PM Expresses Full Confidence In Armed Forces, Signals Tough Response To Pahalgam Attack

 

New Delhi : Asserting full confidence in the Indian armed forces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday is believed to have given complete freedom to decide on terror targets, as well as the timing of the response over the Pahalgam terror attack. Meeting for the first time with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Anil Chauhan and chiefs of all the armed forces at his residence in New Delhi, Modi reiterated that the heads of terrorists sitting across the border must face a strong action, sources said. The crucial meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence that continued for more than one hour took place a day before a much crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

 

The meeting, according to some officials, discussed some strong measures which are likely to be adopted by the government following the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. Sources said that Home Minister Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also met the Prime Minister at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The Cabinet Committee on Security, the country’s highest decision-making body on national security, will hold its meeting at around 11 am on April 30, in the national capital.

 

It will mark the second round of discussions at the highest level since the Pahalgam attack of April 22. Security preparations are likely to be discussed at this meeting. After the CCS meeting, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) will also meet under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Modi. In its last meeting on Thursday, the CCS had reviewed the overall security situation of the country and put the forces on alert, vowing that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

 

Meanwhile, another high-level security meeting is currently going on at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Chaired by Amit Shah, the meeting is being attended by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director Generals of Border Security Force, Assam Rifles and National Security Guard. Senior officials of the Central Reserve Police Force and the Central Industrial Security Force are also present at the meeting.