New Delhi: Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, arrived in New Delhi in the early hours of Thursday after cutting short his official visit to the United States. His return comes in the wake of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed at least 26 lives.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh confirmed the development on Wednesday, stating that Gandhi would attend the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting scheduled for 10:30am on Thursday.

The Pahalgam attack, which occurred at Baisaran meadow on Tuesday, is among the most serious incidents of terrorism in the region since the 2019 Pulwama attack. Victims included 25 Indian nationals and one citizen of Nepal. The assault has drawn national condemnation and triggered high-level security discussions.

In response, the Union government has initiated several measures. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, convened for over two hours on Wednesday to assess the situation. Key outcomes include suspending the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and closing the integrated checkpost at Attari. Additionally, Pakistani nationals will no longer be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption scheme.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to chair an all-party meeting today to discuss the broader implications of the attack. Prime Minister Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also returned early from international visits following the incident.

Families of the victims have urged the government to take decisive action against terrorism. Among the deceased were Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal and Karnataka resident Manjunath Rao. Their last rites were performed in their respective hometowns.

The government continues to investigate the cross-border dimensions of the attack, with early reports indicating involvement of militants linked to Pakistan. The security situation remains a key concern as authorities strengthen measures to prevent further violence.