Pahalgam terror attack live updates: 3 more houses belonging to LeT members blown up using IEDs

India Today

26-04-2025

Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo, on the direction of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, announced that she will be available in Chandigarh and Punjab to coordinate with students from J&K and ensure their safety. This comes in the wake of attacks on Kashmiri students in various parts of the country after the Pahalgam attack.
The minister shared the numbers on X, where the students could contact her for assistance.
Maharashtra Ports Development Minister Nitesh Ran, while speaking about the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, urged Hindus to ask the religion of the shopkeepers before buying anything.
'The colour of Jihadis and terrorists is green... this has once again become evident. They asked the victims their religion before shooting them, so you should also ask their religion before buying anything. They should also be told to recite the Hanuman Chalisa. We should treat our own people accordingly. Buy goods only from those who are ours," he said.
The UN Security Council has condemned in the strongest terms the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, underlining the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers and the sponsors of "this reprehensible act of terrorism" accountable and bring them to justice.
The 15-nation UN Security Council (UNSC) issued a press statement on Friday in which it reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constituted one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, during which at least 26 people were killed and many more injured," it said in the press statement.
A press statement is a declaration to the media made by the UNSC president on behalf of all 15 members. Pakistan currently sits in the UNSC as a non-permanent member.
The UNSC members expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and the governments of India and Nepal, and wished a speedy and full recovery to the injured.
They also underlined the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and the sponsors of "this reprehensible act of terrorism" accountable and bring them to justice.
The UNSC stressed that those responsible for the killings should be held accountable and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.
The members reiterated that any acts of terrorism were criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.
They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat, by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed in Tuesday's Pahalgam terror attack that triggered widespread outrage within India and abroad.
India on Wednesday announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including the expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and immediate closure of the Attari land-transit post, in view of cross-border links to the terror attack.
In its response to India's actions, Pakistan on Thursday decided to shut its airspace to all Indian airlines and suspend trade with New Delhi, including through third countries.
Pakistan also rejected India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and said any measures to stop the flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the pact would be seen as an "act of war".
(Inputs from PTI)
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, while sharing his views on the actions taken against Pakistan in view of the Pahalgam terror attack, said that closing of airspace for Pakistan would affect India as flight rates will increase due to increased distance.
"If we take such decisions today, Pakistan will also react similarly. If you decide that their planes will not enter our territory, they will also decide that our planes will not enter their territory. All flights to European countries go via Pakistan. If Indian flights don't go via Pakistan, air travel will become more expensive. I don't think Pakistan will remain silent if we take some such decisions," he said.
Three houses belonging to active Lashkar-e-Taiba members were blown up using IEDs last night.
One of the houses belonged to Ahsan Ahmad Sheikh in Pulwama, who has allegedly been an active cadre in LeT since June 2023. Similarly, the house of Shahid Ahmed, who joined LeT two years ago, has also been destroyed in the Chotipora area of Shopian.
So far, a total of five houses have been destroyed in different parts of Kashmir since the Pahalgam terror attack. The houses allegedly belonged to Adil Gojri in Bijbehara, Asir Sheikh in Tral, Ahsan Sheikh in Pulwama, Shahid Kuttey in Shopian, and Zakir Ganie in Kulgam.
The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 was one of the deadliest in the region in recent years. 26 people, mostly tourists including two foreigners, were killed in the attack. LeT had claimed responsibility for the same.
India, in response to the terror attack, sanctioned Pakistan by suspending several strategic deals with the neighbouring country. The suspended deals included the Indus Waters Treaty, SAARC visa for Pakistani nationals, the closing of the Attari border and the Kartapur corridor. India also expelled Pakistani diplomats, calling them persona non grata (unwelcomed/unacceptable person).