PM gives forces operational freedom for Pahalgam reply

Security personnel comb forests in hunt for perpetrators of April 22 attack; Line of Control remains tense as firing continues for fifth day

- Rahul Singh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a top security meeting in Delhi where he reaffirmed India's resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism and underlined that the armed forces have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of the response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, officials aware of the matter said.

The meeting at the prime minister's residence was the latest in a series of security huddles following the worst terror attack in India in years, and was attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, national security adviser Ajit Doval, chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan, and the three service chiefs. It will be followed up with a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by the PM, on Wednesday.

Later in the evening, Modi also met Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat.

"The PM affirmed that it is our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism," said the officials cited above.

"The PM expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian armed forces. The PM said that they have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of our response," the officials cited above added, requesting anonymity.

The meeting came at a critical moment as India is weighing military options to target Pakistan after the April 22 terror attack, and tensions are spiralling along the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir where the Pakistani army expanded the arc of hostilities for the fifth consecutive night by targeting Indian posts at multiple points on the mountain frontier, including the Baramulla sector.

The meeting took place a day after Singh met Modi and briefed him on the security dynamics in J&K and the military's readiness to undertake missions.