Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a high-level security meeting on April 29 to discuss India’s response to the April 22 terrorist attack Pahalgam in Kashmir, in which 26 Indian tourists were killed. According to the PTI news agency, Modi said: “The armed forces have full operational freedom in choosing the means, targets, and dates of India’s retaliation measures.… Our national resolve is to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism.” TASS reported that the meeting was attended by Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan.
Modi also gave “an emotional speech at a rally in Bihar,” RT further reported. “I say to the whole world, India will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth,” he said. “Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done.”
On Tuesday, April 29, India launched four counter-terrorism operations across various locations in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Two operations had already been underway but were expanded, and two more were added.
From the Pakistani side, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar wrote on X on Tuesday evening: “Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours, using the Pahalgam incident as a false pretext…. Any act of aggression will be met with a decisive response. India will be fully responsible for any serious consequences in the region,” he added.
