New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that those responsible for Tuesday’s terrorist attack that led to the deaths of mainly Hindu tourists and a local Muslim man in Kashmir’s Pahalgam would get a strong response in the coming days.
“India is such an old civilisation and such a big country that it cannot be intimidated by any such terrorist activities. The people responsible for such acts will get a strong response in the near future,” said the minister.
A group of four Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, armed with AK-47 rifles and wearing body cameras, reportedly asked for names and singled out some tourists, Hindu men, at Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadows. Leaving the women and children out, the terrorists then sprayed the men with bullets.
The terrorists killed 26 people, including a Nepalese national and a Muslim horse rider from Pahalgam. A Navy officer, an Indian Air Force Corporal, and an Intelligence Bureau officer were among the victims.
Reiterating India’s stance of zero tolerance towards terrorism, Rajnath Singh said, “I would like to reiterate India’s firm resolve that we have a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism. Every citizen of India stands united against this cowardly act.”
“In Pahalgam yesterday [Tuesday]—targeting religion—in the attack carried out by terrorists, the country lost several innocent citizens. This extremely inhuman act has left all of us in pain,” the minister added.
Rajnath Singh also assured that the Centre would not only reach those who carried out the attack but also reach those operating from behind the scenes and conspiring to commit such terror attacks on India’s soil.
Commenting on cross-border support for terrorist attacks, Rajnath Singh said, “History is witness to the withering away of nations, not due to the actions of the adversary but due to their own misdeeds. I hope people across the border look more closely at the lessons of history.”
He also expressed his deepest condolences to all the bereaved families.
The terrorists reportedly arrived in Kashmir earlier and originally planned an attack during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 19 April Katra visit. With Modi’s visit postponed, the terrorists changed their plan.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)