The Indian government has admitted to a “security failure” following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.
According to a report published by Al Jazeera on Saturday (April 26), an all-party meeting was held in New Delhi on Thursday (April 24) to address the incident. During the meeting, the government openly acknowledged a major security lapse despite an otherwise normal situation.
Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the government admitted in the meeting that tourists were sent to the dangerous area without informing local authorities, which contributed to the attack.
The meeting also noted that although business and tourism sectors have improved in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, the attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley has severely damaged the region’s peaceful environment.
The meeting, chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, was attended by key government figures including Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was absent as he was attending a scheduled election campaign in Madhubani, Bihar. His absence sparked sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Representatives from BJP ally Janata Dal (United) were also absent.
During the meeting, intelligence agency and Home Ministry officials informed that the attack site was located 2–2.5 hours away from the main Pahalgam road. Typically, the area is opened to tourists only during the Amarnath Yatra starting in June, and local administration approval is mandatory. However, this year, tourists were taken there from April 20 without permission.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh expressed anger, questioning how tourists were allowed to visit a high-risk area without authorization and whether this was mere negligence or if deeper accountability is needed.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi questioned why Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) units were not deployed in the area and why the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) took nearly an hour to reach the site after the attack. He also raised concerns about the long-pending investigation into the 2000 Pahalgam attack.
Opposition leaders voiced alarm over the spread of religious hatred through social media and mainstream media after the attack. They accused certain political groups and media outlets of presenting the incident through a communal lens, fostering hatred against Kashmiri people and students.
Owaisi warned that using religion to incite hatred in response to such attacks would only strengthen the hands of terrorists.
At the end of the meeting, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that all political parties pledged to work together against terrorism. He emphasized the need for a unified national stance, stating, “Instead of politicizing the issue, the entire nation must speak in one voice against terrorism. We will take collective action against Pakistan and its accomplices.”