Pahalgam LIVE: Will hunt down every terrorist involved, says Amit Shah
Citing "cross-border linkages" to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (May 1) vowed to hunt down each and every terrorist involved in the Pahalgam attack and said all of them will be made answerable for the heinous act.
Shah asserted that the Narendra Modi government will not spare any terrorist. "Whoever has carried out the dastardly attack in Pahalgam, we will not spare anyone. We will hunt down each and every perpetrator," he said at an event in Delhi to unveil a statue of Upendra Nath Brahma, the patriarch of Assam's Bodo community, and name a road after him.
The home minister said the Modi government has been pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against terrorists. "If someone thinks they will escape by carrying out such a cowardly attack, they are wrong. This is Narendra Modi's government. We will not spare anyone," he said.
7th incident in a row
Meanwhile, Pakistani troops continued ceasefire violations along the Line of Control for the seventh consecutive night by their unprovoked firing in several sectors across three border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Indian military responded proportionately, officials said on Thursday (May 1).
The exchange of fire occurred even though the directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan spoke over the hotline on Tuesday amid rising tensions between the two countries over the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
“During the night of April 30-May 1, 2025, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control opposite Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir,” a Defence spokesperson in Jammu said.
Indian Army troops responded swiftly and proportionately, he added.
India closes airspace
Meanwhile, India on Wednesday closed its airspace for Pakistani airlines, a week after Islamabad took a similar step.
On April 24, Pakistan blocked its airspace for Indian airlines, closed the Wagah border crossing, suspended all trade with India, and stated that any attempt to divert water meant for Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty would be considered an "act of war."
This came after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the killing of 26 people in the Pahalgam terror attack.
NSAB revamped
The Centre has also revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) — a move that came amid speculations about India's possible retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack in view of its cross-border linkages.
It is learnt that former R&AW chief Alok Joshi has been appointed as NSAB chairman. The NSAB is an advisory body that provides inputs to the National Security Council Secretariat.
During a high-level meeting, which was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the chiefs of three services, Modi affirmed that it is the national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism, government sources said.
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Live Updates
- 30 April 2025 10:13 AM IST
#WATCH | Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh leaves from his residence. pic.twitter.com/RVoS3ps4CA
— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025 - 30 April 2025 8:56 AM IST
Adhere to party line on Pahalgam: Congress cautions its leaders
The Congress on Tuesday asked its leaders not to speak out of order and toe the party line on the Pahalgam terror attack or face disciplinary action.
The Congress also deleted a pictorial X post titled "Gayab" to portray Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader missing in action during a crisis, after an offensive by the BJP, which alleged that it was a 'sar tan se juda' imagery and an attempt to weaken India.
The warning comes in the wake of comments made by some party leaders that stirred a controversy and allowed the BJP to attack the Congress, accusing it of speaking on behalf of terrorists and of being pro-Pakistan.
In a letter to all PCC chiefs, CLP leaders, party general secretaries and in-charges, MPs, MLAs/MLCs and heads of various departments and frontal organisations, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal asked them to exercise utmost discipline and consistency in public communication and not speak out of place on the Pahalgam incident.
"All functionaries are instructed to exercise utmost discipline and consistency in public communication," Venugopal said, adding that those authorised to speak on behalf of the party must confine themselves to the CWC's stated position in the resolution.
"Any contravention of this directive will invite strict disciplinary action without exception," Venugopal asserted.
- 30 April 2025 8:55 AM IST
PM Modi has our full support, says Farooq Abdullah
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday voiced strong support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid rising tensions with Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
Calling for national unity and cautioning Islamabad against further provocations, Abdullah said, "We have given our full support to the prime minister. After that, we should not be questioned. The prime minister should do whatever work he necessary." Responding to Pakistan’s repeated assertions of being a nuclear power, the veteran leader reminded them of India’s own capabilities.
"We also have nuclear power, and we had it even before them," he said.
Asserting India's stand of being non-aggressive, he said, "India has never attacked anyone first. It all started from there (Pakistan), and we responded. Even today, we will not use it (nuclear weapons) unless they do. But if they use it, we have it too. May God never let such a situation arise".
On the Congress party’s criticism of the Prime Minister, including posters claiming he is "missing in action", Abdullah dismissed them.
“Where is he missing? I know he is in Delhi,” he said.
The former J&K Chief Minister strongly condemned Pakistan for repeated terror attacks on Indian soil.
"There was the Mumbai attack, and it was proven they did it. The Pathankot attack, they did it, the Uri attack, they did it. They attacked in Kargi, and I was the chief minister at that time. They said they were not involved, but when we took strong action, they ran to the US President asking for help.” “If they want friendship, then such things cannot continue. It must stop. But if they want hostility, we are ready, and so are they,” Abdullah said.
- 30 April 2025 8:54 AM IST
Pak troops resort to unprovoked firing along LoC, IB in 4 districts of J-K; India 'responds effectively'
Pakistani troops engaged in unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in multiple sectors across four border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting Indian forces to 'respond effectively', officials said on Wednesday.
The firing, which began with small arms, was reported from the Pargwal sector along the IB in Jammu district, and the Sunderbani and Naushera sectors in Rajouri district. This marked the sixth consecutive night of ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC, amidst heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad following a recent terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.
"On the night of April 29-30, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small-arms fire across the Line of Control opposite the Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor sectors in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir," a defence spokesperson in Jammu said.
The Indian Army troops responded swiftly and proportionately, the spokesperson added.
Similar incidents of unprovoked small-arms fire were also reported from Pakistani posts across the LoC in Baramulla and Kupwara districts in the Kashmir Valley, and across the IB in the Pargwal sector.
Initially, the firing began in Kupwara and Baramulla districts and then spread to the Poonch and Akhnoor sectors. It further escalated to the Sunderbani and Naushera sectors in Rajouri district, followed by firing along the IB in Jammu’s Pargwal sector.
Since the night of April 24, shortly after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty in response to the killing of 26 people in the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani troops have been engaging in unprovoked firing at various locations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, starting from the Kashmir valley.
