In a significant move reflecting the gravity of the Pahalgam terror attack, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has curtailed his visit to the United States and will return to attend a high-level Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi on Thursday morning.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh confirmed the development via a post on X, stating, “Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi has cut short his US visit and will be attending in person the CWC meeting in New Delhi tomorrow at 10:30 AM.”

The decision comes in the wake of a brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left at least 26 tourists, including one Nepali citizen, dead. The incident has triggered a wave of mourning across the nation and prompted swift responses from the government and opposition alike.

The CWC meeting, which Rahul Gandhi is set to attend, is expected to focus on the terror attack and the broader implications for national security, foreign policy, and cross-border relations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also cut short their respective foreign visits to Saudi Arabia and the United States in response to the incident, underlining the high-level political seriousness attached to the attack.

Meanwhile, the government has announced a series of strong diplomatic measures aimed at Pakistan, which it accuses of supporting cross-border terrorism. Key among these is the suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, the closure of the integrated checkpost at Attari, and the revocation of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing a press conference after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, said, “Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa Exemption scheme.”

The CCS, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, condemned the attack “in the strongest terms,” offering condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirming India's commitment to combating terrorism. Officials also detailed the suspected cross-border links of the attackers during the two-hour-long security briefing.

As the nation mourns, the loss is felt deeply by the families of those killed. In Karnal, the last rites of Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal were performed amid heavy emotion and solemn tributes. In Karnataka’s Shivamogga, Manjunath Rao’s family expressed shock and grief, with close friend Dattatreya urging the government to take decisive action against the perpetrators.

The attack, which took place at the scenic Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, is being described as the deadliest in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike. It also marks one of the most significant assaults since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which had stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status.