Pahalgam LIVE: Will hunt down every terrorist involved, says Amit Shah

Pahalgam attack | Parents wait for body of Pak man who died at Chennai hospital

The parents of a 23-year-old Pakistani man who died during treatment at Chennai's MGM Hospital were still waiting Wednesday for the body as the airline scheduled to carry it landed without it.

It was reported on Tuesday that the body of Syed Aryan Shah has been brought to Karachi after his mother appealed to the government for help after the Pahalgam attack.

"They (airlines) were supposed to bring his body on Tuesday evening to Karachi. The flight arrived without the body because of some operational and logistical issues,” Saima Shah, Aryan's mother, said.

Aryan was suffering from heart and severe lung ailments and was on life support for respiratory failure at the MGM Healthcare hospital in Chennai. He died on April 25.

J-K: Lt Gen Kumar relinquishes charge of northern command after 15-month tenure

Lt Gen M V Sachindra Kumar on Wednesday relinquished the command of Udhampur-based Northern Command on his retirement after achieving the superannuation age, officials said.

Lt Gen Pratik Sharma will be the new general officer commanding-in-chief of the northern command and will assume office on Thursday amid the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

“Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar, Army Commander Northern Command laid wreath to honour the supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts at Dhruva War Memorial, Udhampur on superannuation and relinquishing command of the Northern Command,” the Army said in a post on X.

Lt Gen Kumar had taken over the command — responsible for security and operations along India’s northern borders, including J-K, parts of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh — from Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, the present army chief, in February last year and his tenure lasted for 15 months. 

Pahalgam attack | Assault on Kashmiri vendors in Uttarakhand very disturbing: Mirwaiz Farooq

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday said the assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Uttarakhand's Mussoorie after police refused to guarantee their safety was very disturbing.

"The physical and verbal assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Mussoorie, who had to flee when police refused to guarantee their safety, is very disturbing. After large-scale detentions, demolition of homes, and crackdowns inside Kashmir, ordinary citizens, students, and small traders outside of J-K are being attacked and forced to return," the Mirwaiz said in a post on X.

He was referring to incidents of harassment of Kashmiris working in other states, including Uttarakhand, in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack last week.

"Being themselves at the receiving end of all forms of violence and subsequent suffering for decades, Kashmiris' condemnation, empathy, and grief for the victims of the Pahalgam bloodbath is straight from the heart, yet they are being vilified and targeted," he said.

Pahalgam attack: UN chief dials S Jaishankar, Shehbaz Sharif

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately. He strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

The telephonic conversations come even as Pakistan claimed it has “credible intelligence” suggesting India plans to launch military action against the nation within the next 24-36 hours.

Sharif tweeted that he spoke with Guterres and pleaded for a neutral investigation into the Pahalgam incident.

In a call with Jaishankar, Guterres reiterated his condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, noting the importance of pursuing justice and accountability for these attacks through lawful means while voicing deep concern at rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

Pahalgam attack: CCS reviews J&K security situation

The Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to have reviewed the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir amid speculations about India's possible response to the Pahalgam terror attack, reported PTI

The CCS took place a day after PM Modi held a meeting with the top defence brass on the Pahalgam attack.

It was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, people familiar with the matter said.

In the meeting on Tuesday, Modi asserted that the armed forces have "complete operational freedom" to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack, government sources said.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval and the chiefs of three services.

Modi affirmed that it is the national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism, the sources said. 

Govt reavapms National Security Advisory Board

 A week after the Pahalgam attack which left 26 people dead and prompted the Opposition to question the Centre over security lapse and intelligence failure, the Centte has revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB). Alok Joshi, a former Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has been appointed as the head of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB). Six more members have also been inducted into the board.

Pahalgam attack: Lucknow University to give free education to dependents of victims

Security review conducted at key tourists destinations near Jammu

 A week after the Pahalgam terror attack, a senior police officer conducted a comprehensive reviewed of the security situation at renowned tourist destinations near Jammu,an official said on Wednesday.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range, Shridhar Patil visited Patnitop and adjoining Nathatop and Sanasar located on the old alignment of Jammu-Srinagar national highway between Udhampur and Ramban districts which are visited by large number of holiday-makers round-the-year.

Accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police, Ramban, Kulbir Singh and other police and civil officers including representatives of Patnitop Development Authority and officers of Tourism department, the DIG reviewed the security measures taken for the safety of the visitors, a police spokesperson said.

After undertaking a detailed evaluation of the security measures in place at key tourist spots, Patil also held an interactive meeting with representatives of various hotel associations, trekking associations, and local residents including former sarpanches, he said.

The spokesperson said the participants were briefed about the security arrangements made for the safety of the public and to maintain law and order.

Additional measures needed to be taken were also discussed besides improving synergy amongst the stakeholders, he said.

The DIG emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and comfort of visitors.

Mirwaiz Farooq terms assault on Kashmiri vendors in U'khand very disturbing

Expressing concern over the assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Uttarakhand's Mussoorie after police refused to guarantee their safety, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday termed the incident as "very disturbing." 

"The physical and verbal assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Mussoorie, who had to flee when police refused to guarantee their safety, is very disturbing. After large-scale detentions, demolition of homes, and crackdowns inside Kashmir, ordinary citizens, students, and small traders outside of J-K are being attacked and forced to return," the Mirwaiz said in a post on X.

He was referring to incidents of harassment of Kashmiris working in other states, including Uttarakhand, in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack last week.

"Being themselves at the receiving end of all forms of violence and subsequent suffering for decades, Kashmiris' condemnation, empathy, and grief for the victims of the Pahalgam bloodbath is straight from the heart, yet they are being vilified and targeted," he said.

"I appeal to the people of India not to fall prey to hatred and media propaganda creating mistrust of Kashmiris, and reciprocate in ensuring their safety, as they have always done in times of crisis towards all visitors and tourists," he added.

The Mirwaiz said the "collective punishment" being meted out to Kashmiris both inside and outside Jammu and Kashmir is "unjust and inhuman".

Pahalgam attack : UK urges India, Pakistan to remain calm

As tension continues to rise between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead, the UK government on Tuesday urged both countries to remain calm and engage in dialogue.

Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer responded to an “Urgent Question” tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday by British Sikh Labour MP Gurinder Singh Josan on the role Britain is playing in supporting India in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

He also raised concerns over the regional tensions spilling over onto UK streets in the form of protests, characterised by provocative language and gestures, including “what appears to be a throat-slitting motion by an alleged Pakistan official” and “windows being smashed” at Pakistan’s High Commission in London.