New Delhi, April 23 – In a rare show of unity, top political leaders across party lines have gathered at the Parliament Annexe in the national capital for an all-party meeting convened to discuss the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, including one Nepali national.
The meeting, called by the Central Government, is being chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and others in attendance. The opposition is being represented by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, among several other senior leaders.
The agenda: a comprehensive national response to the heinous terror attack and further consensus on cross-party security strategy.
Briefing the President
Earlier today, Home Minister Amit Shah and EAM Jaishankar briefed President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, outlining the sequence of events, security inputs, and the countermeasures being rolled out by India.
India’s Stern Measures Against Pakistan
In a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government took historic and unprecedented diplomatic steps to signal its resolve:
- Indus Waters Treaty (1960) has been put on hold until Pakistan ceases all support to cross-border terrorism.
- The Integrated Check Post at Attari has been shut down with immediate effect.
- Officials of the Pakistani High Commission have been declared persona non grata and asked to leave India within a week.
- SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme has been revoked for Pakistan.
- All visa services to Pakistani nationals suspended and existing Indian visas revoked effective April 27, 2025.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement:
“The Government of India has suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. All existing valid visas stand revoked from April 27, 2025.”
The Attack That Shook the Nation
The Pahalgam terror attack, which occurred on April 22, targeted Indian tourists in Baisaran Meadow, a scenic destination in South Kashmir. Gunmen opened fire indiscriminately, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali tourist, and injuring several more.
It is being described as the deadliest attack in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, reigniting public and political outrage across the country.
A Moment of Unity and Resolve
The rare all-party meet signals India’s intent to consolidate a national front against terrorism, ensuring political divisions do not weaken the country’s response. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his opening remarks, called the attack a “cowardly and calculated massacre targeting peace and faith tourism” and reiterated India’s commitment to justice.