New Delhi, Apr 30: For the second time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, in which Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 innocent people, mostly tourists.
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 for the Pahalgam terror attack, given its cross-border linkages.
The CCS meet was held at the prime minister’s Lok Kalyan Marg residence, a day after he 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 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, people familiar with the matter said.
There is no official word yet on the CCS, held against the backdrop of growing indications of a retaliation against Pakistan. It was the second meeting of the CCS after the Pahalgam attack.
In the first meeting on April 23, it decided a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, and downgrading of diplomatic ties given cross-border links to the attack.
In response, Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian airliners and suspended all trade with India, including through third countries. Pakistan rejected India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and said any move to stop the flow of water would be seen as an “act of war”.
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 meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, and the chiefs of the three services.
The prime minister affirmed that it is “our national resolve” to deal a crushing blow to terrorism, government sources said, adding that he expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian armed forces.
The meeting was followed by sessions of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), and a full Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The CCS is the top body for decisions on national security and is chaired by PM Modi, comprises Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The CCS last met on 23 April to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen.
The CCS strongly condemned the attack, offered condolences to the victims’ families, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Officials briefed the committee on the cross-border links to the attack, which came shortly after peaceful elections and steady development efforts in the Union Territory.
In response, the government announced a series of strong measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, sending a clear message to Pakistan over its support for cross-border terrorism.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a separate high-level meeting attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the three service chiefs, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
Sources said PM Modi reaffirmed that India is determined to crush terrorism and expressed full confidence in the professional capabilities of the armed forces. In the meeting, PM Modi gave complete operational freedom to security forces to decide the timing, targets, and mode of response, the news agency reported, citing sources.