Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level meeting with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday morning shortly after landing in New Delhi from Saudi Arabia, where he curtailed an official visit in light of the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was also present at the meeting, held at the airport premises, according to officials.
The meeting came in the wake of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the region in recent times, in which at least 26 people were killed and several injured after gunmen opened fire at a prominent tourist site in south Kashmir on Tuesday.
Among those killed were two foreign nationals – one from the United Arab Emirates and the other from Nepal – along with two Indian citizens, officials confirmed.
Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in the capital at the time, immediately flew to Jammu and Kashmir to assess the situation on the ground and lead the Centre’s security response to the strike, which has been described as the most “gruesome” in the Valley in recent memory.
The Prime Minister’s Office has yet to issue an official statement on the discussions that took place during the airport meeting. However, sources indicated that the Prime Minister was briefed in detail about the ongoing investigations and the steps being taken to trace the perpetrators.
Security forces have launched extensive operations in the region, particularly around the Baisaran area of Pahalgam in Anantnag district, to apprehend those responsible. Meanwhile, candlelight vigils have been held across Jammu and Kashmir in memory of the victims.
International reactions have poured in since the incident, with US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the State Department issuing strong condemnations and expressing support for India in its fight against terrorism.
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