Rajnath Singh Sends Strong Message: ‘Won’t Spare Pahalgam Conspirators, Befitting Reply Soon’
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that those behind the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, including its conspirators, will face a strong and timely response. His remarks follow the killing of 26 civilians in one of the deadliest terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
Delivering the Arjan Singh Memorial Lecture, Singh assured the nation that India remains firm in its zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. “The people responsible for such acts will get a befitting reply in the near future. We will not spare even those who have conspired behind the scenes,” he declared.
The minister’s statement comes a day after suspected terrorists opened fire on tourists in Baisaran, a popular meadow near Pahalgam, leaving dozens dead and many injured.
Soon after the attack, Singh chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in the region. According to defence sources, the nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long discussion focused on enhancing counter-terror operations and surveillance along the Line of Control and in vulnerable civilian areas.
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi provided a detailed assessment of troop deployment and operational readiness. The meeting was attended by NSA Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Air Chief Marshal AK Singh, and other senior defence officials.
Singh expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, describing the attack as an “inhuman act” that has plunged the nation into deep sorrow. “India is such an old civilization and such a big country that it cannot be intimidated by any such terrorist activities,” he said.
He also stressed national unity in the face of such violence. “Every citizen of India is united against this cowardly act. We will take every step necessary to ensure justice for the victims,” Singh asserted.
The Pahalgam attack, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, saw armed militants target a group of tourists, including families and children, who had gathered in the scenic valley. The strike has sparked outrage across the country, with citizens, leaders, and celebrities calling for swift justice.
Intelligence agencies suspect the involvement of a Pakistan-backed terror outfit, though official confirmation is awaited. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact network behind the strike.
Sources indicate the armed forces may intensify anti-terror operations in the region in the coming days. Intelligence-sharing among agencies has been ramped up, and the government is likely to initiate diplomatic pressure on countries suspected of sheltering terror groups.
More developments are expected as investigations continue.
