India Reviews Military Options After Pahalgam Attack: IAF Chief Meets PM Modi Amid Rising Tensions

In the wake of the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives, including several tourists, India’s top military leadership has been holding a series of high-level meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Sunday, Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, met with the Prime Minister to assess the national security situation amid rising tensions with Pakistan. This meeting closely followed consultations with Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.

The timing of these meetings signals that India is actively weighing its strategic options. In a prior high-level review, PM Modi granted the armed forces “complete operational freedom” to decide the nature, targets, and timing of the country’s response. The Prime Minister has also made stern public remarks, vowing to take the fight against terrorism “to the ends of the earth” and deliver punishment “beyond imagination.”

India's military capabilities have significantly advanced since the 2019 Pulwama attack, which was followed by airstrikes in Balakot. The Indian Air Force is now bolstered with Rafale jets equipped with precision-guided missiles and the S-400 air defence system capable of simultaneously tracking and neutralizing multiple aerial threats.

Following the Pahalgam attack, New Delhi has already enacted stringent measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the Attari land crossing, downgrading diplomatic ties, and banning all imports and postal services from Pakistan. Pakistani-flagged vessels have also been denied access to Indian ports.

Adding to the volatility, unprovoked cross-border firing from Pakistan along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir has continued for ten consecutive nights, drawing retaliatory fire from the Indian Army.

International voices, including US Vice-President JD Vance, have urged restraint, while also subtly acknowledging Pakistan’s responsibility in harbouring terrorist groups. The cumulative developments suggest India is preparing a calibrated response, though the exact nature and timing remain undisclosed.

As pressure mounts both domestically and globally, all eyes are on India's next move—military, diplomatic, or a combination of both.