NEW DELHI, Apr 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Tuesday that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack, as he chaired a meeting with the top defence establishment.
During the high-level meeting, which was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the chiefs of three services, Modi affirmed that it is the national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism, Government sources said.
Modi expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the armed forces.“They have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response,” a source quoted Modi as saying.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan was also part of the meeting, which was held amid India weighing its options for countermeasures following the Pahalgam terror attack which left at least 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead.
Modi has vowed to pursue the terrorists behind the attack and their patrons, a clear reference to Pakistan which has a history of sponsoring terror strikes in India, to the “ends of earth” and inflict the harshest punishment on them “beyond their imagination”.
Terrorists had gunned down tourists, who were from different parts of the country, in the popular destination of Pahalgam in Kashmir exactly a week ago on April 22.
This most brutal attack on civilians in a long spell of time in the region has sparked a wave of outrage across the country and a demand for retaliatory action against the perpetrators and their handlers.
The Prime Minister’s tough assertions coupled with his Government’s avowed muscular stand on the issues of national security have heightened expectations of a stringent counteraction from India.
In the past, the Modi Government carried out surgical strikes inside Pakistan after the terror attack on Army soldiers in Uri in 2016 and the Balakot air strike after the killings of CRPF personnel in Pulwama.
Following the terror strike in Pahalgam, India has taken a series of measures targeting Pakistan, including putting in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty with the neighbouring country.
Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting which was attended by chiefs of three paramilitary forces and senior officers of two other security organisations, sources said.
The meeting was held amid the charged atmosphere following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
Director General (DG) of Border Security Force Daljit Singh Chaudhary, DG of National Security Guard Brighu Srinivasan and DG of the Assam Rifles Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera attended the meeting, the sources said.
Additional Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal Anupama Nilekar Chandra were among the other attendees in the meeting.
It was not immediately known what transpired in the meeting.
The BSF guards India’s International Borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, the SSB secures the borders with Nepal and Bhutan, the Assam Rifles protects the border with Myanmar and the NSG is a commando force specialising in anti-terror operations.
Later, the Union home secretary also held a video conference with the Chief Secretaries of all the States and asked them to ensure that all Pakistani nationals whose visas were revoked must leave India by the fixed deadline.
Meanwhile, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, an interaction which has come in the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead.
With the Hindutva organisation considered the ideological mentor to the ruling BJP and spread across the country, the meeting assumes significance. Sources said the meeting was in connection with the terror strike.
The Prime Minister also met Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been spearheading sweeping anti-terror measures after the horrific attack on April 22.
