Pahalgam terror attack: Pak’s X handle withheld, all-party meet today – top developments

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday took raft of diplomatic measures against Pakistan for supporting cross-border terrorism after a brutal attack on Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam which took 28 lives.
India blamed Islamabad for encouraging cross-border terrorism and suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, closed the Integrated Check Post at Attari with immediate effect, and ceased Pakistani travel access under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). All such visas already issued have been revoked, and Pakistani nationals under SVES have 48 hours to depart.

Ministry of external affairs stated that the attacks followed “in the wake of the successful conduct of elections in the Union Territory and its consistent march towards economic growth and development.”.

Run-in with terrorists in Uddhampur, soldier killed Security personnel were involved in a gunfight with terrorists in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. According to officials, the soldier received serious injuries in the early exchange and died later.

‘Pakistan to test surface-to-surface missile off Karachi coast’ Pakistan on Thursday released a notice to conduct surface-to-surface missile test from its Karachi coast along its coast within its exclusive economic zone during April 24-25, news agency ANI informed based on sources. Indian agencies responsible are keeping close eyes on all the updates, ANI informed. Pakistan govt’s X handle withheld

India hands over expulsion note to top Pakistan diplomat

India summoned Pakistan’s highest-ranking diplomat Saad Ahmad Warraich at night and issued the formal Persona non grata note to its military diplomats after the Pahalgam terror attack that left 28 innocent people dead, including 26 Indians and two foreign tourists, news agency ANI reported as per sources.
India had previously downgraded diplomatic relations in 2020 by cutting the mission strength to half of its previous size.
Earlier, defence minister Rajnath Singh had promised the country a “loud and clear” response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 28 individuals, who were predominantly tourists.

Pakistan to outline reaction

Pakistan’s highest political and military brass will gather to decide on a reaction to India’s sweeping decisions in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror strike that killed 28 people, 26 Indians and two foreign tourists.
“A meeting of the National Security Committee will be conducted under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif stated.
He said that options would be discussed to provide “an appropriate response to the Indian steps.” All the services chiefs and major cabinet ministers will be present at the meeting.

All party meet probably today

The Centre will apprise leaders of political parties of the Pahalgam terror attack and seek their opinion at an all-party meeting to be conducted Defence minister Rajnath Singh and home minister Amit Shah will brief the leaders, official sources added. Singh will preside over the meeting. Sources added that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is likely to make a speech at the meeting.
It was decided on Wednesday to hold an all-party meeting, and Singh and Shah personally contacted other parties.
There’s a convention for summoning an all-party meeting after an event with grave consequences in terms of national security, as was the case after Pulwama terror attack in 2019 or during India-China faceoff in 2020.

Rs 20 lakh reward declared for leads on terrorists

Anantnag Police declared a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh for any information that might lead to the neutralisation of terrorists who participated in the dastardly attack.

Rahul Gandhi shortens his US trip

Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in New Delhi on Thursday morning after shortening his trip to the US following the terror attack. Rahul will join the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi on Thursday at about 10.30 am.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi has shortened his US trip and will be present personally at the CWC meeting in New Delhi tomorrow at 10:30 am.”

Airlines run 59 flights from Srinagar; airfares maintained at reasonable prices

Airlines flew 59 flights from Srinagar, seven extra services, to transport tourists and bodies of 25 Pahalgam terror attack victims to their destinations along with 123 accompanying family members.
The civil aviation ministry informed that air ticket fares on the route were being maintained at affordable prices in the wake of a huge influx of tourists who are eager to fly back from Jammu and Kashmir following the terror attack, which was the most fatal in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack.

J&K LG conducts security review meeting

Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha conducted a security review meeting to ensure the instructions passed by Union home minister Amit Shah are promptly executed to arraign the perpetrators of Pahalgam terror attack.

Sinha said in the meeting that the home minister has ordered that everything possible should be used to implement the strongest action against the attackers of the Pahalgam terror attack and that the entire terrorist ecosystem must be eliminated, sources added.

Sinha asserted that the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is fully committed to avenging the murder of innocent citizens and ensuring that such cowardly acts of terrorism do not happen again