Pahalgam terror attack: UN urges India and Pakistan to exercise ‘maximum restraint’

BJP MLA Devinder Kumar Manyal said after the J&K all-party meeting that all parties condemned the attack.

“Today, all parties collectively condemned the attack. A resolution was passed stating that this act is against humanity. We stand with the families of the victims. The central government has taken steps to prevent such attacks in the future," PTI quoted Manyal as saying.

Gates remained closed during the ‘beating the retreat’ ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Leaders of various parties attending the all-party meeting in New Delhi observed a two-minute silence in respect for the Pahalgam terror attack victims.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced Rs. 5 lakh for all the families of those who lost their lives in the Pahalgam attack.

"The people of Assam are extremely angry at the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We stand with Prime Minister Narendra Modi... No one from Assam has been killed in this attack. Assam is one of the states that has suffered the most from terrorism and insurgency. We have seen such massacres before, so we can feel the pain... As a symbol of solidarity, the Assam government has decided to provide ₹5 lakh to all the families whose loved ones have been killed in this massacre," Sarma was quoted by ANI as saying.

The all-party meeting is underway as leaders from various parties meet at the Parliament Annexe building.

The all-party meeting will start shortly, as leaders from various parties continue to arrive at the Parliament Annexe building.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, and others have arrived at the Parliament Annexe building to attend the all-party meeting.

Congress MP Deepinder Hooda said that the whole country is united with the government regarding the Pahalgam terror attack.

"We are confident that the country will respond... No one will be spared... Today, the whole country is united in this matter, and as an opposition MP, I want to say that the whole country is united with the government. The country is bigger than the ruling party and the opposition. This attack was not just on a person, it was an attack on the country...India knows how to respond to this. The right answer will be given," Hooda was quoted by ANI as saying.

“In the wake of the recent tragic attack in Pahalgam, a calibrated decision has been taken to scale down the ceremonial display during the Retreat Ceremony at Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki in Punjab,” the Border Security Force (BSF) said on Thursday.

The key changes include – Suspension of the symbolic handshake of Indian Guard Commander with the counterpart Guard Commander.

Gates to remain closed during the ceremony.

The BSF guards India's international border with Pakistan while the Indian Army guards the Line of Control in J&K.

Hyder Shah, father of a 30-year-old ‘ponywallah’ who was killed while trying to snatch a rifle from a terrorist during the attack in Pahalgam, said he felt proud because of his son's sacrifice to save tourists he ferried to the meadow.

The deceased's father stood inconsolable when the chief minister hugged him to share grief and express solidarity. “I am very proud of him and his sacrifice. I am alive because of the pride I am feeling. Otherwise, I would have died the moment I saw his young, dead body. I am happy because of his bravery. Some people were saved because of him, and I am proud of it,” Hyder Shah told ANI on Thursday.

LJP MP Shambhavi Choudhary backed PM Narendra Modi's message to terrorists who attacked tourists in J&K's Pahalgam.

"What happened in Pahalgam is not acceptable in any way. We strongly condemn it. The attack on civilians shows cruelty and cowardice. The Prime Minister has said that terrorists will be punished and terrorism will be wiped out... It is a big thing that he (Prime Minister Modi) gave this message to terrorists from the soil of Bihar," Shambhavi Choudhary was quoted by ANI as saying.

Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi will visit Srinagar, J&K, tomorrow to review the security situation there in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. Top commanders of the local military formations will be briefing him on the counter terrorist measures taken by the force in the valley and along the Line of Control. The 15 Corps commander and other Rashtriya Rifles formation commanders would be present during the visit, ANI reported.

Pakistan holds all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, in abeyance.

Pakistan shall close down the Wagah Border Post, with immediate effect. All cross-border transit from India through this route shall be suspended, without exception. Those who have crossed with valid endorsements may return through that route immediately, but not later than 30 April 2025.

Pakistan has also suspended all visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals and deems them cancelled with immediate effect, with the exception of Sikh religious pilgrims. Indian nationals, other than Sikh pilgrims, currently in Pakistan under SVES have been instructed to exit within 48 hours.

Pakistan has declared the Indian Defence, Naval, and Air Advisors in Islamabad persona non grata. India had already recalled them yesterday.

The strength of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad will be reduced to 30 diplomats and staff members, with effect from 30 April 2025, the Pakistani government announced.

Pakistan’s airspace will be closed with immediate effect for all Indian owned or Indian operated airlines

All trade with India, including to and from any third country through Pakistan, is suspended forthwith.

A day after India announced a similar measure, Pakistan asked military advisers at the Indian High Commission to leave the country by April 30, PTI reported.

India called top diplomats of the US, UK, European Union, Italy, Qatar, Japan, China, Russia, Germany, France, etc, to brief on the Pahalgam terror attack at the office of the Ministry of External Affairs, located in the South Block, ANI reported

Ministry of External Affairs officials briefed ambassadors of selected countries about the Pahalgam attack, ANI reported, quoting sources.

Among the measures announced by Pakistan, the country has also suspended trade with India, Reuters reported.

Pakistan has announced the closure of its airspace for India, Reuters reported.

It has also reportedly said that it will consider any stopping of water flow to Pakistan would be considered an act of war.

An eyewitness has revealed that the terrorists who attacked tourists in J&K's Pahalgam were targeting only men.

" It should be a bad dream, I should wake up from it. This should not happen to any of the family. They (terrorists) were targeting only men," Pallavi Manjunath, wife of victim Manjunath Rao, told the media, ANI reported.

In continuation of the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from 27 April 2025, ministry of external affairs said in a press note.

Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till 29 April 2025. All Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave India before the expiry of their visas, as now amended. Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid travelling to Pakistan. Those Indian nationals currently in Pakistan are also advised to return to India at the earliest, the press note added.

Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary on Thursday said the terrorists who attacked Pahalgam think they could stop tourism in this manner. He also added that the state government was supporting the Centre on the issue.

"Some people who think that by doing this, they will be able to stop the tourists that come here from around the nation and world. Tourists will still come to J&K as they love J&K. J&K is the crown of India...People came out on the streets and showed that they are not with terrorism...J&K CM chaired a cabinet meeting yesterday, and today has also called an all-party meeting. The tourists who have come to J&K should not worry, the government is standing with them...Today we met Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde...The J&K government is standing with the central government on this incident," he told ANI.

National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and other party leaders have arrived at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar for the all-party meeting

Congress MP Manickram Tagore said that he hopes the Pahalgam attack is not made into an internal issue

"It is a very sad incident. We all feel bad, and today we will take a stand on the Congress's line in the committee meeting.... The decision in this meeting will be paramount... We are with the government in this. I hope this is not made an internal issue... The Prime Minister should attend the all-party meeting... We hope that the government takes a collective decision after hearing all the parties' views," Tagore told ANI.

The Samajwadi Party has picked Ram Gopal Yadav to represent the Akhilesh Yadav-led outfit at the All-Party meeting on Thursday evening,

"Samajwadi Party has decided that in the all-party meeting, the Principal Secretary General of the party, Ram Gopal Yadav will be present in the meeting and will be keeping the views of the Samajwadi Party in the meeting. We condemn the incident. The government should take strict action. Terrorism has no religion...Their main objective is to instil fear, affect the trade...No political party should take political benefit from this incident," Akhilesh announced.