Pahalgam Terror Attack Live Updates: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday spoke to his counterpart from European Union Kaja Kallas and discussed the Pahalgam terror attack. Following the phone conversation, Jaishankar welcomed European Union’s strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
The European Union called on New Delhi and Islamabad to show “restraint” and pursue dialogue to defuse tensions amid speculation about India’s possible retaliation against Pakistan in view of the cross-border linkages to the terror attack. The EU’s call for restraint to India and Pakistan came two days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged the two countries to work together to de-escalate tensions over the Pahalgam terror attack.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India’s strength today is not just in its weapons but also in its unity. Minutes before the Prime Minister’s address, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan referred to the Pahalgam terror attack and voiced their open support to the Prime Minister in his actions against Pakistan and terrorism. Without referring to their remarks, PM Modi also emphasised that unity is a key strength of India besides its military strength.
In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed the responsibility for the attack.
After the attack, the diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan downgraded with New Delhi announcing several punitive measures, including suspension of Indus Water Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength, closing its airspace for Pakistani airlines and expulsion of its military attaches. In response, Pakistan undertook tit-for-tat measures and suspended the Shimla Agreement.