Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to reroute his flight and avoid Pakistani airspace while returning from Saudi Arabia underscores the high-alert security posture India has adopted following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Here are the key developments:
Modi's Flight Route & Security Move
-
Outbound Flight Over Pakistan: On his way to Jeddah for a diplomatic visit, PM Modi's IAF Boeing 777-300 (K7067) flew through Pakistani airspace on Tuesday, which is a standard practice for diplomatic flights under clearances.
-
Return Route Avoids Pakistan: However, during his emergency return to Delhi early Wednesday, the aircraft took a longer route, completely avoiding Pakistani airspace. This move is being seen as both a precautionary security measure and a political signal following the Pakistan-linked terror attack.
-
Two Flight Path Images Accessed by India Today: The contrasting routes—one over Pakistan and one bypassing it—highlight the shift in operational decisions post-attack, likely based on intelligence advisories.
Prime Minister's Immediate Actions
-
Upon landing, PM Modi held an emergency briefing at the Delhi airport with NSA Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The priority was to assess the situation and coordinate the national response.
-
He is also scheduled to chair a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at 6 PM today to finalize the next course of action.
Condemnation and Assurance
-
On social media platform X, PM Modi strongly condemned the attack:
“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest.”
-
He added:
“Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice... they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger.”
Context: Pakistan’s Involvement
-
The attack has been claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), which Indian intelligence agencies say is a local proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a group based in Pakistan and supported by its intelligence network.
-
The mastermind, Saifullah Kasuri alias Khalid, is a top LeT commander operating from PoK, and his name has resurfaced in several previous terror-related dossiers.
This decision to avoid Pakistani airspace sends a clear diplomatic message—India is viewing this not just as a local security lapse but a cross-border terrorist conspiracy. The CCS meeting is expected to announce strong retaliatory or preventive actions, and more updates will likely follow tonight.
