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

BARAMULLA: 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 nearly 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.