The North News
Srinagar, April 25
Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, arrived in Srinagar on Friday for a high-level security review, days after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam claimed the lives of 26 civilians. Army Chief Dwivedi was briefed by the 15 Corps Commander on the evolving security situation and the measures underway to neutralise terrorist threats within Indian territory. The briefing also included updates on ceasefire violations carried out by Pakistan’s military along the Line of Control (LoC).
In a closed-door security review chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Army Chief was urged to take “effective and targeted” steps to not only bring the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice but also to dismantle the broader terrorist infrastructure operating in the region.
“Every perpetrator of the Pahalgam terror attack must be hunted and made to pay a heavy price for this dastardly act,” Sinha said, echoing a sentiment that has been gaining traction across India’s political spectrum.
The security meeting, which lasted nearly an hour, was part of a broader response by the government, which has moved swiftly in the aftermath of the attack. In Delhi, the Centre convened an all-party meeting to brief political allies and opposition leaders on the situation. According to sources, there was broad consensus on the need for decisive action against terrorism and cross-border terror camps.
However, some opposition parties also raised concerns over lapses in local intelligence and preparedness, questioning how such a large-scale attack could have occurred in a heavily monitored area like Pahalgam.
The Pahalgam massacre has intensified calls for a rethink of India’s internal security strategy in Jammu and Kashmir and has reopened long-standing debates on the effectiveness of the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan. With tensions rising along the LoC, defence analysts say retaliatory operations and border skirmishes may be imminent.
