Mumbai is under high alert as the fallout from the brutal terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam continues to reverberate across the country. On Tuesday, armed terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in the tranquil Baisaran meadow, killing 26 people and injuring many others. The assault, carried out in one of Kashmir’s most visited locations, has not only shaken the valley but also triggered a sweeping security and diplomatic response from the Indian government.
Coastal Surveillance Intensified in Mumbai
In the wake of the attack, the Maharashtra Home Department directed an immediate increase in vigilance along Mumbai’s coastline. Mumbai Police have tightened security across the city, erecting checkpoints and deploying personnel in vulnerable zones. Senior Police Inspectors and Zonal Deputy Commissioners of Police have been instructed to stay on heightened alert, with roadblocks (nakabandis) being conducted throughout India’s financial capital. Beaches and all coastal access points around Mumbai are under constant surveillance, reflecting fears of infiltration or coordinated follow-up attacks via the sea.
Security agencies are also monitoring unusual aerial activity by the Pakistani Air Force. Reports have surfaced of airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft flying close to the Indian border. Pakistan has reportedly issued a no-fly zone over parts of the Arabian Sea and may conduct a missile test in the coming days. Fishermen and sailors have been advised to steer clear of the affected region amid rising cross-border tensions.
National Investigation and Mourning
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has joined the probe and is assisting Jammu and Kashmir Police in tracing those responsible for what is being called one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. A team from the NIA visited the homes of three victims in Dombivli, Thane district, and spoke to their grieving families as part of the investigation. The Resistance Front, a proxy outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the ambush, which has led to a mass exodus of tourists from the Kashmir Valley.
The sheer brutality of the assault, executed by five to six terrorists at a location only accessible by foot or horseback, has left the nation stunned. Across the country, vigils are being held for the victims, and security forces remain on edge as intelligence agencies continue to assess the threat landscape.
India Launches Diplomatic Offensive Against Pakistan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a state visit to Saudi Arabia when the attack occurred, cut his trip short and returned to Delhi on Wednesday morning. He immediately convened a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security. In a fiery address from a rally in Madhubani, Bihar, the Prime Minister declared that those responsible for the bloodshed would face consequences beyond their imagination. Switching from Hindi to English mid-speech, he sent a strong message to the international community, stating that India would pursue every terrorist and their sponsors “to the ends of the Earth.”
Following the meeting, India announced a sweeping series of diplomatic measures aimed at isolating Pakistan. The Indus Waters Treaty has been suspended indefinitely. India has also decided to close the Attari-Wagah border and reduce the strength of diplomatic staff in both nations. Pakistani diplomats in Delhi have been declared persona non grata and ordered to leave.
In a rare move, all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, including medical visas, have been revoked. Medical visa holders have been given until April 29, 2025, to exit India. No new visas will be processed or issued for Pakistani citizens until further notice. Meanwhile, Indian nationals have been advised to avoid traveling to Pakistan, and those already there have been urged to return immediately.
A Nation on Guard
As the country grapples with the aftermath of the attack, the focus remains on preventing further incidents and securing vulnerable areas. The government’s swift diplomatic and security response reflects both the gravity of the situation and the resolve to prevent any future acts of terror. Mumbai, like the rest of the nation, stands vigilant, determined not to let the spirit of India be broken.
