“Attackers and Their Masters Will Be Targeted”: Rajnath Singh Warns of Retaliation After Pahalgam Terror Attack
New Delhi | April 23, 2025
India is preparing a strong counter-response to the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh vowing that not just the terrorists but also their “masters” will face consequences.
Also Read: Fierce Gunbattle Erupts in Kulgam, a Day After Pahalgam Massacre Killed 26 Tourists
“We won’t punish only the monsters who carried out this act of brutality,” Singh said at an event in Delhi.
“We will also reach those who hid behind the curtain to execute this conspiracy. Attackers and their masters will be targeted.”
The Defence Minister’s remarks followed a high-level security meeting lasting over two and a half hours with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the three service chiefs.
On Tuesday, terrorists ambushed tourists in Baisaran, a meadow near Pahalgam, asking about their religion before opening fire. Among the victims was a newly-wed Navy officer, killed while vacationing with his wife.
Grim visuals from the scene show bloodied survivors and families in shock. One chilling account reported a terrorist telling a woman:
“Go tell Modi we let you live.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Saudi Arabia at the time of the attack, cut short his state visit and returned to Delhi via a route that skipped Pakistani airspace — a move widely seen as symbolic of rising tensions.
“Those behind this heinous act will not be spared. Their evil agenda will never succeed,” the PM posted on X, vowing unwavering commitment in the fight against terrorism.
Home Minister Amit Shah flew to Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night. He visited the attack site in Baisaran on Wednesday morning and laid wreaths on the coffins of the deceased at the Police Control Room in Srinagar.
“Bharat will not bend to terror. The culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared,” Shah declared.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy for Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility. Intelligence agencies believe the ISI played a key role in scouting the target zone in early April.
Security agencies have released images of three suspected terrorists, but as of Wednesday evening, no encounter had yet taken place.
The Pahalgam massacre is being compared to the 2019 Pulwama attack, in which 40 soldiers were killed. India retaliated then with the Balakot air strike, destroying a major terror training camp.
The public and political calls for a similar decisive response are growing louder.
“India is an ancient nation. We will not be scared of terrorism,” Rajnath Singh said, echoing national sentiment.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the perpetrators “animals and inhuman,” while emphasizing the need for national unity and swift justice.
Pahalgam terror attack, Rajnath Singh statement, Narendra Modi Saudi trip, India Pakistan tension, Lashkar-e-Taiba TRF, Jammu Kashmir security, Amit Shah Kashmir visit, Pulwama 2.0, Balakot air strike, India national security
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