New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to India early Wednesday morning, cutting short his official visit to Saudi Arabia following the devastating terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
Immediately upon landing in Delhi, PM Modi was briefed at the airport by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is scheduled for 11 AM to further assess the situation and decide on next steps.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam—a popular tourist destination—has been described as the deadliest in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack. Among the victims were mostly domestic tourists and at least two foreign nationals. Several people remain injured and are receiving medical care.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-backed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Prime Minister, in a strong statement, vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. All possible assistance is being provided to the injured and affected. The culprits of this heinous act will not be spared. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakeable,” PM Modi posted on X.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that PM Modi had postponed official engagements in Saudi Arabia and returned ahead of schedule to address the unfolding situation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar on Tuesday evening and was briefed by Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat. Shah also met with top security officials and is expected to coordinate on-ground response measures.
Notably, the terror attack coincided with PM Modi’s high-level diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia and a concurrent visit to India by US Vice President JD Vance. PM Modi was scheduled to return late Wednesday night but instead skipped official events, including a dinner hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to return home early.
Earlier on Tuesday, both PM Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince jointly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack during their Strategic Partnership Council meeting in Jeddah.
This latest incident has once again placed national security at the forefront, with heightened alerts issued in major Indian cities including Delhi and Mumbai.
