Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the Indian armed forces full operational freedom to determine the nature, timing, and targets of India’s response to the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives—most of them tourists—on April 22.
Chairing a high-level security meeting on Tuesday, Modi reaffirmed India’s unwavering resolve to combat terrorism, stating, “It is our national resolve to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism.” The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The Prime Minister expressed complete trust in the professionalism of the armed forces, granting them “complete operational freedom” in crafting India’s response to the attack.
The Pahalgam attack has stirred both national outrage and global concern. India has already taken diplomatic and strategic measures in response, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, a country long accused by New Delhi of sponsoring cross-border terrorism. Modi warned that those responsible “will be punished beyond their imagination,” vowing to bring both the attackers and their supporters to justice.
India has a precedent of conducting military operations in response to terror attacks. In 2016, following the Uri attack, Indian forces carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control. A similar strong response came after the 2019 Pulwama attack in the form of the Balakot airstrikes.
Earlier in the day, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan held a separate high-level meeting with senior officials from the three paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies. While the agenda remains classified, officials suggest discussions centered on internal security measures and cross-border threat assessments.
As tensions remain high, the international community, including the United Nations, has urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint. Meanwhile, Islamabad has denied any involvement in the attack and has called for an international probe—an appeal New Delhi has firmly rejected.
India continues to monitor the situation closely as its leadership signals readiness for a decisive response.
