Not only perpetrators, will also get those behind the scenes: Rajnath vows action

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday articulated India's resolve to soon strike back at not only those who carried out the horrific Pahalgam attack but also their handlers as security forces intensified their hunt for the Pakistan-backed terror squad that melted into mountain jungles after killing 26 tourists.

- Rahul Singh

SRINAGAR: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday articulated India's resolve to soon strike back at not only those who carried out the horrific Pahalgam attack but also their handlers as security forces intensified their hunt for the Pakistan-backed terror squad that melted into mountain jungles after killing 26 tourists.

Singh's comments were seen as a stern warning to Pakistan of a crushing response and came shortly after he chaired a two-and-a-half-hour meeting of top officials to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, and assessed the likely military options for retaliation, people aware of the matter said.

The meeting was attended by national security adviser Ajit Doval, chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan, and the three service chiefs.

"India is an old civilisation and can never be intimidated by such terror activities. Every Indian is united against this cowardly act. Not only will we reach the perpetrators soon, but also those who conspired behind the scenes to commit this nefarious act on Indian soil," Singh said at a function in Delhi.