New Delhi: Amid national outrage over the devastating terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to cut short his official visit to Saudi Arabia and return to India immediately, according to senior government sources cited in media reports.
In response to the deadly assault, PM Modi skipped the state dinner hosted by Saudi authorities. He is expected to depart for India later tonight and land early Wednesday morning—almost a full day ahead of his original schedule, which had him returning on Wednesday night.
Deadliest Civilian Attack Since 2019
Tuesday’s attack marks the deadliest targeting of civilians in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Terrorists opened fire at a popular tourist spot in Baisaran, a scenic grassland located approximately six kilometers from the town of Pahalgam.
According to officials and eyewitnesses, the assailants entered the area and began shooting indiscriminately at tourists—many of whom were enjoying pony rides, meals at local stalls, or simply relaxing with their families.
Twenty-six people, mostly civilians including two foreigners and two local residents, were killed in the assault. At least 20 others sustained injuries, some of them critical.
Omar Abdullah: “Much Larger Than Anything We’ve Seen”
Describing the gravity of the attack, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it was “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.”
The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a proxy group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the carnage, as reported by PTI.
Following the incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah briefed Prime Minister Modi and rushed to Srinagar to oversee the security and relief measures.
PM Modi: “They Will Not Be Spared”
Prime Minister Modi issued a strong condemnation of the attack and pledged to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected,” the Prime Minister said on X.
“Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” he added.
Security has been ramped up across the region, and a high-level investigation is underway. Additional forces have been deployed in key locations as a precautionary measure.
