US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and extended condolences over the loss of lives in the terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. Further, Defence Secretary Hegseth reiterated the United States' "strong support" to India.

Today, I spoke with Indian Defense Minister Singh @rajnathsingh to personally extend my deepest condolences for the loss of life in the heinous terrorist attack last week.
I offered my strong support. We stand with India and its great people

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 1, 2025

Rajasthan Intelligence has arrested a Jaisalmer resident, Pathan Khan, for allegedly spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), an official release said.

Ten days after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, including her husband Shubham Dwivedi, Ashanya on Thursday said no effective action has been taken against the perpetrators so far.
Shubham Dwivedi, 31, was among the victims killed in the April 22 attack targeting mostly tourists in the Baisaran area of Pahalgam. Speaking to PTI, Ashanya said she is not seeking a job or compensation, but solely wants her husband to be accorded the status of a martyr.

The Maharashtra Cyber has recorded more than 10 lakh cyber attacks on Indian systems by hacking groups from various countries, including Pakistan, in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, officials said.

Maharashtra Cyber has noticed that the cyber attack incidents increased after April 22, a senior police official said.

"There were over 10 lakh cyber attacks on India after the Pahalgam attack," said Yashasvi Yadav, Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra Cyber Department.

These attacks targeting Indian websites and portals were made from Pakistan, Middle East, Indonesia and Morocco, he said.

Many of the hacking groups have claimed themselves as Islamist groups, he said, adding that it could possibly be a cyber warfare.

The Chhattisgarh government said it will provide financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the next of kin of Dinesh Mirania, a Raipur-based businessman who was killed in the terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir last month.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced financial assistance to the kin of Mirania, an official statement said.

Mr Sai described the killing of the business in the terrorist attack on April 22 as extremely painful and said it is an irreparable loss for the state, it said.

Mirania, a resident of Samta Colony in Raipur, was killed by terrorists in Pahalgam when he was holidaying with his wife, son and daughter.

His family said he was shot dead by terrorists in front of his 13-year-old daughter after he failed to recite 'Kalma', an Islamic verse.

The ongoing tension with India has shaken the confidence of investors in Pakistan badly, setting the country on course to record its worst performance in dollar bonds and stocks since 2023.

With fears of an all-out war looming large at the border, the Pakistani stock market has reacted negatively by recording a major decline in rupee and dollar bonds in April and underperforming massively in comparison to its counterparts.

Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announcing in the middle of night early Wednesday that India may attack the country within the next 24 to 36 hours also impacted the trading with the market reacting negatively to the development and fears of war.

"The outlook in the near term is uncertain, so we can expect further weakness because additionally, the US tariffs are an overhang," stated Thomas Hugger, CEO of Asia Frontier Capital Limited.

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met on Thursday to discuss the security situation and vowed to respond to "any act of aggression in a befitting manner".

The two met for the first time as tensions rose between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack.

According to an official statement, they said that Pakistan would never compromise on its territorial integrity and sovereignty and would "respond to any act of aggression in a befitting manner".

"Pakistani nation is united and stands behind its armed forces, who are capable of responding to any threat or aggression," the leaders said.

The Allahabad High Court, on Friday, will hear a petition seeking legal action against Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, over his alleged remarks related to the recent terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam.

The petition has been filed by the Hindu Front for Justice and others before the Lucknow bench of the high court.

The plea was listed before a division bench comprising Justices Rajan Roy and Om Prakash Shukla on Wednesday. However, the matter could not be taken up due to time constraints.

The petition has urged the court to direct the Centre to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe Vadra's comments and also seeks legal proceedings against him under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Indonesia's Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, on the sidelines of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 on Thursday.

Mr Jaishankar shared the details in a post on X and highlighted that the creative industry and cultural exchanges form a major component of the India-Indonesia ties.

He also highlighted the sympathy and support received for the heinous Pahalgam terror attack.

"Pleased to meet Minister of Culture @fadlizon of Indonesia this evening in Mumbai on the sidelines of #WAVES2025. Creative industry and cultural exchanges are a major component of India-Indonesia partnership. Appreciate the sympathy and support on the Pahalgam terrorist attack. #WAVESummit," he said on X. 

Pleased to meet Minister of Culture @fadlizon of Indonesia this evening in Mumbai on the sidelines of #WAVES2025.
Creative industry and cultural exchanges are a major component of 🇮🇳 🇮🇩 partnership.
Appreciate the sympathy and support on the Pahalgam terrorist attack.… pic.twitter.com/p2m5YjmEMv

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 1, 2025

Terming Pakistan as a "failed state", National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said relations between New Delhi and Islamabad would never improve until a peoples' government is elected in the neighbouring country.

"I do not think the relations between India and Pakistan will ever improve unless the army goes. People of Pakistan want friendship with India, people but not the hierarchy there. When the peoples' government will come, I am sure there will be peace between India and Pakistan," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will "avenge the killings of innocent tourists by Pakistanis," Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said today. "Our countrymen have full faith that this will be the last attack and now PM Modi will eliminate Pakistan," he added, as emotions ran high in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre in which terrorists linked to Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba gunned down 26 people last month.

Members of the Indian community in the UK gathered in large numbers outside the Indian High Commission in London to show solidarity and support for India after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

The gathering was a counter-response to a protest organised by a group of pro-Khalistani and Pakistani demonstrators, ANI reported.

The Indian diaspora raised slogans condemning terrorism and strongly denounced the attack. They held Indian flags and placards, voicing their unwavering support for national unity and the fight against terrorism.

Actor Sonu Sood has condemned the recent terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam, calling it a strike not just on a region but on "the life of every Indian."

Speaking to ANI, Sood shared that the tragedy is something no Indian will forget.

"This was not an attack on Pahalgam but an attack on the life of every Indian. Every child whose father was killed in front of him, every wife whose husband was killed in front of her-- this will stay with every Indian. The need of the hour is that our response and actions should be such that everyone understands that India knows how to respond to such an act," he said.

Police on Thursday carried out searches at 21 places in Srinagar as part of a clampdown on the terror ecosystem launched in the aftermath of last month's Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.

The houses where the searches were carried out included that of Al-Umar terror outfit founder Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar alias Latrum.

Mr Latrum was released from prison, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, in exchange for the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight 814 in 1999.

A spokesperson of the Jammu & Kashmir Police said they have intensified searches across multiple locations in the city, with the aim to dismantle the terror-supporting infrastructure in the district.

He said the searches were part of the continuing action against terrorist associates of proscribed outfits and in furtherance of the investigation into cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The searches were conducted at 21 places, he added.

Pakistan's envoy to the US has urged President Donald Trump to help ease tensions with India, Newsweek reported.

Pakistan's Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said that for a president "who is standing for peace in the world as a pronounced objective during this administration", there was no "higher or flashier flash point" than Kashmir.

His remark comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan after terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.

Pakistani FM radio stations on Thursday stopped airing Indian songs following tensions between the two countries over the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.   

"The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) has stopped airing Indian songs on Pakistani FM radio stations across the country with immediate effect," PBA Secretary General Shakeel Masood said.  

Indian songs, especially from greats like Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and Mukesh, are popular among Pakistanis and are played by FM radio stations here daily.  

Pakistan Information Minister Atta Tarar commended the PBA decision amid speculation that the government had directed the association to immediately stop airing Indian songs on all FM radio stations given the current situation between the two countries.  

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah has criticised the Indian government's directive for Pakistani nationals to leave the country following the Pahalgam attack, calling it "inhuman" and "against the spirit of humanity," especially in cases where individuals have lived in India peacefully for decades.

Speaking to the media, Mr Abdullah sympathised with the people living in India for the last 70 or 25 years.

"This action is not good; this is against humanity. Some people have been staying here for the last 70 years, 25 years, their children are here, they never hurt India, instead they have submitted themselves to India," he said.

He also raised concerns over the increasing tensions between India and Pakistan.

"We don't know what will happen tomorrow. Today, two countries are getting ready for a fight. Attempts are being done to ensure this doesn't happen and a solution can be found to catch them (terrorists) and those who are behind it," he said.

"We don't want people going after Muslims and Kashmiris," Himanshi Narwal said on Thursday, stoic but firm as she mourned her husband, Naval officer Lt Vinay Narwal, who was gunned down in Pahalgam just 10 days ago. He would have been 27 today.

Narwal's mother and wife Himanshi broke into tears as tributes were being paid to the Naval officer at a blood donation camp organised in Karnal, the town where he grew up.

"We want peace and justice. People who have done wrong with him should be punished," said Ms Himanshi, who got married to Lt Narwal just a week before the April 22 terror attack.

The couple was on their honeymoon in Pahalgam when terrorists shot the Naval officer at point blank.

Air India may pay up to $600 million in extra costs after Pakistan shuts its airspace to Indian airlines, news agency Reuters said Thursday evening citing a company letter it had accessed.

The letter said the costs - which could add up over the next year, assuming Pak airspace remains shut to it - includes increased fuel costs for longer flight times by re-routed planes.

The longer flight times, the airline warned, will also impact passengers.

As a result, Air India expects a loss of over $591 million for each year the ban lasts.

The ban - ordered in response to diplomatic restrictions by India after the Pahalgam attack, which Delhi has said was supported by the Pak deep state - is expected to stay till May 23.

It does not, however, affect international airlines.

The chief of National Investigation Agency (NIA), Sadanand Date, on Thursday inspected the site of April 22 terror attack at Baisaran here, officials said. Date also had discussion with senior officials of the anti-terror agency probing the case, they said.

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, appealed to the Indian Muslims to hold special prayers after Friday namaz to uphold India's unity and defeat its enemies.

"I urge all Indian Muslims, especially the imams of mosques, to organise a special dua after Friday prayers for the country's unity and integrity, and to pray for the defeat of its enemies," Maulana Razvi said in a statement.

"Let this Friday be observed as Youm-e-Dua (Day of Prayer). Through their sermons, imams must make people aware of the threat of terrorism and emphasise the need to stay united in this testing time," he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today warned terrorists that India will "hunt each and every one of them" for killing 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

At an event in Delhi today, Mr Shah in his first public comment on the terror attack said the worst is yet to come for the terrorists.

"Whoever carried out the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam will not be spared. We will hunt down each and every perpetrator of the Pahalgam terror attack. Don't think that you have won by killing 26 people. Every one of you will be made answerable," the Home Minister said.

"Har vyakti ko chun chun ke jawab bhi milega, jawab bhi diya jayega... This is the Narendra Modi government; no one will be spared. It is our resolve to uproot terrorism from every inch of this country and it will be accomplished," he added.

India reached out to South Korea in line with its diplomatic offensive to apprise the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council about the Pahalgam terror attack and its cross-border linkages.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul and is understood to have conveyed India's policy of "zero tolerance" towards terrorist. 

He has already spoken to his counterparts from eight other non-permanent member nations of the UN Security Council.

Mr Jaishankar's phone conversations with foreign ministers of the non-permanent member nations of the UN Security Council assume significance as Pakistan is also a member of the influential UN body for the 2025-26 period.

"Spoke with @FMChoTaeyul of South Korea this morning. Thanked him for RoK's support and solidarity in light of Pahalgam terror attack. Underlined the need to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations," he said on X.

Spoke with @FMChoTaeyul of South Korea this morning.
Thanked him for RoK’s support and solidarity in light of Pahalgam terror attack. Underlined the need to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
🇮🇳 🇰🇷

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 1, 2025

Despite the closure of several tourist spots after the Pahalgam terror attack, a few tourists are still making their way to Pahalgam and nearby areas.

On Thursday, a group of tourists from Vietnam arrived in Pahalgam and said that Kashmir was "paradise", further stating that they felt very good and safe while visiting Kashmir. However, they added that it would have been more enjoyable if some of the famous tourist spots had been open.

Speaking to ANI, a first time visitor expressed her sheer delight at her experience in the valley and said: "This is the first time I came to Kashmir, and I had a wonderful amazing experience here, I've seen a lot of beautiful nature and how friendly people treat us very well, I feel a great time here. We have also bought a lot of stuff like Kashmiri shawls..."

When asked about the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the visitor said "I also heard that from the internet and some friends, somebody can be scared from that information, but I think because I also want to come here and recover Kashmir by myself so that is why that information did not make me feel scared, because when I came here a lot of people already welcomed us, they protected us very well and treated us very well, so that's why I feel Kashmir is very safe, beautiful exactly like what they say "A haven on earth."

In a post on X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's office said he has spoken to US Defence Secretary, who expressed his deepest sympathies for the tragic loss of innocent civilians in the Pahalgam terror attack.

"Secretary Hegseth said that the US stands in solidarity with India and supports India's right to defend itself. He reiterated the strong support of the US government in India's fight against terrorism. During the conversation, RM told the @SecDef that Pakistan has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations. He further said  that it is important for the global community to explicitly and unequivocally condemn and call out such heinous acts of terrorism," the ministry said. 

The U.S. Secretary of Defence @PeteHegseth spoke to Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh earlier today and expressed his deepest sympathies for the tragic loss of innocent civilians in the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.
Secretary Hegseth said that the U.S.…

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) May 1, 2025

Addressing an event in Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: "Today, I want to tell the public that we have been fighting strongly on the policy of zero tolerance against those who have been running terrorism in Kashmir since the 90s. Today, they (terrorists) should not think that they have won the battle by taking the lives of our citizens. I want to tell all those who spread terror that this is not the end of the battle; every person will be given a befitting reply."

He added: "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have given a strong reply to everything, be it the North East, the areas of Left Wing Extremism or the shadow of terrorism in Kashmir. If someone thinks that by carrying out a cowardly attack, it is their big victory, then understand that this is the Narendra Modi government, no one will be spared. It is our resolve to uproot terrorism from every inch of this country..."

#WATCH | Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Today, I want to tell the public that we have been fighting strongly on the policy of zero tolerance against those who have been running terrorism in Kashmir since the 90s. Today, they (terrorists) should not think that they… pic.twitter.com/Gqvye3MSBF

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2025

The Attari-Wagah border crossing point between India and Pakistan was shut completely on Thursday following a week-long heavy rush of people from either side to cross over after the Union government ordered all Pakistani citizens with short-term visa to leave India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, sources told PTI.

The Attari-Wagah border crossing point is completely closed now and no one from either country crossed over to the other side on Thursday, two sources confirmed.

A total of 125 Pakistani nationals left India on Wednesday through the Attari-Wagah border, taking the total number of Pakistanis leaving the country to 911 in the last seven days.

Fifteen Indian citizens with Pakistani visa also crossed over to Pakistan on Wednesday, taking the total number of such people exiting India to 23.

Similarly, 152 Indian nationals and 73 Pakistani nationals with long-term Indian visa have entered India through the international border crossing point in Punjab's Amritsar district, taking the total number of such people to 1,617 and 224, respectively.

In another set of strong remarks in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has said India must put an end to Pakistan-backed terror activities now and that India must not just "enter and kill", but "enter and stay".

Amid reports that Islamabad is vacating terror launchpads in Pakistan Occupied-Kashmir (POK) as it fears Indian retaliation to the April 22 terror strike, Mr Owaisi said, "If they have vacated, we must go and sit there and stay. If they are taking any action this time, toh ghar mein ghus ke baith jana, khatam (enter the house and stay, that's it)."

#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi says, "...BJP says 'ghar me ghus ke maarenge'. If you (central government) are taking action this time (against Pakistan), 'toh ghar mein ghus kar baith jana'. It is the resolution of the Indian Parliament that… pic.twitter.com/lFFareuYgY

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2025

The four terrorists who shot and killed 26 people in Pahalgam in south Kashmir on April 22, and who have been on the run since - evading a massive manhunt involving the military and local police - are likely still in the area, sources in the National Investigation Agency have told NDTV.

NIA sources said the terrorists may be 'self-reliant', i.e., be carrying provisions, and therefore stay hidden in the dense forests, which could explain why they had avoided detection so far.

This would also obviate the need for external logistical support that would most likely be provided by Pakistan, which New Delhi has accused of involvement in the Pahalgam attack.

Anti-terror agency NIA has taken over the investigation into the worst terror attack in India in recent years, certainly since February 2019, when 40 soldiers were killed in J&K's Pulwama.

Pakistan has announced the closure of specific portions of Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions for a limited time each day during May, citing security concerns, a media report said Thursday.

The announcement by the aviation authorities comes amid heightened tension between Pakistan and India post the Pahalgam terror attack and Islamabad's apprehension of retaliatory action by New Delhi.

"The restricted airspace will be closed daily from 4:00 am to 8:00 am local time between May 1 and May 31," Express Tribune said, quoting an official notice.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has spoken to US Counterpart Pete Hegseth amid India's tension with Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.

Top Congress leaders will deliberate on the Pahalgam terror attack and the caste census announced by the Centre at a crucial meeting of the party's working committee, its highest decision-making body, on Friday evening.

Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh told reporters that the entire Congress Working Committee (CWC) would sit and discuss the two crucial issues before the country.

Sources said the CWC is likely to pass resolutions seeking concrete action against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and for allocating funds to get the caste census conducted soon as part of the national census exercise.

"There is a meeting of the CWC at 4 pm on Friday and we will discuss this. The most important issue is the Pahalgam attack and we will discuss that as it is the biggest political issue before the country. The country is waiting (for action) and those who have lost their family members are seeking justice," Mr Ramesh said.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to accord the status of a martyr to those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.

In a post on X, the Congress leader said he stands with the families of those killed in the Pahalgam attack and backs their demand that the victims be given the status of a martyr.

"I stand with the families of those killed in the Pahalgam attack in their grief and in their demand for martyr status to them," he said.

"The prime minister is requested to respect the sentiments of the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy by giving this honour to them," he added. 

पहलगाम हमले में मारे गए लोगों के परिवारों के दुख में, शहीद के दर्जे की उनकी मांग में, मैं साथ खड़ा हूं।
प्रधानमंत्री से आग्रह है कि वो इस त्रासदी में जान गंवाने वालों को यह सम्मान देकर उनके परिवारों की भावना का आदर करें। pic.twitter.com/auMEehEnOO

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 1, 2025

Members of the Indian diaspora in Singapore on Thursday offered their heartfelt condolences to the families of Pahalgam terror attack victims.

More than 250 people from the Indian diaspora attended the solemn remembrance ceremony organised here by the High Commission of India at the chancery.

"What happened on 22nd April was a terrorist attack and 26 innocent lives were lost. And the manner of the attack and how they were singled out is very unprecedented," High Commissioner Shilpak Ambule said.

The Singapore government has already condemned the unprecedented killing of the tourists.

The terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley left 26 people dead and over 20 were wounded. A meadow where families came to rest became a burial ground for their loved ones. The Resistance Front (TRF), a group believed to be an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and backed by Pakistan's deep state, is linked to the attack. Pakistan denies involvement. The script is familiar.

But behind this latest tragedy lies a decades-old reality - one that the US intelligence saw coming. In 1993, the CIA declassified a secret assessment. Buried inside it is the idea that Pakistan fears India. Not just economically or militarily, but existentially. The document, a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), studied the India-Pakistan dynamic and offered one conclusion: if war erupts, it will likely start with something like Kashmir, and Pakistan will be on the back foot from the beginning. Click here to read more.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, a demand for complete ban on the Pakistani artistes working in India has been gaining force. Singer Kavita Krishnamurthy has weighed in on the debate and said music has no religion.

"See I feel that music has no language or barriers, it's all about seven notes and if an artist is very good and they are popular, you have to applaud them and personally for me music has no religion, nothing but at the same time there are enough talent in India also for you to track and give them the opportunity for Indian artists," she said in an interview.

Days after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people, Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh urged people to visit Kashmir for their next holiday as an act of solidarity.

Speaking to NDTV, Mr Deshmukh said that "certain elements" disrupted the peace in the area and instilled fear among people.

While the government is taking steps, Mr Deshmukh urged people at an individual level to promise themselves to visit Kashmir for the next holiday.

"Spend time there. Wait for the authorities to tell you when it is time to visit. I would like to go there and spend time with my family. We have to help each other, make sure that our countrymen, brothers and sisters living in Kashmir don't feel the pain of this," he said.

Assam Police have so far arrested 36 individuals, including a sitting MLA from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), for reportedly expressing pro-Pakistan sentiments on social media and other platforms.

Calling them "anti-nationals", Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the arrests on Thursday.

#Update on Crackdown against traitors for defending Pakistan on Indian soil- 21.30hrs | 30.04
1️⃣Najibul Islam arrested by @bongaigaonpolic
2️⃣Sanaj Hussain arrested by @sribhumipolice
Total 36 Anti Nationals put behind bars in Assam.
We are strictly monitoring all mediums. pic.twitter.com/R6FlULyTQn

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 30, 2025

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul over the phone on Thursday. During the talks, Mr Jaishankar underlined the need to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations.

Mr Jaishankar thanked him for South Korea's support and solidarity in light of the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Spoke with @FMChoTaeyul of South Korea this morning.
Thanked him for RoK’s support and solidarity in light of Pahalgam terror attack. Underlined the need to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
🇮🇳 🇰🇷

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 1, 2025

According to sources, both attacks were carried out by the same Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-backed terror unit. Several operatives involved in the Pahalgam massacre had previously participated in the Z-Morh attack.

One of the terrorists behind the 2024 attack, identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhatt, was killed in an encounter in December that year. Subsequently, two more operatives tied to the same group were neutralised. Intelligence now confirms that Lashkar terrorist Hashim Musa, alias Suleman, who has also been implicated in the Pahalgam killings, played a role in the tunnel attack.

The Supreme Court on Thursday slapped down a plea for a judicial probe into the Pahalgam terror attack and made sharp observations as it did so, including asking if the petitioner's intention was to "demoralise the forces" as they prep for a possible military response.

The court also asked why the judiciary should oversee a probe into matters related to anti-terrorism, asking, "Since when did Supreme Court judges become experts in these matters?"

"Be responsible before filing such PILs (public interest litigation). You have a duty towards the country also," an annoyed Justice Surya Kant said as the plea was mentioned, "Is this the way you want to demoralize our forces? Since when did we get expertise for this investigation?"

Bollywood singer Shaan expressed his grief over the recent terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, at the inaugural WAVES 2025 Summit. The singer strongly condemned the terrorist attack and displayed empathy with the victims. However, he said, we should not do what terrorists want us to do.
"Of course, there is grief in our hearts, but as Raj Kapoor said - 'The show must go on'. A lot of empathy and sympathy for the victims. But that's what they want, they want to stop things, they want to call things back, but we won't let that," said Shaan, while speaking to the news agency ANI.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director General Sadanand Date reached Pahalgam to take stock of the investigation into the massacre of tourists. He is accompanied by senior NIA officials.

The terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, were present in Baisaran Valley two days before the incident, sources have said. The disclosure was made during the interrogation of one of the arrested Over Ground Workers (OGWs) linked to the attack.

According to senior officials privy to the probe, the terrorists reached Pahalgam on April 15 and conducted reconnaissance of at least four locations, including the picturesque Baisaran Valley. The other three potential targets were Aru Valley, the local amusement park, and Betaab Valley and were also under surveillance by the terrorists. Sources say that heightened security arrangements in these zones deterred the terrorists from executing strikes there.

Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff arrived at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, emphasising the importance of global cultural collaboration. There he addressed the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed.

"I pay my tributes to the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims. Everyone is pained by it," he said, while speaking to ANI.

Indian-origin UK MP Priti Patel condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people, calling it an "act of terrorism".

Speaking at the UK Parliament, Ms Patel urged the British government to support India during the difficult times and pressed on working together to tackle the terrorist threats.

My thoughts continue to be with those affected by the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We must stand with our Indian friends at this time. In the House of Commons I pressed the UK Government on what they are doing to support the Government of India in response, and how we can work… pic.twitter.com/3ksQ2eUe4Y

— Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) April 30, 2025

On April 26, US President Donald Trump had said that there have always been tensions between India and Pakistan, and the two countries will figure it out between themselves "one way or the other".

"I am very close to India and I'm very close to Pakistan, as you know. And they've had that fight for 1,000 years in Kashmir. Kashmir has been going on for 1,000 years, probably longer than that. And it was a bad one yesterday, though; that was a bad one. Over 30 people," Trump said during a press gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Rome.

The US has encouraged India and Pakistan to "de-escalate tensions", reaffirming its commitment to cooperate with Delhi against terrorism and urging Islamabad's cooperation in investigating the "unconscionable" Pahalgam terror attack.

In the wake of a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives, India has reached out to its counterparts from eight non-permanent member nations of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as part of its diplomatic offensive. 

In telephonic conversations with Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Wednesday, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is understood to have conveyed to him India's resolve to bring the perpetrators of the April 22 attack to justice.

#Statement | Qatar expresses concern over the escalation between India and Pakistan and calls for restraint#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/SGAgeOTstZ

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) April 30, 2025

Popular Pakistani artists, including actors Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir and Ali Zafar, found their Instagram accounts blocked in India on Wednesday evening, days after a deadly attack in Kashmir targeting tourists that New Delhi blames on Islamabad.

The move to block the actors' accounts comes on the heels of the government banning 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading provocative and communally sensitive content.

Hania Aamir, who is popular with Indian fans for her Pakistani dramas "Mere Humsafar" and "Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum", commenting on the Pahalgam attack said tragedy anywhere is a tragedy for all.

The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control towards the Kupwara, Uri and Akhnoor sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, violating ceasefire for the seventh consecutive night.

The firing was responded proportionately by the Indian Army.

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General Mohammad Asim Malik has been appointed the country's new National Security Adviser (NSA), the Express Tribune reported.

The appointment is an additional charge given to him apart from the ISI chief position he has held since September 2024.

Six days after Pakistan decided to shut its airspace to all flights owned and operated by Indian carriers, New Delhi has announced a reciprocal move by shutting down its airspace to all Pakistan owned and operated planes. Read more

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday directed police to launch a campaign against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday called Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif amid rising tensions with India following the Pahalgam attack last week that killed 26 people.
The development comes after US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce at a press briefing earlier on Tuesday said that Washington is reaching out to both India and Pakistan "regarding the Kashmir situation" and telling "them not to escalate the situation".

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials to review the prevailing security scenario in Jammu & Kashmir, a release said.

According to the release, the meeting was attended by Nalin Prabhat, DGP Jammu and Kashmir, Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary Home, Nitish Kumar, ADGP CID Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu and Shiv Kumar Sharma, DIG Jammu-Samba-Kathua Range.

"It is the collective resolve of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the nation to destroy the root of terror emanating from our neighbourhood. We must be resolute to fulfil this mission. Take strong action against OGWs who are providing logistics to terrorists, identifying targets for them and helping them to escape. The infrastructure and support system of terrorism in every nook and corner of the Union Territory has to be dismantled permanently. It should be our priority to ensure a sense of security for the common man," the LG said.

Pakistan on Wednesday said it has nothing to do with the Pahalgam terror attack and threatened a strong response if it is "provoked", amid rising tensions with India.

Addressing a press conference alongside Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry and Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar demanded an independent and transparent probe by neutral investigators in the Pahalgam attack.

The press conference came hours after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar warned of a possible military action by India in 24-36 hours.

Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the escalation was still on the rise despite efforts by the international community to calm the tempers.

पहलगाम हमले के गुनहगारों को इसकी भारी क़ीमत चुकानी चाहिए — ताकि हिंदुस्तान के साथ ऐसी हिमाकत करने की फिर किसी की हिम्मत न हो! pic.twitter.com/waNaBturgA

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2025

Sources said that the meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan is over. The two ministers chalked out the next course of action, the sources said.

India on Wednesday shut its airspace for all flights from Pakistan, days after the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the Pahalgam terror attack a challenge to humanity and urged the Centre to give a "befitting reply" to the "inhuman attack" that claimed innocent lives.

He said that regardless of caste, religion, race, or nationality, all human beings desire a life of peace, happiness, and security.

However, inhuman ideologies like terrorism and communalism pose a grave threat to these aspirations, Vijayan said at a press conference here.

"The central government must be prepared to deliver a strong and fitting response to the terrorist act that claimed innocent lives in Kashmir and threatened national security," he said.

Popular Pakistani artists, including actors Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir Ali Zafar, found their Instagram accounts blocked in India on Wednesday evening, days after a deadly attack in Kashmir targeting tourists that New Delhi blames on Islamabad.

The move to block the actors' accounts comes on the heels of the government banning 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading provocative and communally sensitive content.

India on Wednesday reached out to Denmark in line with its diplomatic overdrive to apprise the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council about the brutal Pahalgam terror attack with cross-border linkages.

On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from seven non-permanent member nations of the UN Security Council.

Jaishankar held a phone conversation with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Wednesday and is understood to have conveyed to him India's resolve to bring the perpetrators of the April 22 attack to justice.

"Spoke with FM @larsloekke of Denmark. Appreciate his support and solidarity over the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Also exchanged views about our bilateral cooperation," he wrote on X.

Spoke with FM @larsloekke of Denmark.
Appreciate his support and solidarity over the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Also exchanged views about our bilateral cooperation.
🇮🇳 🇩🇰

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2025

As many as 786 Pakistani nationals, including 55 diplomats, their dependents and support staff, besides eight Indians with Pakistani visa, have left India through the Attari-Wagah border crossing in the last six days following a government order in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, officials said on Wednesday.

A total of 1,465 Indians, including 25 diplomats and officials, besides 151 Pakistani citizens with long-term Indian visas have crossed over to India from Pakistan through the international border crossing located in Punjab since April 24.

The 'Leave India' notice to the Pakistani nationals was issued by the government after 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.

The deadline for exiting India for those holding SAARC visas was April 26.

For those carrying medical visas, the deadline was April 29.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack must pay the price for what they have done and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must act strongly and not dilly dally on the action.

Addressing the media at the AICC headquarters, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said those behind Pahalgam attack must pay the price and be made to realise they cannot do this to India.

He said the government has opposition's 100 per cent support and Modi has to take action.

"The Prime Minister has to take action. Action has to be clear and strong. The prime minister must not dilly dally and needs to act. He can act in whatever time frame he thinks necessary," Gandhi said.

The Congress MP also said he met the family of a victim of the Pahalgam attack in Kanpur and they want they should be given a martyr status.

Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil has arrived at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence for a meeting pertaining to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, and thanked him for Kuwait's solidarity and support following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.

Glad to talk to FM Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya of Kuwait.
Thanked him for Kuwait’s solidarity and support in the aftermath of Pahalgam terrorist attack.
🇮🇳 🇰🇼

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2025

Days after shutting its airspace to all flights owned and operated by Indian carriers, Pakistan today cancelled its own flights to the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The move comes as Islamabad fears military action by India in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 tourists were shot dead in a religiously-motivated attack.

Pakistan International Airlines or PIA as it is usually called, has cancelled all flights to and from Gilgit and Skardu in PoK. News reports in Pakistan revealed the flight schedules of PIA on Wednesday, which showed that the four flights to Skardu - one each from Karachi and Lahore, and two from Islamabad - have been cancelled.

Four other flights from Islamabad to Gilgit have also been cancelled, Pakistan's Urdu daily Jang reported. Another English daily Express Tribune confirmed the news, saying, Pakistan has stepped up its vigil, especially in monitoring its airspace amid tensions with India. "For security reasons, all commercial flights scheduled to operate to and from Gilgit and Skardu have been cancelled," it stated.

The Supreme Court on Thursday will hear a petition seeking the formation of a judicial commission to probe the Pahalgam terror attack. The petition, filed by three residents of Jammu & Kashmir, has demanded that the panel be headed by a retired judge of the top court. It has also sought direction to the Centre, J&K government, CRPF and NIA to prepare an action plan to ensure the safety of citizens in the tourist areas of the Union Territory. The court should direct the Centre to form a Special Investigation Team to ensure accountability for the attack, the petition said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has raised concerns over the escalating tension between India and Pakistan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia posts on 'X': "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its concern over the escalating tensions between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan..." pic.twitter.com/iCuLyt13sk

— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav termed terrorists as "germs" and urged people to remain united in the fight against terror launched by the Modi government in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong message against terrorism after the Pahalgam terror attack, During a program organized at Janapav, the birthplace of Lord Parshuram, about 50 km from Indore city, Yadav said that Prime Minister Modi has pledged to destroy India's enemies, terrorists and their supporters and at such a time, the countrymen should maintain their unity.

Yadav said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India's flag is flying high in the world today, while some germs (terrorists) are seen buzzing like flies and mosquitoes. They (terrorists) have forgotten that we Indian citizens are descendants of Lord Parshuram. They will not be able to know where they have disappeared."

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the alleged assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Uttarakhand's Mussoorie after police refused to guarantee their safety was very disturbing.

"The physical and verbal assault on Kashmiri shawl vendors in Mussoorie, who had to flee when police refused to guarantee their safety, is very disturbing. After large-scale detentions, demolition of homes, and crackdowns inside Kashmir, ordinary citizens, students, and small traders outside of J-K are being attacked and forced to return," the Mirwaiz said in a post on X.

He was referring to incidents of harassment of Kashmiris working in other states, including Uttarakhand, in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack last week.

"Being themselves at the receiving end of all forms of violence and subsequent suffering for decades, Kashmiris' condemnation, empathy, and grief for the victims of the Pahalgam bloodbath is straight from the heart, yet they are being vilified and targeted," he said.

A wave of misinformation has flooded social media as Pakistan tries to push its propaganda online in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. One such misinformation pertains to Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, the commander of the Northern Army.

The government has found that several pro-Pakistan social media accounts have been "falsely claiming" that Lt Gen Kumar was removed from his post following the Pahalgam attack. Some reports even claimed Lt Gen Kumar was arrested or taken into custody for security lapses.

All these reports have been flagged as "false" by the Press Information Bureau's fact-checking arm.

"Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts falsely claim that Northern Commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar has been removed from his post after the Pahalgam incident. The claims being made in these posts are fake," said the government.

The government said Lt Gen Kumar is retiring on April 30. Lt Gen Pratik Sharma will be appointed as the Northern Army Commander after Lt Gen Kumar's superannuation, the PIB Fact-Check said.

World championship medallist boxer Gaurav Bidhuri gave a fiery reply to former Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi, whose comments on the Pahalgam terrorist attack have left many Indians infuriated. 

After the attack, in which 26 civilians lost their lives, Afridi appeared on Pakistani television and blamed India's security forces, questioning their efficiency while also throwing negative light on India's sportsmanship. Bidhuri, who won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Boxing Championships in Germany, defended the Indian forces and drew comparison between the state of sporting affairs in both countries while taking the example of the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that every citizen of the state would stand firmly behind the country's armed forces in the event of a war with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

He said the next couple of months would be critical for the country, and the people of this northeastern state would offer help in every way possible.

"We all know how Pakistani terrorists killed innocent people at Pahalgam last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the terrorists will be pursued to the ends of the world, and our armed forces will serve them justice," Mr Sarma said, addressing a panchayat election rally in Goalpara.

"We don't know whether there will be a war between Bharat and Pakistan, but if there is one, each person of Assam will stand with our armed forces and with Prime Minister Modi," he affirmed.

According to sources, Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan spoke over hotline on Tuesday to discuss the unprovoked ceasefire violation by Islamabad.  India warned Pakistan against the unprovoked violations along the Line of Control. The Pakistani General was told that the unprovoked firing is unacceptable, the sources said.

Indian airlines are likely to face additional weekly expenses of Rs 77 crore for international flights operated from north Indian cities as the airspace curbs result in increased fuel consumption and longer flight durations.

An analysis of the number of overseas flights and back-of-the-envelope calculations based on increased flight time as well as approximate expenses by PTI showed that the additional monthly operational costs could be over Rs 306 crore.

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan due to the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan on Thursday said it will bar Indian airlines from using its airspace.

Alternative flight path is resulting in additional flying time of up to 1.5 hours for international flights from Delhi and north Indian cities.

A senior airline industry official, who has extensive experience in the commercial side, told PTI that the additional time for a 16-hour flight to North America will be around 1.5 hours.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited the family members of Shubham Dwivedi, who was among the 26 people killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.

Gandhi reached paid his tributes to Dwivedi and spoke to his family.

He was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai, who had attended the last rites of Dwivedi on April 23.

Dwivedi, a businessman from Kanpur, got married only on February 12. On April 22, the Dwivedi household was devastated as news came in that the 31-year-old was gunned down by terrorists in front of his wife in Pahalgam.

He had gone to Kashmir on a week-long vacation on April 16 with his wife and nine other family members.

पहलगाम में हुए कायरतापूर्ण आतंकी हमले में शहीद हुए शुभम द्विवेदी के परिजनों से आज मुलाक़ात कर उन्हें सांत्वना दी।
इस दुःखद घड़ी में पूरा देश शोकाकुल परिवारों के साथ खड़ा है। आतंकियों के ख़िलाफ़ सख्त और ठोस कार्रवाई होनी चाहिए और पीड़ित परिवारों को न्याय मिलना चाहिए।
इसी… pic.twitter.com/MaOj4H2J4w

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2025

As many as 786 Pakistan nationals have left India through the Attari-Wagah border point within six days beginning April 24, said a senior official.

The officer informed that during the same time, a total of 1376 Indians have returned from Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border.

On April 24, the government announced that Pakistani nationals should leave India by April 27, and those with medical visas had until April 29 to do so. Those having diplomatic, official and long-term visas were excluded from the 'Leave India' notice. The deadline for Pakistanis holding any of the 12 categories of short-term visas ended on Sunday.

The restriction on the stay of Pakistani nationals came after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 tourists were killed.

Haryana has made an appeal to neighbouring Punjab to provide drinking water to them or the excess Bhakra reservoir water will flow to Pakistan. The statement comes at a time India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were killed.

Mr Saini pressed upon the need to empty the Bhakra reservoir, one of the largest dams under the now-suspended treaty, before monsoon. "It is necessary to empty the Bhakra Dam water reservoir before June so that rainwater can be stored during the monsoon. If there is no space left in the water reservoir, excess water will go to Pakistan via Hari-ke-Pattan, which is neither in the interest of Punjab nor the nation," he said.

According to sources, another round of meeting on the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is scheduled to take place today. Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil is likely to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the latter's residence at 8pm.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the armed forces have "complete operational freedom" to decide on the response to the Pahalgam terror attack, CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar said he stands by the government in combatting cross-border terror.

He, however, asserted that a war may not be a solution.

Asked about the Prime Minister's statement, Mr Kumar said, "We stand with the government of India to combat cross-border terror. We have extended full support also and furthermore, we have demanded a special session of Parliament (to discuss the Pahalgam attack)." He said the terror attack should not be used to divide the society.

He added: "But at the same time, this issue should not be misused to divide the society. There are a number of elements in our country that are trying to divide the society following this Pahalgam incident." 

Mr Kumar also said "political wisdom should be the guiding force of all rulers". "Military is no solution, the Ukraine-Russia war is one, Gaza on the other side.... These are unending miseries. I do not think that a war is the option to solve these issues," the Rajya Sabha MP said.

The Centre on Wednesday restructured the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), bringing in several former celebrated and distinguished officers from the Armed Forces, Intelligence Wing, as well as police services. Former intelligence chief Alok Joshi has been appointed as the chairman of the restructured NSAB.

The move assumes significance as the government is recalibrating its strategy to step up pressure on Pakistan via diplomatic, economic, and military measures. 

Pakistan has a record of sponsoring and sheltering terrorists and is 'one of the most dangerous forces in the world', top government sources told NDTV Wednesday, a week after 26 people were killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Sources pointed specifically to a 2011 US military op in which Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was tracked to a compound in Abbottabad in Pakistan.

Sources also pointed to a global network of Pakistan government-sponsored terror strikes, including attacks on the Indian and American embassies in Kabul in 2008 and 2011, another on a concert hall in Moscow in 2024, and bombings across London in 2005. Read here

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, reports that Pakistan Army chief General Syed Asim Munir has "fled the country" have sparked hashtags and memes on social media. Source-based reports claim General Munir has gone 'MIA' (missing in action) following New Delhi's diplomatic offensive.

These unconfirmed reports claim that the Pakistan Army Chief has either fled the country with his family or is hiding in a bunker in Rawalpindi.

As the online chatter on Munir's whereabouts gained momentum, the hashtag #MunirOut started trending on the microblogging site platform X, with users on both sides of the border questioning the Pakistan Army Chief's absence in the media in the past few days.

The government has found that several pro-Pakistan social media accounts have been "falsely claiming" that Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, the commander of the Northern Army, was removed from his post following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Some reports even claimed Lt Gen Kumar was arrested or taken into custody for security lapses.

All these reports have been flagged as "false" by the Press Information Bureau's fact-checking arm.

"Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts falsely claim that Northern Commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar has been removed from his post after the Pahalgam incident. The claims being made in these posts are fake," said the government.

Two powerful decision-making committees of the government met today to discuss India's response to Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism, after terrorists killed 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Tension is rising between the neighbours.

While details of today's meeting are awaited, here are 10 key things to know about the steps taken by India following the Pahalgam terror attack.

As many as 786 Pakistan nationals have left India through the Attari-Wagah border point within six days beginning April 24, said a senior official.
The officer informed that during the same time, a total of 1376 Indians have returned from Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border.

Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrive at PM Modi’s residence for key security meet over Pahalgam attack.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) reviews and decides on important political and economic matters of the country and meets on crucial occasions.

The CCPA mainly considers the relations between the Centre and the states, especially when there is a need to form consensus.

Discussions and decisions are made on economic policies and internal security issues that have political implications.

It also helps with coordination between various ministries on issues that have far-reaching political consequences.

Besides, the CCPA also discusses and decides on foreign policy issues that are likely to have an impact on the country's politics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs or CCPA -- the most important committee of the cabinet that has also been dubbed the "Super Cabinet". The meet comes after a round of meetings of the Cabinet Committee of Security - the next one is due today - following last week's terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam.

After the first round of the CCS meeting, the government had announced a series of non-military measures against Pakistan, including a freeze on the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting of the Attari border and cancellation of visas.

The CCPA had met last after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in 2019 to review the security situation and formulate counter-strategies. The meet had signed off on the withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation status given to Pakistan. Later, on February 26, 2019, the Indian Air Force carried out the airstrike on terror camps in Balakot.

Pakistan, stumped by India's move to put the Indus Waters Treaty in "abeyance", said that "any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan will be considered as an act of war".

Sources in the security establishment have said Hashim Moosa is hiding somewhere in the forests of south Kashmir and an all-out operation has been launched to track him down. The terrorist, security agencies fear, will try to flee to Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir police have announced a bounty of Rs 20 lakh for any information about Hashim Musa and assured that the informer's identity will be kept secret.

More than 30 people have been arrested in Assam so far for controversial social media posts about the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the arrests were made for supporting Pakistan on social media. He also warned that those with greater involvement or a prior history would be booked under the National Security Act (NSA).

"There are no similarities between Bharat and Pakistan. The two countries are enemy nations, and we must remain so," Mr Sarma stated while speaking with the media on Tuesday.

Citing "credible intelligence", Pakistan said India is planning military action against Islamabad in the next 24-36 hours. It further warned New Delhi of "catastrophic" consequences in the complete region and beyond in the event of such action.

Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Indian forces were preparing to launch an attack on the basis of "baseless and concocted allegations" regarding the country's involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the armed forces 'complete freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing' of India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, sources told NDTV Tuesday night. The message was delivered as the Prime Minister met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

Sources said the Prime Minister 're-affirmed that it is our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism' and that he has 'complete faith and confidence' in the Indian military.

Ceasefire violations by Pakistan, along the Line of Control (LoC), continue and spread to other areas. Pakistan violated the ceasefire on the sixth consecutive night.

"During the night of April 29-30, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small-arms fire across the Line of Control opposite the Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor sectors in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir," said the army.

Indian Army troops responded swiftly and proportionately.

The Pakistan Army opened fire across the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Pargawal sector, a day after ceasefire violations continued for the sixth consecutive day.