Pahalgam Terror Attack Highlights: Amit Shah reaches PM Modi’s residence after day of security meets

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his counterparts from seven non-permanent member nations of the UN Security Council and is understood to have apprised them of cross-border links to the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

The phone conversations came days after the UN Security Council (UNSC) issued a statement condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, but not before Pakistan, backed by China, worked to water it down.

Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from Algeria, Greece, Guyana, Panama, Slovenia, Sierra Leone and Somalia and discussed the Pahalgam attack.--PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday discussed the Pahalgam terror attack with his counterparts from Slovenia, Panama, Algeria and Guyana during separate phone conversations.

Jaishankar is understood to have conveyed to the foreign ministers India's policy on "zero tolerance" towards terrorism.

"A warm conversation with FM Hugh Hilton Todd of Guyana today. Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the need to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations," the external affairs minister said on X.--PTI

China on Tuesday reiterated its call for India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, saying their harmonious coexistence is "vital to the peace, stability and development of the region."

Addressing a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said both India and Pakistan are important countries in South Asia.

Guo made the remarks in response to a question on the exchange of gunfire by the troops of the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday recorded the statements of a Cuttack-based family who survived the Pahalgam attack, officials said.

A three-member team of the NIA met the family of Ranjit Bhol (69), who, along with his wife Sashi Kumari Nayak (65), younger son Sandeep (35) and daughter-in-law Lelina Subhadarshini (33), were in Baisaran in Pahalgam on April 22 when the attack happened, they said.

The investigators spent two hours at their residence in Deuli Sahi in Tulasipur.

The NIA had on April 26 recorded the statement of Priya Darshani Achariya, the wife of Prashant Satpathy, who was among the 26 people killed in the attack.

The Bhol family had told multiple news channels on Sunday that they witnessed the killing of three tourists by terrorists.

"They killed three people within a distance of 5 feet to 10 feet from me," said Sashi Kumari, who had gone to Kashmir to celebrate the third wedding anniversary of her son.--PTI

The Jammu and Kashmir BJP has criticised calls demanding dialogue with Pakistan and attempts to "rationalise" the terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 dead, saying this is not the time to play "political games".

Addressing reporters in Jammu, BJP spokesperson Dr Abhijeet Jasrotia, “This is not the time for political games. It is the time for national unity. To suggest that terrorists do not see religion is not only misleading but also an affront to the families who lost their loved ones—be they Hindu pilgrims or Kashmiri workers.”

Jasrotia hit out at selective opposition leaders for their 'pro-Pakistan' statements and denounced what he called "shameful political opportunism" after the Pahalgam attack.He further expressed "deep anguish" over the statements made by leaders from the Congress and other parties.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Saifuddin Soz had opposed the move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty and said, "If Pakistan says that it is not involved, let us accept that argument".

Noting the controversial statements made by some party leaders, Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh, in a damage control exercise, posted Monday that the party had made its stand clear at the CWC meeting, adding that the those leaders "speak for themselves and do not reflect the INC’s views."

On the action taken by authorities following the Pahalgam terror attack, CPI(M) MLA from Kulgam M Y Tarigami said, "Identifying those who are responsible and taking action under the law is correct. If action against their relatives is also taken under the law, even then it is fine, but the many arrests being done and houses being demolished makes it appear that action is being taken with anger when any action taken should be done based on experience."

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a meeting on Tuesday to review preparedness for the summer season in the union territory.

"Chaired a meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, to review summer preparedness across departments. Took stock of ongoing arrangements and directed necessary measures to ensure a smooth summer season," posted Omar Abdullah on X.

In another post, the Jammu Kashmir CM said that he reviewed summer preparedness at the Civil Secretariat to ensure a seamless season ahead.

Earlier on Monday, Omar Abdullah condemned the recent Pahalgam attack and said that for the first time in 26 years, he was seeing people in the region united against the violence.--ANI

Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam on Tuesday wrote to Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging them to convene a special session of the Odisha assembly to express solidarity with the families of those killed in the Pahagam terror attack.

Kadam said the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed, has shocked the nation and the world.

"The death of two visitors from Odisha makes this tragedy even more personal for our state. In this grave moment, we urge for a special session of the Legislative Assembly be convened at the earliest," he wrote in the similarly worded letters. --PTI

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday have set the ball rolling for the deportation of 60 Pakistanis, one of them the mother of Shaurya Chakra awardee who was killed in a terror attack, officials said.

They were all collected from various districts and taken in buses to Punjab, where they will be handed over to the Pakistani authorities at the Wagah border, they said. --PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday announced that the state government will give Rs 50 lakh each to families of 6 state natives killed in Pahalgam terror attack and provide jobs to their kin.