The National Human Rights Commission has condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent civilians were killed at a picnic spot. 

"The Commission condemns the dastardly attack on the unarmed and unsuspecting innocent civilians who were on a holiday to the valley. The incident has shaken the conscience of every right thinking human being as a serious issue of violation of human rights of the innocent victims and their families," the panel said.

"It has been said time and again at various forums that terrorism is one of the biggest causes of human rights violations in the world. The time has come to act against those aiding, abetting, supporting and advancing terrorism and to hold them accountable for this menace. Otherwise, it may result in shrinking of democratic space, intimidation, reprisals, harmony among communities and grave violation of various human rights, including right to life, liberty, equality, fraternity, and livelihood. It is expected that the State will take all the necessary steps to fix accountability; bring the perpetrators to justice and provide succour to the families of the victims in all possible manner."

The Opposition raised pointed questions at the Centre during the all-party meeting on Thursday evening over the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead. The meeting, convened by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, came a day after the government announced a suite of retaliatory measures against Pakistan.

These included the downgrading of diplomatic ties, expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, the suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, and the closure of the Attari land-transit point.

The Opposition's scrutiny during the meeting centred primarily on the absence of security forces in Baisaran, the tourist meadow near Pahalgam, where the attack took place. The question was formally raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and echoed by several others, including Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh.

The Opposition asked why security personnel were not deployed at the site of the attack. The government explained that the Baisaran area is customarily secured ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, which begins in June. It is then that the route is officially opened and security forces are deployed to ensure the safety of pilgrims who rest at Baisaran en route to the Amarnath cave shrine.

Pahalgam Terror Attack: "Strict action should be taken against the terrorists. We have to keep an eye on those who are living here illegally. They all should be sent back. The central government's Intelligence officials are also in Bengaluru."

Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi has reached Srinagar and is being briefed by the 15 Corps Commander on the security situation, the news agency ANI reported citing Army officials.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has arrived in Srinagar and is expected to meet those injured in the Pahalgam terror attack.

Mr Mouli, who turned 70 on April 18, had encouraged his friends to visit Pahalgam's Baisaran meadow, calling it a "once in a lifetime opportunity".

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Friday said here that the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam was the "murder of humanity" and that the terrorists were trying to "wipe out" all the work that was done there by the Central government in the last few years.

Arlekar also said that in the current circumstances, citizens of India need to stand together as a nation, in an apparent reference to criticisms of security lapses from some quarters, including the Congress and the CPI(M).

The Governor was speaking to reporters after paying his respects to the mortal remains of N Ramachandran, a resident of Edappally here, who was gunned down in the April 22 terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is following the situation between India and Pakistan "very closely and with very great concern" and appeals to both governments to exercise maximum restraint and ensure no further deterioration, his spokesperson said.

"We were very clear in our condemnation of the terror attack that occurred in Jammu and Kashmir, on the 22nd, two days ago, which killed a large number of civilians," Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing Thursday.

In the meadows of Baisaran near Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, two men named Adil found themselves on opposite sides of a tragedy. One picked up a gun and joined the ranks of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group. The other, armed with nothing but abundant courage, died trying to protect tourists from terrorists' bullets.

This is the story of terrorist Adil Hussain Thoker and Pahalgam pony ride operator Syed Adil Hussain Shah.

Read the full story here

A meeting on the recently-suspended Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan will be held today at 12 pm at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Technical aspects of implementing this announcement will be discussed during the meeting.

The houses of two Lashar-e-Taiba terrorists linked to the Pahalgam attack were destroyed.

Adil Hussain Thokar and Asif Sheikh's houses were destroyed overnight in explosions.

Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi reached Srinagar to take stock of the security situation after the Pahalgam terror attack.

He will hold a meeting with top commanders in Srinagar, apart from visiting Awantipora.

He is also likely to visit the Baisaran Vallery.

Over 900 markets in Delhi will remain closed as traders' organisations announced a Delhi Bandh in solidarity with the Pahalgam attack.

There will be no business at over 8 lakh shops, amounting to a volume of Rs 1,500 crore.

A march, led by BJP MP and Confederation of All India Traders chief Praveen Khandelwal, will be taken out from Chandni Chowk to Red Fort at 11 am.

The New York Times has been pulled up by a House Committee in the US for its reportage of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, in which 26 people, including a foreign national were shot dead after being asked to prove their allegiance to Islam.

The attack, for which a Pakistan-based terror group The Resistance Front - an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba - claimed responsibility, was reported by The New York Times as a "militant" attack. An introduction to the report also said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the "shooting" a "terror attack".

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi spoke about Pahalgam attack after an all-party meeting.

"The central government can take action against the nation that shelters the terrorist groups. The international law also permits us to do an air and naval blockade in self-defence against Pakistan and impose sanctions on Pakistan on arms sales. Why was the CRPF not deployed at the Baisaran meadow? Why did the quick reaction team take one hour to reach there, and they shot people by asking their religion," he asked.

A day after a tit-for-tat downgrade of diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan, firing was reported from multiple posts across the Line of Control from Pakistani posts.

India retaliated to the firing. No casualties were reported.

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will visit Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday, following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

This visit comes after the Congress MP cut short his official US trip and returned to New Delhi early Thursday morning.