New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a meeting with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh amid India's preparation to retaliate against the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists, media reports said.

This comes after Modi on Sunday held a meeting with Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh who briefed the Prime Minister on the overall preparedness of the IAF in context of India's response to the Pahalgam attack.

A day ago, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured the people of India that a retaliation will take place under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.

"As a Defence Minister, it is my duty to work with the soldiers and ensure the borders are protected. It is also my responsibility to work with the Army and befittingly counter the attackers... I assure people that their wish of retaliation will take place under Prime Minister Modi's leadership," Singh said in an address.

Security forces on Monday busted an underground terroriest hideout in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district amid the heightened border tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, media reports said.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered along with five IEDs, wireless sets and clothes.

Hours after the hideout was busted, the Pakistan Army started unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and other sectors for the 11th consecutive night.

Pahalgam attack and its repercussions

On April 22, 2025, the terrorists- belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), which is an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)- asked the victims to chant Islamic verses (kalma) and made them pull down their pants to be sure of their their non-Muslim religious identities (read circumcision)  before gunning them down before their families, including wives, children and daughters.

The massacre triggered nationwide outrage and escalated India-Pakistan tensions as New Delhi vowed to avenge the killings.

In an immediate response, India suspended the landmark Indus River water-sharing treaty and closed the Attari-Wagah road border, which acts as a lifeline of Indo-Pak trade and people-to-people ties, besides expelling diplomats, downsizing high commissions, and issuing a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani visa holders present in India to leave.

Modi gives full freedom to Indian military

Modi has given the armed forces 'complete freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing' of India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack which was targeted at Hindus.

Modi took the decision at a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that it is 'our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism' and that he has 'complete faith and confidence' in the Indian military.

After the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, India conducted precision air strikes on terrorist camps in Balakot in Pakistan. The camps were run by banned terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed with the help from the Pak Army.