Perpetrators as well as the conspirators behind the scenes will face strong response: Defence minister

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has assured a strong response to the Pahalgam terror attack, indicating potential military options alongside diplomatic measures against Pakistan. Following a high-level security meeting, Singh cancelled his Ladakh visit, signaling heightened tensions. He emphasized India’s resolve against terrorism and warned of consequences for those responsible, both directly and indirectly, for the attack.

NEW DELHI: The actual perpetrators of the “cowardly terrorist attack” in Pahalgam as well as the conspirators behind the scenes will soon get a “strong response” for their nefarious act on Indian soil, defence minister Rajnath Singh said Wednesday, in a clear indication that the govt is examining military options in addition to the fresh diplomatic ones announced against Pakistan.

“Yesterday in Pahalgam, terrorists cowardly targeted innocent civilians on the basis of faith. I would like to reiterate India’s firm resolve on the zero-tolerance policy against terrorism… I assure our countrymen that in view of the incident, the govt will take every step that is necessary and appropriate,” Singh said, delivering the annual Arjan Singh Memorial lecture here.

“We will not only trace those who perpetrated this incident, we will also reach those who, sitting behind the scenes, have conspired to carry out such a nefarious act on the soil of India,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Singh chaired an almost three-hour meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, the three Service chiefs Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Gen Upendra Dwivedi and Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, and defence secretary R K Singh. “They reviewed the situation and the different options available at length before Singh went for the PM-led cabinet committee on security meeting,” a source said.

Another indicator that the next few days will be crucial came when Singh cancelled his visit to Ladakh to inaugurate border infrastructure projects on April 25-26. While the threat from China has not fully receded after the troop disengagement at Demchok and Depsang in Ladakh last Oct, there has been a marked upswing in bilateral ties.

At the lecture, Singh said, “Yesterday, in Pahalgam, our country lost many innocent citizens in a cowardly attack by terrorists targeting religion. This extremely inhuman act has plunged all of us into deep grief and pain.”

“India is such an old civilisation and such a big country that it cannot be intimidated by such terror activities. The people responsible for such acts will get a strong response in the near future,” he asserted.

The minister, in the context of cross-border terrorist incidents, said history was witness to the withering away of nations not due to the actions of an adversary but due to the result of their own misdeeds. “I hope people across the border look at lessons of history more closely,” he said.

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