Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened crucial meetings of the Union Cabinet and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at his official residence on Wednesday.
The meetings, lasting from 11 am to approximately 1 pm, have sparked anticipation for a government briefing regarding potential further retaliatory actions against Pakistan, following the devastating April 22nd terror attack in Pahalgam.
The CCS meeting saw the participation of key ministers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Also present were National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Union Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan, and Principal Secretaries to the PM, PK Mishra and Shaktikanta Das.
The CCS was anticipated to review the progress of retaliatory measures announced on April 23rd, which included the revocation of visas for Pakistani nationals and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Furthermore, the CCS was expected to provide final approval for calibrated military action, a day after Prime Minister Modi granted the Indian Armed Forces full operational freedom to determine the mode, target, and timing of their response to the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives in South Kashmir.
The CCS was also briefed on the current status of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigation into the attack, with evidence clearly establishing the involvement of former Pakistan Army para commander Hashim Musa, linking Pakistan to the attack, and revealing the involvement of several local individuals.
India is also considering further diplomatic actions to designate Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism.
On Tuesday, India responded to remarks made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, stating that his confession was unsurprising and clearly demonstrated Pakistan's role as a rogue state fueling global terrorism, emphasizing that the world could no longer ignore this reality.
A comprehensive discussion on potential countermeasures, encompassing military, economic, and diplomatic options, was expected at the CCS meeting.
Additionally, the Union Cabinet may have addressed the scheduling of a special session of Parliament in response to the Pahalgam attack.