Pahalgam attack: All-party meet underway as govt briefs leaders on Pahalgam terror attack

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The Union government convened an all-party meeting today to discuss the aftermath of Tuesday's Pahalgam terror attacks.

Earlier, senior Congress leaders held an emergency meeting of the party's working committee to deliberate on the attack and passed a resolution condemning it, as well as raising questions about a possible intelligence failure prior to the attack.

Meanwhile, India's diplomatic standoff with Pakistan escalated as India sought to take action against its neighbour over its support to the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, whose little-known affiliate TRF has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack.

Details in our live blog from yesterday here

Government briefs leaders of various political parties on the Pahalgam terror attack and hears their views at an all-party meeting in Delhi.

At the beginning of the meeting, a moment of silence was observed for the victims of the attack. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju were present from the government's side.

Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha J.P. Nadda, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were also present at the meeting chaired by Singh.

Earlier, the opposition had demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi preside over the meeting. However, Modi is in Darbhanga in Bihar, where he declared that the killers of Pahalgam will be pursued "to the ends of the Earth" and promised to "identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers".

The Congress today took a swipe at the Janata Dal (United) over its decision to skip the all-party meeting on the Pahalgam attack owing to prior engagements, saying that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priority is elections, JD(U)’s priority is the PM, and so the meeting on the terror strike can wait.

PM Modi himself will not be at the meeting, since he is campaigning in Bihar for the upcoming assembly elections, a move that has drawn considerable sarcasm on social media.

 A senior journalist was hospitalised after he was allegedly assaulted while covering a BJP protest over the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district yesterday.

Journalistic circles have strongly condemned the attack on Dainik Jagran reporter Rakesh Sharma at Kalibari chowk, and demanded registration of an FIR against the accused. A purported video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was detained by Pakistani Rangers yesterday after he accidentally crossed the international border in Firozpur of Punjab while on duty. A flag meeting has been called to ensure the safe return of the jawan, a senior BSF officer said.

Pakistan today blocked its airspace for Indian airlines, closed the Wagah border crossing, suspended all trade with India, and said any attempt to divert water meant for Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty will be considered an 'Act of War'.

Read more here

Also read, India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) could have serious repercussions for Pakistan's agricultural economy, disrupting crucial water data sharing and reducing flows during key crop seasons, experts have warned.

However, as Himanshu Thakkar of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) said, “The treaty has no provision for unilateral suspension. On the eastern rivers, India is already utilising most of its allocated share. The real issue is with the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — where infrastructure limitations prevent us from immediately stopping water flows."

Following a meeting of its National Security Council (NSC), Pakistan has issued a statement that 'rejects' India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack, adding that the water from the Indus river system is a lifeline for 240 million Pakistanis.

Any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and security will be met with firm reciprocal measures in all domains, it warned, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Madhubani, Bihar, promised that the killers of Pahalgam will be pursued “to the ends of the earth” — and that his government to “identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers”.

Meanwhile, India’s ministry of external affairs (MEA) has said all existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from 27 April, except medical visas, which are valid till 29 April. (It had earlier ordered all Pakistani nationals to leave this country by 1 May.)

These were the words a voice in the crowd threw at the Union minister at the last rites of a CA in Surat, Gujarat, who was killed in the Pahalgam attack.

Neeraj Udhwani came from Dubai to attend a wedding and on an impulse decided to go holidaying in Kashmir.

Today, as his elder brother Kishore Udhwani lit the funeral pyre at Moksh Dham in Jhalana, his wife Ayushi struggled to hold back tears.

The 33-year-old had been gunned down in front of his wife, who had to call her brother-in-law Kishore to inform him about the tragedy. His body was brought to Jaipur on Wednesday night.

Rajasthan governor Haribhau Bagade, chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Gujarat assembly speaker Vasudev Devnani, deputy chief ministers Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra were among those who visited the residence in Jaipur’s Model Town to offer their condolences to the family.

Among the large number of mourners gathered at the Udhwani residence, a woman’s voice was heard from the crowd: “This is your government's failure. What is the point of deploying security here now?”

In response, Shekhawat was seen standing with folded hands, acknowledging the grief and anger of the people.

Speaking to the press, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah — who has also called an all-party meeting in Srinagar today — said, "I request the people of the country not to consider Kashmiris as enemies. It is not our fault. All of this is done by Pakistan."

"There are reports that our children are being targetted in other states. This should be stopped."

Abdullah added, "The people of Jammu and Kashmir are not the enemies of peace."

The chief minister’s official handle on X also shared helpline numbers for students from the union territory in need of assistance elsewhere in the country.

‘What if the Pahalgam was intended to unsettle India, to prove there is unrest here even as vice-president J.D. Vance of the US is here visiting, and that it cannot be an Asian leadership or economic axis to serve as an alternative to China?'

This question, on a good few minds surely, was evocatively articulated by Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk in an Instagram post from a rally held last night in Ladakh, which observed a shutdown in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and those killed in the terrorist attack.

'In these times of economic upheavals & trade wars, we must try & understand who stands to gain by showing India as an unstable, unsafe war ridden country,' the caption to his appeal to Indians read.

This is the question Bitan Adhikari’s three-and-half-year-old son has been asking for the last couple of days.

His father was among those gunned down by terrorists in Pahalgam.

Adhikari, originally from West Bengal, settled in Florida, USA, with his family a few years ago. He came home to Kolkata on 8 April for a visit with his family. He was the primary caregiver to and supported his parents, Bireshwar Adhikari (87) and Maya Adhikari (75) — both in poor health.

"They separated us," his widow recounted to a news channel.

"They asked where we were from, then segregated the men, asked their religion, and shot them one by one. My husband was murdered right in front of our child. How do I explain this to him?" she said.

Her voice barely a whisper, she says, "He wakes in terror, clutching my hand, pleading ‘Where is father?'"

Grieving relatives are also left wondering how his elderly parents will manage their medical expenses now — it was Bitan who arranged their check-ups, paid for every prescription.

"He may have been overseas, but he never let us feel his absence," said a relative.

Local Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh appealed to both the central and state governments, asking that the parents be considered as well.

"Don't give the entire compensation amount to Mrs. Adhikari alone," Ghosh posted on X. "Kindly divide it, and give an amount to Mr. Bitan Adhikari's parents also. They are totally helpless." 

As for Mrs Adhikari, she would just like someone to explain to her son why his father is never coming back — "And I want justice — not just for my husband, but for every innocent person who lost their life that day."

Kashmir's Jamia Zia Ul Islam, an Islamic religious institute in the Rajouri district of Jammu & Kashmir has put out a message offering shelter to tourists stranded in the region in the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, the Telegraph reports

It is located in the Manjakote area, near the Line of Control.

A special forces soldier has been killed in an encounter with terrorists following a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district.

The firing took place in the Dudu–Basantgarh area during a cordon and search operation that was launched based on information of the presence of terrorists, officials said.

“Based on specific intelligence, a joint operation with Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched today in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur,” the White Knight Corps said on X.

Contact was established and a fierce firefight ensued, it said.

“One of our bravehearts sustained grievous injuries in the initial exchange and later succumbed despite best medical efforts,” the Army said.

The deceased soldier has been identified as Havaldar Jhantu Ali Sheikh of 6 Para of the Special Forces.

“GOC White Knight Corps and all ranks salute braveheart Havaldar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA SF, who made the supreme sacrifice during a counter-terror operation,” the Army said on X.

The operation was still underway when the last reports came in from the spot.

Four suspects were also picked up for the area for questioning.

This is the third encounter between terrorists and security forces in Jammu in the past over 24 hours.

"Hindus and Muslims have to fight terrorism together and punish countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh," he said.

Sarma was addressing a panchayat poll rally in Hojai.

While the BJP leader, known for his abrasive rhetoric, did not elaborate on what these countries were "like" apart from being Islamic nations, he did trot out one of his usual Hindutva mottos: "Ek rahenge toh safe rahenge (we will be safe if we stay united)."

He also claimed that some people living in Assam were "indirectly" supporting Pakistan and warned that no such person would be spared, however important they may be.

The Congress Working Committee has passed its resolution at the emergency meeting convened over the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Expressing its "deepest shock and condemnation of the heinous" incident, the resolution also pays tribute to the "local ponywalas and tourist guides, one of whom was martyred while selflessly trying to protect the tourist to uphold the idea of India".

"The CWC appeals for calm and reaffirms the Indian National Congress' longstanding resolve to combat cross-border terrorism with determination and unity," says the resolution.

It also takes note of the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this evening, which the Indian National Congress has called for on the night of the attack itself, 22 April.

As with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s statement yesterday, the resolution reiterated its concern over the security in the region in view of the upcoming Amar Nath Yatra. Lakhs typically take this this annual journey — along a route through Pahalgam.

The resolution also sounds a warning and adds a note of censure at the end, however:

"The massacre has rightly drawn condemnation from all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and from a wide cross-section of its citizens. However, it is shocking that the BJP is exploiting this grave tragedy through official and proxy social media platforms to sow further discord, mistrust, polarisation and division at a time when unity and solidarity are most needed."

Omar Abdullah, chief minister of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, has responded to reports of Kashmiri students in other Indian states being harassed, saying 'The J&K government is in touch the governments of the states where these reports are originating from.'

He added that he was also speaking directly to his counterpart chief ministers in these states.

Reports have come in from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, among other states.

In the wake of a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot claiming responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, India has suspended the SAARC visa exemption scheme (SVES) for Pakistani citizens, who have been ordered to leave the country within 48 hours.

A large number of medical tourists from Pakistan visit India for treatment as well.

Videos from the Attari–Wagah border crossing showed a larger number than usual of Pakistanis heading home.

Top Congress leaders held an emergency meeting of the party's working committee to deliberate on the Pahalgam terror attack and are expected to pass a resolution condemning it.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, general secretaries K.C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others, attended the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting at the party's 24 Akbar Road office in New Delhi.

In a Facebook post, Rahul Gandhi said, "Today, I joined all the senior leaders in the Congress Working Committee meeting in Delhi on the issue of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. In the meeting, we observed silence to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the attack and offered condolences to their families."

Yesterday, Kharge had termed the incident a direct assault on the Indian state and said the entire country stands by the Centre in its fight against terror.

"We must give a fitting response, and in this matter, we are all one, and we will fight. But there should not be claims and finger-pointing. We urge the government to use all its strength to hunt down the terrorists," Kharge said.

Today, Ghulam Ahmad Mir did ask at the CWC why there wasn't security deployment in the busy tourist area sufficient to stopping or mitigating the attack.

Nine-year-old Tanuj Kumar Satpathy lit the funeral pyre of his father, Prashant, killed in the terror attack in Pahalgam, at their village in Odisha's Balasore district on Thursday morning.

Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, and Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi were among the hundreds of people who accompanied Tanuj from his home to the crematorium, around a kilometre away, in Ishani village in Remuna block.

Majhi met Prasahnt's family in the morning, and spent around an hour at their house, consoling his wife Priya Darshini and elderly mother. The CM expressed concern over her health as she fainted while talking to him.

Prashant, 41, was an employee of the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology. He went to Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir with his wife and son on vacation.

Clad in her bloodstained clothes as a grim reminder of the Pahalgam tragedy, the daughter of Pune resident Santosh Jagdale killed in the terror attack led his funeral procession on Thursday as thousands joined her and chanted anti-Pakistan slogans.

Jagdale's daughter Asavari and his wife survived the ghastly attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday, while he and his childhood friend Kaustubh Ganbote were among the 26 persons gunned down by terrorists.

The mortal remains of Jagdale and Ganbote were flown to Pune in the early hours of Thursday.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday paid respects to Bharath Bhushan, who was shot dead in the terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu-Kashmir, and urged the central government to eliminate terrorists and ensure that such incidents don't repeat.

Asserting that everyone is with the Centre in its action against the terrorists, he, however, reiterated intelligence failure in stopping the attack from happening.

Bodies of two tourists from Karnataka who were killed by the terrorists in the Pahalgam terror attack were brought to the Kempegowda International Airport here in the early hours on Thursday.

Manjunath Rao and Bharath Bushan were among the 26 people killed in front of their families after confirming their religious identity in Pahalgam on Tuesday. Most of those killed by terrorists were tourists

Pakistan has announced a planned surface-to-surface missile trial off the Karachi coast within its Exclusive Economic Zone, news reports said. The notice, issued around 9:30 p.m. IST by Pakistani authorities, coincided with India’s Cabinet Committee on Security convening to discuss punitive measures following the Pahalgam attack.

On Thursday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut strongly denounced the Pahalgam terror strike, stating, “The country has been attacked, so many people have been killed, Pakistan has an indirect hand in this attack because the way terrorist camps run in Pakistan and attacks on our country are carried out from there.” He added that more stringent actions are required and, despite being in opposition, “we welcome every decision of the government.”

The Congress Working Committee, in its meeting today, strongly condemned the recent Pahalgam terror attack and paid tribute to the innocent lives lost.

Special forces para commando killed, 2 others injured in Udhampur Tencounter: Army

According to media reports, Union home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh have been told to engage with leaders of multiple political parties on the matter