Pahalgam terror attack LIVE | Rahul to meet the injured in Anantnag tomorrow
Pak says attempt to divert water under Indus Waters Treaty will be considered Act of War; announces suspension of trade, bilateral accords, airspaces with India
The Centre convened an all-party meeting on the Pahalgam terror attack on Thursday (April 24) evening, where it briefed the leaders of various political parties on the attack and heard their views.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Bihar addressing pre-election rallies, did not attend the meeting. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting, which was also attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affair Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Jaishankar and Shah met President Droupadi Murmu during the day.
Pakistan's counter-measures
Across the border, Pakistan said any move to divert water meant for it under the Indus Water Treaty would be considered an Act of War as it announced the suspension of trade, bilateral accords, including the Simla Agreement, and airspaces with India. These were among other moves in retaliation to New Delhi's measures against the country in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
The announcements were made after a meeting chaired by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to formulate the country's response to India's move to suspend the Indus Water Treaty and downgrade diplomatic ties after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Modi’s tough talk
In his first statement since the April 22 carnage, Modi, speaking from Bihar, sent a stern warning to the perpetrators of the attack and asserted that India would identify, track and punish every terrorist involved in the incident and their backers “beyond their imagination”.
“This attack was not merely on unarmed tourists; the country’s enemies have dared to attack the soul of Bharat (India),” he said. “Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is served. The entire nation stands firm in this resolve.”
We “will pursue them (Pahalgam attackers) to the end of earth. India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism,” Modi chose to state in English. Before starting his speech, Modi, along with the public, observed a minute of silence to pay homage to the 26 Pahalgam victims.
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- 24 April 2025 8:55 PM IST
French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni call Prime Minister Modi, condemn Pahalgam terror attack
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called PM Modi on Thursday. Both strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.
The barbarism displayed in the Pahalgam terror attack is totally unacceptable, French President Emmanuel Macron told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a phone conversation on Thursday.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also dialled Modi and strongly condemned the "terrible" terror attack on Indian soil, according to external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
President Macron conveyed his personal condolences on the "brutal killing" of innocent people in the heinous terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, he said in a social media post.
"He strongly condemned the attack and expressed full support and solidarity with the people of India adding that this kind of barbarism is totally unacceptable," Jaiswal said.
The prime minister thanked him for his message of support and conveyed India's strong resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice, he added.
Jaiswal said PM Meloni strongly condemned the terrible terror attack on Indian soil and conveyed her thoughts and prayers for the victims.
"She expressed full support of Italy in the fight against terrorism. PM Modi appreciated her call and the clear message of support against terrorism and those behind it," he said.
"India and Italy will continue to work together including in international platforms to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts," Jaiswal added.
- 24 April 2025 8:50 PM IST
Indian envoy to UN urges the international community to condemn Pahalgam terror attack
Condoling the deaths of tourists, in the Pahalgam terror attack, India’s envoy here said the UN and the world must publicly condemn such acts perpetrated against civilians and tourists for which there can be no justification.
The attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.
“India mourns the loss of lives in the brutal terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, day before yesterday,” India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador P Harish, said on Thursday.
“I wish to thank India’s friends and partners who expressed condolences, stood in solidarity with us at this difficult hour and condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The UN and the world must publicly condemn such terrorism perpetrated against civilians and tourists for which there can be no justification,” Harish said.
- 24 April 2025 8:47 PM IST
Pahalgam attack all party meeting: Destroy terror camps, demands MPs
Leaders across party lines on Thursday sought decisive action for destroying terror camps and opposition MPs raised the issue of security lapses but assured during an all-party meeting on the Pahalgam terror attack that they are with the government in dealing with the issue of terrorism.
Coming out of the meeting, Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that all parties demanded action by the government for the destruction of terror camps.
Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandhyopadhyay said the issue of possible security lapses was also discussed but the opposition assured that it was with the government in the fight against terrorism.
"The nation must be totally united in this fight to eliminate terrorism," he said.
The government briefed leaders of various political parties on the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, and heard their views at the all-party meeting here.
At the beginning of the meeting, a moment of silence was observed for the victims of the attack.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju were present from the government's side.
Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha J P Nadda, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were present at the meeting chaired by Singh.
- 24 April 2025 8:27 PM IST
He died like a brave soldier : Father of Indian Navy officer killed in Pahalgam terror attack
"He was a very good child...He died like a brave soldier," Indian Navy officer Lt Vinay Narwal's father said about his son, who was among the 26 people killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.
"It is a mountain of sorrow. Unrepairable, unbearable and untolerable loss for me and my family," he said Thursday about the tragic loss.
However, he added that the entire country is standing with his family and families of others who lost their lives in the Pahalgam incident on Tuesday.
Married just about a week ago, 26-year-old Narwal, accompanied by his wife Himanshi, was on a honeymoon in Pahalgam when terrorists shot him at point blank. His last rites were held in Karnal last evening.
Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar went to meet the bereaved family in their home in Karnal on Thursday. While consoling Narwal's grandfather Hawa Singh, Khattar broke into tears.
