PM gives India’s armed forces complete operational freedom to retaliate
Paramilitary troops stand guard along a street in Srinagar. Pic/AFP
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is understood to have deliberated on the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday amid speculations about India’s possible retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack in view of its cross border linkages.
The CCS meet was held at the prime minister’s residence, a day after Modi held a meeting with the top military brass and accorded operational freedom to the armed forces on the “mode, targets and timing” of India’s response to the April 22 attack that killed 26 people. It was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and EAM S Jaishankar, people familiar with the matter said.
In the high-level meeting with the defence brass on Tuesday, Modi asserted that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India's response, government sources said. The prime minister affirmed that it is “our national resolve” to deal a crushing blow to terrorism, government sources said.
Govt revamps NSA Board
The Centre on Wednesday revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB). It is learnt that former R&AW chief Alok Joshi has been appointed as NSAB chairman. The NSAB is an advisory body that provides inputs to the National Security Council Secretariat.
The new members appointed to the NSAB are former Western Air Commander Air Marshal PM Sinha, former Southern Army Commander Lt Gen A K Singh and Rear Admiral (retd) Monty Khanna, people familiar with the matter said.
Former diplomat B Venkatesh Varma and retired IPS Rajiv Ranjan Verma have also been appointed to the NSAB as its members, they said.
US urges de-escalation
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that Washington is reaching out to India and Pakistan “regarding the Kashmir situation”, and telling “them not to escalate the situation.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio “expects to speak with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India as early as today or tomorrow. He is encouraging other national leaders and foreign ministers to reach out to the countries on this issue,” Bruce said.
On April 26, US President Donald Trump said that there have always been tensions between India and Pakistan, and the two countries will figure it out between themselves “one way or the other”. Agencies
786 Pakistanis leave, 1465 Indians return
As many as 786 Pakistani nationals, including 55 diplomats, their dependents and support staff, besides eight Indians with Pakistani visa, have left India through the Attari-Wagah border crossing in the last six days following a government order in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, officials said on Wednesday.
A total of 1465 Indians, including 25 diplomats and officials, besides 151 Pakistani citizens with long-term Indian visas have crossed over to India from Pakistan through the international border crossing located in Punjab since April 24. The ‘Leave India’ notice to the Pakistani nationals was issued by the government following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The deadline for exiting India for those holding SAARC visas was April 26. For those carrying medical visas, the deadline was April 29. The deadline for 12 other categories of visas was April 27. Those having long-term, diplomatic or official visas have been exempted from the ‘Leave India’ order.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
