India Gives Military Free Hand After Pahalgam Terror Attack: PM Modi

On April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a free hand to the Indian Armed Forces to act decisively against Pakistan in response to the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent civilians. In a high-level strategic meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, CDS General Anil Chauhan, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, PM Modi authorized the military to decide the timing and targets of the operation.

“A strong response to terrorism is our firm national resolve,” the Prime Minister said, affirming full trust in the capabilities of the Indian military. He emphasized that operational decisions—such as the mode of response, timing, and targets—will be left to the military leadership.

This meeting also included a review of national security, especially concerning the situation in Jammu & Kashmir and India’s borders. Strategic options against terror organizations and their Pakistani backers were seriously discussed.

Sources indicate that the timing of back-to-back meetings—including the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), and Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)—suggests that the Indian government is preparing for a decisive move on military, political, and economic fronts.

The upcoming CCS meeting on April 30 will be the second since the Pahalgam attack. The possibility of convening a special session of Parliament may also be discussed during the CCPA meeting.

Pakistan's direct involvement in terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir is now widely recognized globally. In a rare admission, Pakistan’s Defence Minister recently acknowledged the country's long-standing role in supporting terror, prompting speculation of imminent Indian military retaliation.