Modi Asserts Punitive Measures on Terrorist Perpetrators: Post Pahalgam Attack

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, in the aftermath of a significant terrorist strike in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir that led to the tragic loss of 26 lives, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a speech in Madhubani, Bihar. He used strong words to assert that all parties involved in the orchestration of the dreadful incident would face severe punitive measures, far beyond what they could perceive. ‘There will be punishment’, he stressed unequivocally, addressing a large public gathering.

On the geopolitical front, following India’s decision to put a hold on the Indus Water Treaty, the government of neighboring Pakistan retaliated emphatically. According to statements from the Prime Minister’s office, the move by India was perceived as an initiation of warfare. This has prompted Pakistan to initiate a set of measures aimed at retaliating, such as banning India from traversing through its airspace and putting a halt to all forms of trade activities.

Pakistan’s National Security Committee hosted a meeting on the same day, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at its head. The committee, comprising the nation’s topmost civil and military leadership, convened to discuss the matter. Their discussion revolved around the unfolding situation, a repercussion of the recent deadly terror attack, where 26 people, mainly tourists, were brutally murdered in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Subsequent to the monstrous attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, there have been several reports about Kashmiri students suffering assaults and harassment in States such as Punjab and Uttarakhand. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has highlighted these incidents. In light of this, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah commented that liaison is already in place with his counterparts in the affected states to address the situation.

A slew of critical meetings took place on April 24, amid heightened tension. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar met with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. Their visit to the President was aimed at providing a detailed update regarding the terror attack in Pahalgam, in preparation for an all-party meet slated for later.

In a separate incident on the same day, an encounter ensued between the security officials and militants in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the tragic loss of an Army soldier’s life. Based on tip-off regarding the presence of militants, a comprehensive search operation was initiated in the Dudu-Basantgarh area, which eventually led to the exchange of fire.

The Congress Working Committee too has been vocal, demanding a thorough analysis of the intelligence failures and security lapses that preceded the Pahalgam incident. Broadly, they sought to identify possible shortcomings that might have contributed to the failure in preventing the attack. The party also pointed fingers at Pakistan, alleging its role in the orchestration of the heinous act.

The Supreme Court announced its plans to initiate final hearings concerning the appeals filed by several convicts and the Gujarat Government in relation to the 2002 Godhra train burning case. The bench consists of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Rajesh Bindal. In preparation for the hearing set for May 6 and 7, Sanjay Hegde, senior advocate for one of the convicts, has been directed to submit a detailed revision of his submissions.

With an aim to expedite the commencement of underground coal exploitation, the government released a proclamation on April 24, 2025. As an incentive, upfront payments for the blocks were to be waived off. This move is in alignment with the national interest to foster sustainable coal production.

On the crime front, the West Bengal Police apprehended five more individuals allegedly linked with the Murshidabad riots. With these arrests, the total count of individuals taken into custody related to the riots rose to 307. The accused were reportedly directly involved in the violent occurrence which resulted in the death of three people and left several others injured.

In response to the recent deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the United States issued a ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory warning all U.S. residents against visiting the region. The warning, issued on April 24, is also applicable to areas within a 10 km radius from the India-Pakistan border. The advisory came in the wake of the horrendous terror act that claimed 26 lives, a majority being tourists, marking it the gravest incident since the 2019 Pulwama attack.

In a plot twist in Canadian politics, U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade threats and annexation talks have turned fortunes in the Liberal Party’s favor. Despite being assumed to face a severe defeat in the upcoming election on Monday, April 28, the Liberal Party and its leader, now Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, have found newfound popularity. The tides changed after President Trump began asserting pressure on Canada’s economic structure and hinted at its possible annexation, almost suggesting it could become the 51st state.

On April 24, 2025, an Indian Government official shared with Reuters news agency that they anticipate a slowdown in steel imports from nations namely, China, South Korea, and Japan, following the recent imposition of temporary tariffs. Earlier in the week, India, which is the world’s second-largest producer of crude steel, imposed a provisional safeguard duty of 12% on some steel imports for a duration of 200 days.