NEW DELHI: Following Tuesday's devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, including two foreign nationals, preliminary investigations have uncovered significant security lapses across multiple levels. The attack, which also left 17 injured, appears to have exploited vulnerabilities in intelligence gathering and security deployment.
At an all-party meeting in Delhi, Union Home Minister finally admitted to security lapses in response to queries by the opposition.
According to the Deccan Chronicle, officials report that the Unified Command—chaired by the Lieutenant Governor with representation from various security agencies—had been reporting improved security conditions in the Kashmir Valley without conducting thorough ground-level threat assessments.
"Despite a surge in civilian footfall at the Baisaran meadow, the Unified Command and local police failed to act on actionable intelligence," a senior security official told the Deccan Chronicle.
The investigation has identified several critical security gaps. The newspaper reports that earlier this year, one of two CRPF companies responsible for area security was redeployed elsewhere, significantly reducing protection at the popular tourist spot.
Additionally, "The nearest Quick Action Team — CRPF's 116 battalion — took over an hour to reach the site, giving attackers ample time to carry out the strikes and escape," as reported by the Deccan Chronicle.
The publication notes that survivor accounts indicate at least two attackers were speaking Pashto, suggesting possible connections to terror groups operating near the Afghan border. Investigators believe local accomplices may have provided reconnaissance support.
According to the Deccan Chronicle, authorities have launched a multi-agency inquiry to trace the attack's planning and execution. Security personnel are currently conducting extensive combing operations throughout the Baisaran valley, with particular interest in "a new Chinese-origin communication device recovered at the scene — believed to have been used to evade digital surveillance."
As the Deccan Chronicle reports, security officials emphasize the need to shift from temporary security deployments to a permanent, intelligence-driven model to prevent future attacks of this nature.
Survivors Question Lapses
Shital Kalathiya, who lost her husband in Tuesday's horrific Pahalgam terror attack has strongly criticized security arrangements in Jammu and Kashmir while demanding justice from government officials who attended her husband's funeral in Surat.
According to various media reports and a video in circulation, her frustration was particularly directed at senior politicians present at the funeral, including Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil, Surat MP Mukesh Dalal, Gujarat's Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi, and Education Minister Praful Pansheriya.
"All politicians, officials, and security came only after the incident for a photo op, but were not there when my husband needed it most," she said during the funeral proceedings attended by relatives, well-wishers, and political figures.
Her husband Shailesh Kalathiya, 44, worked at a State Bank of India branch in Mumbai and had taken a week's leave for the family vacation to Pahalgam.
In her emotional testimony, Shital described disturbing details about the attack: "The terrorist who shot my husband was laughing at that time. He stayed there till my husband died. They separated the tourists based on religion before opening fire."
She questioned the government's ability to protect its citizens and called for support for all families who lost loved ones in the attack. Shital also shared her frustration at allegedly being blamed for traveling to Pahalgam when she sought help from military officials.
Highlighting what she perceived as inequality in security provisions, she noted: "The government cuts the tax before we get our salary. We pay taxes at the time of shopping and also pay toll tax. VIPs get all facilities, including helicopters. But when my husband needed security, he failed to get it."
The Week also included testimony from the couple's 10-year-old son, who described terrorists wearing camera-equipped caps opening fire and creating chaos. "As we were hungry, we went to have food. Suddenly, the noise of firing bullets started as everyone started running here and there to save their lives. My mother stayed with my father and asked us to go down. The terrorists separated the males based on religion and killed them."
Government Admits to Lapses
Union Home Minister Amit Shah acknowledged security failures during Thursday's all-party meeting regarding the Pahalgam terror attack. "If nothing had gone wrong, why would we be sitting here? There have been lapses somewhere that we have to find out," Shah reportedly told opposition leaders. The government revealed that local authorities failed to inform security agencies before opening the Baisaran area in Anantnag district, an area typically restricted until the Amarnath Yatra begins in June.
Despite raising questions about intelligence and security protocol failures, opposition parties, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, pledged full support for government actions against Pakistan.
According to some media reports, opposition leaders backed the government's decision to pause the Indus Water Treaty and reaffirmed support for a zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. The meeting was called following Tuesday's attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, which has sparked significant political and public outrage.
Owaisi, small parties kept out of all-party meet
In the wake of the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the Centre's all-party meeting on Thursday to deliberate on the incident from which participation was limited to parties with a minimum of five Members of Parliament in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
This eligibility threshold, which excludes several regional and national parties, including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, is against all democratic norms as every MP is a people’s representative elected by their vote.
Reacting sharply to his exclusion, Owaisi termed the move "undemocratic".
"Regarding the Pahalgam All Party Meeting, I spoke to Kiren Rijiju last night. He said they're thinking of inviting only parties with '5 or 10 MPs'. When I asked why not parties with fewer MPs, he said that the meeting would get 'too long'. When I asked, 'What about us, the smaller parties?' He joked that my voice is anyway, too loud." Owaisi said in a statement.
"This is not a BJP's or another party's internal meeting, it is an all-party meeting to send a strong and united message against terrorism & those countries that harbour terrorists," he pointed out.
"Your own party does not have a majority. Whether it is a party with 1 MP or 100, they were both elected by Indians and deserve to be heard on such an important matter. This is not a political issue but a national issue. Everyone must be heard. I urge Narendra Modi to make this a real All Party Meeting, every party with an MP in Parliament must be invited," Owaisi stressed.
The Centre had convened similar all-party meetings in the aftermath of critical national security incidents such as the Pulwama terror attack in 2019 or during the India-China standoff in 2020.
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