Pahalgam LIVE: Are we asking the right questions?

India will ask the International Monetary Fund to review its loans and grants to Pakistan, citing concerns over Islamabad’s alleged role in supporting terrorism, even as the Congress Working Committee yesterday urged the Modi government to “isolate and penalise Pakistan for its continued export of terror”, a reference to the reported connection of the Pakistan-backed Islamic militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pakistan, meanwhile, said it reserves the “right” to seek a meeting of the United Nations Security Council “when appropriate”, as tensions with India continued to escalate following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that left 26 dead last month.

Back home, diplomatic and security officials met to assess further steps, while calls grew louder across political lines for stronger global action against nations seen to be sheltering terror outfits.

More in our earlier live blog here.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), a key player in the historic farmers’ protest that forced the Modi government to repeal three controversial farm laws, is once again in the crosshairs of the BJP-RSS combine.

Rakesh Tikait, a prominent BKU leader, was heckled during a rally in Muzaffarnagar held to condemn the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. He was about to address the public meeting — organised in solidarity with the attack victims — but his turban was knocked off by some people. Speaking to reporters later, Tikait called it a "conspiracy" by "a political party" to silence the voice of farmers.

Read more here

In times of national crisis, like the terror attack in Pahalgam, a fragmented response can embolden enemies and damage public morale. Sober minds advise restraint, and caution against politicising the moment. And yet, silence without scrutiny carries its own dangers — it can obscure systemic failures, diminish trust in institutions and leave the nation vulnerable.

Accountability is the lifeblood of democracy. Asking difficult questions is not an act of division, but a step towards ensuring that these horrors are not repeated. As the shock of the Pahalgam moment begins to subside, the ‘national interest’ lies in fostering a transparent — if still discreet —conversation. Nearly two weeks after the Pahalgam attack, silence is no longer an option. And so five questions demand our immediate consideration. Which questions? Read our special comment piece to find out.

"I do not belong to Pakistan and nobody is there for me. I belong to India and this is my country. I love the police from the core of my heart and I am ready to sacrifice my life for the country," says head constable Iftkhar Ali, J&K Police.

Ali, who has served as a policeman for 27 years and is currently posted in Katra — the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu — and his eight siblings were set to be deported to Pakistan when an order from the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court offered the family some respite.

Read more here

Pakistan on Saturday announced that it has conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System — a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km, amid heightened tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack.

“The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features,” the army said in a statement.

The army said the missile launch was part of “Exercise INDUS” without giving details about the exercise.

The training launch was witnessed by the commander army strategic forces command, senior officials from the strategic plans division, army strategic forces command, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistan’s strategic organisations.

Indian sources have described the missile test under such "volatile conditions" as nothing short of a "blatant provocation" and a "desperate attempt to whip up tensions" with India.

Read more here

Indian diplomatic missions in Shanghai and Guangzhou have held condolence meetings to honour the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. Members of the Indian diaspora joined consulate officials to express their grief and extend heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families.

At the Consulate-General of India in Shanghai, consul-general Pratik Mathur, along with consulate officers, staff, friends of India, and diaspora members, led the gathering in offering condolences.

"Officers and officials of CGI Shanghai, friends of India and members of Indian diaspora led by Consul General @PratikMathur1 offered deepest and heartfelt condolences to the victims of the #PahalgamTerroristAttack today in the Consulate," stated a post by the Consulate on social media platform X, dated 30 April.

The European Union (EU) yesterday called on New Delhi and Islamabad to show "restraint" and pursue dialogue to defuse tensions amid speculation about India's possible retaliation against Pakistan in view of the cross-border linkages to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Following separate phone conversations with external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan's deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar, EU high representative for foreign affairs Kaja Kallas said the rising tensions between the two neighbouring countries are "alarming" and the escalation of the situation helps "no one".

"Rising tensions between India and Pakistan are alarming. I urge both sides to show restraint and pursue dialogue to ease the situation. Escalation helps no one," she said in a post on X. "I spoke to both @DrSJaishankar and @MishaqDar50 today to convey these messages."

On his part, Jaishankar welcomed the EU's "strong condemnation" of terrorism in all forms and manifestations.

India has banned direct or indirect import of all goods from Pakistan with immediate effect, according to a notification of the commerce ministry.

A provision in this regard has been added to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 "to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect until further orders", it said in the notification dated 2 May.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in the notification said this restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition will require approval of the government of India.

Inserting the provision with head "prohibition on import from Pakistan" in the FTP, it said: "Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders".

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said another individual, Amar Ali from Dhubri, has been arrested for allegedly supporting Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, taking the total number of such arrests to 37. Sarma warned that all “anti-nationals” would face strict action, days after AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam was held on sedition charges. 

With Pakistan’s airspace closure pushing up operational costs, Air India is evaluating alternate routing options for its North America flights, including adding a technical stop within India. The airline currently runs 71 weekly flights to the region, with 54 originating from Delhi.

Breaking his silence since the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday, 2 May praised the unity shown by political parties in Parliament, calling it a commendable step towards national solidarity. Sharif said the collective stance would strengthen national defence and foster unity among the public. 

The Bharatiya Kisan Union has convened an emergency panchayat in Muzaffarnagar after a section of protesters opposed farmer leader Rakesh Tikait’s participation at a rally condemning the Pahalgam terror attack. BKU president Naresh Tikait announced the meeting will be held at the GIC grounds to discuss the incident.

Switzerland's foreign minister Ignazio Cassis condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, urging restraint to prevent regional escalation. In a post on X, Cassis expressed condolences to the victims' families and reaffirmed Switzerland's commitment to supporting dialogue, following a conversation with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

The X account of Pakistan’s information minister Ataullah Tarar has been withheld in India for legal reasons, days after he alleged that India was planning a military strike.

Tarar had made the claim at a 2.00 am press conference, citing “credible information”, as cross-border tensions escalate following the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack and continued ceasefire violations along the LoC.

Small arms exchanges between Indian and Pakistani forces continued for the ninth straight night across multiple sectors along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday, 3 May. No casualties were reported despite the ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops. 

Hundreds from the Indian diaspora, along with supporters of India, held a major protest in Berlin yesterday, 2 May, denouncing the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Marching past key landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate and Berlin Dom, the demonstration drew significant attention from locals and tourists.