All-Party Meeting on Pahalgam Attack: Government Admits Laps

In the wake of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, the Indian government convened an all-party meeting at the Parliament Annexe building. The meeting, attended by top ministers and opposition leaders, focused on the security failures that led to the attack and the nation’s unified response against terrorism, especially Pakistan-backed elements.

Details of the Pahalgam Terror Attack

On Tuesday, April 22, terrorists attacked tourists at the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam in the Anantnag district of South Kashmir. The incident, which also left several others injured, is considered the deadliest in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike. The attack triggered national outrage, political condemnation, and immediate diplomatic and strategic responses from the Indian government.

High-Level Attendance and Bipartisan Participation

The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was held at the Parliament Annexe. It witnessed participation from leaders across the political spectrum, including:

Union Ministers: Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, S. Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju
Opposition Leaders: Rahul Gandhi (Congress MP & Lok Sabha LoP), Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President & Rajya Sabha LoP)
Party Leaders: Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Praful Patel (NCP), Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Sasmit Patra (BJD), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC), Premchand Gupta (RJD), T Siva (DMK), Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), and P. V. Midhun Reddy (YSRCP)

A two-minute silence was observed during the session to honor the victims of the attack.

All-Party Meeting on Pahalgam Attack

Security Lapses Acknowledged

Government sources confirmed that during the closed-door meeting, officials admitted to significant security lapses.

A government representative reportedly stated, "If nothing had gone wrong, why would we be sitting here? There have been lapses somewhere that we have to find out."

Key concerns raised included:

Lack of coordination between local authorities and security agencies before opening the Baisaran meadow, which typically remains restricted until the Amarnath Yatra in June.
Several opposition leaders questioned the absence of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at the site.
No standard operating procedure (SOP) was in place to respond rapidly to emergencies in such remote locations.
The area was a 45-minute uphill trek, contributing to the delayed response from the Quick Reaction Teams (QRT).
Local authorities opened the Baisaran meadow on April 20 without notifying central security forces.

Opposition leaders pressed the government on these points, asking where the CRPF was and questioning the delayed arrival of Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs).

Government’s Assurances and Strategic Actions

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has already initiated strong measures in response to the attack. These include:

Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 until Pakistan ceases support for cross-border terrorism.
Closure of the Integrated Attari Check Post and declaration of Pakistani High Commission officials persona non grata.
Declaring Pakistani High Commission officials persona non grata and ordering them to leave India within a week.
Visa Revocations:

Suspension of all visa services for Pakistani nationals effective immediately.
Cancellation of existing visas issued under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES).
All Pakistani citizens ordered to leave India within 48 hours.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar also briefed President Droupadi Murmu about the situation earlier in the day.

Statements from Key Political Leaders

Kiren Rijiju (BJP)

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju highlighted the government's zero-tolerance policy and intention to take stricter measures.

“The Defence Minister informed about the incident and the actions taken in the CCS meeting. The government has expressed its intention to take more stringent action. All political parties have said in one voice that they support whatever step the government takes,” Rijiju said.

He also confirmed that officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Ministry of Home Affairs briefed leaders about the lapses and future management strategies.

Rahul Gandhi (Congress)

The Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP emphasized full support from the opposition:

“We have uniformly condemned this act, and the opposition gave its full support to the government to take any action,” Gandhi stated.

He also cut short an official visit to the US to return to India and attend the meeting.

Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress)

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge acknowledged the government’s briefing but questioned the delay and security oversight.

“Despite a three-tier security arrangement, how did the lapse happen? The government did not act promptly. We support the government's decision in the nation's best interest, but this is a serious concern,” he said.

Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM)

Prior to the meeting, AIMIM chief Owaisi criticized the government for excluding smaller parties. He later received an invitation and participated, urging Prime Minister Modi to include all parliamentary voices regardless of party size.

“Whether a party has one MP or a hundred, they represent the voice of the people. This is a national issue, not a political one,” he said.

Owaisi, initially vocal about being excluded, later confirmed his attendance and expressed support.

“False propaganda against Kashmiris and Kashmiri students should be stopped. The Centre should act against the country providing shelter to terrorists. I support whatever decision the government takes. This is not a political issue,” he said.

He also advocated for air and naval blockades and sanctions on arms sales to Pakistan, citing international law.

Sanjay Singh (AAP)

AAP MP Sanjay Singh condemned the terror attack and demanded accountability:

“The nation is angry. This is one of the deadliest attacks. The camps of the terrorists should be destroyed. The place was reopened on April 20 without the knowledge of security agencies—accountability must be fixed.”

Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC)

The TMC leader reinforced his party’s support:

“Security lapses were discussed. We assured the government that all political parties stand by the decisions taken in national interest.”

Sasmit Patra (BJD) and T Siva (DMK)

Both leaders echoed their parties' firm backing of all government steps to ensure national security and justice.

Intelligence and Security Briefings

The Intelligence Bureau and officials from the Home Ministry provided a detailed account of the attack and the failures that led to it. Measures are being put in place to prevent such incidents in the future, including:

Review of SOPs in tourist zones during the off-season.
Reassessment of CRPF deployment strategies.
Strengthening coordination between local and central agencies.

National Consensus: A United Fight Against Terror

Kiren Rijiju, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, summed up the tone of the meeting:

"All parties said they are with the government in this fight against terrorism... The meeting ended on a positive note."

The attack has once again triggered memories of the Pulwama tragedy and highlighted the critical importance of robust security frameworks in sensitive regions like Jammu and Kashmir. Yet, the political consensus and nationwide unity offer a strong signal to enemies of the state—India stands united against terrorism.

The government’s call for unity appears to have been answered, but public and political focus now shifts to ensuring accountability, upgrading security protocols, and delivering justice for the victims of one of the darkest days in recent Kashmir history.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies