Prime Minister gives armed forces full freedom to respond to Pahalgam attack

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave the armed forces​ a carte blanche to determine the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response to the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. The announcement was made ​a​t a high-level security meeting attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the chiefs of the three wings of the armed forces.

Since the cowardly attack, believed to have been carried out by Pakistan-trained jihadis, India has been exploring its response options. Modi reaffirmed the national commitment to deliver “a crushing blow to terrorism,” echoing sentiments expressed in his April 24 speech in Bihar, where he pledged that India would identify, track, and punish the terrorists and their backers​,​ pursuing them to the ends of the earth if necessary.

At the April 29 meeting, the Prime Minister expressed full trust and confidence in the professionalism of the armed forces. According to sources, Modi emphasised that the military has complete operational freedom to determine the appropriate course of action in responding to the attack.

The decision follows a series of high-level deliberations. Earlier on Tuesday, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan chaired a meeting attended by the chiefs of the three paramilitary forces and senior officials from other security agencies.

India has already taken a hardline diplomatic stance, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and cancelling visas issued to Pakistani nationals.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has been scheduled for Wednesday​,​ the second since the terror attack.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, on Tuesday to discuss the Pahalgam incident. Jaishankar welcomed Greece’s “firm opposition” to cross-border terrorism. India has won overwhelming support from across the world following the terror strike​, with countries, including the US, expressing shock and condolences and offering unconditional support to its efforts to end cross-border terrorism.

armed forcesKashmirmilitary operationNarendra ModiNSAPahalgamterror attack