In the wake of the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired an urgent, high-level security meeting on Tuesday at his official residence in New Delhi. The closed-door session focused on assessing the ongoing threat landscape in Jammu and Kashmir and strategizing India's response to cross-border terrorism.
Joining the Prime Minister were Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who last week vowed stern retribution for the attack; National Security Advisor Ajit Doval; and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. Singh reiterated India's firm resolve to retaliate against the perpetrators and their enablers, echoing the PM’s earlier declaration that those behind the carnage would face justice.
This high-stakes gathering comes just ahead of a crucial second meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in under a week, underlining the gravity of the national security crisis. Sources revealed that the CCS session would be followed by a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), both of which include top ministers such as Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Additionally, the Economic Affairs Committee is also slated to meet soon, completing a chain of strategic deliberations.
India has already begun implementing retaliatory measures. The Centre has revoked all visas issued to Pakistani citizens, except for minorities and long-term residents. This move, which led to significant crowding at border posts like the Attari-Wagah crossing, is part of a broader diplomatic offensive. Since the order took effect, nearly 1,000 Pakistanis have exited India, with Home Minister Amit Shah urging state governments to ensure strict compliance.
In a more far-reaching move, India has also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) — a 1960 agreement that grants Pakistan access to 85% of the shared river system. Islamabad, in a fiery response, labeled the suspension "an act of war" and retaliated by cancelling visas for Indian nationals and freezing several bilateral accords, including the historic Simla Agreement.
Amid this rising tension, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif issued ominous remarks in an interview with Geo News, warning that the coming days could prove decisive. India has since blocked broadcasts of Geo News content within its borders.
The terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam left 26 people dead. The Resistance Front — a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — claimed responsibility, though the attackers remain at large. Indian intelligence agencies have amassed concrete evidence of Pakistan’s complicity and have already briefed foreign diplomats from nations including the US, Russia, China, Japan, and major European powers.
The Prime Minister, who cut short an overseas visit to Saudi Arabia in response to the attack, has adopted a hardline stance. He bypassed Pakistani airspace on his return and publicly condemned the attack in a globally broadcast English-language address, warning that India will hunt down every individual involved in the act of terror.