Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plane, Air India One, took a significant detour while returning to India from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night, avoiding Pakistani airspace following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, according to media reports. The attack, which killed 26 people, including tourists and civilians, prompted the Indian government to take immediate security measures.

Flight tracking reports indicated that while the PM’s plane had taken Pakistan airspace in its flight to Riyadh during the day, on its return it took a direct route across the Arabian Sea. The aircraft entered India through Gujarat, skipping Pakistan altogether, reflecting increased security considerations. This as a precautionary measure reflects consideration of possible danger and maintaining the Prime Minister’s and his delegation’s safety.

Pahalgam Terror Attack: Facts and Swift Response

The Tuesday afternoon terror attack was aimed at Baisaran Valley, a well-known tourist spot in south Kashmir. Terrorists gunned down tourists and civilians present in the valley and killed 26 people, including two foreign nationals—a Nepali national and a UAE national. There were reports of utter chaos as tourists and locals ran for cover in the barren, treeless area, unable to escape the firing.

Gruesome videos of the aftermath came out, featuring women drenched in blood, weeping for assistance as their loved ones were dead or injured. A woman was heard begging for the life of her husband, who was shot before her eyes. Some of the victims included a Navy officer, who had just gotten married, and an Intelligence Bureau official, who was murdered in front of his wife. One terrorist is said to have spared a woman, instructing her to “go tell Modi” before letting her go.

The Resistance Front Claims Responsibility

The attack has been attributed to the Resistance Front (TRF), a militant group linked to the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The TRF operatives are believed to have crossed over from Kishtwar in Jammu and traveled to Baisaran via Kokernag in south Kashmir. However, the Indian government has yet to officially confirm the group’s involvement.