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.”
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.
‘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.
As he flew back from Riyadh, the PM’s plane took a more direct route to Delhi, avoiding Pak airspace. On his flight out to Saudi Arabia Tuesday, the plane flew over Pakistan.
The re-routing has been 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 Prime Minister and the delegation on board, decided it was prudent to alter the flight path on the way home.
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 a furious J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah called the terrorists “animals and inhuman”. He also said the attack was “much larger than anything directed at civilians in recent years”.
The Pahalgam attack is the worst in J&K since 2019, when 40 soldiers were killed in Pulwama.
