Pahalgam attack: China backs Pakistan, calls for ‘impartial’ probe

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh on Sunday said that those involved in the “cowardly” terrorist attack in Pahalgam will not be spared.

Chugh told ANI, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear today that the unity of 140 crore Indians is our biggest strength. Certainly, those who carried out this cowardly act (Pahalgam terror attack) will be punished, their ecosystem will be destroyed. Those who killed the citizens of the country will not be spared.”

A total of 745 Indians, including 14 diplomats and officials, have returned from Pakistan through the international border crossing located in Punjab, reported PTI.

Traders, students and NGOs have been holding a protest at Ghanta Ghar, Lal Chowk in Srinagar against the Pahalgam terror attack.

26 civilians, mostly tourists, lost their lives in the terrorist attack which occurred on April 22. It included 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen.

"We want to send a strong message that Kashmir valley is against terrorism, and will always remain against terrorism. We want to welcome the tourists," one protestor told ANI.

Pahalgam terror attack live updates: Former Army Chief and Mizoram Governor General VK Singh asked the public to have patience, adding that the central government was actively addressing the terror attack.

"It is a very sad incident. The government is taking certain actions against this. We all need to be patient. We need to keep our eyes and ears open in the future so that, if we see something abnormal, we can catch it beforehand," Singh told ANI.

In an interview to Russian government-run RIA Novosti news agency, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Russia, China and other countries could also be involved in the probe to find the culprits of the Pahalgam terror attack.

“I think Russia or China or even Western countries can play a very, very positive role in this crisis and they can even set up an investigation team that should be assigned this job to investigate whether India or Modi is lying or he is telling the truth. Let an international team find out,” he said.

Pahalgam terror attack live updates: The NIA has formally taken over the Pahalgam terrorist attack case, and has registered a case in Jammu on Sunday. The probe will be carried out with help from other agencies as well.

Former separatist leader Bilal Gani Lone has called for strict punishment for the "fringe" elements behind the Pahalgam terror attack and appealed to let Kashmiris live “like human beings."

He told ANI, "So my experience with you is that the boys who did this work are neither our prophets nor our God. See, as you just said, I said, here all of you are not fringe elements. In Kashmir, you can't have a 90-100 per cent fringe-free society. We have it. Now, where did I run from Kashmir? Practically, we had to run from there. We didn't run, right?"

He also appealed for people to not enact violence on Kashmiri students.

Pahalgam terror attack live updates: A team of NIA officials on Sunday recorded the statements of the family members of Bitan Adhikari, one of the 26 people killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.

The NIA team had on Saturday visited the residence of Samir Guha, another deceased in the attack.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday, called for punishment without mercy for those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack.

He also stressed that innocent people must not become collateral damage in the fight against terrorism.

In a post on X, he said, “There must be a decisive fight against terrorism and its origin. People of Kashmir have come out openly against terrorism and the murder of innocent people, they did this freely & spontaneously. It’s time to build on this support and avoid any misplaced action that alienates people. Punish the guilty, show them no mercy but don’t let innocent people become collateral damage.”

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday blamed the Centre's "intelligence failure" for the Pahalgam terror attack.

“The big question is how did the terrorists reach our home.. This is a failure of the government. It was the result of intelligence failure,” he said to ANI.

"There were no proper security arrangements and forces could not reach there. Now people are also talking about Pulwama with Pahalgam," he added.

Demonstrations continue in Srinagar on Sunday in protest of the Pahalgam terror attack, which took the lives of 26 civilians.

A protestor, Imran Khan, told ANI, "We condemn the incident that took place in Pahalgam. We are confident that the victims will get justice. PM Modi in 'Mann Ki Baat' said that the victims will get compensation and revenge will be taken soon. This is our Kashmir and tourism will boost here again."

Chief of General Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan met with defence minister Rajnath Singh at his residence today in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Director General of Border Security Force (BSF) Daljit Singh Chaudhary has arrived at the North Block of Parliament. Earlier, defence minister Rajnath Singh also held a meeting at his residence with the Chief of General Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday reiterated that his party had extended full support to the central government in its actions against the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack.

He said, as quoted by PTI, “We will extend support. Properly utilise it. If they (Centre) take everyone into confidence, further steps will be easy. But going on criticising each other will not go well.”

Around 629 Indians have returned from Pakistan to India through the border in Punjab. Among them, 13 diplomats and several other officials also returned.

Pahalgam terror attack live updates: Around 272 Pakistani nationals have left India in the past two days through the Attari-Wagah border point, reported PTI.

As the exit deadline comes to an end for Pakistani nationals with short-term visas, more are expected to leave the country.

On the Pahalgam terror attack, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stated that there is no such thing as ‘fool proof intelligence’ and that determining whether there was a failure should not be the main focus.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “Obviously, there was no full proof intelligence. There was some failure. But we have got the example of Israel, the world's best intelligence services according to everybody, which were taken by surprise on October 7, just two years ago. It seems to me, just as Israel is waiting till the end of the war before they demand accountability, similarly, I think we too should see the present crisis through and then demand accountability from the government.”

He added, "No country can ever have a foolproof 100% intelligence. We will never know about the various terror attacks that were successfully thwarted. We only get to know about the ones that we failed to thwart. This is normal in any nation. There were failures, I agree, but that should not be our main focus right now."

Supreme Court Judge Justice Dipankar Datta expressed grief on the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and stated that the apex court had taken a resolution that all legal service committees would do their job.

Datta said, as quoted by ANI, "Our hearts go out to all the bereaved family members. We have taken a resolution in the Supreme Court. We are with the victims, whatever can be done as part of NALSA or any other legal services committee, definitely the committees will do their job. We pray to God that this does not happen again."

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti appealed to the Centre to not alienate innocent people and tread with caution during their anti-terror crackdown in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Indian Government must tread with caution and carefully distinguish between terrorists and civilians following the recent Pahalgam attack. It must not alienate innocent people, especially those opposing terror," Mufti said in a post on X.

The former chief minister alleged, "There are reports of thousands being arrested and scores of houses of common Kashmiris being demolished along with those of militants."

"Appeal Government to direct the authorities to take care that innocent people are not made to feel the brunt as alienation aids terrorists goals of division and fear," she added.

Pahalgam terror attack live updates: NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday urged people to stay united and not fall into the trap of the terrorists who carried out the horrific Pahalgam attack.

"The campaign of Hindu versus Muslim must stop. If we have to fight the terrorists then we must be united. Muslims all over the country, including Kashmir, have condemned the killing and taken out protest marches. A Muslim also fell to terrorists' bullets in Pahalgam," Bhujbal said.

"The objective of the killing was to create communal discord and fan riots. People should not fall into the trap of the terrorists," he asserted.

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday stated that it was time to teach Pakistan a lesson and reclaim the portion of Kashmir occupied by the neighbouring country.

"It’s time to teach them a lesson in the language they understand. It’s time to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Period." the TMC MP wrote on X.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday walked back his “no need for war” comment and clarified that he meant there should be war only if it is inevitable, as it is not the solution.

"No need for war means, if inevitable there should be war...only if inevitable there should be war, there cannot be a solution from war. I did not say no to demands for war," Siddaramaiah told PTI.

“I did not say no to a war with Pakistan. What I said is that war is not a solution. Security should have been provided there, as many tourists go to Kashmir. Providing security is whose responsibility? It is the Central government's responsibility. I said there was a failure,” he added.

BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari on Sunday accused the Congress party of playing “good cop, bad cop” with their statements supporting the government in their response to the terror attack and their criticism on alleged security lapses that led to the attack.

"Congress is playing 'good cop, bad cop'. On one hand, in the all-party meeting, they say that they will fully support. On the other hand, they make their leaders give statements that insult the victims and give cover fire to Pakistan," Bhandari told ANI.

The wife of one of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, Shubham Dwivedi, requested the government to grant him the status of a martyr on Saturday, reported ANI.

"People forget the victims' families, such as those in the Pulwama attack, the 26/11 attacks... We don't want Shubham to be forgotten, and therefore, I request the government to grant him the status of a martyr," she said.

Shubham's uncle also made the same request, saying, "There is anger along with grief in our hearts. We demand from the government that they grant him the status of a martyr. We want the future generations to remember his sacrifice. If the Prime Minister or Chief Minister meet us, we will keep this demand in front of them."

Pakistan has blamed India for releasing water from the Jhelum river leading to rise in water levels in Pakistan occupies Kashmir, reported Pakistani news channel Dunya News.

The report also said that the local administration announced a water emergency in Hattian Bala, around 40 km from Muzaffarabad and made announcements in mosques, which created fear among residents.