Pahalgam attack news live updates: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence meeting concludes

After a controversy over Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah’s comments on war with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, Congress’ General Secretary Jairam Ramesh clarified that statements by ‘some leaders’ do not reflect the views of the party.

“The Congress Working Committee had met on April 24th 2025 and passed a resolution on the brutal terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam two days earlier. Therafter on April 25th 2025 the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha attended the all-party meeting and put forward the party’s views. Some Congress leaders have been speaking to the media. They speak for themselves and do not reflect the INC’s views. There should be absolutely no doubt whatsoever at this most sensitive of times that the CWC resolution, the views expressed by Shri Mallikarjun Kharge and Shri Rahul Gandhi and the views of authorised AICC office-bearers ALONE represent the position of the INC,” Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that Naresh Tikait should not comment on the decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty after an attack in Pahalgam.

“After the terror attack, PM Modi and Union Minister, CR Patil have decided for abeyance of Indus Water Treaty after reviewing Pakistan’s behaviour,” Athawale said.

NCP leader Brijmohan Shrivastav said, « This was a shameful incident and The Congress party strongly condemns it, we have held candle marches, rallies, and unequivocally opposed such acts. The central government should declare those who lost their lives as martyrs. We stand in full support of the central government, and whatever decision they take, we will stand by it. »

In a sharp attack on Congress amid soaring tensions between India and Pakistan, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that Pakistan is using comments made by some Congress leaders to defame India.

Prasad’s comments come after Karnataka chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah’s remarks on the terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, erupted controversy. Read more here

The family of Prashant Satapathy, who succumbed to the terror attack in Pahalgam, met Odisha Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday.

“Naveen Patnaik called my family a day after the incident and gave assurance… After meeting, he asked what we needed, I told him that we need nothing but for him to participate in the last rites of my brother. He assured he will try his best to reach,” said Susanta Satpathy, the elder brother of Prashant Satapathy.

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said that Pakistan committed a crime against humanity by allegedly abetting terrorists who killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam on April 22.

“We are still not ready to accept the two-nation theory. Whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, or anyone else, we are all one. Those who think this way are trying to weaken us, but that is not the case; we are becoming stronger. And we will give them a befitting reply,” Abdullah said.

Maharashtra Home Minister Yogesh Ramdas Kadam said that notices were issued to all Pakistani nationals residing in the state and asserted that the government knows their respective locations.

“We are still compiling the data but on an estimate, 250-300 Pakistanis are believed to be residing in Maharashtra. Those who came to India on medical grounds have been asked to leave India by 29th April,” Kadam told ANI.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday said it has deported all Pakistani nationals from the state, barring one individual, following the Centre’s new visa restrictions after Pahalgam attack.

Leader of CPI in Rajya Sabha P Sandosh Kumar wrote to Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, requesting him to convene a Special Session of Parliament following Pahalgam terror attack.

“In view of the magnitude of this tragedy, I urge you to consider convening a Special Session of Parliament at the earliest. Such a session would allow Members across party lines to come together in one voice to mourn the loss, to express the will of the nation and to send a clear and strong message that India remains united, resilient and resolute against those who seek to harm us through acts of terror,” the letter read.

“Parliament should rise above political divides to embody the spirit and aspirations of the people. At this moment of national mourning, a collective expression of solidarity from the highest forum of democracy would be both timely and necessary,” it added.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday conveyed to his British counterpart David Lammy of India’s policy of « zero tolerance » for terrorism while discussing the « cross-border » links to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.

“Spoke to Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy of UK today. Discussed the cross-border terrorist attack at Pahalgam. Underlined the importance of zero tolerance for terrorism,” Jaishankar said in a post.

Jaishankar and Lammy held a phone conversation amid increasing tensions between India and Pakistan over the attack.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said, a time when the entire nation is grieving the loss of innocent lives, is not the moment he will use to demand statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a special session at the J&K legislative assembly, the J&K CM questioned if his politics were « so cheap » that he would demand statehood on the back of such an attack.

The members of the Indian Youth Congress on Monday staged a protest near the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi over the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday slammed Pakistan for backing terrorism and said it will soon be brought down to its knees.

While addressing the media, Puri said, “Pakistan has been using terror as an instrument of state policy now for as long as I remember.”

He assured that stringent actions will be taken against those involved in the Pahalgam attack, saying, « This time there will be no compromise and the government will take strict action. They will be brought down to their knees. »

Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said militancy could only end in Kashmir with the help of people’s support.

“Militancy and terrorism will end when people support us. We can control militancy using guns, but it will end only when people support us. And now it seems people are reaching that point,” he said.

During the special one-day session of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that he had no words to seek an apology to the families who lost their loved ones in the Pahalgam terror attack.

“This incident affected the entire country. An attack of such a large scale has been carried out after 21 years in Baisaran. I did not know how to apologise to the families of the deceased. Being the host, it was my duty to send the tourists back safely. I couldn’t do it. I do not have the words to seek an apology,” he said.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday slammed Pakistan MP Bilawal Bhutto for his ‘blood will flow’ remark and said he should remember that his mother was also killed by terrorists.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday, speaking about security concerns in India, questioned the marriages between Pakistani nationals and Indian citizens, saying, « Why marry someone from an enemy country? » He argued that the « intentions behind such marriages should be closely examined ».

Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday stoked a controversy over his remark on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed. READ MORE

The deadline for Pakistani nationals with short-term visas to leave India has passed, and the consequences of overstaying their visas despite the government’s orders are clear: defaulters may face arrest, prosecution, fines, or potential imprisonment. READ MORE

After the Centre’s move to cancel short-term visas for all Pakistani nationals after the Pahalgam terror attack, several Pakistani families urged India to reconsider, as they have nothing left behind in Pakistan.

Among those seeking help was an 18-member Hindu family which recently arrived from Sindh province on April 19. Six women, five children, and seven men visited the CID-CB office, desperately pleading with officials to allow them to stay in India.

The resolution, which was passed by the J&K Legislative Assembly during a special session to address the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam, was moved by Deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary.

The resolution emphasised the attack as an assault on the values of « Kashmiriyat », the Constitution, and the spirit of unity, peace, and harmony in Jammu and Kashmir and expressed full solidarity with the victims and their families, offering condolences to those affected.

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and endorsed the diplomatic measures announced by the Centre after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved a resolution at the J&K Legislative Assembly during a special session to address the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence is likely to meet today in Parliament House Annexe at 3 pm, ANI reported.

Earlier, Defence minister Rajnath Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence and briefed him on India’s security preparedness.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the official residence of the PM.

This meeting comes a day after Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan briefed the Defence Minister.