PM Modi holds key meetings as India prepares its response to Pahalgam attack

The meetings came on a day when Russia offered "full support" to India in its battle against terrorism.

PM Modi met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and key officials, including the Defence Secretary, Home Secretary, and other officials at the PMO this evening.

He also met Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh amid speculation over how New Delhi would respond to the terror strike. 

The meeting lasted for more than half an hour and came a day after the Prime Minister met Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.

The Prime Minister has also met the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

On Saturday, Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi had briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in the critical sea lanes in the Arabian Sea.

PM Modi has warned that those involved in carrying out and plotting the terror attack will get the harshest of punishment, and his sentiment has been echoed by political leaders across party lines.

In line with his commitment, he had earlier given full operational freedom to the armed forces.

On Sunday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured the nation that "what you desire will certainly happen", dropping a significant hint about India's next move.

In an immediate response, India suspended the landmark Indus River water-sharing treaty and closed the Attari-Wagah road border, which acts as a lifeline of Indo-Pak trade and people-to-people ties, besides expelling diplomats, downsizing high commissions, and issuing a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani visa holders present in India to leave.

Centre orders all states to conduct security mock drills

The Centre earlier in the evening asked several states to conduct security mock drills on Wednesday for "effective civil defence in the event of a hostile attack" amid tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, media reports said.

The timing of the Centre's order is crucial. The last such drill was conducted in 1971, the year in which India and Pakistan went into war.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked states to operationalise air raid warning sirens and train civilians to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack.

States have been asked to undertake crash blackout measures and provision for early camouflaging of vital plants/installations.

Following measures will be undertaken

1. Operationalization of Air Raid Warning Sirens

2. Training of civilians, students, etc, on the civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack

3. Provision of crash black out measures

4. Provision for early camouflaging of vital plants/ installations

5. Updation of evacuation plan & its rehearsal