International flights, especially from Delhi and other northern cities, will take a longer time to reach their destinations and fares are also likely to rise in the range of 8-12 per cent in the near term, with Pakistan closing its airspace for Indian airlines.

Air India and IndiGo on Thursday said some of its international flights have been impacted by the Pakistan airspace closure, with the Tata Group-owned airline mentioning that its flights connecting North America, UK, Europe and Middle East are likely to take an alternative extended route.

Apart from IndiGo and Air India, Air India Express and SpiceJet also have international operations.

All West-bound flights flying from north Indian cities, including Delhi, will be impacted due to the closure. These flights will have to take alternative routes that will be longer over the Arabian Sea, according to senior airline officials and pilots.

With longer routes, airlines will need more fuel to operate the flights resulting in higher costs as well as deal with payload issues.

To bring back stranded tourists from Jammu & Kashmir, the civil aviation ministry said 110 flights, including eight additional services, were operated connecting Srinagar airport, which handled more than 14,000 passengers on Thursday and highlighted that airfares on the route have reduced notably in two days.

Amid many people expressing concerns over high airfares, the ministry said for connecting flights, airlines typically implement a fare structure that aggregates the costs of each individual segment of the journey and also that in certain cases, economy class and business class ticket prices get intermingled.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, "The central government can take action against the nation which shelters terrorist groups. The international law also permits us to do an air and naval blockade in self-defence against Pakistan and impose sanctions on Pakistan on arms sales...But why was the CRPF not deployed at the Baisaran meadow?... Why did the quick reaction team take one hour to reach there and they shot people by asking their religion...The false propaganda against the Kashmiris and Kashmiri students should be stopped... I condemn the way the terrorists killed the people by asking about their religion... It is very good that the Indus Waters Treaty has been suspended but where will we keep the water?... We will support whatever decision the central government takes...This is not a political issue..."

Congress workers across all states and districts will take out candlelight marches on Friday in solidarity with the victims of the horrific Pahalgam terror attack and to reaffirm unity against terrorism, the party said.

The Congress has also decided to postpone its "Samvidhan Bachao" rallies that were scheduled for April 25 and 26, party general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal said.

After the all party meeting, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said: "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also there. All parties condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack. We said that efforts should be made to maintain peace in Jammu & Kashmir..."

After the all party meeting, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi told reporters that all political parties have uniformly condemned the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam and the Opposition has given full support to the government over its actions.

The Assam government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for families of all 26 people killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.

Assam had reeled under insurgency for long and "we can understand the pain of the families", Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Addressing a press conference here, he said, "Our government has decided to offer this small amount as a token of respect for the sacrifice made by the deceased and their families." Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday.

Sarma said strict watch is being kept along the state's border with Bangladesh also.

"We are concerned about Bangladesh. There has been hobnobbing between Bangladesh and Pakistan. We have alerted our security agencies to keep watch and remain vigilant," he said.

India has ramped up its response to the Pahalgam terror attacks, revoking all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, including medical visas, and suspending visa services for Pakistanis. Islamabad has tried to mirror New Delhi's decisions and has taken several measures as the diplomatic standoff escalates.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a rare National Security Committee (NSC) meeting today and took several decisions, during which the committee said it "Shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement in abeyance."

The Simla Agreement brought into existence the Line of Control, a boundary demarcating the positioning of the armies of both sides, which resulted from the December 17, 1971, cease-fire following the 14-day war and India's decisive victory. The agreement has been violated in the past by Pakistan. Click here to read more

Jennifer, wife of Sushil Nathaniel who killed in the Kashmir terror attack, told ANI: "My husband told me he needed to use the washroom... When he came out of the washroom, suddenly we heard a loud sound. We thought it was of some ropeway breakage but when we turned around, we saw the first man who was shot. A girl was crying and asking to be killed. Everyone started running and hiding here and there. We hid behind the washroom... All of us tried to run away but the terrorists found us... We were not able to contact each other via phone... The terrorists asked my husband to recite the Kalma... "

The massive terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, while spreading shock and horror, also threw up hope, with multiple heroes stepping forward from among the locals. One such was Sajjad Ahmed Bhatt. A video of him carrying a boy, injured when the terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 26 people, has been widely circulated. The video shows Mr Bhatt running downhill over the rocky terrain, his steps never faltering. The boy was on his back, clad in Mr Bhatt's orange jacket to keep him warm. 

"I was just one person whose video was taken and circulated. There were many people who were doing the same," Mr Bhatt told NDTV. Pahalgam has no proper hospital and anyone injured has to be taken to the Anantnag district hospital 40 km away.

Mr Bhatt said he was nearby that day to attend the funeral of his aunt, when he heard of the terror attack and the call to locals for help. He made his way to the spot, where a huge number of people had gathered to help the many injured. Those who could sit were placed on ponies and moved to the hospital.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has appealed to Muslims to wear black bands on their arms when they go for Friday prayers tomorrow to send a united message of condemnation on terror and the killings of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

In a video that the MP of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) posted on X, he said, "As you all know, Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists have taken the lives of 26 tourists in Pahalgam. In condemnation of this act of terror and crime, when you go for prayers tomorrow, please wear a black band on your arm," Mr Owaisi said in the video.

"He was a very good child...He died like a brave soldier," Indian Navy officer Lt Vinay Narwal's father said about his son, who was among the 26 people killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, PTI reported. 

"It is a mountain of sorrow. Unrepairable, unbearable and untolerable loss for me and my family," he said Thursday about the tragic loss.

However, he added that the entire country is standing with his family and families of others who lost their lives in the Pahalgam incident on Tuesday.

Married just about a week ago, 26-year-old Narwal, accompanied by his wife Himanshi, was on a honeymoon in Pahalgam when terrorists shot him at point blank. His last rites were held in Karnal last evening.

The Border Security Force (BSF) said it has "scaled down" the retreat ceremony held at Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

The Jalandhar-headquartered BSF's Punjab frontier, which guards 532 km of this front out of the total 2,200 km, said in a statement that as part of a "calibrated decision", it was "suspending" the symbolic handshake of the Indian guard commander with its counterpart and the border gates will remain closed during the ceremony.

These steps, it said, reflected "India's serious concern over cross-border hostilities and reaffirms that peace and provocation cannot coexist".

People hold placards in solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday. (PTI)

After Air India, IndiGo also issued an advisory to travellers, keeping in mind Pakistan's decision to shut its airspace for Indian airlines.

The wife of Surat resident Shailesh Kalathiya, who lost his life in the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, on Thursday said terrorists showed no remorse as they were seen laughing after shooting her husband dead.

Talking to reporters, she said the terrorists showed no mercy as they were laughing after killing her husband from a very close range.

"A terrorist first came close to us and then shot my husband after learning that he is a Hindu. Just like my husband, other Hindu men were shot in front of their children. The terrorist was laughing after shooting my husband and did not leave the place till he died," she said.

Kalathiya's son Naksh performed the last rites of his father in Surat.

The wife of Surat resident Shailesh Kalathiya, who lost his life in the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, on Thursday said terrorists showed no remorse as they were seen laughing after shooting her husband dead.

Talking to reporters, she said the terrorists showed no mercy as they were laughing after killing her husband from a very close range.

"A terrorist first came close to us and then shot my husband after learning that he is a Hindu. Just like my husband, other Hindu men were shot in front of their children. The terrorist was laughing after shooting my husband and did not leave the place till he died," she said.

Kalathiya's son Naksh performed the last rites of his father in Surat.

In a post on X, Air India announced that in view of Pakistan's decision to shut its airspace for all Indian airlines, some flights to or from North America, UK, Europe, and Middle East will take an alternative extended route. 

After an all party meeting in Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah read out a resolution that said: "We unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms the heinous, inhumane attack in Pahalgam that targeted and killed innocent civilians. Such cowardly acts of brutality against peaceful citizens have no place in society and are a direct assault on the values of Kashmiriyat and the idea of India, which have long been a symbol of unity, peace and harmony in the region..."

He added: "We also support the steps taken by the Union Government announced yesterday. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who have suffered loss...We salute the supreme sacrifice of Shahid Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who ferried tourists on his horse in Pahalgam and was martyred during his attempt to fight one of the terrorists to save the tourists... We humbly and earnestly appeal to the governments of all states and Union Territories in these trying times to come forward with an unwavering commitment to protect the Kashmiri students and citizens who find themselves far from home...We call upon all political parties, community leaders, religious institutions, youth groups, civil society organisations and media organisations in J&K and the nation to maintain calm, resist provocations of those who seek to disrupt harmony and continue working together for peace and development of the region..."

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi arrive at the Parliament Annexe building for the all-party meeting. 

In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "strongly condemned" the Pahalgam terror attack. "He expressed solidarity with the people of India, and the families of the victims. PM Modi shared the barbaric nature of the cross border terrorist attack and reiterated India's firm resolve to bring the perpetrators and their supporters to justice," he said on X. 

The Jammu & Kashmir Police on Thursday released sketches of three individuals suspected to be involved in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 civilians were killed. The police have identified two of the suspects as Pakistani nationals and have announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for credible information leading to their arrest.

According to the notices made public by the Anantnag police, the suspects are: Hashim Musa alias Suleman, a citizen of Pakistan, Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai, also a citizen of Pakistan and Abdul Hussain Thokar, a resident of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir. All three are believed to be members of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

An MLA in Assam has been arrested over his comments on the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and Pulwama.

Aminul Islam, an MLA of the opposition party All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), yesterday claimed the suicide bombing of a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Pulwama in February 2019, and the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam were "conspiracies by the government".

The Assam Police filed a case on their own (suo motu) against Mr Islam after a video of his comment went viral on social media.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the AIUDF MLA faces treason charges.

"We are trying to take action against anyone who is trying, directly or indirectly, to defend Pakistan after the terror attack. Wave found the statement and videos of MLA Aminul Islam on social media, and he has been found to be supportive of Pakistan, so we filed a case," Mr Sarma told reporters.

India on Thursday announced that medical visas issued to all Pakistanis will be valid only till April 29, as it stepped up measures against the neighbouring country in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu & Kashmir that killed 26 people. 

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the government has decided to suspend all visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27. Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29, the MEA said, giving the foreigners three-days time to leave the country. 

"All Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave India before the expiry of visas, as now amended," it said.

The words "La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur rasulullah" - There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah - are sacred to over a billion Muslims across the world. 

Known as the Kalima, this declaration of faith is whispered into a newborn's ears, repeated during the five daily prayers, and hoped to be on a believer's lips at the moment of death. It's a declaration of belief in one God and His final messenger, Prophet Muhammad.

'Kalima' is an Arabic word that means "word" or "statement."

In Islam, there are six kalimas.

Kalima Tayyib - Declares the oneness of Allah and Muhammad's prophethood.

Kalima Shahada - Reaffirms the testimony of faith, often recited when one embraces Islam.

Kalima Tamjeed - Glorifies Allah's greatness and mercy.

Kalima Tawheed - Speaks of Allah's unity and His power over life and death.

Kalima Astaghfar - Seeks forgiveness for both known and unknown sins.

Kalima Radde Kufr - Rejects disbelief and sinful actions.

In the wake of the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the Centre has convened an all-party meeting on Thursday to deliberate on the incident. However, participation has been limited to parties with a minimum of five Members of Parliament in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.

This eligibility threshold excluded several regional and national parties, including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Reacting sharply to his exclusion, Mr Owaisi termed the move "undemocratic". Click here for Pahalgam terror attack live updates

"Regarding the Pahalgam All Party Meeting, I spoke to Kiren Rijiju last night. He said they're thinking of inviting only parties with '5 or 10 MPs'. When I asked why not parties with fewer MPs, he said that the meeting would get 'too long'. When I asked, 'What about us, the smaller parties?' He joked that my voice is anyway, too loud." Mr Owaisi said in a statement. 

Pallavi Manjunath, wife of victim Manjunath Rao who was killed in the Kashmir terror attack, said: "It should be a bad dream; I should wake up from it. This should not happen to any of the family. They (terrorists) were targeting only men..."

According to sources, the Ministry of External Affairs called on top diplomats of the US, UK, European Union, Italy, Qatar, Japan, China, Russia, Germany and France, among others, to brief them on the Pahalgam terror attack.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the envoys of the countries.

The meeting lasted for over 30 minutes, the sources said.

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi will visit Srinagar on Friday to review the security situation in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. Top commanders of the local military formations are expected to brief him on the counter-terrorist measures taken by the force in the valley and along the Line of Control. The 15 Corps commander and other Rashtriya Rifles formation commanders would be present during the visit, officials in the Defence Ministry said.

Following the National Security Committee, the Pakistan government said: "Noting the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of India, which disregards international conventions, UN Security Council Resolutions and international obligations at will, Pakistan shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India including but not limited to Simla Agreement in abeyance, till India desists from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir ." 

Following the National Security Committee, the Pakistan government said that "Kashmir remains an unresolved dispute between Pakistan and India as recognized through multiple UN resolutions". 

"Pakistan continues to support the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people. The continued Indian state oppression, abrogation of statehood, political and demographic gerrymandering, has persistently led to an organic backlash from the people of IIOJK, which perpetuates cycles of violence. India's systemic persecution of minorities, particularly Muslims, has become more pervasive. Attempts at forced passage of Waqf Bill is the latest effort to marginalize Muslims across India," it said.

"India must resist the temptation to exploit such tragic incidents to its advantage and take full responsibility for its failure to provide security to the people," it added.

According to a statement issued by the Pakistan government, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Thursday, and reviewed the Indian measures announced against Islamabad a day earlier. 

It said that Pakistan suspends all visas under SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals and deems them cancelled with immediate effect, with the exception of Sikh religious pilgrims. Indian nationals currently in Pakistan under SVES are instructed to exit within 48 hours, less Sikh pilgrims

Pakistan also declared the Indian Defence, Naval and Air Advisors in Islamabad persona non grata. They have been directed to leave Pakistan immediately but not later than 30 April 2025. These posts in the Indian High Commission are deemed annulled. Support staff of these Advisors are also directed to return to India, the statement said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are currently meeting President Droupadi Murmu.

In response to India's severe measures against Pakistan, following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, Islamabad on Thursday suspended all trade with India. Pakistan's airspace will also be closed with immediate effect for all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines, the Pakistan Prime Minister's Office said. 

Besides, the strength of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad will be reduced to 30 diplomats and staff members, from April 31, it said.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 575 people from Kerala were still in Kashmir and steps have been taken to provide travel, medical assistance and food to those in need.

Arrangements, including ticket booking for onward travel, have been made for those arriving in Delhi from Kashmir, the Chief Minister said in a statement issued by his office.

Terming the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam as one which shocked the conscience of the country, Vijayan said it should not be allowed to happen again as it was an assault on humanity itself.

"Our grief is doubled by the fact that there is a Keralite among those who lost their lives there. We share in the grief of the relatives of the deceased N Ramachandran," he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday gave all Pakistani nationals residing in the country three-days time to leave the country. In a statement, it said: "All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from 27 April 2025. Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till 29 April 2025. All Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave India before the expiry of visas, as now amended. Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid travelling to Pakistan." 

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Bangladesh over the weekend, two days after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people. While India has taken strong diplomatic steps to counter Pakistan's continued sponsorship of terror activities, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, Bangladesh seems to be steady in its position of maintaining strong ties with Pakistan.

Recently, Bangladesh has been warming up to Pakistan, with the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, calling for stronger ties between the two countries. While Yunus condemned the attack and reaffirmed Bangladesh's resolute stand against terrorism in his statement, warming ties with Pakistan, a country widely seen as a hub for terrorist activities, could harm Bangladesh's long-term interests.

A 23-member tourist group from Kerala narrowly escaped the terror attack at Kashmir's Pahalgam as they opted out of going for a horse ride and instead travelled to another nearby location for sight-seeing.

Members of the group, which included a child, told reporters at the Kerala House in New Delhi that had they opted for horse-riding, then they too might have been among those killed in the terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

"The rates quoted for the horse ride were too expensive for us. So we took a taxi to another location. From there, we were on the way to Baisaran when we heard some loud sounds, shops were being closed and people were running away.

"We initially did not realise what was happening and asked our guide to take us to another sight-seeing location. But he asked whether we wanted to be alive or go for sightseeing," one of the women in the group said. Click here to read more.

Several Pakistani nationals visiting India started returning home through the Attari-Wagah land route in Amritsar on Thursday, a day after the Centre set a 48-hour deadline for them to leave the country, PTI reported.

According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption scheme (SVES) and any Pakistani national currently in India under the SVES visa scheme had 48 hours to leave the country.

On Thursday morning, several Pakistani families reached the integrated check-post (ICP) in Amritsar to return to the neighbouring country through the Attari-Wagah land route.

A family from Karachi said they had gone to Delhi to meet their relatives.

"We came here (India) on April 15 and today we are returning home though we had a visa for 45 days," said Shaikh Fazal Ahmad, a member of the family.

Responding to a question on the Pahalgam attack, Ahmad said, "Whosoever has done it is completely wrong. We want mutual brotherhood and friendship between the two nations. There should be no place for hatred. We don't want hatred." Another Pakistani national named Mansoor said he along with his family came to India on a 90-day visa on April 15.

President of Pahalgam Hotels and Owners Association, Javeed Burza, condemned the April 22 dastardly attack by terrorists in which 26 people were killed in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir and expressed grief over the incident.

Speaking with ANI, Burza said, "I condemn this inhuman act. Innocent people were killed, and this is not justified in any way, and we are ashamed of such an incident."

Terming the heinous attack as a "setback" for Kashmir, Burza said, "These were innocent people, they had no relation with politics or terrorism. They just came here to visit. It is heartbreaking.

Bharat Bhushan, 35, begged for his life... not for himself, but for his three-year-old child.

But, amid the bloodshed in Pahalgam, appeals to the terrorist with an automatic weapon were ignored and Bharat Bhushan was shot in the head, one of 26 killed in Tuesday's attack.

He was shot dead just as his wife, child, and he had seen at least two other men killed, disbelieving and terrified, and crouching behind a cluster of tents in the middle of the picturesque green Baisaran Valley, too far from the perimeter to risk making a run to safety.

Bollywood movie 'Abir Gulaal', starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, won't release in India, sources in the Centre's Information and Broadcasting Ministry have said, a development that comes amid the nationwide outrage over the heinous terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, in which 26 tourists were shot dead in cold blood.

The film, which also stars Vaani Kapoor, was to release on May 9.

In less than 48 hours of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 25 tourists and a Kashmiri dead, scenes in the Valley have completely changed from what they were two days back. Flights to Srinagar are empty and those coming out of it are packed with people fleeing the Valley. The Dal Lake, a symbol of Kashmir's unequalled natural beauty, is deserted, a far cry from the bustling scenes two days ago. Shikaras, in high demand till two days ago, are now parked in what is likely to be a long wait for tourists. This attack, which crossed the big red line by targeting tourists, appears to have turned the clock back for the Valley, which was moving fast on its way to recovery from the dark days of militancy.

As local hotelowners and traders take to the streets to protest against the attack that has disrupted business in what was turning out to be a season of record tourist inflow, renowned artisans in the Valley worry about what the future holds.

Ghulam Rasool Khan, a Jamawar patchwork artist from Srinagar works towards conserving the oldest form of Kashmiri shawl technique. He won the Padma Shri in 2021. Condemning the attack in Pahalgam, he said security agencies must find out "who are the ones who spoil the atmosphere here". "The people here depend completely on tourism. That is the source of livelihood," he told NDTV. The artist urged the administration to make every attempt to catch those "wretched" perpetrators and bring them before the people. "Otherwise, after a point, everything is silent and something else happens."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today sent a stern message to terrorists and said India will "identify, track and punish" every terrorist and their "backers" who were behind the deadly Pahalgam attack.

At an event in Bihar Thursday, two days after the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a powerful message for the global community - switching from Hindi to English to ensure it resonates around the world.

“Everyone who believes in humanity is with us… I thank people, leaders of countries who have stood with us,” PM Modi said at the public event in Bihar.

“Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is served. The entire nation stands firm in this resolve,” he added.

"Will pursue them (the Pahalgam accused) to ends of the Earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism," PM Modi said in a stern warning to terrorists behind Tuesday's attack that killed 26 people.

PM Modi has said that the country stands with citizens in mourning over the "brutal manner" in which terrorists killed innocent people in Pahalgam.

"Today from the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world, India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers," he said as he switched to English from Hindi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that those behind the deadly Pahalgam attack and those "part of the conspiracy" will be "punished beyond their imagination".

"This attack was not merely on unarmed tourists; the country's enemies have dared to attack the soul of Bharat (India)," he said at the event in Bihar's Madhubani.

In his first public address after the Pahalgam terror, PM Modi paid tributes to the victims in Bihar's Madhubani.

He observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to those killed in Tuesday's attack.

Addressing a public event in Bihar's Madhubani with PM Modi on the stage, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condemned the Pahalgam attack and said the "entire country is united in fight against terrorism".

A resident of Indore, Sushil Nathaniel, who worked as a branch manager for the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), was killed, with his daughter Akanksha sustaining bullet injuries in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

His brother, Vikas, spoke to the news agency ANI and shared, "Jenifer bhabhi (sister-in-law) said that the terrorist asked Sushil bhaiya (elder brother) to recite Kalma on his knees, following which bhaiya reciprocated that he was Christian, and told bhabhi to move aside from there. In the meantime, the terrorist shot bhaiya, and he died on the spot. Our niece, Akansha also sustained bullet injuries in her leg."

A crowd of unsuspecting tourists, five to six killers, three focus spots and 10 minutes of heavy firing -- investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead, has thrown up the chilling events at the Baisaran meadow on Tuesday afternoon.

Sources in the security establishment have told NDTV that at least five killers were part of the team of terrorists carrying out the attack. The killers emerged from the pine forest next to the meadow and headed towards three spots where tourists were present in large numbers. They were carrying rifles and some reports claim they had bodycams to record the gruesome act.

The first shot was fired around 1:50 pm. Horrifying visuals of the attack have shown that the tourists were unaware of the approaching killers till very late. Children were jumping on a trampoline and their parents were enjoying bhelpuri and admiring the scenic beauty when the shots of death rang through.

After the killings, the terrorists fled towards the forest they had come from, security sources have said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has paid tribute to 31-year-old Shubham Dwivedi, a Kanpur resident killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, and said that terrorists and those who patronised them would now have to face the repercussions of the zero-tolerance approach of the central government.

He also said that "terrorism is breathing its last" and that the nation must believe in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

"To ask people their religion before killing them, turning women widows is unacceptable in India," he told reporters after meeting Mr Dwivedi's family.

Massive protests have erupted outside the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi amid heightened tensions between the two countries over the Tuesday's terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people.

Visuals from outside the Pakistan High Commission, located in Chanakyapuri, Delhi's diplomatic enclave, showed a large crowd gathered outside the building, with police forces trying to pacify the crowd.

The BJP, along with various social organisations like the Anti-Terror Action Forum, also participated in the protest.

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has met the family of the Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, in Haryana's Karnal. 

Mr Khattar, the former Haryana chief minister, was seen consoling the officer's father.

An Army soldier has been killed in action after security forces and terrorists exchanged fire following a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Thursday, two days after the Pahalgam attack.

The official X (formerly Twitter) account of the government of Pakistan has been withheld in India amid heightened tensions between the two countries in light of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has urged his state counterparts to ensure the safety of Kashmiri students.

Responding to a post on X, which claimed that Kashmiri students nationwide are "terrified" for their safety, Mr Abdullah said his government "is in touch with the governments of the states where these reports are originating from".

"I’m also in touch with my counterpart Chief Ministers in these states & have requested they take extra care," he said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has said that "every drop of blood shed" in the Pahalgam attack will be "avenged", shortly after paying tributes to Neeraj Udhwani, the 33-year-old resident of Jaipur killed in the deadly Tuesday incident.

“This is a heart-wrenching tragedy. The culprits behind this heinous act will not be spared," he said.

"The entire nation stands united in anger and sorrow. We will avenge every drop of blood that was shed in this attack,” he said.

“The people are extremely disturbed and angry. Hard decisions have already been taken, and even tougher ones will follow if necessary,” Mr Sharma said.

"Amid security concerns, some tough decisions have already been taken. The Indus Water Treaty has been suspended. This is the need of the hour...The sentiments of our countrymen must be respected, and national security will always come first,” he added.

Amid renewed calls for a ban on Pakistani artists working in India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror strike that left 26 people dead, popular actor Fawad Khan has said he was "deeply saddened" to hear the news of the "heinous attack".

The actor said in an Instagram story, "Deeply saddened to hear the news of the heinous attack in Pahalgam. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrifying incident, and we pray for strength and healing for their families in this difficult time."

This comes right before the May 9 release of Abir Gulaal, a movie starring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor.

The Maharashtra government has said that two special flights have been arranged to bring back the citizens of the state who are stuck in Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack. 

An Air India flight will arrive in Mumbai today carrying 100 tourists from Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' office posted on X, and attached the list of passengers on the flight.

"Two special flights will arrive in Mumbai today. An IndiGo flight will bring back 83 tourists, while an Air India flight will bring back 100. A total of 183 tourists from Maharashtra will return to Mumbai today. Both these flights will arrive in Mumbai around evening. The cost of these special flights will be borne by the state government," the statement read in Marathi.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday night received the remains of the state resident JS Chandramouli.

"Heartbreaking to witness a life so brutally snatched away, leaving a family to face an unimaginable loss. In an instant, everything changed for them," he posted on X after paying tributes to Mr Chandramouli in Visakhapatnam.

The remains of another Andhra Pradesh native, S Madhusudhan, were flown to Tamil Nadu's Chennai in the early hours of Thursday. 

Chiefs of Tamil Nadu BJP and Congress units, Nainar Nagendran and K Selvaperunthagai, respectively, and AIADMK's KP Kandan paid tributes to him.

The body was later transported to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh by an ambulance. Mr Madhusudan, who was an IT employee from Nellore district, was settled in Bengaluru.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and decided to pause its ongoing protests against the new Waqf law for three days in solidarity with the families of victims.

As a mark of solidarity with the bereaved families, the Board has suspended its campaign against the "controversial amendments" to the Waqf Act for three days starting April 23, a statement issued by the Muslim organisation said.

The Centre will today brief leaders of various political parties on the Pahalgam terror attack and hear their views at an all-party meeting.

The decision to call an all-party meeting was taken on Wednesday, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah reaching out to various parties, sources said.

With tears in their eyes while still processing the unfathomable sorrow, the families of victims of the Pahalgam terror attack received their bodies on Thursday. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, died in the Baisaran meadow bloodbath in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag - the deadliest in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama incident - on Tuesday.

Among the victims were tourists from different parts of the country and a Nepali national. Their bodies were first brought in coffins to Srinagar, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid wreaths, and were then flown to their hometowns.

Airlines operated more than 50 flights from Srinagar to ferry tourists and bodies of the victims to their destinations, along with 123 accompanying family members.

After Donald Trump, top US administration officials and US lawmakers have now condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and expressed solidarity with India.

“I am praying for the Indian people following the tragic terrorist attack in Kashmir. America stands with our dear friends in India and against terrorism in all its forms,” US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a post on X.

Chuck Schumer, New York’s Senator, said his heart breaks for the "innocent tourists and locals murdered by terrorists in the revolting attack in Kashmir, and I wish a speedy recovery for the injured." 

He added that there can be no tolerance for the hatred that breeds "this kind of unjustifiable violence".

Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said the United States "stands in strong solidarity with our brothers and sisters in India and Prime Minister Modi". 

"We remain united in our determination to confront terrorism and defeat those who threaten peace and freedom. In unity and strength, we will always overcome,” he added.

Ex-Pentagon official Michael Rubin likened Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir to the late Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, while pinning Pakistan for its role in the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

Mr Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said the only difference between Munir and Bin Laden is that the former lives in a palace while the latter lived in a cave. "The only reaction (to the Pahalgam attack) that the United States should take is a formal designation of Pakistan as a state sponsor of terror and a designation of Asim Munir as a terrorist," he told ANI.

Mr Rubin used the "lipstick on a pig" rhetoric to elaborate that there should be no pretence that the Jammu and Kashmir attack was any sort of "spontaneous action". "As for the timing, just as there was a terrorist attack when Bill Clinton went to India, so too does it seem that Pakistan wants to draw attention away from Vice President JD Vance's trip to India," he said.

The remains of Prashant Satpathy have been brought to his residence in Odisha's Balasore.

A day after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam killed 26 tourists, India on Wednesday summoned Pakistan High Commission's Charge d'affaires in Delhi and handed over a note regarding its military diplomats being declared Persona Non Grata. 

The summons were issued after India announced a series of severe measures against Pakistan and decided to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty that governs the sharing of the river Indus' waters.

New Delhi also said that Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visa.

The body of Sushil Nathaniel, a manager at the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) from Madhya Pradesh's Indore, was brought to the city from Kashmir on Wednesday night. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav was among those who paid tributes to him at the airport.

Mr Yadav said that his wife told him that terrorists had asked Mr Nathaniel, a Christian, to recite the 'Kalma' - a declaration of faith that forms the core beliefs of Muslims -  before shooting him dead.

The remains of two Maharashtra tourists -- Santosh Jagdale and Kaustubh Ganbote -- have been brought to Pune.

Manjunath Rao and Bharath Bushan from Karnataka were among the 26 people killed in front of their families after confirming their religious identity in Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday.

Union Minister V Somanna along with Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya accompanied the bodies of the tourists.

In the early hours of Thursday, the body of Indian Air Force Corporal, Tage Hailyang, were brought to Guwahati Airport.

The body of Shubham Dwivedi, one of the innocent tourists killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, was brought to his residence Lucknow on Wednesday night.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun has condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and expressed opposition to all forms of terrorism.
While addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Guo Jiakun expressed sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured.
When asked about the attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, he responded, "China noted the reports. We strongly condemn the attack. China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism. We mourn for the lives lost and express sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured."

Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi reached New Delhi in the early hours of Thursday after cutting short his visit to the United States (US) in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.Rahul Gandhi will attend the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, at around 10.30 am.Earlier, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh informed that Mr Gandhi had shortened his official visit to the US.

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned Tuesday's terrorist attack on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Mr Sunak affirmed the UK's support with India in sorrow and solidarity and said that "terror will never win."

People's Conference chief Sajad Lone on Wednesday led the party's candlelight vigil against the Pahalgam terror attack and said that all of Kashmir was "shedding tears of blood".

India has summoned Pakistan High Commission's charge d'affaires, after a deadly terrorist attack killed 26 civilians in Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also condemned the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam. 

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the exodus of tourists from Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack "heartbreaking". The tourists have been leaving Jammu and Kashmir in droves since yesterday's attack in which 26 people died. 

"It's heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after yesterday's tragic terror attack in Pahalgam but at the same time we totally understand why people would want to leave," Mr Abdullah said in a post on X. 

What could be the impact of this suspension? 

Pradeep Kumar Saxena, who served as India's Indus Water Commissioner for over six years and has been associated with work related to the IWT, said India, as an upper riparian country, has multiple options.

"This could be the first step towards the abrogation of the Treaty, if the Government so decides," Saxena told PTI.

"Although there is no explicit provision in the Treaty for its abrogation, Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on Law of the Treaties provides sufficient room under which the treaty can be repudiated in view of the fundamental change of circumstances which has occurred with regard to those existing at the time of conclusion of the Treaty," he said.

Last year, India sent a formal notice to Pakistan, seeking the "review and modification" of the treaty.

Listing out the steps India could take, Saxena said in the absence of the treaty, India is under no obligation to follow the restrictions on the "reservoir flushing" of the Kishanganga reservoir and other projects on Western rivers in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indus Water Treaty currently prohibits it.

Flushing can help India desilt its reservoir but then filling the entire reservoir could take days. Under the treaty, reservoir filling after the flushing has to be done in August -- peak monsoon period -- but with the pact in abeyance, it could be done anytime. Doing it when sowing season begins in Pakistan could be detrimental especially when a large part of Punjab in Pakistan depends on the Indus and its tributaries for irrigation.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has decided to cut short his US visit and will be attending the Congress Working Committee meeting in Delhi on Thursday, party MP Jairam Ramesh said.

Corporal Tage Hailyang (30), an Indian Air Force staff from Arunachal Pradesh, went to Pahalgam with his wife. The couple were in Pahalgam yesterday when a group of terrorists opened fire, killing at least 26 people in one of the most heinous terror strikes the Valley has seen. Originally from Tajang village in Arunachal Pradesh's Ziro, Tage Hailyang was posted at the Indian Air Force base in Srinagar. 

In a post on X, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who flew to Srinagar, said he met most of the stranded tourists, and assured  to bring back the people of the state with "care and dignity". 

India has downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced a raft of measures including expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the over six-decade-old Indus Water Treaty and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post in view of the cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The new retaliatory measures shut down the few existing diplomatic mechanisms between the two sides taking bilateral relations to yet another new low.

At a late evening media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said "the defence, military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata" and they have a week to leave India.

India will be withdrawing its own defence, navy and air advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, he said.

"These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions," he said.

Mortal remains of Bitan Adhikary, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, arrived in Kolkata for the last rites on Wednesday evening.

India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty on September 19, 1960, after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank being a signatory to the pact.

The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two sides on the use of the waters of a number of cross-border rivers.

Under the agreement governing six common rivers, all the water of the eastern rivers - Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi amounting to around 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually - has been allocated to India for unrestricted use.

The waters of western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab - amounting to around 135 MAF annually have been assigned largely to Pakistan. 

According to the Treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation. 

The Treaty also gives the right to Pakistan to raise objections on the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on western rivers.

Knowing the 'kalima' (an Islamic declaration of faith) probably led to a professor from Assam narrowly escaping with his life during the terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed.

Speaking to NDTV on Wednesday, professor Debashish Bhattacharya, who teaches Bengali at the Assam University in Silchar, recounted seeing a man being shot in front of him and how he ended up reciting the 'kalima' in an act of "herd mentality".

Mr Bhattacharya said he and his family had gone to Jammu and Kashmir for a holiday and were enjoying the scenery at the picturesque hilltop meadow of Baisaran on Tuesday with hundreds of other tourists around, when they heard a shot ring out. They didn't worry, however, thinking that someone from the forest department had fired to scare away wildlife.

"My family and I saw a man walking near us with a gun and I thought he was from the forest department. He was wearing a black mask and black cap and was talking to a couple. He then shot the husband. My family, I, and some other people ran and lay down under a tree to hide. The attacker walked close to us and shot another man, just a hand's distance away from us, who was trying to lie down," said the professor.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and State BJP President VD Sharma met the family of Sushil Nathaniel, who was killed in the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday.

The Centre said that Pakistani nationals will not be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Visa Exemption Scheme. Any Pakistanis in India on such visas will also have to leave the country within 48 hours. 

Speaking after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security - which is the highest decision-making body on security matters - chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vikam Misri said the panel was briefed about the attack, during which its "cross-border linkages" were brought out. The attack, it was noted, came after the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were successfully held.

An all-party meeting on the Pahalgam terror attack will be held tomorrow, sources said, adding that Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh are speaking to all parties in this regard.

Following the deadly terror strikes in Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, India has decided to withdraw the defence staff from the High Commission in Pakistan. As part of its stringent measures against Pakistan, it also cancelled all current visas for citizens from the neighbouring countries. 

In the wake of the deadly terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Centre on Wednesday decided to suspend the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. It also said that no SAARC visas will be issued to Pakistani nationals. It also said the Attari border with Pakistan will be shut. 

Anantnag Police has announced a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh for any information on the terrorists involved in the attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Two terrorists were killed on Wednesday as an infiltration attempt was foiled by security forces along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir's Baramulla district, officials said.

The infiltration bid came less than 24 hours after a deadly terror attack at Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district left 26 people dead, mostly tourists.

The Army said the infiltration bid was foiled in Uri Nala of the north Kashmir district.

"At approximately 0100 hrs, alert troops deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) detected suspicious movement of unidentified persons attempting to infiltrate into Indian territory. The infiltrators were challenged and engaged, resulting in a heavy exchange of fire," the Army said in a statement.

In the ensuing encounter, it said two terrorists were neutralised.

"Two AK series rifles, a Chinese pistol and 10 kg of IED with other war-like stores have been recovered from the encounter site," the Army said.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law and businessman Robert Vadra on Wednesday triggered a row by suggesting that non-Muslims were attacked in Pahalgam as terrorists feel Muslims are being "mistreated" in the country, with the BJP accusing him of using the language of terrorists and demanding that he apologise.

Mr Vadra condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack and said that whenever there are communal issues and people feel vulnerable, there is division in the country and neighbouring countries benefit from it. He said it is time to separate politics and religion, and political parties should introspect. Click here to read more

A day after the Pahalgam terror attack claimed 26 lives, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that the time has come to demonstrate India's strength to Pakistan and deal firmly with its sympathisers within the country.

"The time has come to show our strength to Pakistan and its friends inside our country. I strongly believe that the nation will definitely teach them a lesson," he said.

The Cabinet Committee Security meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's house over the Kashmir terror attack has concluded.

A key parliamentary panel has called off its scheduled tour of Jammu & Kashmir from April 25 following the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam in order to avoid diverting the focus of the security agencies, which are currently fully engaged in handling the situation.

The Standing Committee on Home Affairs headed by BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal was to go on a study tour of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, both Union territories, from April 25 to May 1, official sources told PTI. 

However, Agrawal conveyed to the members of the panel the decision to defer the tour after the terror attack in which at least 26 persons were shot dead by terrorists.

The sources said the decision was necessitated as the MPs, who are part of the committee, would have required heightened security and their engagements included interaction with senior security officials, including the DGP, and other top bureaucrats.

"At a time when they are fully involved in dealing with the aftermath of the terror attack, going after terrorists and reviewing other measures, it would not have been prudent to tax them with our requirements," a source said.

As the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir's Anantnag district triggered fears and caused panic exit among tourists, two women from Maharashtra on Wednesday refused to return home with bitter memories.

"Several people forced us to book flights and told us to come back again (later) because whatever happened was terrifying but we are not scared. We are leaving Pahalgam but we are not leaving Kashmir," one of the women told NDTV.

The second woman said she was touched by the hospitality of the local residents. "We trust the local residents here. They way they have been treating us, they have earned our trust. They have always helped us," she said. Click here for Kashmir terror attack live updates

"Our driver who has been with us right from the start never asked us for our religion before dropping us to the hotel. (After the attack) He did not care about his safety but prioritised ours. We will continue to travel because this place is so beautiful," she added. She was referring to several survivors' claims that the terrorists asked the religion of the victims before killing them. 

Jammu & Kashmir People's Conference (JKPC) MLA Sajad Lone told NDTV the terrorists who killed 26 tourists at Pahalgam launched a "multifaceted attack" to drag the region back to the dark days before special status was scrapped.

Mr Lone said the people of Kashmir came out on the streets to reject terror in huge numbers, and they have crossed their threshold.

"They are going to be resilient enough not to get threatened or cowed down by these cowards," Mr Lone told NDTV.

He said a lot of common people spoke to him, but there was "a deafening silence".

"You can see that as if this place is mourning. There is mourning in the air and it's from the core of the heart. They're mourning the loss of their friends, their tourists, their guests... Very rarely I've seen such a show of unanimity and unconditionally, unambiguously. There are no conditions attached. Everybody is condemning it," Mr Lone told NDTV.

Terrorist attacks that threaten peace and stability must be dealt with "utmost severity", industry leaders said while expressing grief at the loss of lives in the Pahalgam attack.

Industry chambers and corporate leaders expressed solidarity with the citizens and the government, asserting that the nation is strong enough to deal with such crises and ensure that it does not disrupt livelihoods and economic activities.

OYO Founder and Group CEO Ritesh Agarwal, in a post on X said what happened in Pahalgam has shaken something in all of us -- a quiet, shared humanity. "To the families mourning today, your grief is not unseen. We stand beside you, in silence and sorrow," the OYO Founder said.

CII President Sanjiv Puri observed that this senseless act of violence targeted on innocent people, mainly tourists, not only claims precious lives but also threatens peace and prosperity in the region.

"Safety of citizens is of paramount importance, and terrorist attacks of this kind must be dealt with utmost severity. The nation is strong enough to deal with such crises and ensure that this does not disrupt livelihoods and economic activities," he added.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened by this horrific attack that has caused immeasurable suffering to dozens of families across India," said Harsh Vardhan Agarwal, President of FICCI.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones during this moment of profound grief. The entire country stands united with both the central and state governments, and others in this hour of national tragedy," he stated.

Calling for a strong response after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed, former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal has called for the indefinite suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, asserting that "blood and water" can't go together. 

In a post on X on Wednesday, Mr Sibal, who was the Indian ambassador to Russia and is now the Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, also pointed to the timing of the massacre - during US Vice-President JD Vance's visit - stating that India is in a favourable position with the US.

"It it time to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty indefinitely as a truly meaningful response to the latest terrorist outrage in Pahalgam instigated by Pakistan. We have earlier said that blood and water can't go together. Let's act on our own declared position. This will be a strategic response," Mr Sibal wrote. 

Around 1,500 have been taken into preventive detention across Jammu & Kashmir for questioning in connection with Tuesday's terror attack in Pahalgam, sources said.

An encounter has started between terrorists and security forces in Tangimarg area of Kulgam. 

In the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam, several travel agencies in Delhi said that nearly 90 per cent bookings for Jammu & Kashmir have been cancelled by tourists over safety concerns.

Around 25 people have asked them to cancel their bookings for the Union Territory, said Gaurav Rathi, owner of Swan Travellers, a company located in Shankar Market, Outer Circle, Connaught Place.

He added that most of the tourists had planned to visit Kashmir next month and are now requesting cancellations.

"We had a few bookings from families. From bus and flight tickets to hotels -- everything was booked in advance. But the moment the news of the terror attack broke, we started receiving calls for cancellations," Dev, the owner of Kusha Travels, told PTI.

Syed Adil Hussain Shah worked as a pony ride operator at Pahalgam's Baisaran meadow, a tourist hotspot popularly known as 'Mini Switzerland' for its scenic beauty. The young man would ferry tourists on a pony from the car park to the meadow.

Yesterday started like just another day. The tourist season in Kashmir was at its peak. Shah must have hoped for good earnings throughout the day. In the afternoon, as tourists were having a great time, bullets pierced the mood of jubilation. What followed was mayhem. Terrorists armed with rifles started shooting tourists, one by one. Names were asked, religion confirmed and lives brutally snatched away. 

Among the 26 killed in the most heinous attack in the Valley in the recent past, there was one Kashmiri Muslim -- Shah. Local reports have said he was not a target, but was shot dead when he tried to shield the tourist he was with and attempted to snatch a killer's gun. Click here to read more

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee On Security, on the deadly Kashmir terror attack, has begun at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence.

The Telangana government set up a dedicated helpline at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi to support and address concerns of residents from the state, if any are found to be affected by the Pahalgam terror attack.

As of now, there are no reports of anyone from Telangana being injured, missing, or killed in the incident. However, the government has set up the helpline as a precautionary measure to provide immediate assistance and keep the public informed, an official release said.

The Telangana Bhavan officials in New Delhi are in constant touch with the Jammu and Kashmir state administration as well as central government authorities and monitoring the situation closely, it said.

Citizens can reach out to helpline numbers, Vandhana- 9871999044 and Hyder Ali Naqvi - 9971387500, for information or assistance, the release added.

The Centre is fully backing tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, who are keen on returning home after the shocking attack on tourist in Pahalgam, Union minister for tourism Gajendra Shekhawat said today. 

In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the minister said, "In light of yesterday's tragic incident in Kashmir, many tourists are understandably anxious and reconsidering their travel plans. I've spoken to the concerned authorities and urged airlines, hotels, and tour operators to allow full refunds without hassle".

Anticipating largescale travel booking cancellations for Jammu & Kashmir in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, aggregators on Wednesday said they are working with airlines and hotels to offer free date change and cancellation waivers to travellers.

Hospitality industry players expect the terror attack to sow fear in the minds of tourists who were keen to visit Jammu and Kashmir, adversely affecting the livelihoods of people in the state who are dependent on tourism.

"As per the early observations, flight cancellations jumped 7x, and a drop in future bookings by nearly 40 per cent," said Manjari Singhal, Chief Growth and Business Officer, Cleartrip.

"As travellers navigate this difficult situation, our teams are working round the clock with airline and hotel partners to provide flexibility and assistance on bookings/ cancellations. Our on-ground team is doing everything in their capacity to offer support to travellers. We remain committed to providing continued assistance to both our customers and partners during this difficult time," a MakeMyTrip spokesperson said.

EaseMyTrip Chairman and Founder Nishant Pitti said: "In light of the ongoing situation in Srinagar, we at EaseMyTrip are fully committed to supporting our customers who are travelling to or from Srinagar. We understand the uncertainty this situation may cause and are here to minimise any inconvenience to your travel plans. To ensure flexibility, we have extended free change and cancellation waivers for all bookings made on or before April 22, applicable for travel up to April 30".

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrive at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence for a high-level security meeting.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has cancelled his two-day scheduled visit to Ladakh in view of the situation arising out of the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Singh was to visit Ladakh on April 25 and 26.

The defence minister cancelled his upcoming visit to Ladkah, sources said.

Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Singh is currently holding a high-level security meeting in Srinagar. All senior superintendents of police, inspector generals of police and the chief secretary are present at the meeting.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for an all party meeting on Thursday afternoon. "In the aftermath of the attack in Pahalgam I've called an all party meeting tomorrow afternoon. I have sent out letters of invitation to all major political parties, all honourable members of parliament from J&K & the leader of opposition in the J&K assembly," he said in a post on X. 

She got married to a Lieutenant in the Indian Navy and then left for Jammu and Kashmir for her honeymoon. Less than a week later, she found herself hugging her husband's coffin, sobbing inconsolably and needing help to steady herself because of her grief - but then stood ramrod straight and gave him a farewell salute, shouting "Jai Hind".

Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, 26, from Karnal in Haryana married Himanshi Narwal on April 16. The reception was held three days later and the couple left for Kashmir on Monday. 

A day later, they were in the picturesque meadow of Baisaran near Pahalgam, enjoying 'bhelpuri' (a snack made of puffed rice), when a terrorist shot Lieutenant Narwal in the head. Blood splattered on her face, Himanshi could be heard saying in a video on Tuesday: "We were having bhelpuri when a man came and shot my husband."

On Wednesday, Lieutenant Narwal's body was brought to Delhi in a coffin and Himanshi stood beside it. "I pray that his soul rests in peace... We will make him proud in every way," she sobbed, stopping to hug the coffin.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed officials to launch a special airlift operation for over 40 Kannadiga tourists stranded in Kashmir following a terrorist attack. 

The state government assured safe repatriation of every individual caught in the situation and urged families not to panic.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said he has instructed officials to arrange for a special flight to evacuate all affected individuals from the state who had gone to Kashmir on a vacation and were caught in the turmoil.

"More than 40 Kannadigas who had gone on a trip to Kashmir have been stranded due to the terrorist attack, and I have instructed the authorities to arrange a special flight to bring all of them safely back to their homeland," Siddaramaiah assured.

"Our government has taken action with the resolve to bring every Kannadiga back to the state safely. No one needs to worry," he added. 

Speaking to ANI, Jammu & Kashmir Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra said: "The entire Congress condemns this attack... The Congress party will not do politics over this incident... This is a security lapse but there are other questions also involved in it which need clarification..."

A village in Kanpur district has gone into mourning after one of its residents, a businessman who got married in February, was killed in Tuesday's terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. 

Residents of several nearby villages gathered outside the house of Shubham Dwivedi in Hathipur in the Maharajpur area to condole the death of the 31-year-old.

The Kanpur Police Commissioner and District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh also reached the village, met Dwivedi's family and assured that the Uttar Pradesh government will help them in every possible way. They also told the family that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had expressed his deep condolences. 

 "I got a call from the chief minister, who took details of the victim and his family. The chief minister instructed me to visit the victim's ancestral village in this hour of grief. We have been directed to ensure that the family gets all possible support," Mr Singh told news agency PTI. 

The scale and precision of the Pahalgam terror attack - in which three terrorists linked to an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba murdered 26 people in a matter of minutes, then disappeared into the forest - emphasises the role Pak's security agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, plays in equipping, training, and arming jihadis, defence expert Major General Yash Mor (retd) told NDTV.

That the establishment in Pakistan arms, trains, and otherwise supports terrorists acting against India is not an unknown factor; New Delhi has repeatedly warned the global community of state-sponsored terrorism - at civilian and military targets - from across the border. Click here to read more.

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah participated in the funeral prayers of a pony ride operator who was killed in Tuesday's terror attack in Pahalgam.

He also interacted with the family members of the deceased, Syed Adil Hussain, Shah, at Hapatnar in south Kashmir's Anantnag district and assured them of all support.

"Perhaps he tried to stop them and tried to take away gun of a terrorist, that is why he was then targeted," Mr Abdullah told reporters.

"We will have to take care of the family and help them. I have come here to assure them that the government stands with them at this juncture and we will do whatever we can for them," he added. 

Syed Adil was the only local person killed in the attack in Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam tourist resort on Tuesday in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were massacred.

Railways will run a special unreserved train from Katra to New Delhi at 9:20 pm on Wednesday for those who want to cut short their trip to Jammu & Kashmir and return to their respective destinations, an official said.

Reports suggested that several tourists at various places in Jammu wanted to return to their respected cities in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

"Considering the urgency, we have immediately arranged a special train for all classes of passengers to return to their home cities," Himanshu Upadhyay, Chief Public Relation Officer, Northern Railway (NR), said.

The train, after starting from Sri Vaishno Devi Katra at 9:20 pm, will halt at several other stations en route such as Udhampur, Jammu, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ambala, Kurukshetra and Panipat before terminating at the New Delhi Railway Station at 9:30 am on Thursday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured to give a befitting reply and said the terrorists involved in the gruesome killing of at least 26 people will not be spared. 

"We lost many innocent lives in the cowardly act in Pahalgam. We are deeply distressed. I express my condolences to the families who lost their loved ones... I want to repeat India's resolve against terrorism. We have a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism... I want to assure the countrymen that the government will take every necessary step. We will not only reach the perpetrators of this act but also the actors behind the scenes... The accused will soon see a loud and clear response, I want to assure the country," he said.

In view of the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, various arrangements have been made across airports to help the families of the victims or assist those who returning from the Union territory.

1. A control room has been set up at airports to monitor the smooth transition of passengers and facilitation. 

2. Coordination with state government and airlines for booking of the bodies of those killed along with their escorting families in various aircraft's with destinations across the country. 

3. ⁠A shamyana is set up on city side with adequate seating capacity along with arrangements of food and snacks/ tea/ water for the waiting pax. 

4. ⁠All the escorting families of victims are being taken care of with due respect and serving of refreshments in reserved lounges. 

5. ⁠All the basic facilities are being provided in Terminal building while keeping the flight operations on time so that terminal is not congested.

A harrowing video, recorded from a distance, has surfaced, capturing the chilling moments of the brutal terrorist attack that unfolded on Tuesday afternoon in the picturesque meadows of Baisaran, near the resort town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. The footage shows bodies strewn across the grass, bursts of gunfire echoing in the backdrop.

Government employees in Jammu & Kashmir observed a two-minute silence on Wednesday as a mark of respect for the 26 victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

"In light of the tragic killing of innocent civilians by terrorists in Pahalgam, all government office employees across Jammu and Kashmir are requested to observe a two-minute silence at 3:30 PM today as a mark of respect and solidarity," Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on his official X handle.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offered his condolences on the loss of lives in the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam. "PM Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences on the death of a young Nepali national in the terror attack, and underlined that India remains committed to bringing the perpetrators of the brutal terror attack to justice. India and Nepal stand together in the fight against terrorism," it said.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in the "strongest terms". "The Kingdom affirms its firm position in rejecting all forms of violence, extremism, and targeting civilians, expressing its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of the Republic of India," it said in a statement. 

The Indian Air Force paid tributes to Cpl Tage Hailyang, who was among those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan also condemned the deadly terror strike in Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed at least 26 lives. 

"Words fail to express the sadness and anger at the treachery and inhumane act of violence that has occurred in Pahalgam. In times like these, one can only turn to God and say a prayer for the families that suffered and express my deepest condolences. May we as a Nation, stand united, strong and get justice against this heinous act," he said on X. 

Speaking to reporters, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said: "I stand with the families (of those killed in the terror attack). Our guests have returned in coffins." 

Sending out an important message of unity after the dastardly massacre in Pahalgam, the Congress on Wednesday said this is not a time for partisan politics and signalled it will stand with the government to bring the terrorists to justice.

The Supreme Court has unanimously adopted a resolution denouncing the act of terror, the apex court said in a statement.

"This diabolical act of mindless violence has shaken the conscience of all and is a stark reminder of the brutality and inhumanity that terrorism unleashes," it said.

"The Supreme Court of India pays its respectful tribute to the innocent lives snuffed out brutally and prematurely while also expressing its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May the departed souls rest in peace and may those who were injured recover soon. The nation stands with the victims and their families in this hour of indescribable grief," the top court resolution read.

The attack on tourists, who were merely enjoying the natural beauty of the "Crown Jewel" of India, Kashmir, is undoubtedly an affront to the values of humanity and the sanctity of life and the court strongly condemns the same, the statement added.

The Supreme Court has observed a moment of silence for the victims of the terror attack in Pahalgam. The moment of silence was observed by all courts at around 2 pm, when the court assembled in the post-lunch session.

Judges, advocates and litigants all stood in silence to pay their tributes to lost souls as soon as siren was sounded at 1.59 pm till 2 pm.

Condolences poured from across the globe after terrorists killed at least 26 people and injured several others in a heinous attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said more than 40 Kannadigas who had gone on a trip to Kashmir are stranded due to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and that he has instructed the authorities to arrange a special flight to bring all of them safely back to the state.

"More than 40 Kannadigas who had gone on a trip to Kashmir are stranded due to the terrorist attack, and I have instructed the authorities to arrange a special flight to bring all of them safely back to their state. Our government has taken action with the resolve to bring every Kannadiga back to the state safely. No one needs to worry," Siddaramaiah said in a post on 'X'.

Urging all people from the state who are now in Jammu and Kashmir to remain calm, he said the Karnataka Government has swiftly deployed teams and sent Minister Santosh Lad to assist on the ground.

"For any help, please call 112 -- our officers are working with J&K authorities to ensure your safety and immediate support. We are with you.Your well-being is our utmost priority," he added.

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people. One Nepali national has also been killed in the attack. 

"Deepest condolences to the victims of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.Nepal stands firmly with India & strongly condemn any & all acts of terrorism.Close coordination is established to verify reports of a Nepali national among the victims & will provide all necessary assistance," he wrote on X.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dialled Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack" in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, the Ministry of External Affairs said. 

"He (Mr Albanese) offered condolences on the loss of innocent lives and expressed solidarity with the people of India in this hour of grief. He extended all support in the fight against terrorism," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has told airline companies to avoid any fare surges in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam.

"Fares are being monitored and kept at reasonable levels," he posted on X.

He also said that all airlines operating from Srinagar have waived cancellation and rescheduling charges to support passengers.

"Food and water are being provided at the airport, and an extra tent has been set up outside for those waiting. Between 6 AM and 12 PM today, Srinagar Airport handled 20 Departures with 3337 passengers," he said.

"I’m personally monitoring the situation and in constant touch with Home Ministry & airline operators. This is a time for solidarity. We stand with every citizen and will ensure all support needed," the Minister said.

He stated that in addition to the four extra flights already announced, three more flights to Delhi have been added for today— IndiGo 6E 3203 (Dep: 1700, Arr: 1800), IndiGo 6E 3103 (Dep: 1800, Arr: 1930), and a SpiceJet flight scheduled to depart at 10:30 PM.

"Every Indian feels the pain of losing loved ones in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. This sorrow cannot be expressed in words. I assure all these families and the entire nation that these terrorists who killed innocent people will not be spared at all," Amit Shah posted on X.

For the first time in 35 years, Kashmir is completely shut today, a day after 26 tourists were shot dead in the most cold-blooded terror attack the Valley has seen in the recent past. Loudspeakers in the mosques blared out appeals to the people to join the shutdown, and spontaneous protests hit the streets. 

In Pahalgam, markets are completely closed as the tourist hotspot struggles to come to terms with what happened yesterday. Among the 26 innocents killed is Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who provided horse rides to tourists and was shot dead when he tried to confront the killers and shield the terrorists.

Bharat Bhushan, a techie from Bengaluru, was shot dead in front of his wife and their three-year-old son by terrorists in one of the worst attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday. 

Mr Bhushan's mother-in-law, who spoke to her "spared" daughter last afternoon, said that the terrorists asked the victims if they were Hindu and then kept shooting till they fell to the ground.

"They apparently asked if you were Hindu and then shot them, they were shot because they were Hindus, they shot my son-in-law...They didn't shoot women and children, but shot the men in the head. They kept shooting till they fell down," she said.

She added, "My daughter is a doctor, she realised he was dead. She then took the mobile and the purse and ran. We spoke to her at 2.45 pm."

Beijing's foreign ministry has offered "sincere sympathies" after an attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir killed dozens. 

"We mourn the victims and extend our sincere sympathies to the families of the victims and the injured," foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, adding China "strongly condemns this attack".

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh holds meet with Chief of Defence Staff, all three defence chiefs over Pahalgam terror attack.

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, reacting to the Pahalgam terror attack, has said that there is no limit to his anger and rage.

The Kashmir Files actor wrote: "The massacre that took place with the Hindus in Pahalgam... I do feel sad, but there is no limit to my anger and rage. There is no limit to my anger and rage."

"I have seen this in my life. This has happened with the Kashmiri Hindus in Kashmir. The Kashmir Files was a small part of the story that many people called propaganda. But now, they have come from India, from different parts of the world.

"They are spending their holidays in Kashmir with their children and their families.Choosing them, deciding their religion, and killing them. This is not a word. Sometimes, words are incomplete and meaningless. What you are feeling is a meaningless word," he said.

Mr Kher said that he cannot forget the picture of that woman who was seen sitting next to her husband's body.

He added, "I thought a lot about making this video. Not because I don't want to express my emotions, but I want to control my words. I don't want to break my limits, but today I feel like doing it. This is wrong. This is wrong. This is wrong in any part of the world. But in our country, in Pahalgam, the murder that took place today is very wrong."

The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of each of those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on Tuesday.

Making the announcement, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a post on X, "Deeply shocked and anguished by the despicable terrorist attack in Pahalgam yesterday. This barbaric and senseless act of brutality against innocent civilians has no place in our society. We condemn it in the strongest possible terms. We mourn the precious lives lost." 

He said no amount of money can ever compensate for the loss of loved ones, but as a mark of support and solidarity, the J&K government announces an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the victim.

He also announced Rs 2 lakh for those seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries.

All arrangements have been made to transport of the mortal remains of the deceased back to their homes in a dignified manner, Abdullah said.

"The injured are being provided the best medical care. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We share in your grief and stand by you in this dark hour," Mr Abdullah said.

"Terror will never break our resolve. We will not rest until those behind this barbarity are brought to justic," the chief minister said.

A harrowing video, recorded by a tourist from a distance, has surfaced, capturing the chilling moments of the brutal terrorist attack that unfolded on Tuesday afternoon in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kanpur on Thursday (April 24) has been cancelled, sources said amid terror attack in Pahalgam.

He was scheduled to innaugrate the second phase of Kanpur Metro and then address a public gathering.

Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who ferried tourists on his horse in Pahalgam, was shot dead during his attempt to fight one of the terrorists.

Peoples Democratic Party boss and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has taken part in a protest in Srinagar condemning the Pahalgam terror attack.

Ms Mufti, along with her party workers, began the protest march from the PDP headquarters near Sher-e-Kashmir Park.

Carrying placards that read "this is an attack on all of us", "killing innocents is an act of terror", and "stop innocent killings", the march ended at Lal Chowk city centre.

Amit Shah has posted pictures of him laying the wreaths on the coffins of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

"With a heavy heart, paid last respects to the deceased of the Pahalgam terror attack. Bharat will not bend to terror. The culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared," Mr Shah said.

Twenty-six people were killed and many others injured as terrorists opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, in one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times. A NIA team has arrived at the site to assist the probe.

Pune-based businessman Santosh Jagdale and his family were hiding inside a tent as cries for help and shots of gunfire rang through a tourist hotspot in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

The horror began when they heard firing from "people who wore clothes similar to those of local police" descending from a hill, his daughter Asavari recounted. 

Asavari, her mother Pragati and her father rushed to a nearby tent, along with other tourists. They assumed the sound of gunfire outside was an exchange between the attackers and security forces. The sound of the attackers got closer as they fired at a nearby tent.

Then came a chilling command "Chaudhary, tu bahar aa jaa (Chaudhary, you come outside). Her father was pulled out of the tent by attackers, and the following exchange included the attackers blaming them for supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Asavari said there were several tourists around, but the terrorists specifically targeted men after asking whether they were Hindus or Muslims. 

"They then asked my father to recite an Islamic verse (probably the Kalma). When he failed to do so, they pumped three bullets into him, one on the head, one behind the ear and another in the back," the 26-year-old said, adding that the gunmen then turned to her uncle and shot him repeatedly. 

Police and security forces reached the spot 20 minutes later, she said.

Officials have released the first sketches of the three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.

After meeting the attack survivors in Srinagar, Amit Shah has now arrived in Pahalgam.

Lt Vinay Narwal, who was shot dead by terrorists in the J&K's Pahalgam terror attack, was determined about pursuing a military career and wanted to serve his country, his grandfather told NDTV.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has met the survivors of the terror attack in Pahalgam and the families of the victims and assured them that the perpetrators of the act would be brought to justice.

A video posted by the news agency ANI showed the survivors in tears while greeting Mr Shah with folded hands.

The Indian Navy has confirmed officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal's death in the Pahalgam terror attack. 

"Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, #CNS, and all Personnel of the Indian Navy are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Lt Vinay Narwal who fell to the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this moment of unimaginable grief," the Navy said in a post on X

"The #IndianNavy also stands in solemn solidarity with all others that lost their lives in this heinous act of violence.Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families and we pray for the swift recovery of those injured," it added.

A resident of Bhusli village in Haryana's Karnal district, Narwal's family was presently living in Karnal city.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plane did not cross Pakistan airspace as he flew back from Saudi Arabia late Tuesday, to deal with the aftermath of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, in which 26 people, including tourists and civilians, were killed.

Visuals from a flight tracking website confirmed the PM's Indian Air Force Boeing 777-300 did cross Pak airspace as he flew to Riyadh Tuesday morning, but took a wide detour coming back.

On its way back it flew a direct route over the Arabian Sea before crossing the Indian peninsula -entering via Gujarat - and then flying north back in to Delhi. This route avoided Pak airspace.

Shubham Dwivedi, who got married on February 12, had gone to Jammu and Kashmir with his wife for a short vacation.

Several Indian celebrities, including Akshar Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vicky Kaushal Sidharth Malhotra, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Nani, NTR Jr. and Allu Arjun have spoken out strongly against the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who has worked in movies such as LOC Kargil and Mission Kashmir, took to X and asked leaders to retaliate.

“They killed our people in cold blood. This can't be forgiven, these terrorists need to know we are not staying quiet. We need to retaliate, I request our Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, Home Minister @AmitShah ji and Defence Minister @rajnathsingh,” he wrote.

Akshay Kumar, whose film Kesari Chapter 2 is running in theatres, wrote on an X post, "Horrified to know of the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam. Sheer evil to kill innocent people like this. Prayers for their families."

"Uri: The Surgical Strike" star Vicky Kaushal said: "Can't imagine the pain of the family members who lost their loved ones in the absolutely inhumane act of terrorism in Pahalgam. My deepest condolences and prayers. Hope the culprits behind this heinous act are brought to justice."

A "heartbroken" Indian sporting fraternity, led by Olympic medallists Neeraj Chopra and PV Sindhu, joined the nation in condemning the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

"Heartbroken by the tragic attack in Jammu & Kashmir. Prayers for the victims and their families," Mr Chopra wrote on X.

Ms Sindhu too penned down an emotional post.

"My heart aches for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. So much pain. So much loss. No reason, no cause can ever justify such brutality.

"To the families left behind—your grief is beyond words, but you are not alone.We are with you. In these dark moments, may we find strength in each other, and never let go of the hope that peace will return!" she wrote.

Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir wrote, "Praying for the families of the deceased. Those responsible for this will pay. India will strike." 

"Heartbroken by the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir today. I strongly condemn this cowardly act by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. India stands united with our brave Army, J&K Police, and Paramilitary forces in the fight against terrorism. Justice will prevail," said former India all-rounder Suresh Raina.

The Indian batting duo of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul also offered condolence.

"Heartbreaking to hear about the attack in Pahalgam. My prayers are with the victims and their families. Violence like this has no place in our country," Mr Gill posted on X..

"Heartbreaking to hear about the terrorist attack in Kashmir. My thoughts are with the families of the victims. Praying for peace and strength," Mr Rahul wrote.

Forty-year-old TCS techie Bitan Adhikary, who worked and lived in Florida, came down to his Kolkata home on April 8 with his wife Sohini and their three-year-old son. They travelled to Kashmir last week and were to return on Thursday.

Last afternoon, Bitan was shot dead by terrorists in Pahalgam, along with at least 25 others, in one of the most heinous attacks ever in the Valley. His wife and son are safe and the government is trying to bring them home.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah pays tributes to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack in Srinagar.

At least two terrorists were killed after security forces stopped an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, the Army said on Wednesday.

"On 23 Apr 2025, approximately 2-3 UI terrorists tried to infiltrate through the general area Sarjeevan at Uri Nala, Baramulla (in north Kashmir)," the Chinar Corps posted on X around 8 am.

The "alert troops challenged and intercepted" the infiltrators, resulting in a firefight, it said.

An hour later, it said that two terrorists had been "eliminated".

"A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and other war-like stores have been recovered from the terrorists," the Chinar Corps said.

The operation is in progress, it added.

A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrived in terror-hit Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

The team would provide assistance to the local police probing Tuesday's terrorist attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists from different parts of the country, were killed.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the "armed attack" in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir and stressed that attacks against civilians are "unacceptable under any circumstances".

"The Secretary-General stresses attacks against civilians are unacceptable under any circumstances," his spokesperson said.

Security forces are currently conducting search operations to track down the terrorists after an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called the terrorist attack in Kashmir "utterly devastating" and said that his thoughts were with those affected by the attack and the people of India.

"The horrific terrorist attack in Kashmir today is utterly devastating. My thoughts are with those affected, their loved ones, and the people of India," Mr Starmer posted on X.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has said that he has spoken to Amit Shah and Omar Abdullah about the "despicable carnage" in Pahalgam.

"The perpetrators of this heinous terror attack must not go unpunished. The innocent victims must get justice. Unity in action, in the wake of adversity is the need of the hour. This cross-border terror attack should be responded with adequate and resolute reply," he said on X.

Mr Kharge also said the Centre "must talk" to all political parties to ensure security in Jammu and Kashmir and make every possible effort to ensure the safety of tourists in the state.

Shortly after his arrival from Saudi Arabia, PM Narendra Modi took a briefing meeting at the airport with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other officials to discuss the situation in view of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pallavi, the tourist who lost her husband Manjunath in the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, shared her harrowing experience on Tuesday.

After 26 people were reportedly killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Congress leader Shama Mohammed has said that "Rawalpindi should be flattened".

"No more talks, no more trade, no more cricket , no more cultural activities. Time to teach Pakistan a lesson they don't forget," she wrote on X.

Helpline Numbers For Assistance

Adil Fareed, ADC Srinagar - 7006058623

24/7 Tourist Help Desk - Police Control Room, Anantnag 9596777669 | 01932-225870

WhatsApp: 9419051940

Helpline numbers by Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Department:

Please contact the following numbers for any assistance and information:

8899931010

8899941010

99066 63868 (Nissar Asst Director Tourism )

99069 06115 (Mudassir Tourist Officer)

PM Modi arrives in Delhi, cuts short Saudi Arabia visit after Jammu and Kashmir terror attack.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that he spoke to Amit Shah and Omar Abdullah and has taken an update on the Pahalgam attack. 

"The families of victims deserve justice and our fullest support," he said on X.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has condemning the "vile" terror attack in Pahalgam and pledged that "Europe will stand with India."

"The vile terror attack in Pahalgam today stole so many innocent lives. My deepest condolences to Narendra Modi and every Indian heart grieving today. Yet I know that India's spirit is unbreakable. You will stand strong in this ordeal. And Europe will stand with you," she said in a post on X.

Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, a 26-year-old Navy officer from Haryana's Karnal, was killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Lieutenant Narwal was posted in Kochi and had travelled to Kashmir for a short vacation after his marriage on April 16.

Germany's outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that he "strongly" condemns the "heinous" terrorist attack against tourists in Pahalgam. 

"Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and we wish a speedy recovery for all the injured. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the people of India," he posted on X.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed shock over the horrific terror attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday.

Air India Express has announced free rescheduling and full refunds on flights to and from Srinagar till April 30 following the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Local residents in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag held a candlelight march against terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam.

US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer condolences for the victims of the "Islamist terror attack" in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. PM Modi thanked Trump for his support and said that India is determined to bring perpetrators and backers of this "cowardly and heinous terrorist attack" to justice.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is on an official visit to the US and Peru, is returning to India following the terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed grief over the terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday, stating that Israel stands with India in its fight against terrorism.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday "strongly" condemned an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed dozens, his spokesperson said.
Mr Guterres "strongly condemns the armed attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April," said Stephane Dujarric in a statement. "The Secretary-General stresses attacks against civilians are unacceptable under any circumstances.

Following the terror attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, IndiGo has issued a travel advisory. The airline also announced waivers for rescheduling or canceling travel until April 30.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that during meeting with PM Modi in Jeddah, Saudi Crown Prince strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and expressed his deepest condolences on the innocent lives lost.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for India on Tuesday night after cutting short his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

"PM @narendramodi concludes his State Visit to Saudi Arabia and has emplaned for India," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a post on X.

US President Donald Trump strongly condemned the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam in a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack.

 The US condemned the terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday and said that it is monitoring the reports regarding the attack, the US State Department spokesperson said.
In a statement to ANI, the US State Department spokesperson said that the US at this time is unaware of any US citizens who are victims of the attack.
The US State Department said, "We are monitoring reports of a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir. The United States condemns terrorism unequivocally. At this time, we are unaware of any US citizens who are victims of the attack."

In a bid to help stranded tourists return home, Air India has decided to operate two additional flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai on Wednesday.

Five tourists from Maharashtra lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday, the Deputy Chief Minister's Office (DCMO) said, according to ANI. 

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had a phone conversation with Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu regarding arrangements to bring the bodies back to the state. During the conversation, Mr Shinde requested Mr Naidu to arrange a special flight to also bring back the tourists from Maharashtra stranded in Jammu & Kashmir. Accepting the request, Mr Naidu assured that once a list of the stranded tourists is provided, arrangements will be made to bring them to Mumbai on a special flight, the DCMO said.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has strongly condemned "heinous" terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. 

UAE offered condolences and sympathy to the government and people of India, along with the families of the victims of the "heinous attack".

The statement said: "The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries of innocent people."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of the UAE affirmed that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of international law.

"The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of India, and to the families of the victims of this heinous attack, as well as its wishes of a speedy recovery for all the injured", the statement said.

An Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer from Hyderabad was among the tourists killed in the terror attack in Kashmir on Tuesday.

Manish Ranjan, a native of Bihar, was shot dead in front of his wife and children.

The IB officer, posted in Hyderabad, was on a Leave Travel Concession (LTC) visit with his family.

The family, along with many other tourists, was in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley, known as 'Mini Switzerland', when the terrorists attacked them.

Manish Ranjan was posted in the ministerial section of the IB's Hyderabad office.

A woman from Nagpur family suffered a fracture on her leg after she jumped from a hill along with her family members while escaping a terrorist attack near Pahalgam town in Kashmir, the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

The CMO post on X stated, "A family from Nagpur was also there at the time of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Hearing the sound of the gunshot, they jumped from a hill. Simran Rupchandani fell and her leg was fractured," it said.

Two more persons - Garv and Tilak Rupchandani - were also with her and all three of them are safe. They have been contacted and all necessary assistance is being provided to them, the CMO added. 

In a post on X, Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said a joint search operation has been launched in Baisran, Pahalgam, Anantnag to trace the terrorists involved in the brutal attack on tourists earlier in the day. "The search operation is currently in progress, with all efforts focused on bringing the attackers to justice," it said on X. 

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, US President Donald Trump will soon speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Kashmir terror attack.

"The President has been briefed by the National Security Advisor and he's being kept up to speed as more facts are learned. What we know already is that dozens were killed and even more were injured in a brutal terrorist attack in a popular tourist location in South Kashmir. President Trump will be speaking with Prime Minister Modi as soon as he possibly can to express his heartfelt condolences for those lost, and our prayers are with those injured, and our nation's support for our ally India. These types of horrific events by terrorists are why those of us who work for peace and stability in the world continue our mission...," she told a press conference.

Security has been stepped up in the national capital following the terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam, officials said.

The Delhi Police ramped up security across the city, focusing particularly on tourist hotspots and border checkpoints, officials said, confirming that checking and surveillance have been intensified.

They said traffic movement has also been regulated in sensitive zones.

The alert coincides with the ongoing visit of US Vice President J D Vance as security has already been strengthened in Delhi and other cities.

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said the Chamber & Bar Association Jammu has called for a complete shutdown Wednesday in protest against the terrorist attack on tourists in Kashmir on Tuesday. "I appeal all Kashmiris to unite in solidarity to support this bandh as a mark of respect for the innocent lives lost in the brutal assault in Pahalgam. This isn't just an attack on a select few-it is an attack on all of us. We stand together in grief and outrage & strongly support this shutdown to condemn the massacre of innocents," she said on X. 

According to government sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who embarked on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, has decided to cut short his trip and return early Wednesday. He was originally scheduled to return on Wednesday night. 

"Please save my husband," a woman's bone-chilling wails echoed through the picturesque valley of Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam after terrorists opened fire at tourists this afternoon. 

Distressing visuals doing the rounds on social media showed several women pleading for help. "We were having bhelpuri (a snack made of puffed rice) when a man came and shot my husband," said one of them, as another, with blood splattered on her face, looked helplessly at the man recording the video.

The terrorists came out of the woods and opened fire at the tourists who were picnicking and taking pony rides in Baisaran, also called the 'mini Switzerland' of Pahalgam.

Several people were seen lying motionless on the ground. A visibly shaken child was also seen with the group of tourists who survived the attack.

President Donald Trump said the US stands strong with India against terrorism. 

"Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies. Our hearts are with you all!" he wrote on Truth Social.

Congress MP Sonia Gandhi also condemned the Kashmir terror attack and said "resorting to violence is an act of cowardice and needs to be condemned in no uncertain terms". "The entire country stands united against terror. We share a deep resolve to defeat these divisive and violent forces. We need to work to build the broad social consensus against terror that existed in the past. It is imperative that the safety of our citizens is ensured and peace is restored in the region," she said in a statement.

The CPI(ML) Liberation condemned the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam and said the Centre's claim of normalcy in the Union Territory "stands exposed".

"The CPI(ML) Liberation strongly condemns the terrorist attack on April 22 in Baisaran, Pahalgam, where unarmed tourists were targeted, resulting in several deaths and injuries. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and stand in solidarity with their families," the Left party said in a statement.

It noted that there had been a disturbing rise in attacks on civilians -- residents, migrant workers, and now tourists.

"The Modi government's claim of normalisation of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and chest-thumping on national security stands exposed as such attacks continue unabated in the region," the CPI(ML) Liberation said.

A difference of 20 minutes. That's what saved them, says the family from Maharashtra who survived the terror attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the worst attack on civilians in years. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decried the "heinous act" in the summer retreat of Pahalgam, which lies about 90 kilometres by road from the key city of Srinagar, pledging the attackers "will be brought to justice".

"This incident happened when we had just left the place of the incident. We could hear the sound of firing for a long time. Everyone was trying to escape from the place. We were 20 minutes away from the actual spot. We did not look back as we just wanted to escape from there," the man, visiting from Nagpur, told news agency ANI. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended condolences to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam.

"Kindly accept the sincere condolences over the tragic consequences of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam whose victims were civilians - citizens of various countries. This brutal crime has no justification whatsoever. We expect that its organizers and perpetrators will face a deserved punishment," he said. 

"I would like to reiterate our commitment to further increasing cooperation with Indian partners in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Please convey words of sincere sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased as well as wishes for a speedy recovery of all injured," he added. 

According to defence officials, an Indian Navy officer was among those killed in the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam. A resident of Haryana, he was posted in Kochi. He got married on April 16 and was on leave. 

Speaking to reporters, Sushant Satapathy, who lost his brother Prashant Satpathy in the Kashmir terror attack, said: "I received the information today at around 3pm. I called on the toll-free number and was informed about his death." 

Sushant Satapathy is from Odisha.

At least two people from Pune have suffered gunshot injuries in a terrorist attack in Kashmir, with NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule requesting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to provide immediate medical aid and support.

Sources said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah drove straight to the Raj Bhavan on landing at the Srinagar airport. Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Nalin Prabhat briefed Mr Shah upon his arrival. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka were present at the time of the briefing.

In a post on X, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said: "Strongly condemn the terror attack in #Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and wish the injured a speedy recovery. Those behind this heinous act must be brought to justice. Let us stand united against such acts of violence and reaffirm our commitment to peace and harmony." 

According to sources, security has been stepped up across Mumbai, in view of the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday.

Security has been increased across all key locations, sources said.

According to PTI, tourists gathered at Baisaran were from several states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

US Vice-President JD Vance, who is currently on a four-day visit to India, also condemned the terror attack in Kashmir.

"Usha and I extend our condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India. Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack," he said.

According to PTI, security has been beefed up across Jammu as various outfits have called for protests on Wednesday to condemn the  deadly terror attack on tourists in south Kashmir's Pahalgam, officials said.

The Jammu & Kashmir unit of the Congress and several right-wing groups have announced major protests in Jammu city and elsewhere on Wednesday.

Officials said a high-level security meeting, jointly chaired by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti, is underway at the Police Control Room here to chalk out a strategy to deal with the situation.

Additional police and paramilitary forces have already been deployed in sensitive areas as a precautionary measure to maintain peace and law and order, they said.

The Congress has asked all its leaders and workers of the Jammu urban and rural blocks and frontal wings to assemble at the party headquarters here on Wednesday morning for a protest against the terror attack.

The Shiv Sena (UBT), the Dogra Front and the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, besides the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, lawyers and various market associations have also called for protests in the city on Wednesday.