Pahalgam attack news highlights: Pakistan claims Indian attack imminent amid tensions

BJP leader CR Kesavan on Tuesday said that letter to PM Modi written by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge lacks both "credibility and integrity", as Congress leaders are betraying the nation by openly prioritizing Pakistan's agenda above India's national interest.

Speaking to ANI, BJP leader CR Kesavan said, "Rahul Gandhi and Kharge ji's letter to PM Modi lacks credibility and integrity. The way in which the opposition and particularly Congress leaders have been betraying Bharat by blatantly prioritising Pakistan's agenda ahead of India's national interest. One wonders whether INC now stands for Indian National Congress or Indian Nemesis Congress. The Congress leaders have made atrocious statements and are also deliberately peddling perilous pro-Pakistan propaganda. The Congress leaders have made atrocious statements and are also deliberately peddling perilous pro-Pakistan propaganda."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would on Wednesday visit Kanpur to meet the family of Shubham Dwivedi, who was killed in the terror attack that took place in J&K's Pahalgam.

"After completing his Raebareli and Amethi visit, Rahul ji would visit Shubham's family in Kanpur," UP Congress Committee chief Ajay Rai told PTI on Tuesday.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav questioned the BJP-led central government on the apparent "lack" of security for tourists, accusing the Centre of prioritizing VIP protection over public safety.

Yadav, in a post on X, asked, "Why was there no one to protect me (the public) amid danger?" He also questioned the government's security policies.

RJD leader Manoj Jha on Tuesday reacted to Congress 'Gayab' post on PM Modi and said that his presence at the all-party meeting on the Pahalgam terror attack would have elevated the stature of the meet.

"If PM Modi had attended the all-party meeting, the dignity of the meeting would have increased...Several things are happening across the globe in the geopolitical setup and with that India's vision is very clear and that should be conveyed under the leadership of Prime Minister from all the parties which remains missing sometimes," Jha told ANI.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X to post that former Pakistan minister Ch Fawad Hussain has reshared the Congress' 'Gayab' post on PM Modi.

"Now Ch Fawad Hussain is quote-tweeting Congress's Sar Tan Se Juda (STSJ) post against PM Modi. It's not just the same script but the same culture that Congress shares with Pakistan," Poonawalla wrote.

People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday urged home minister Amit Shah and chief ministers of all states to intervene and ensure the safety of Kashmiri students across the country.

Her appeal comes after the PDP chief reportedly received distress calls from students due to the ongoing unrest in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Intense counter-terrorism operations are underway at several places across Jammu and Kashmir, news agency ANI reported, citing sources. It added that no specific updates are being shared on the operation as of now.

BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia slammed Congress 'Gayab' post on X targeting PM Modi and said, "It is extremely sad and worrisome that even though Congress is an Indian political party, it constantly reveals its two faces and transforms into Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress."

"Congress has tweeted a headless image of PM Narendra Modi, at a time when the Prime Minister has given a strong message to Pakistan... 'Sar tan se juda' has been the ideology of Congress. Releasing such a picture of the Prime Minister, Congress has given a message to Pakistan... They say they are supporting the Indian government and then release images like this... Pakistanis greatly appreciate this tweet of Congress... Why don't the leaders of Congress speak about this tweet," Bhatia told news agency ANI.

Slamming Congress' 'Gayab' post on PM Modi, Union minister Chirag Paswan told news agency ANI, "This is wrong. This is a very sensitive issue and it is the responsibility of the opposition to understand the sensitivity of the issue. It is the need of the hour to show seriousness, as shown by J&K CM Omar Abdullah in the J&K Assembly. If parties like the Congress do politics on it, this is not good."

The BJP on Tuesday slammed the Congress for its 'Gayab' (invisible) post on X targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging it is "sar tan se juda" (decapitation) imagery aimed at provoking the Muslim community.

BJP leader Amit Malviya described the X post as a political statement and a "dog whistle" aimed at the Congress's "Muslim vote bank".

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the post proved that the Congress has become what he called "Pakistan Prasth Party".

Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress of taking its orders from Pakistan.

Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said on Tuesday that the Congress party has made immense sacrifices for the country's security and does not need to learn lessons from others.

His remark comes after controversial remarks made by the Congress leaders over the Pahalgam terror attack sparked massive rows.

The sacrifice made by Congress for the nation's security is immense. No one else has made the kind of sacrifices for national security that Congress has. We don't need to be taught lessons about this by others. We have not taken a soft stand on the Pahalgam incident. Our leaders have already expressed their views in the all-party meeting. This is a matter of national security. All of us must speak cautiously. We must view this beyond party lines and make decisions in a non-partisan manner. On matters of national security, we stand in support of the government. It is unacceptable for one person to say one thing and another to say something else," Parameshwara told reporters.

Nearly 50 public parks and gardens in the vulnerable areas of Kashmir have been shut as a precautionary measure amid security concerns in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Gates have been closed at 48 of the 87 public parks and gardens in Kashmir in view of threat perception to tourists, officials were cited as saying by PTI.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said that Rahul Gandhi cut short his foreign trip after the Pahalgam terror attack, fulfilling his national and internal obligations.

"There is a special thing about the Gandhi family, that in addition to fulfilling their national and internal obligations, they take good care of their constituencies... We salute Rahul Gandhi for cutting short his foreign trip after the Pahalgam attack.." he said.

Pakistani nationals left India through Attari border as the deadline for medical visas issued to them expires on Tuesday.

The validity for short-term visas for Pakistani citizens had already expired on Sunday, as per a statement from the external affairs ministry.

Days after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, tourists continued to arrive in Bhaderwah to witness the picturesque beauty.

Speaking to ANI, a tourist condemned the attack and expressed confidence that the government will give the "act done by Pakistan" a befitting reply.

"Their aim behind attacking tourists was to reduce tourism here. But this will not happen. Kashmir was ours, is ours and will remain ours. This motherland is ours; we have come here and will continue to come. We feel safe here. There is nothing to fear, and the Indian Army is here. The people here are very good, there is no problem here," the tourist said.

At the United Nations, India said that Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif admitting to his country's history of supporting and funding terror organisations shows Islamabad as a "rogue state" fueling global terrorism.

India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Yojna Patel, said, "It is unfortunate that one particular delegation has chosen to misuse and undermine this forum to indulge in propaganda and make baseless allegations against India."

"The whole world has heard the Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitting and confessing Pakistan's history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations in a recent television interview,” she added.

Patel further asserted, "This open confession surprises no one and exposes Pakistan as a rogue state fueling global terrorism and destabilising the region. The world can no longer turn a blind eye. I have nothing further to add."

AAP leader Sanjay Singh told news agency ANI that if the government can call an all-party meeting in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, then it should not have any problem with convening a special session of the Parliament on such a matter.

"In the Parliament, leaders of different political parties can keep their views, suggestions and also ask about the preparations being done by the government," he added.

Ira, a Pakistani national returning to Pakistan via the Attari Border, told news agency ANI that she got married 10 years ago in Delhi and that her visa expired during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I am a NORI visa holder, but I have been asked to leave the country because of the attack (in Pahalgam). Whatever happened there is absolutely wrong, but we should not be punished for this," she added.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to convene a special session of Parliament on Pahalgam terror attack.

Congress chief and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking special session of both the houses of the Parliament to address the Pahalgam terror attack.

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule slammed Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar's statement, "do terrorists have time to ask for religion?" over Pahalgam terror attack and asked whether he was attempting to "exonerate" the terrorists behind the back.

Vijay Wadettiwar's statement is the height of insensitivity. It has been proven time and time again that Hindus are being targeted in Kashmir. So, in what world is Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar living? Who is Wadettiwar trying to please by saying, "Terrorists have no caste or religion"? Are Congress leaders trying to "exonerate" terrorists?" Bawankule said in a post on X.

Russia's deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko met with Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar and reaffirmed Moscow's readiness to counter "global terrorist threat together".

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said on X, "On April 28, Deputy FM Andrey #Rudenko met with India's Ambassador @vkumar1969. Russia's readiness to counter the global terrorist threat, together with India was reaffirmed."

Ahmedabad tourist Rishi Bhatt, who was ziplining in Pahalgam when the terror attack broke out in the region, thanked the Indian Army for saving him and the tourists.

"Army covered Pahalgam within 20-25 minutes. They gave cover to all the tourists within 18-20 minutes... We felt safe once the Army gave us cover. I am grateful to the Indian Army," Bhatt told news agency ANI.

He added that the Indian Army personnel arrived before them soon and gave cover to all the tourists.

"Army presence was everywhere in lower areas, even in the forest. But there was no Army officer at the main location. There was Jammu & Kashmir Police as well as three security guards," Bhatt said while describing the security in the region prior to the attack.

The Kozhikode rural police withdrew notices issued to three Pakistani nationals after confirming that they had applied for long-term visas.

The individuals, identified as 79-year-old Puthanpuravalappil Hamsa, Khamarunnisa, and her sister Asma, have been residing in Kozhikode for an extended period.

Jammu and Kashmir Students Association convenor Nasir Khuehami said that Union Minister Amit Shah is personally monitoring the safety of Kashmiri students and that after his intervention there is zero tolerance on any such incidents.