Pahalgam terror attack LIVE: Pakistan resorts to unprovoked small arms fire across LoC, Indian Army responds

Protests by BJP workers are under way across Jharkhand against Pakistani citizens who are living in the State and other parts of India. 

The agitations come amid increasing tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. 

Party workers led by Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi took out a march in the State’s capital Ranchi. Local MLA CP Singh, Hatia legislator Naveen Jaiswal and former leader of opposition Amar Bauri were among the party leaders who participated in the rally that was taken out from the city’s Zila School Ground. 

They raised the slogan ‘Pakistani Bharat Chhodo’ during the rally, which will culminate at the district collectorate office, where the party leaders will hand over a memorandum to the Ranchi deputy commissioner. “Protests are also under way in various parts of Jharkhand,” a BJP leader said. 

Mr. Bauri said BJP workers demand that the Hemant Soren-led government identify and drive out Pakistanis from Jharkhand, as they are “not only a threat to the State but also the national security.” The Ranchi MLA said Pakistanis do not have any right to live in India. – PTI

The Supreme Court dismissed a PIL seeking safety of tourists in remote hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir in view of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people lost their lives. 

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh pulled up advocate Vishal Tiwari for filing the PIL and said it is only meant for publicity without any public cause. 

“Why have you filed this kind of PIL? What is your real motive? Don’t you understand the sensitivity of the issue? I think you are inviting some exemplary cost for filing this PIL,” Justice Surya Kant told Tiwari. 

The petitioner lawyer said this was the first time that tourists in Jammu and Kashmir were targeted, and hence, he was seeking directions for their safety. 

The Bench, in its order, said, “The petitioner is indulging in filing one after the other PIL in which the primary aim appears to be to get publicity with no real interest in the public cause.” – PTI

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the backdrop of increasing tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.

The meeting comes a day after Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh met PM Modi and is understood to have discussed the security situation.

Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi had on Saturday (May 3, 2025) apprised the Prime Minister on the overall situation in the critical sea lanes in the Arabian Sea.

In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass, PM Modi on last Tuesday (April 29, 2025) gave the Armed Forces “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of the response to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead. Mr. Modi also emphasised the national resolve to deal a “crushing blow to terrorism”. – PTI

Japan’s Defence Minister, General Nakatani expressed his condolences on Pahalgam attack during the India-Japan Defence Ministerial Meeting in the capital on Monday.General Nakatani opened his remarks by expressing condolences over the Pahalgam terror attack. “Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason. Japan strongly condemns all forms of terrorism” 

He highlighted that Japan is committed to combating terrorism along with cooperation with India. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “I would like to thank the government of Japan for their strong expression of solidarity with India in wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. I take this opportunity to compliment you for your immense contribution to deepening the Indo-Japan defence relations.” 

ANI

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a day-long visit to hold talks with the country’s leadership ahead of his trip to New Delhi, amid tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. 

The visit comes days after Mr. Araghchi offered to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan, saying Tehran stands ready to use its good offices in Islamabad and New Delhi to “forge greater understanding at this difficult time.” Radio Pakistan reported that during his visit, Mr. Araghchi will hold important meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments. Pakistan and Iran enjoy close bilateral relations.

Mr. Araghchi’s visit is expected to further strengthen the existing ties and enhance cooperation between the two countries. On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told the Iranian state-run Press TV that Foreign Minister Mr. Araghchi plans to visit Pakistan and India as part of Tehran’s ongoing consultations with regional countries. Their talks will focus on enhancing bilateral relations and addressing the latest developments at the regional and international levels, he added. 

Read more about the visit here

The Punjab Assembly on Monday paid tributes to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. 

At the beginning of the session, the Members of the House remembered the 26 people who were killed in the attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 and strongly condemned the cowardly act of terrorists against unarmed tourists.

The House expressed hope that the Centre and the State government will not leave any stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to book and also ensure that such incidents do not recur. 

PTI

Three more people have been apprehended from different parts of Assam for “defending Pakistan on Indian soil” following the Pahalgam terror attack, taking the total number of arrests to 42 so far, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said.

In a post on X on Sunday late night, Sarma said one person each was apprehended from Barpeta, Hojai and Chirang districts.

“#Update on Crackdown against traitors for defending Pakistan on Indian soil… Total of 42 Anti Nationals put behind BARS,” he added. 

The civil and military leadership of Pakistan has briefed the country’s political parties on tensions with India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. 

All political parties barring former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf party attended the in-camera briefing on Sunday, the Dawn newspaper reported. 

The political leaders vowed a robust response if India resorted to any “misadventure”, the paper quoted a source privy to the briefing as saying. 

The briefing was given by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.

The source said that the political parties were of the view that they stood by the armed forces to foil any attempt by India to spoil regional peace. 

PTI

The Border Security Force is all set to get the government’s final nod to raise 16 more battalions, comprising around 17,000 troopers, and set up two forward headquarters for its western and eastern commands guarding the Pakistan and Bangladesh frontiers, respectively, official sources have said.

The plan has already received an in-principle approval. 

Once sanctioned, it will be a shot in the arm for the force that has heightened vigil in the east following last year’s fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh and in the wake of a renewed challenge on the Pakistan front after the April 22 Pahalgam massacre.

The BSF is soon expected to get the final sanction for raising 16 new battalions which will be raised over the next few years, sources in the security establishment told PTI. 

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Pakistan’s ambassador in Moscow has sought Russia’s help in des-escalating the crisis with New Delhi caused in the aftermath of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed.

In an interview to be published later by TASS news agency, Ambassador Mohammad Khalid Jamali said that Russia has a privileged strategic partnership with India and also very good relations with Pakistan and could use its good offices to mediate like in Tashkent 1966, when the erstwhile Soviet premier helped in ending the armed conflict. 

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Sunday expressed concern over the tension between the two countries, urging the two sides to show restraint. 

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, according to a statement by the Foreign Office. Mr. Dar apprised Mr. Lavrov of recent regional developments, the statement added. 

“Mr. Lavrov expressed concern over the situation and stressed the importance of diplomacy to resolve issues. He emphasised that both sides should exercise restraint and avoid escalation,” the Foreign Office said.

During the conversation, Mr. Dar rejected India’s “baseless allegations and inflammatory rhetoric” against Pakistan, the statement said.

He also condemned India’s “unilateral and illegal move to hold the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance which is a violation of its international obligations”.

The Minister also conveyed Pakistan’s offer for an international, transparent and independent investigation. 

PTI

Demanding ‘martyr’ status for the 26 people killed in the Pahalgam attack, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday said India must teach Pakistan a lesson for backing terrorism. 

Addressing a public meeting in Motihari in Bihar’s East Champaran district, he said the Centre must take all necessary steps to ensure that the perpetrators of the gruesome attack are brought to justice.

“The Centre must accord martyr status to all 26 people who were killed by terrorists in Pahalgam. I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respect the sentiments of the families of those who lost their close ones by honouring them,” he said.

“India must teach a lesson to the failed nation of Pakistan for spreading terrorism. I hope that our PM will do something so that Pakistan will think a hundred times before coming to India and killing innocent people here,” he added. 

PTI

The UN Security Council will hold closed consultations Monday on the situation between India and Pakistan after Islamabad sought an emergency meeting on the issue. 

Pakistan currently sits as a non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation Security Council, which is being presided over by Greece for the month of May. 

Islamabad “requested closed consultations” on the tensions between the two countries and the Greek Presidency has scheduled the meeting for May 5 in the afternoon. 

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During the night of May 4-5 2025, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajauri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J&K.

Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately.