New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an urgent meeting with National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday morning, immediately upon his return from Saudi Arabia. The discussion focused on the terror attack that took place in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also participated in the meeting, officials confirmed.

The attack occurred on Tuesday in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in south Kashmir, and resulted in the deaths of 28 individuals, including two foreigners from the UAE and Nepal, as well as two local residents. Several others sustained injuries.

Following the deadly assault, PM Modi decided to cut his visit to Saudi Arabia short. Originally scheduled to return on Wednesday night, the Prime Minister arrived in India early Wednesday morning, forgoing an official dinner hosted by Saudi Arabia. The attack’s gravity prompted this swift return, said government sources.

During his visit to Jeddah, PM Modi had extensive talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two leaders co-chaired the second India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) meeting on Tuesday. They reviewed the progress of initiatives under the SPC framework, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). PM Modi invited Crown Prince Salman to visit India for the third SPC meeting.

Both leaders strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack. The Saudi Crown Prince expressed his condolences for the lives lost and, alongside PM Modi, reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism.

PM Modi and Crown Prince Salman discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties across several domains, including defence, trade, investment, energy, and cultural exchanges. The leaders also noted the success of high-level visits across various Ministries, which have fostered increased trust and cooperation.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a post on X, highlighted the wide-ranging discussions, including the expansion of the SPC to include two new Ministerial Committees—one on Defence Cooperation and another on Tourism and Culture Cooperation.

On the sidelines of the visit, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, condemned the Pahalgam attack and offered his condolences. PM Modi praised the League’s efforts in promoting moderation, social cohesion, and its stance against terrorism, extremism, and violence.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, and other officials were also present during the meeting.

With agency inputs