Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has thundered out a warning to the terrorists, and their handlers, behind the Pahalgam terror attack – in which 26 people were killed – vowing direct retaliation and declaring the Indian government will identify and bring to justice all who conspired against the nation.
“Those responsible for such acts will receive a strong response in the near future. We won’t punish only the monsters who carried out this act of brutality and barbarianism…” he said at an event in Delhi.
“We will also reach those who hid behind a curtain to carry out this conspiracy. Attackers and their masters will be targeted,” he said Wednesday, after a 2.5-hour meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the three military chiefs to discuss the security situation in J&K.
“Yesterday, in Pahalgam, our country lost many innocent citizens in a cowardly attack by terrorists targeting religion. This extremely inhuman act has plunged all of us into deep grief and pain.”
“But we stand united in the face of terror and India has a zero-tolerance policy (for terrorism). We will take each and every necessary and appropriate step,” the Defence Minister raged.
“India is an ancient nation and we will not be scared of terrorism.”
Deeply anguished by the news of terrorist attack in Pahalgam (Jammu & Kashmir). This dastardly attack on innocent civilians is an act of cowardice and highly reprehensible. My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 22, 2025
On Tuesday evening, after the attack, Rajnath Singh said on X he had been left “deeply anguished” by the deaths, and called the “dastardly” attack on civilians “an act of cowardice and highly reprehensible”.
Pahalgam Terror Attack
The country, and indeed the world, was left shocked after Tuesday’s attack, in which tourists and civilians were accosted by the gunmen, asked questions about their religion, and then shot.
READ | “Told Him Not To…”: What Grandfather Told Newly-Wed Officer Who Was Shot
Among those killed was a newly-wed Navy officer on a short holiday with his wife.
Disturbing videos from after the attack showed women, with blood splattered across their faces, crying after their husbands were shot dead in front of them.
(L) Manjunath and his wife Pallavi before the attack, (R) Pallavi after the attack
One woman was told by the sneering terrorist to “go tell (Prime Minister) Modi”.
READ | “Won’t Kill You. Go, Tell Modi”: Pahalgam Attack Terrorist To Woman
The Resistance Front, a proxy of banned Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility. And security agencies have released a sketch of three of the terrorists.
However, there has been no encounter with the terrorists more than 24 hours after the attack.
Major General Yash Mor (retd.), a defence expert, told NDTV the scale and precision of the attack emphasised the role of Pakistan’s ISI, or Inter Service Intelligence, in planning terror strikes in India.
EXCLUSIVE | Pahalgam Attack Explained By Expert Who Served In Kashmir
Indeed, in the hours after the attack there were whispers that Pak-based terror agencies had scouted potential targets in parts of J&K, including Pahalgam, in the first week of April.
‘Evil Agenda Won’t Succeed’
Prime Minister Modi has condemned the attack and vowed to bring the guilty to book.
In an emotional post on X last night, Mr Modi said, “Those behind this heinous act will not be spared… their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakeable…”
READ | PM Condemns J&K Attack, Says “Evil Agenda Will Never Succeed”
Mr Modi, who was in Saudi Arabia when the attack happened, immediately spoke to and directed Home Minister Amit Shah to go to J&K and review the situation first-hand.
In what has been seen as a significant gesture, when the PM flew back from Riyadh, the PM’s plane took a more direct route to Delhi, avoiding Pak airspace. On his flight out the plane flew over Pakistan.
READ | PM, Flying Back From Saudi After Pahalgam Attack, Skips Pak Airspace
The re-routing was seen as a clear sign that India’s security agencies are aware of the threat emerging from Pakistan at this time and, for the safety of the PM, decided it was prudent to alter the flight path.
Meanwhile, Mr Shah left Delhi late Tuesday and, this morning, visited Baisaran, the scene of the horrific attack. He vowed to ensure justice for the families of those killed and for those injured.
And, as he lay wreaths on the bodies of those killed, he too vowed vengeance, declaring, “Bharat will not bend to terror. The culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared.”
With a heavy heart, paid last respects to the deceased of the Pahalgam terror attack. Bharat will not bend to terror. The culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared. pic.twitter.com/bFxb2nDT4H
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 23, 2025
And a furious J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah called the terrorists “animals and inhuman”.
‘Worst Attack Since 2019’
The Pahalgam attack is the worst in J&K since 2019, when 40 soldiers were killed in Pulwama.
A week later, 12 Air Force jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and bombed Balakot in Pakistan. The government said it had eliminated a terrorist training camp run by the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad.
EXCLUSIVE | ‘We Didn’t Miss”, Say Air Force Pilots Who Flew Balakot Mission
The government also said as many 350 terrorists were killed in the precision strike.
With input from agencies
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