Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, arrived in New Delhi early Thursday morning, having cut short his official visit to the United States. His return comes in response to the recent deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, including one foreign national.

Gandhi is scheduled to participate in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting at the party headquarters in New Delhi at around 10:30 am. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh had earlier announced the change in Rahul Gandhi’s itinerary due to the grave security situation in the Kashmir Valley.

The government is reportedly preparing for an all-party meeting on Thursday, likely to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, to deliberate on the national security response to the attack. The attack, which occurred at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, is being described as the most severe since the 2019 Pulwama incident.

Centre responds with strong diplomatic and security measures

In the wake of the violence, the Indian government has initiated a series of stringent actions aimed at sending a message to Pakistan, which it holds responsible for supporting cross-border terrorism. Among the measures announced are the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and the immediate closure of the Attari integrated checkpost.

Additionally, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri declared that Pakistani nationals will no longer be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption framework. These announcements came after a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The CCS condemned the attack unequivocally, expressing deep sorrow for the victims and stressing the need for swift action.

Victims’ families demand justice

Emotions ran high across the country as families performed last rites for the victims. Among those killed was Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, whose funeral was held in Karnal. Another victim, Manjunath Rao from Shivamogga, was remembered by family and friends who called for firm government action against terrorism.

This latest incident has reignited national concerns around security in Jammu and Kashmir, especially given its scale and the timing following the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.

In a historic and severe diplomatic step, India has indefinitely suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. This drastic measure comes in response to the revelations of cross-border involvement in the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, including that of a foreign national.

The decision was announced after a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the apex body on national security affairs. Officials revealed that the move was prompted by “cross-border linkages” uncovered during the probe into the attack, marking a major escalation in India’s stance on terrorism originating from across the border.

Water flow from key rivers to Pakistan halted

As per the suspension, water from the Indus river and its major tributaries—Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj—will no longer flow into Pakistan. These rivers are vital to Pakistan’s agrarian economy and supply water to tens of millions of its citizens. The halt could have significant humanitarian and geopolitical implications for the neighbouring country.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed on September 19, 1960, under the mediation of the World Bank, has long stood as a rare symbol of cooperation between the two countries, enduring even during times of war in 1965, 1971, and 1999. However, the latest attack and its investigative fallout have pushed India to make a decision it had refrained from taking for over six decades.

On Wednesday, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi attributed the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, to a significant intelligence lapse, describing it as more devastating and alarming than the Uri and Pulwama attacks. He urged the Narendra Modi government to hold those responsible accountable for the failure.

Speaking to the media in Hyderabad, Owaisi condemned the attack, in which terrorists targeted innocent civilians after questioning their religion. “This brutal act demands the strongest condemnation. We expect the government to take decisive action against the perpetrators,” he said, expressing hope that swift justice would be delivered to the victims’ families.

He emphasized the need for the government to address the intelligence shortcomings that allowed the attack to occur.

Owaisi, representing Hyderabad in Parliament, extended AIMIM’s solidarity to the victims’ families and wished for the speedy recovery of those injured. Labeling the Pahalgam attack a “massacre,” he called for a thorough review of the government’s counter-terrorism strategies.

“The Modi administration must assess whether its deterrence policies are effective,” he stated, stressing the need for a robust response to prevent future incidents.

He further noted that the attackers, believed to have infiltrated from a neighboring country, aimed to sow fear and target innocent lives in India.

The assault, which took place on Tuesday in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam, claimed at least 26 lives, including two foreign nationals and two locals, while injuring several others. Owaisi’s remarks underscore the urgency of strengthening security measures and ensuring accountability to restore public confidence and deliver justice.