Armed forces have complete operational freedom on India's response to Pahalgam attack: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the armed forces have the complete operational freedom to decide the mode, targets and timing of India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

At a high-level security meeting here, the PM affirmed that "it is our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism", officials said.

Ahead of the crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday, Modi chaired the meeting to decide the next course of action after the terror attack.

The meeting, at the PM’s 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence, was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and the three service chiefs.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi said, "We have very little time and very big goals."

Wednesday's meeting will be the second meeting of the CCS within a week.

The meeting will be attended by Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Principal Secretaries to the PM and the Cabinet Secretary.