New Delhi, April 23:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi early Wednesday morning, cutting short his official two-day state visit to Saudi Arabia following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday.
The visit to Riyadh was undertaken at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and was aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and exploring new avenues of cooperation. However, the sudden escalation of violence in Kashmir prompted the Prime Minister to cancel the remaining leg of his engagements and return to India to oversee the response to the attack.
Immediately upon his return, PM Modi convened a high-level security meeting with key officials, including External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and senior security and intelligence personnel. The briefing focused on the circumstances of the attack, the ongoing counter-terrorism operations, and measures to maintain peace and stability in the region.
The Prime Minister expressed deep concern over the incident and directed officials to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice. He also conveyed his condolences to the families of those affected by the attack.
The government is expected to release more details as investigations continue and the security situation evolves. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation and reignited calls for a more robust counter-terrorism strategy in Jammu and Kashmir.
