Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a high-level security meeting with top officials of the defence establishment, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the three service chiefs. The meeting was convened in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
After the meet, PM Modi affirmed that it is our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism. He also expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian Armed Forces. Modi said that they have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of our response.
Earlier in the day, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan held a separate high-level meeting with the heads of the National Security Guard (NSG), Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles, and senior officers from other central security agencies.
CCS Tomorrow
The full Union Cabinet followed by CSS, is also scheduled to meet on Wednesday at 11 a.m., marking its first meeting since the Pahalgam attack. The Cabinet had not met last week; however, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had convened on April 23 and strongly condemned the terror strike. Following the CCS meeting, India took a series of diplomatic measures, including downgrading ties with Pakistan.
According to sources, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed the Prime Minister on the evolving security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. During the nearly 40-minute meeting, Singh was believed to have presented options for a calibrated response to those responsible for the attack. India has linked the strike to “cross-border” actors and has vowed strong retaliatory measures.
Security Forces Zero In on Suspected Terrorists
Security agencies believe that the two Pakistani terrorists suspected of executing the Pahalgam attack infiltrated Jammu and Kashmir approximately 18 months ago, entering through the Samba-Kathua region by breaching the border fence. The group is suspected to have carried out multiple attacks since their infiltration. Sources revealed that intelligence inputs on the group had previously triggered internal inquiries, with a senior BSF officer facing scrutiny from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In response to heightened threat levels, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered the closure of nearly 50 tourist destinations and trekking trails across the Valley for security reasons. The restricted areas include Gurez near the LoC, Dodapathri near Srinagar, Bangus Valley in Kupwara, Verinag in Anantnag, Kaman Post in Uri, Kousarnag in Shopian, Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, and Yusmarg. Police and paramilitary forces have set up checkpoints to restrict tourist movement. However, popular sites like Pahalgam and Gulmarg remain open.
Ceasefire Violations Continue for Fifth Day
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army continued to violate the ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC) for a fifth consecutive night. A defence spokesperson said that unprovoked small arms fire was reported late Monday night in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, and the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district. Ceasefire violations, which began in Kupwara and Baramulla, have now extended to Poonch and Akhnoor.
Team BharatShakti
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
