Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday declared that the killers of Pahalgam will be pursued “to the ends of the earth” and promised to “identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers”.
In his first speech after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed, the prime minister vowed to punish terrorists behind the strike and said India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism.
Modi spoke briefly in English and said, “Friends, today from the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished.”
In the stern message, he said, “Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us.” “I thank the people of various countries and their leaders who have stood with us in these times.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
In a message to Pakistan without naming the country, the prime minister said he will state categorically that the terrorists who carried out the attack and those who hatched the conspiracy, will be punished beyond their imagination.
“Punishment will definitely be served.” Paying condolences to the victims and their families, he said citizens across the country are in mourning over the brutal manner in which terrorists killed innocent civilians. The nation stands with their families, he said.
Pak’s visa services revoked
India on Thursday announced suspending visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said all existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27.
It said medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29. The MEA said all Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave the country before the expiry of visas. With the suspension, several Pakistani nationals visiting India started returning home through the Attari-Wagah land route in Amritsar on Thursday.
Moreover, Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption scheme (SVES). Any Pakistani national currently in India under the SVES visa scheme has 48 hours to leave the country, said the ministry.
Protest outside Pak High Commission
More than 500 people staged a protest near the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Holding placards and raising slogans, the protesters demanded decisive action against the neighbouring country, accusing it of supporting terror activities in India. The Delhi Police had put up barricades around 500 metres from the high commission, and the protesters were stopped there, an officer said.
“Earlier, the government carried out a surgical strike. We demand similar action again to eradicate terrorism. This was a shameful attack on innocent tourists,” a member of the Anti-Terror Action Forum said. “We trust the government has already made a plan,” he added Another protester said the government must take strict action against Pakistan.
As some of the protesters tried to climb over the barricades in a bid to march towards the high commission, they were stopped by police personnel and taken away. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police had beefed up security outside the high commission after several organisations called for a protest.
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