Indian PM Grants Military 'Freedom to Act' In Response to Kashmir Attack

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has authorized the country’s armed forces to exercise “full operational freedom” in responding to the April 22 attack in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people.

The decision was taken after a high-level security meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, attended by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan.

Modi: Terrorists Will Face 'Harshest Response'

During the meeting, Modi reiterated his “complete faith” in the Indian armed forces and restated his determination to “deal a crushing blow to terrorism.”

In public speeches following the attack, the Prime Minister has vowed to "identify, trace, and punish" not only the attackers but also their financial and logistical backers, a thinly veiled reference to Pakistan.

“We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth,” Modi declared at a political rally in Bihar, echoing the language he used after the Pulwama attack in 2019, which killed 40 Indian security personnel.

Kashmir Attack Revives Fears of Escalation

The April 22 attack occurred in Pahalgam, a well-known tourist destination in southern Kashmir. According to local authorities, militants opened fire on a group of visitors in broad daylight, killing 26 people and injuring many others.

Indian officials have linked the alleged perpetrators to 'Pakistani-backed cross-border terrorism', renewing accusations that Pakistan provides support to armed groups targeting Indian territory.

Pakistan has denied any involvement, calling instead for a “neutral and transparent investigation", and dismissing Indian claims, stating that the attack in Pahalgam was carried out at a highly suspicious time, pointing towards a possible Indian false flag operation.

Counter-Terror Operations in Full Swing

On Tuesday, Indian media reported that extensive counter-terrorism operations had been launched across Jammu and Kashmir.

At least four major operations are underway in southern Kashmir, particularly in regions such as Pulwama — the site of a 2019 suicide bombing — as Indian Army and local police conduct joint search-and-destroy missions in rural and forested areas.

Authorities have also closed 48 out of 87 public parks and gardens in sensitive zones, citing potential security risks.

War on the Horizon

This latest attack has brought India-Pakistan relations to their lowest point in years, raising concerns over military escalation between the two nuclear-armed nations.

With New Delhi intensifying military activity and Islamabad issuing warnings of retaliation, the region once again finds itself on edge, as global leaders urge restraint and call for diplomatic solutions to avoid a repeat of past conflicts.

Pakistan's Minister of Defense warned that India could carry out offensive actions at any time: