Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a decisive security meeting on Tuesday, gave the armed forces complete operational freedom to decide the mode, targets, and timing of India’s retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 individuals, primarily tourists.
News agency PTI quoted officials saying that during a high-level security meeting, PM Modi reaffirmed, “It is our national resolve to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a key security meeting on Tuesday that the armed forces have full operational freedom to determine the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Modi expressed full trust and confidence in the professionalism of the armed forces. “They have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response,” a source quoted Modi as saying, according to PTI.
High-Level Security Meeting Convened by PM Modi
PM Modi on Tuesday presided over a meeting with India’s senior defence officials, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the chiefs of the three armed forces.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan was also present at the meeting, conducted as India was evaluating its options for a response after the Pahalgam terror attack.
PM Modi says ‘Punishment Would Be Beyond Their Imagination’
Earlier, in response to the attack, PM Modi pledged to identify the terrorists involved and their backers, directly mentioning Pakistan, which has a track record of funding terrorism against India. He promised to bring them to justice, saying that the punishment would be “beyond their imagination.”
Precedents and Current Measures
Earlier, the Modi government had carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan after the 2016 Uri attack on Indian army personnel, and the Balakot airstrike following the Pulwama attack on CRPF officials.
In reaction to the Pahalgam attack, India has taken various steps against Pakistan, such as suspending the Indus Waters Treaty with the country.
Earlier during the day, Union home secretary Govind Mohan had organized a meeting of top brass from the three paramilitary forces along with top officers from two other security agencies. What was on the agenda for the meeting has not been officially made public.
