Pak attacked 'Kashmiriyat, insaniyat' in Pahalgam: PM

Recalling late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous lines of “jamuriat (democracy), Kashmiriyat (Kashmiri ethos) and insaniyat (humanity)”, PM Narendra Modi on Friday minced no words in attacking Pakistan and said the neighbouring country targeted both “insaniyat” and “Kashmiriyat” when 26 innocent civilians were brutally gunned down in Pahalgam on April 22.

“Pakistan’s attack was intended to incite violence in India and cripple the earnings of hardworking Kashmiris. This deliberate attack on tourists was meant to sabotage the flourishing tourism industry in J&K, which had witnessed record-high number of visitors over the past few years,” the PM said during a public address in Katra — his first from the union territory since the successful Operation Sindoor, which completed one month today.

Speaking at the inauguration of a slew of development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore, PM Modi also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express, connecting Srinagar and Katra, ushering in a new era in the region’s connectivity and tourism.

At the heart of this transformation is an engineering marvel, the Chenab bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, which the PM dedicated to the nation. Soaring 359 metres above the Chenab — taller than the Eiffel Tower — the steel arch spans 1,315 metres and has been built to endure extreme winds and seismic activity.

“This bridge is not made of just steel and cement, but reflects India’s resolve and rising strength,” Modi said, adding that India’s first cable-supported railway bridge — the Anji bridge — was another testimony to the country’s engineering prowess.

The inauguration of the Vande Bharat semi-high-speed train connecting Srinagar and Katra, with stops at Banihal and other strategic locations, marks the first-ever fast rail link between the Valley and one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage centres, Vaishno Devi.

Two pairs of trains (train Nos. 26404/26403 and 26401/26402) will run six days a week, making the pilgrimage more accessible and safer for thousands of devotees.

“Generations waited for the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link. Today, that wait ends. This is not just a railway line — it is a symbol of the new and capable Jammu and Kashmir,” Modi said.

Reflecting on the obstacles overcome during the railway project, the PM said, “We were challenged by nature — harsh weather, inaccessible terrain and shooting stones — but we chose to challenge the challenges.”

He emphasised that these infrastructure feats were not just about connectivity but about dignity, pride and the bright future of a resurgent India.

“People go to France to see the Eiffel Tower — now, the world will come to India to see the Chenab bridge,” said Modi.

The PM used the occasion to remind the nation of the recent Operation Sindoor, in which the Indian forces struck at terrorist infrastructure.

“Whenever Pakistan hears the name Operation Sindoor, it will recall its humiliating defeat. Their terror network, built over decades, was reduced to rubble within minutes,” Modi said.

He said Pakistan’s frustration was evident in its response — launching cowardly attacks on civilians in Jammu, Poonch and other districts.

Announcing fresh financial aid for families affected by cross-border shelling, the PM said households suffering severe damage would now receive Rs 2 lakh, while owners of partially damaged homes would get Rs 1 lakh, in addition to the previous support.

He also announced the construction of 10,000 new bunkers in border areas, which played a key role in saving lives during the recent escalation.