n From candlelight marches in Delhi and Mumbai to emotional farewell ceremonies in Pune, Kanpur, and Bengaluru, the country is in collective mourning. The father of a deceased Navy officer said, \u201cHe died like a brave soldier. But now we want justice.\u201d Another bereaved father demanded, \u201cSeven generations must pay for this.\u201d<\/p>\n Several states have announced ex-gratia payments for the victims’ families. Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have each offered \u20b910\u201320 lakh and government jobs to the next of kin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pakistan’s Diplomatic Isolation Deepens<\/strong><\/p>\n India has also blocked the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Pakistani government and summoned Pakistan\u2019s top diplomat in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Pakistani cultural exports have been halted \u2014 including the banning of the film Abir Gulal, which stars a Pakistani actor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n As the nation mourns, the government\u2019s decisive measures \u2014 backed by all political parties \u2014 mark a new chapter in India\u2019s counter-terror strategy. The message is unambiguous: acts of terror will not go unanswered, and India will use every instrument of national power to hold perpetrators and their sponsors accountable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n