PM Modi cuts short Saudi visit amid deadly Pahalgam terror attack

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi early Wednesday, curtailing his visit to Saudi Arabia following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, which targeted civilians in the Baisaran meadow area, was one of the worst in recent times and left several casualties. PM Modi, upon his arrival, held an urgent high-level meeting with senior officials including External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. 

Also Read: Two Kannadigas killed in terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam

Modi had been in Jeddah for bilateral talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. However, he left earlier than  planned on Tuesday night, skipping a state dinner hosted in his honor. During this meeting, both leaders discussed the Pahalgam incident. Before leaving Jeddah, PM Modi was briefed by Home Minister Amit Shah, whom he instructed to visit the site and oversee response efforts. Shah is currently in Srinagar to assess the ground situation. 

In a post on X, PM Modi condemned the attack, extended condolences to the victims’ families and vowed that the perpetrators would not go unpunished. The Resistance Front, affiliated with the Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. Intelligence reports suggest five to six terrorists, including foreign nationals carried out the carefully planned strike. Saifullah Kasuri, a key LeT leader, is suspected to be the mastermind behind the attack.