In a decisive response to the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has authorized the Indian Armed Forces with complete operational freedom to determine the mode, targets, and timing of India’s counterterrorism measures.
The attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025, at Baisaran in Pahalgam, targeted tourists from across India, marking one of the deadliest civilian attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
According to details obtained by the Kashmir News Observer (KNO), PM Modi chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday with the country’s top defense officials, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The meeting focused on evaluating India’s options for a robust response to the attack, which has heightened tensions with Pakistan.
In a resolute statement, PM Modi declared, “It is our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism. The fight against terror remains a top national priority.” Expressing unwavering trust in the armed forces, he added, “I have complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian Armed Forces,” assuring them of the government’s full support.
The Prime Minister’s remarks echo his earlier vow, made shortly after the attack, to pursue the terrorists and their patrons “to the ends of the earth” and deliver punishment “beyond their imagination.” The attack, carried out by militants who gunned down tourists in the picturesque Baisaran meadow, has sparked widespread outrage and grief across India.
In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, India has implemented a series of stringent measures targeting Pakistan, which New Delhi accuses of supporting cross-border terrorism. These include suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 water-sharing agreement, and downgrading diplomatic ties with Islamabad. The government has also closed the Attari-Wagah border crossing, revoked visas for Pakistani nationals, and expelled Pakistani military advisors from New Delhi.
The Modi government’s response draws parallels to past actions, such as the 2016 surgical strikes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir following the Uri attack and the 2019 Balakot airstrike after the Pulwama bombing, which targeted Indian security personnel. Analysts suggest that India’s current measures, combined with the armed forces’ operational autonomy, signal the potential for a strong retaliatory action, though the nature and timing remain uncertain.
The Pahalgam attack has not only shattered the region’s fragile sense of normalcy but also intensified domestic and international scrutiny. PM Modi’s leadership is under pressure to balance public demands for decisive action with the need to avoid escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors. As security forces continue their manhunt for the perpetrators in Jammu and Kashmir, the nation awaits India’s next steps in its fight against terrorism.
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