Pahalgam Terror Attack: India has promised to take strong action soon against those responsible for a brutal terror attack that took place in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. On Tuesday afternoon, a group of suspected terrorists opened fire on tourists at the scenic Baisaran meadow, killing 26 people, including two foreigners. This attack has caused shock and sadness across India and many parts of the world.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the tragedy while speaking at the annual Arjan Singh Memorial lecture on Wednesday. He called the incident a cowardly and inhuman act and promised a firm response from the Indian government. He said, “Yesterday, in Pahalgam, our country lost many innocent citizens in a cowardly attack by terrorists targeting religion. This extremely inhuman act has plunged all of us into deep grief and pain.”
He also gave a clear message that India will not stay quiet. He said the government will not only catch those who carried out the attack, but will also find the people who helped plan it from behind the scenes.
According to New Indian Express, he said, “And we will not only trace those who perpetrated this incident. We will also reach out to those who, sitting behind the scenes, have conspired to carry out the nefarious act on the soil of India.” Rajnath Singh made it clear that India is a strong country and cannot be scared by such attacks. “India is such an old civilization and such a big country that it cannot be intimidated by any such terrorist activities.” He also added, “The people responsible for such acts will get a strong response in the near future.”
Earlier that day, Rajnath Singh had a meeting to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting lasted for nearly two and a half hours and included top leaders such as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. During the meeting, they talked about all aspects of the attack and the steps needed going forward.
Sources said Rajnath Singh asked the armed forces to increase their combat readiness and step up anti-terror operations. General Dwivedi also gave a full report on the current situation and how the forces are positioned in the region.
Nation After the Horrific Attack
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also strongly condemned the attack and said that the people behind this “heinous act” will be punished. Modi quickly returned to Delhi from Saudi Arabia after hearing the news and held a key meeting with NSA Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to discuss the situation. Home Minister Amit Shah also flew to Srinagar on Tuesday evening to take charge of security efforts.
Rajnath Singh offered his condolences to the families of the victims. “First of all, I express my deepest condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones. In this sad time, I pray to God for the peace of the departed souls,” he said. He also shared the government’s clear stand against terrorism, saying, “I would like to reiterate India’s firm resolve that we have a zero tolerance policy against terrorism. Every citizen of India is united against this cowardly act.”
Security agencies have been working day and night since the attack. They have launched a large search operation in the Pahalgam region, using both aerial and ground forces to find the terrorists. Intelligence reports say that five to six terrorists were part of the attack and some of them recently crossed into India from Pakistan.
Saifullah Kasuri, also known as Khalid, a senior leader of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been named as the mastermind of the attack. Security forces have already released sketches of three of the terrorists involved and the hunt to capture them is in full force.
This terror attack is one of the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. The entire country is in mourning, but the leadership has made it clear that justice will be served and those responsible will not be allowed to escape.
