New Delhi [India]: In the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Chief of General Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan visited the residence of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday to brief him on the military’s key decisions to counter Pakistan. The meeting was convened to discuss the actions being taken in response to the April 22 attack, in which 26 individuals, including one Nepalese national, were gunned down at Baisaran meadow near the popular tourist town.
The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike, has sparked nationwide outrage, with protests across India demanding stricter actions against Pakistan. The attack occurred around 2 pm, and the victims were mostly tourists.
Following the incident, National Investigation Agency (NIA) teams were deployed at the site from April 23 to gather evidence. The NIA teams, led by senior officials, have been questioning eyewitnesses and intensifying their investigation efforts. Concurrently, the Indian Army has launched several search operations aimed at neutralising the terrorists responsible for the attack.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met on April 23, where they were briefed on the incident. The CCS strongly condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. In their briefing, the cross-border linkages of the attack were highlighted, and it was noted that the attack came despite successful elections and ongoing progress in Jammu and Kashmir.
As part of the diplomatic response, India has decided to withdraw its Defence, Navy, and Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, declaring these positions annulled. Additionally, five support staff members of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn, bringing the total strength of both High Commissions down to 30 from 55. These measures will be implemented by May 1, 2025.
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Pahalgam Terror Attack, General Anil Chauhan, Rajnath Singh, Pakistan, National Investigation Agency, Cross-Border Terrorism, India-Pakistan Relations, Cabinet Committee on Security, Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Measures, Terrorist Attack Response