New Delhi [India] – Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi returned to the capital in the early hours of Thursday, abruptly ending his official visit to the United States in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Gandhi is scheduled to attend the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting at 10:30 AM on Thursday in New Delhi, party officials confirmed.
Earlier, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh announced the change in schedule via social media, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi has cut short his US visit and will be attending in person the CWC meeting in New Delhi tomorrow at 10:30 AM.”
National Response to Pahalgam Tragedy
The central government is likely to convene an all-party meeting on Thursday, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, to discuss the fallout of the terror attack in Pahalgam, where at least 26 people, including one Nepali national, lost their lives in one of the worst attacks in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have also cut short their international engagements to return to India and monitor the evolving security situation.
India’s Stern Measures Against Pakistan
In a press conference held after a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by PM Modi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri outlined India’s immediate countermeasures:
- Indus Waters Treaty (1960) to be held in abeyance.
- The Attari integrated checkpost to be closed immediately.
- SAARC visa exemption revoked for Pakistani nationals.
“The CCS condemned the terror attack in the strongest terms and expressed deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” said Misri. Cross-border involvement in the attack was highlighted during the briefing.
National Grief and Demand for Action
The families of the victims are mourning across the country. In Karnal, the last rites of Indian Navy Lt. Vinay Narwal were performed with full military honors. In Shivamogga, Manjunath Rao’s family called for strong retaliation.
“This cannot go unanswered. The government must act decisively,” said Dattatreya, a friend of Rao’s family.
The attack, which occurred at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, is being called the deadliest post-Article 370 abrogation terror strike in the region.
With both domestic and international political figures swiftly altering plans, the Pahalgam attack has reignited national security discourse, adding urgency to diplomatic and military recalibrations as India responds to one of its most significant terror incidents in recent years.