Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to brief him on the evolving security situation following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and fresh ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border in Jammu.
This was the third high-level meeting between the Prime Minister and top defence officials in recent days. On Saturday, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi had called on the Prime Minister to apprise him of the Armed Forces’ operational readiness. Monday’s meeting with the Defence Secretary comes amid heightened tensions with Islamabad, which has now approached the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a special consultation session on the matter.
On Monday morning, the Indian Army reported that Pakistani troops had resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across multiple sectors. “The Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately,” an official statement said.
Separately, government sources confirmed that India has begun implementing one of its key post-attack measures—suspending provisions under the Indus Waters Treaty. According to officials, water flow from the Baglihar dam on the Chenab river has been cut, and authorities are preparing to taper runoff from the Kishanganga project on the Jhelum river as well.
Diplomatic outreach and political signals
In Islamabad, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived Monday for talks aimed at easing the diplomatic standoff. He is expected to meet his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. News agency Associated Press (AP) reported that Pakistan is reaching out to “friendly countries” in an effort to internationalise the issue.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told reporters that “Pakistan is presenting its case to friendly countries”. The country's Foreign Ministry has not released further details of Araghchi’s visit.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council will convene a closed-door consultation session after Pakistan, a non-permanent member, formally requested it. Greece, which holds the rotating presidency of the UNSC for May, said the consultations could help lower tensions between India and Pakistan. Islamabad is set to assume the Council presidency in July.
According to Pakistan’s Dawn, the government and military briefed all major political parties on Sunday on the current status of bilateral relations with India. The briefing was attended virtually by leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party, headed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. All parties, the report said, committed to a “robust response” should India initiate any military action.
‘Befitting reply’ if provoked: Rajnath
Back in India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the country would not hesitate to respond to aggression. Speaking at a public event, he said, “As a defence minister, it is my responsibility to ensure the security of the country’s borders along with my soldiers. It is my responsibility to give a befitting reply to those who dare to attack our country.”
The government has not issued a formal statement regarding the Pahalgam attack’s investigation or any potential cross-border operations. However, the suspension of water under the Indus Waters Treaty has been widely viewed as a calibrated step short of military action.
The April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed the lives of seven security personnel and injured more than a dozen others. No group has claimed responsibility so far, but Indian intelligence agencies suspect the involvement of a Pakistan-based outfit. Pakistan has denied any role.
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