Prime Minister Narendra Modi communicated to U.S. President Donald Trump his unshakable determination to bring accountable those responsible for the fatal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, suggesting the sort of hard-line response which has characterized his government's war against terrorism.
While official details of precisely what Modi aims to do remain undisclosed, the discussion between the two leaders makes clear the possibilities for a swift response.
President Trump reached out to Prime Minister Modi via phone to offer his condolences and reaffirm the United States' support in light of the terror attack that claimed the lives of numerous tourists.
Even though the White House has yet to release a formal announcement on the call, the American administration was not slow to condemn the brutality. In a quick statement during her daily press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt called the episode "brutal" and expressed the entire support of the American government to the Indian state and people.
"President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump @POTUS spoke to PM @narendramodi and expressed his sincerest condolences upon the loss of innocent lives due to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. President Trump condemned the terror attack in the strongest possible terms and offered India his fullest support to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly attack to justice. India and the United States stand together against terror," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal tweeted on X.
A senior Indian government official, who has requested not to be named, informed IANS that Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the American president, "India is committed to pursuing the perpetrators and sponsors of this despicable and cowardly terrorist attack to justice."
Although the source was coy with names, it was clear that the Prime Minister is going to focus not just on the attackers but also on those supporting them.
In the past, the Modi government has reacted to large terror attacks with quick and strong military action. Following the 2016 Uri attack that killed 17 Indian soldiers, India carried out surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads along the Line of Control. Likewise, in 2019, the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes deep inside Pakistani territory in Balakot, targeting a terrorist training center in retaliation against a suicide bombing on a CRPF convoy killing 48 personnel.
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