Pahalgam Terror Attack Highlights: Targeting civilians unacceptable, those responsible must be brought to justice, says UN chief

Hours before the UN Security Council in New York was set to discuss the tense situation between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed Delhi’s position Monday when he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone and, according to the Indian government, said that the “perpetrators of the heinous attack and their supporters must be brought to justice”.

Moscow’s readout of the call said Putin expressed his sincere condolences and “both sides emphasised the need for an uncompromising fight against terrorism in all its manifestations”.

This phone conversation took place three days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and told him that the perpetrators, backers and planners of the Pahalgam terror attack would be brought to justice — a framing also used by Putin, according to Delhi’s readout. Read Full Report

UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced concern over tensions between India and Pakistan being at "at their highest in years" and called for "maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink".

Here's what he said| 6 points

Almost 12 days after the Pahalgam terror attack which killed 26 people, UN chief António Guterres condemned the attack and said targeting civilians is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible, lawful means. Commenting on the strained India-Pakistan ties, Guterres urged for maximum restraint and asked to step back from the brink.

Here are the five planned measures Union Home Ministry has ordered to follow during mock drills

The Union Home Ministry has ordered several states to conduct mock drills for civilians to protect themselves in case of ‘hostile attack’ on May 7, sources told PTI.

The Centre, "at the highest level", wants to ensure that the Pahalgam terror attack does not derail the process of governance and development in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday.

Adressing a review meeting with top officials at the Civil Secretariat, he acknowledged the adverse impact of recent incidents on the Union Territory's tourism sector.

Touching on the broader national support for Jammu and Kashmir's development, Abdullah shared details of his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the highest level in the government of India wanted to ensure that the Pahalgam attack did not derail the process of governance and development. "That is our responsibility that we will have to take care of," he said.

PTI

Pakistani hackers have claimed that multiple Indian websites have been hacked and data has been stolen. A probe has been initiated into the matter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended support to India's fight against terrorism and emphasised that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack should be brought to justice. In conversation with Modi, Putin "strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam" and conveyed condolences at the loss of innocent lives, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post.

A Russian embassy readout said Putin described the terror attack as "barbaric" and that both the leaders emphasised the need for an "uncompromising fight" against terrorism in all its manifestations.

It also said that the president accepted the prime minister's invitation for the annual India-Russia summit to be held in India this year.

The Russian president conveyed deepest condolences on the loss of innocent lives and expressed "full support" to India in the fight against terrorism, Jaiswal said. "He emphasised that the perpetrators of the heinous attack and their supporters must be brought to justice," the MEA spokesperson added.

With PTI inputs

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to PM Modi and strongly condemns Pahalgam terror attack: MEA

Security forces unearthed a terrorist hideout in a forest area in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the recovery of five improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and two wireless sets, officials said on Monday.

All the ready-to-use IEDs, weighing between half-a-kg and five kg, were destroyed in a controlled explosion on-the-spot, thwarting terrorist plans to set off explosions in the border district, the officials said.

The hideout was busted during a joint search operation by army and special operations group of J-K police at Suranthal in Marhote area of Surankote late Sunday evening, the officials said. (PTI)

The civil and military leadership of Pakistan has briefed the country's political parties on tensions with India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.

All political parties barring former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf party attended the in-camera briefing on Sunday, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The political leaders vowed a robust response if India resorted to any "misadventure", the paper quoted a source privy to the briefing as saying.

The briefing was given by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. (PTI)

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has recently declassified a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) prepared by it in 1993 to evaluate the possibility of war between India and Pakistan in the 1990s. The document was cleared to be released in February 2025 and is now available on US government websites. With India and Pakistan locked in yet another confrontation, which may bring the two countries to war or at least on the brink of it, it is interesting to notice that many of the postulates mentioned in the three-decades-old dossier still hold true.

While the NIE gave a low probability of a conventional war taking place between the two countries in that period of time, it rates the possibility of war between India and Pakistan as about 1 in 5. It also pointed out that war could still happen due to a variety of factors, one of which could be a “spectacular terror outrage that one side believed the other directed or abetted”.

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In the wake of the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including a foreign national from Nepal, the Centre has taken a slew of diplomatic actions against Pakistan over its support for cross-border terrorism. On Saturday, India took three bold steps against Pakistan in a single day – the government imposed a complete ban on all imports from Pakistan, suspended all postal services to and from the country, and prohibited Pakistani ships from docking at Indian ports.

The Congress on Sunday began exerting pressure on the Centre to "teach Pakistan a lesson" over the Pahalgam terror attack, stating that "the country is waiting for action" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, while addressing the Samvidhan Bachao rally organised by the party here, said that 15 days have passed since the terror attack in Kashmir and questioned why the Centre has not taken any action so far.

"Why has there been no action other than your threats through microphones and public meetings? The country is waiting for action from you, Mr Modi," Venugopal said.

"The country wants to see your actions, not just challenges through words. The Congress and the INDIA alliance are with you in teaching Pakistan a lesson," he said.

Taking a dig at Modi, the Alappuzha MP said, "You have a 54-inch chest -- now is the time to display it, and we are with you." He also referred to the stand taken by the Congress leadership during the All-Party Meeting and by the party in its Working Committee meeting, extending firm support to the government to take strong action against Pakistan on the matter. (PTI)

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday said her party would fully support any action the central government takes in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed.

She noted that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) has already passed a resolution affirming this stand.

Speaking during her two-day visit to Wayanad, the AICC general secretary expressed hope that the union government would act swiftly in the wake of the attack "The Congress Party... the CWC met, and we passed a resolution. In the resolution, we have said we stand fully with whatever action the government decides to take. And we hope that they take the action soon," she told reporters here when her reaction was sought on the matter.

The opposition party made the assertions in a resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, which was chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and general secretaries Jairam Ramesh, K C Venugopal and Priyanka, among others. (PTI)

Jammu and Kashmir's top cop VK Birdi on Sunday reviewed the security in the Valley in the backdrop of Pahalgam terror attack last month.

"IGP Kashmir V K Birdi held a joint security review meeting today at PCR Kashmir, which was attended by officers from multiple security forces, including the Police, Army, Intelligence Agencies, and CAPFs," a police spokesman said.

The IGP was briefed by the officers about the overall security scenario, focussing mainly on the existing challenges in the Valley.

"The discussions focused on intelligence gathering, threat assessments, emergency response preparedness, and inter-agency coordination," the spokesman said.

The IGP Kashmir underlined the need to bolster synergy among all security and intelligence agencies for seamless information sharing and joint operational readiness.

The joint security review meeting underscored the commitment of all security and intelligence agencies to work in close coordination to maintain peace and stability in the Kashmir Valley, the spokesman said. (PTI)

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday expressed gratitude to Kashmiri tourist guide Nazakat Ahmad Shah who saved a group of tourists from Chhattisgarh during the Pahalgam terror attack.

"I strongly condemn the attack by terrorists in Pahalgam. They killed innocent and unarmed people who had gone for holidaying with their families after questioning their religion, which is a cowardly act. The nation has lost 26 people. Chhattisgarh has also lost its son," the chief minister said.

"It was the audacity of Pakistan despite it having been given a befitting reply in the past through surgical strike. But it has once again showed audacity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been taking strong action. I believe another strong action is going to take place in response to the terror attack," he said. (PTI)

Instagram accounts of more Pakistani stars, including Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, and Mawra Hocane of "Sanam Teri Kasam" fame as well as veteran singer Abida Parveen, have been blocked in India following the Pahalgam attack.

"Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content": this message was displayed when users in India tried to access the pages of these artistes.

Fawad Khan was set to make his Bollywood comeback after almost nine years with "Abir Gulaal", the release of which is now limbo following the attack.

Instagram accounts of former Jal band member and "Mere Humsafar" actor Farhan Saeed, Ali Sethi of "Pasoori" fame, Saba Qamar ("Hindi Medium"), and Adnan Siddiqui ("Mom") are also inaccessible in India.

Earlier this week, Instagram accounts of popular Pakistani actors Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Sanam Saeed, Ali Zafar, Bilal Abbas, lqra Aziz, Ayeza Khan, Imran Abbas and Sajal Aly were also blocked. (PTI)

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Sunday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the backdrop of rising tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Air chief held a meeting with PM Modi, sources said without giving further details.

Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi met the prime minister on Saturday and briefed him on the overall situation in the critical sea lanes in the Arabian Sea. - PTI

What’s also now known, the officials said, is that these two local terrorists “mingled” with the tourists before the attack commenced. In fact, they herded the tourists to a food court complex, where the other two terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan, fired at them at close range, the officials said.

“Clearly, the terrorists were in and around Baisaran for 4-5 days, and this could not have happened without some element of local support from certain people in the area,” the official said.

In a significant counter-espionage operation, the Amritsar Rural police Saturday arrested two people for their alleged role in leaking sensitive information and photographs of Army cantonment areas and air bases in Amritsar.

The accused have been identified as Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih.

Giving this information, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation reveals their links to Pakistani intelligence operatives, established through Harpreet Singh alias Pittu alias Happy, currently lodged in Amritsar Central Jail.

India’s maritime authorities have issued a navigation warning for commercial ships to exercise caution in view of the Indian Navy’s ongoing drills in the Arabian Sea, even as Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi is understood to have briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the overall situation in the critical sea lanes, people familiar with the developments said on Saturday.

The NAV (navigation) alert comes amid increasing tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.

It is learnt that the Navy chief met the PM on Saturday evening and briefed him about the situation in the maritime domain, the people cited above said.

J&K CM Omar Abdullah on Saturday called on PM Modi to discuss ground situation in Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Abdullah is learnt to have told the PM about the groundswell of solidarity and support for the victims of the attack in the Valley. He spoke about the outrage among the people over the deadly attack and their spontaneous protests in every nook and corner to convey their disapproval of the violence.

In his 30-minute meeting with the PM, Abdullah is learnt to have also highlighted the sacrifice of pony ride operator Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who tried to snatch a weapon from one of the terrorists in a courageous attempt to protect the tourists.

India on Saturday halted the exchange of mail and parcels with Pakistan, through both air and land routes, as it imposed fresh punitive measures on Islamabad in view of the cross border linkages to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack last month, in which 26 people were killed.

According to an order issued by the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, and sent to the heads of all postal circles across the country, “the exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes” has been suspended.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Saturday dismissed a jawan from Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch from service without a formal inquiry for not informing his superior officers about his marriage with a Pakistani national.

In an official order, the Commandant 41st Battalion of the CRPF at Bangrasia, Bhopal – where he is currently posted – said Munir Ahmed was being dismissed “with immediate effect” after finding that his action was found to be detrimental to “national security”.

The jawan, however, has denied the allegation claiming that he had informed the force when his wedding was solemnised last year.

The development comes in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people — mostly tourists but also a local — were shot dead.

A local in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, who opened his shop around 15 days before the terror attack on tourists and did not open his shop on the day of the incident, is being questioned by officials of multiple central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), The Indian Express has learnt.

The NIA, which is investigating the April 22 attack where 26 people were killed, has already questioned around 100 locals as part of its probe. It was during questioning that the central agency learned about the man who did not open his shop on the day of the incident.

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A top official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the government and security agencies had intel about a possible terror attack targeting tourists in hotels around Srinagar days before the Pahalgam attack.

“The police brass, including the Director General of Police, had camped in the Valley for a few days before the attack,” said a top official who did not wish to be named.

“They (security agencies, including the J&K Police) had intelligence. They were anticipating an attack. They thought it would be a hotel on the outskirts of Srinagar… because civilian killings have happened mostly in south Kashmir,” the official said. Hence, combing operations were undertaken around Dachigam, Nishat, and adjacent areas over 10-15 days preceding the Pahalgam attack.

However, a J&K Police rebutted the claims saying, the inputs were not specific and only came to light after the attack, and one “must not read too much” into these.

Small arms fire between Indian and Pakistani troops continued for the tenth consecutive night in various sectors along the Line of Control (LoC), with the Indian Army responding effectively, officials said on Sunday.

Ceasefire violations were reported from eight locations in the Union Territory during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. However, no casualties were reported, officials confirmed.

This comes amid heightened tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.