Amid increasing tensions between India and Pakistan over the ghastly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Sunday. The talks took place at the Prime Minister’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, for about 45 minutes. The meeting comes after PM Modi held separate meetings with the Navy Chief and the Army Chief.
Post the Pahalgam attack, there has been a growing anger in the country and PM Modi has vowed to teach the perpetrators a lesson. Right after the Pahalgam attack, PM Modi had stated is his speech that the conspirators will be punished ‘beyond their imagination’ without directly mentioning Pakistan.
PM Modi has given ‘complete operation freedom’ to forces
In a high-level meeting held earlier this week, Prime Minister Modi provided clear instructions to the defense leadership, stating that the Indian armed forces possess ‘complete operational freedom’ to determine the nature, targets, and timing of the nation’s response to the assault. The meeting was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.
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Tensions rose between India and Pakistan following the fatal terror attack on April 22 that resulted in 26 deaths, amid concerns over cross-border connections. The Resistance Front, known as TRF, is a splinter group of Lashkar-e-Taiba with a violent past and is thought to be responsible for the attack. Pakistan has denied responsibility for the assault.
Another ‘surgical strike’ expected soon
India is expected to soon take a serious action against Pakistan after its terror links surfaced once again. Historically, India has responded with full might to the terrorist activities on its land by the neighboring country.
In 2016, India carried out surgical strikes on terrorist launch sites along the Line of Control, in response to the assault on soldiers in Uri, J&K, and conducted the Balakot airstrikes in 2019 after the Pulwama attack.
The Air Force was crucial in the Balakot mission, employing Mirage-2000 fighter planes to launch attacks on what the government labeled a significant terrorist training center.
Pakistan’s name has time and again surfaced in terrorist activities, though it has never admitted to be involved in those. Several most-wanted terrorists have been found on its land which it has denied.
In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, India has promptly implemented diplomatic and strategic measures aimed at intensify pressure on Islamabad. One such action was the decision to suspend specific clauses of the Indus Waters Treaty, a long-established bilateral accord regulating the utilization of rivers that flow from India to Pakistan.
Despite societal pressure and the strong stance taken by the Prime Minister and top officials, there has yet to be any official announcement regarding the nature or timing of any retaliatory measures.
