Pahalgam | PM Modi Holds Series Of Meetings In Delhi: All You Need To Know
In the wake of the brutal terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of high-level meetings in New Delhi to assess the national security situation and finalise India’s response. The discussions, attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and other top officials, focused on defence readiness, internal security, and a broader diplomatic and strategic approach.
Russia has extended its full backing to India, with President Vladimir Putin speaking to PM Modi and strongly condemning the attack. “President Putin conveyed his deepest condolences and offered full support in the fight against terrorism,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Putin also accepted Modi’s invitation to visit India for the annual summit later this year. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic ties.
This outreach comes as Pakistan seeks international involvement in the investigation, with its Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggesting that countries like Russia or China lead a probe. India, however, maintains that five terrorists, three of them Pakistani nationals, were behind the massacre. The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, has claimed responsibility.
Within India, the Prime Minister has reportedly granted full operational freedom to the armed forces to choose the timing and nature of any potential retaliation. Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi have already briefed PM Modi separately. The Navy Chief specifically updated him on maritime security in the Arabian Sea, an area of strategic concern.
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has directed states to conduct civil defence mock drills, including activating air raid warning systems. This forms part of a broader domestic readiness effort.
India has also intensified non-military measures. It has frozen the Indus Waters Treaty, halted visas for Pakistani nationals, and closed the Attari-Wagah border crossing. The Chenab river’s flow into Pakistan has been partially restricted, following the closure of sluice gates at Baglihar and Salal dams in Jammu and Kashmir. This caused the riverbed to dry up significantly in Akhnoor, sparking public curiosity and concern. Locals ventured into the riverbed in search of artefacts, prompting police to intervene and issue warnings.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for restraint. Speaking from New York, he condemned the Pahalgam attack and urged India and Pakistan to avoid escalation. “Targeting civilians is unacceptable. This is a time for maximum restraint,” he said. The UN Security Council is expected to meet soon to discuss the growing tensions.
As both military and diplomatic strategies take shape, Delhi appears determined to send a clear message. A senior Indian official summed it up: “Even a temporary water choke is a signal—we will respond across all fronts.”
