New Delhi [India]: Following the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to India early on Wednesday morning, cutting short his State visit to Saudi Arabia. The attack, which targeted tourists in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district, has resulted in widespread shock and outrage across the nation.
PM Modi, who had been on a two-day State visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, skipped the official dinner hosted by the Saudi Arabian government and altered his travel plans due to the gravity of the situation. He was originally scheduled to return on Wednesday night, but decided to arrive back in India earlier in the morning to personally address the incident.
Upon his arrival in the national capital, PM Modi held a **briefing meeting at Palam Airport with key officials, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and other senior officials. The meeting focused on the response to the terror attack and the ongoing efforts to ensure justice for the victims.
In his earlier remarks condemning the attack, PM Modi vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable, and it will get even stronger,” PM Modi stated.
Earlier, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman also cut short her official visit to the United States and Peru in light of the attack. Sitharaman’s return follows the mounting tension surrounding the terror attack in Pahalgam, one of the largest such attacks since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
The Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a search operation in the Baisran area of Pahalgam to track down the perpetrators of the attack. As of now, the government has yet to confirm the exact number of casualties in the incident.
The attack, which targeted tourists visiting the region, has sparked widespread outrage across the country. Candlelight marches were organized by residents of Jammu and Kashmir, with localities in Baramulla, Srinagar, Poonch, and Kupwara participating in peaceful protests. Bajrang Dal workers in Jammu also held a protest condemning the attack.
The Khod village in the Akhoor area of the region also saw a candlelight march in protest against the violence.
The incident has prompted an outpouring of grief and anger, with political leaders from across the nation condemning the act. Efforts to provide assistance to the affected families are ongoing, with authorities continuing their search operations to bring the perpetrators to justice.