Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, Navy Chief Adm. Dinesh K. Tripathi, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi during a meeting in New Delhi on April 29, 2025. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Affirming that it is India’s “national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Indian armed forces have his full confidence and “complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing” of India’s response in the aftermath of last week’s terror attack at Pahalgam that left 26 people dead.

Pahalgam attack LIVE Updates: April 29, 2025

The Prime Minister is reported to have said this during a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Air Force Chief Air Marshal A.P. Singh, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s residence on Tuesday.

Government sources said that high level huddle was held a day before PM Modi is set to preside over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, the second such meeting after the Pahalgam attack.

Follows diplomatic steps

In the immediate aftermath of the Pahalgam killings, India had announced a series of diplomatic measures against Pakistan, which is said to be behind the attack, including the cancellation of visas to Pakistani nationals and putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. Mr. Modi’s meeting with the Defence Minister, the CDS, the NSA, and the three service chiefs indicates that some military action is being considered as well.

“Prime Minister Modi expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian Armed Forces,” said a source in the government. “He added that they [the armed forces] have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response,” the source added. 

Firing across LoC

Meanwhile, intelligence based targeted counter terror operations continued in Kashmir, defence sources said even as Cease-Fire Violations (CFV) continued for the fifth consecutive night along the Line of Control (LoC).

“During the night of April 28-29, Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control in areas opposite Kupwara and Baramulla districts, as well as the Akhnoor sector,” the Army said. “Indian Army responded in a measured and effective manner to the provocation.”

Also on Tuesday, Home Secretary Govind Mohan chaired a meeting which was attended by Director Generals of Border Security Force, Assam Rifles and National Security Guard and senior officials of Central Reserve Police Force and the Central Industrial Security Force. The agenda of the meeting was not known. A senior government official said that the security forces were asked to be on alert and maintain highest vigil at the borders.