The reverberations of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, continue to echo in the Indian Parliament, with the opposition demanding accountability and a swift resolution to the remaining threats. The attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mainly Hindu tourists, has sparked intense debate and political sparring between the ruling and opposition parties.
In the Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has been a vocal critic of the government's handling of the situation, calling for a thorough investigation and decisive action. Kharge asserted that the government must track down and eliminate any remaining terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack. He has also demanded accountability for what he described as "security lapses" that led to the tragic incident. Citing Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha, Kharge claimed the Pahalgam terror attack was a security lapse. He questioned whether the statement on security lapses by the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor was aimed at "saving" the Home Minister.
Kharge's remarks came during a debate on Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the Pahalgam attack. He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from the all-party meeting on Operation Sindoor. The Congress leader further accused the Modi government of being arrogant and unresponsive to letters from the opposition.
The government, however, has maintained that it is taking all necessary steps to address the situation and ensure the safety and security of its citizens. Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Lok Sabha that the three terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack had been killed in a joint operation by security forces a day earlier. The operation, dubbed Operation Mahadev, was conducted by the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu & Kashmir Police. The terrorists were identified as Suleiman, Afghan, and Jibran, all A-category members of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Suleiman was a top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, responsible for the Pahalgam and Gagangir terror attacks.
Shah also presented evidence in Parliament to support the claim that the terrorists came from Pakistan. This evidence included Pakistani voter IDs and chocolates made in Pakistan. He condemned the barbaric act where innocent civilians were killed in front of their families by asking their religion and expressed his sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh informed the Rajya Sabha that the security forces had successfully neutralized the three terrorists responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. He added that India wants terrorism to be eliminated from Pakistan and is ready to help if Pakistan is unable to act against terrorism.
The Pahalgam attack, which targeted tourists in the Baisaran Valley, has been widely condemned both domestically and internationally. The attackers, armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, entered the tourist spot in Baisaran Valley surrounded by dense pine forests. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), initially claimed responsibility for the attack but later retracted its claim.
The incident is considered the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The attack was inadvertently filmed by a tourist from Ahmedabad, who was ziplining during the attack. A communication device, presumably a Huawei satellite phone, helped track down the terrorists.
