Ujjwal Nikam condemns Pahalgam attack, draws parallels with Mumbai 26/11 terror
Mumbai: Senior public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, renowned for his role in securing convictions in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, on Thursday strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, in which terrorists targeted and killed civilians after asking their religion.
Drawing parallels with the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Nikam said such tactics aim to incite communal violence, but asserted that these efforts will never succeed in India.
Speaking to IANS, Ujjwal Nikam expressed deep anguish over the brutality of the attack.
'I strongly condemn this inhuman and cowardly act. The way the terrorists targeted innocent tourists, asking their religion before killing them, reminds me of the 26/11 attacks,' he said.
'Back then, during the attack on the Taj Hotel, Kasab and his associates followed a similar pattern. They asked guests about their religion to decide their fate. One man even lied about his faith to save his life, but when his wife's phone rang, the truth was revealed. He was brutally beaten and nearly killed, until the National Security Guard commandos intervened.'
Nikam said the intent behind such attacks is to spark communal riots. 'Just like in 26/11, the terrorists in Pahalgam wanted to incite hatred and division. But the people of Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the entire country responded with unity. We stood together then, and we will stand together now. These divisive tactics will never work in our country,' he told IANS.
Commenting on the emergency Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nikam said the government's response so far is just the beginning.
'The country has only started to respond. The Prime Minister even cancelled his scheduled events in Saudi Arabia and rushed back. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed deep concern, and arrangements are being made to bring back affected tourists,' he added.
Nikam also noted the international support India is receiving. 'Even US President Donald Trump conveyed full support to PM Modi. This shows that India is no longer willing to tolerate terrorism.'
Referring to the Prime Minister's statement that India will pursue the perpetrators 'to the ends of the Earth,' Nikam expressed strong confidence in the government's resolve.
'PM Modi has made it clear -- there will be no safe haven for terrorists. After the abrogation of Article 370, Kashmir was moving toward peace and development. This attack is a desperate attempt by Pakistan-backed groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba to derail that progress. But they will not succeed," he told IANS.
While remaining tight-lipped about potential military or covert responses, Nikam hinted at strong retaliatory action. 'No government will disclose its exact strategy on camera. But I am confident that the action taken will be strict and decisive. India is not a soft state. We will not tolerate the murder of our citizens, and the world will see that,' he concluded.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Pakistan to give its military more money, ignoring its real tension: Economy, not India
Despite facing record-high debt and a struggling economy, Pakistan plans to raise its defence budget by nearly 18 per cent in 2025–26, taking it over Rs 2.5 trillion (around $14 billion). The move comes after its military setback in a recent four-day conflict with India read more Pakistan has never come out of the notion that by spending more on military, it can eventually be able to counter India in the battlefield. Reports from Pakistani media say that the country is set to increase its defence budget by nearly 18 per cent in the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year. This would raise its defence spending to over Rs 2.5 trillion (about $14 billion), despite facing its highest-ever public debt and deepening economic challenges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The decision to hike military funding comes against the backdrop of the battering the Pakistani forces received during the f our-day conflict with India in May in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were massacred by Pakistan-backed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in April. The decision also follows multiple bailout fundings by international loan agencies to aid Pakistan in dealing with its fiscal and economic challenges. That came under stringent conditions. And those agencies would be monitoring Pakistan's military budget hike as historically such moves have meant more funding to terror outfits. Budget increase and security context Media reports from Pakistan say that the coalition government, led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has agreed on the significant defence outlay increase. They cite a 'war-like situation' with India. The 2024-25 defence budget stood at Rs 2,122 billion, already up nearly 15 per cent from the previous year. This year's budget hike would mean close to 35 per cent incremental hike in two years. Reports quoting sources also said the actual defence spending may rise even higher in the final quarter of the current fiscal year due to heightened military activity. Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal confirmed the hike, linking it to India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and 'water aggression' through upstream dam projects. He also said work on the $14 billion Diamer-Bhasha Dam — a strategic infrastructure project with the help from China — would be expedited. Soaring debt and fiscal risks This comes against a ballooning public debt that reached a record level of PKR 76 trillion — the highest for Pakistan — as of March, according to its Economic Survey. It has nearly doubled from Rs 39.8 trillion in 2020-21 and increased five-fold over the past decade. The debt includes PKR 51.5 trillion in domestic liabilities and Rs 24.5 trillion in external borrowings. The Economic Survey warns that excessive debt and poor management pose serious risks to fiscal sustainability and economic security. Despite securing a $3.5 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier this year, Pakistan faces skepticism from international observers, including India, which questions whether IMF funds might indirectly support military spending rather than economic recovery. Pakistan's finance ministry officials argue that the defence budget increase was communicated to the IMF and Asian Development Bank (ADB) before the bailout and that the government is balancing security needs with fiscal responsibility. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan's real tension: Economic and social challenges Economists warn that the rising defence expenditure, combined with ambitious infrastructure projects like Diamer-Bhasha, could crowd out social spending and derail economic reforms. Inflation remains high, threatening to touch 40 per cent (over 38 per cent), and Pakistan continues to struggle with unemployment and poverty. Pakistan observers have been cautioning against diversion of funds for defence establishment. They argue that diverting funds to defence and megaprojects risks leaving ordinary citizens to bear the economic burden, potentially exacerbating social inequalities. Pakistan's upcoming 2025-26 budget clearly reflects a mis-prioritisation of the military establishment in the name of security while leaving concerns about fiscal prudence and long-term economic stability unaddressed. India and international financial institutions will closely monitor Pakistan's budget execution and debt management in the coming months. Pakistan's argument has been that its security threat emerges from India, a narrative that suits its military establishment to corner a huge chunk of the country's national budget while keeping the population in abject poverty. But if Pakistan's narrative is accepted, its defence spending would still be no match to India's. While Pakistan is pushing more money into its military establishment, the core backer of terrorism for decades, India remains the world's fifth-largest military spender at around $86 billion annually — nearly nine times Pakistan's outlay. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan's defence spending surge is bound to cause more economic strain on its social welfare programmes and fuel regional tensions as India would definitely take into account the growing military push in its neighbourhood, which is also the source of terrorism on its land.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Under strict jail manuals, court allows 26/11 plotter Rana one phone call to family
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Monday granted permission for Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, to speak to his family members via a one-time phone call. Special Judge Chander Jit Singh of the Patiala House Courts allowed the request under strict conditions. The call must follow the jail manual and will take place under the supervision of Tihar Jail authorities. The court also requested a fresh report on Rana's health, which must be submitted within 10 days. In addition, the judge directed jail authorities to file a report clarifying whether Rana should be allowed regular phone calls going forward. Rana, a 64-year-old businessman of Pakistani origin who holds Canadian citizenship, is currently in judicial custody. He was extradited to India after the US Supreme Court, on April 4, rejected his review plea against the extradition order. Rana is known to be a close associate of David Coleman Headley (also known as Daood Gilani), the main conspirator behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and a US citizen. The Delhi Legal Services Authority appointed Advocate Piyush Sachdeva to represent Rana in the proceedings. According to the NIA, David Coleman Headley, the key conspirator, had shared details of the entire plan with Rana before coming to India. Expecting possible problems, Headley had also emailed Rana with information about his personal belongings and assets. The agency further claimed that Headley told Rana about the role of two Pakistani nationals, Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman, who are also accused of being part of the plot. On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistani terrorists entered Mumbai by sea and carried out a deadly coordinated attack. They targeted a railway station, two luxury hotels, and a Jewish centre. The attack lasted nearly 60 hours and killed 166 people. The court has imposed stringent conditions on the custody of Rana, as the NIA had pressed forward with its explosive claim: that Rana may have conspired to orchestrate terror attacks in cities beyond Mumbai.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
'Am I going to war ... ': Pakistan politician Sherry Rehman gets flustered when grilled on Pakistan's terror links; watch video
Sherry Rehman Former Pakistani ambassador Sherry Rehman engaged in a heated exchange with Sky News when asked questions over allegations of Pakistan harbouring terrorist organizations, particularly in light of the recent Pahalgam attack. When questioned about Brigade 313, which TRAC (Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium) analysts identify as an Al Qaeda-affiliated umbrella group operating in Pakistan, Rehman responded defensively. "I don't know who told you this, but I can produce any number of pages saying all this," she retorted, suggesting the creation of a "digital dossier" to counter such claims. She further deflected by pointing to India's internal conflicts: "Are we responsible for all 100 insurgencies running in India?" — SkyYaldaHakim (@SkyYaldaHakim) The interviewer, Hakim, referenced " Operation Sindoor ," which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam attack. UN-designated terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had also confirmed that its top commander Masood Asghar and ten family members were killed in Bahawalpur during these strikes. Rehman's cryptic response, "Children are not leaders," was followed by her questioning the credibility of international analysts. "Most of the analysts you're quoting are aligned with India's narrative. They only tell India's story," she argued, dismissing claims about Brigade 313's Al Qaeda connections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo Rehman has long been a prominent voice in Pakistani politics. A seasoned journalist and diplomat, she served as Pakistan's ambassador to the US between 2011 and 2013, and became the first woman to lead the opposition in Pakistan's Senate.
