Pahalgam Attack: PM Modi Lands In Delhi After Cutting Short Saudi Visit; Meets Jaishankar, NSA

PM Modi had left for a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and was originally scheduled to return on Wednesday night.

The prime minister had left for a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Source : Special arrangement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Delhi on Wednesday morning after cutting short his visit to Saudi Arabia following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Just after reaching India, PM Modi held a brief meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and others. 

The prime minister had left for a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and was originally scheduled to return on Wednesday night. PM Modi skipped an official dinner hosted and decided to return home on Tuesday night.

During his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the two sides created two new ministerial committees, including one on defence, and agreed to collaborate on establishing two refineries in India. They also signed four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of space, health, anti-doping education, and postal cooperation.

Both leaders condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir as they co-chaired the Strategic Partnership Council, aimed at further strengthening the friendship between the two countries. PM Modi also delayed his scheduled meeting with the Crown Prince by at least two hours to assess the situation in Kashmir.

Pahalgam Terror Attack

Terrorists opened fire at a famed meadow near Kashmir's Pahalgam town on Tuesday, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.

The victims included two foreigners and two locals.

PM Modi, in a post on X, said, "They (terrorists) will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger." Modi also conveyed his condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the attack.

"I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected," he said.

Modi also spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah following the attack and asked him to take all suitable steps to deal with the situation. Several Union ministers have condemned the terror attack.