At least forty CRPF personnel on Thursday were killed in the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama.
In one of the deadliest terror attacks in J&K's three decades of militancy, a Jaish suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus in Pulwama district, killing at least 40 personnel.
At least forty CRPF personnel on Thursday were killed in the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama.
The incident took place when some 2,547 CRPF personnel were coming in a convoy of 78 vehicles from the transit camp in Jammu and headed to Srinagar. A suicide attacker rammed his vehicle around 3.15 p.m. on Thursday taking the security forces completely by surprise.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is in Srinagar to discuss the situaltion with security officials in the valley.
Catch all the LIVE updates on the Pulwama terror attack here:
All party meeting to be held on Saturday at 11 am in Parliament library over the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, reports ANI
"There are some elements here who take money from Pakistan and ISI. I have told the officers that the security provided to such people should be reviewed," said Rajnath Singh in Srinagar.
"There are some elements who are hand in glove with terror organisations, terror forces and ISI across the border. They are involved in terror conspiracies too. They are toying with the future of the people, especially the youth, of J&K," he added.
Rajnath Singh meets the injured CRPF personnel at Army base camp in Srinagar.
Without mentioning the Pulwama attack, Kashmiri separatist leadership on Friday said they "regret every killing" on Kashmir's soil.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Jammu Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik are holding a meeting with security officials in Srinagar.
Former Jammu and Kashnmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday made an appeal to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to issue directions to all state governments to take special care in areas/colleges/institutions where Kashmiris are residing/studying.
Saudi Arabia Friday said it stood with India's fight against terrorism and extremism and denounced as "cowardly" the suicide attack carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group in Jammu and Kashmir that killed at least 40 CRPF soldiers.
The strong condemnation came days ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's state visit to India next week for talks with the top Indian leadership.
Veteran BJP leader LK Advani Friday described the Pulwama terror strike as an attack on India and said the entire country should unitedly stand in firm support of the government.
"Terrorists and their sponsors should know that India can neither be divided nor deterred by their evil designs. The entire nation should stand united in firm support of whatever way the Government of India decides to respond to this attack," he said in a statement.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik and Army's Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, pay tribute to CRPF personnel who lost their lives in Pulwama attack.
Curfew In Jammu City After Violent Protests Over Pulwama Attack
Curfew was imposed in Jammu city on Friday as a precautionary measure following massive protests over the terror attack in Pulwama in the Kashmir Valley in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
Pakistan Rejects 'Insinuation' Of Link To Pulwama Terror Attack
Pakistan has strongly rejected "insinuation" by India that it is in any way involved in the Pulwama terror attack and said it has always condemned "heightened acts of violence" in Kashmir valley.
In a statement issued late on Thursday night, the Pakistan Foreign Office said: "We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian government and media circles that seek to link the attack to the State of Pakistan without investigations."
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China condemns Pulwama attack but declines to back India on Azhar ban
Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday strongly condemned the "cowardly" attack in Pulwama
Nation Pays Tribute To CRPF Bravehearts Amid Protests Against Pakistan
A pall of gloom descended at the homes of the CRPF personnel who were killed in the Pulwama terror attack on Thursday, even as the bereaved await the arrival of the mortal remains of the bravehearts.
What is MFN status, and how will it affect Pakistan?
India granted the MFN status to Pakistan way back in in 1996, buttheneighbouring country has not yet reciprocated. The MFN status was accorded under WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Both India and Pakistan are signatories to this; and are members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which means they have to treat each other and the other WTO member countries as favoured trading partners in terms of imposing customs duties on goods. Removal of this status means India can now enhance customs duties to any level on goods coming from Pakistan, a trade expert told PTI.
What is Jaish-e-Mohammed, why India called for global ban on Masood Azhar
The Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group was founded in the early 2000s by Maulana Masood Azhar, a radical Islamist scholar and jihadist leader, who fought as a member of Osama bin Laden's group in Somalia in the early 1990s against US troops. He then used to be a leader of the terrorist group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM).
1:26 pm: "Withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan was an important tactical step by govt. Ministry of External Affairs will undertake major diplomatic initiatives to ensure that Pakistan is brought to justice," says BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav.
'We will not forget, we will not forgive,' CRPF tweets condolences, says killings of our brothers will be avenged
"WE WILL NOT FORGET, WE WILL NOT FORGIVE:We salute our martyrs of Pulwama attack and stand with the families of our martyr brothers. This heinous attack will be avenged.(sic)," Central Reserve Police Force tweeted on Friday.
Devastated family members of CRPF Jawan killed on Thursday in Pulwama, mourns the death of their loved ones.
12:30 pm: "The sacrifice of the jawans won't go in vain," says Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
"Pakistan is trying todestabilise the country. The nation respects their sacrifice,country will always be indebted to the security forces. Their sacrifice won't go in vain. The country will give them befitting reply," Pradhan said.
12:30 pm: "The Congress will do all that is necessary to keep this nation united," says former PM Manmohan Singh.
"Today is the day of mourning. Our country has lost close to 40 armed forces jawans and our foremost duty is to convey to their families that we are with them. We shall never compromise with the terrorist forces," Manmohan Singh said.
12:00 pm: "Ready To Sacrifice My Other Son For Mother India, But Pakistan Must Pay," Says Father Of Slain CRPF Jawan
"I have sacrificed a son in Mother India's service, I will send my other son as well to fight. I am ready to give him up for Mother India, but Pakistan must be given a befitting reply," the father said.
11:45 am: This is a terrible tragedy, we are together in its hour of mourning, says Rahul Gandhi
"This is a time of mourning, sadness, and respect. We are fully supporting the govt of India and our security forces. We are not going to get into any other conversation apart from this," Rahul Gandhi said on behalf of the Congress party.
11:42 am: India's Opposition stands with the govt, security forces, says Rahul Gandhi
"This attack was an assault on the soul of India. In this hour, we stand united and no external force can break us apart. We stand firmly behind the government and the security forces," says Rahul Gandhi.
11: 30 am: Have given security forces full freedom to crush terrorism, says PM Modi.
"The forces behind this act of terrorism and those responsible for it, will be definitely be punished. We have given our security forces a free hand to crush terrorism completely," Modi said.
" I thank all the nations who have supported us and condemned this incident in the strongest of terms. A strong reply will be given to this attack," Modi said.
11:25 am: We all will have to fight against this terror together, says Modi.
"Pulwama attack | Several countries have condemned this attack and have promised to stand by India. We all will have to fight against this terror together. When every country will start acting against it, terror will not sustain for long," Modi said.
"The forces behind this act of terrorism & those responsible for it, will be definitely be punished," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I pay tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in Pulwama attack. Our security forces have been given full freedom. We have full faith in their bravery," he added.
10:55 am: India withdraws the most favoured nation status for Pakistan.
10:52 am: "MEA will initiate all possible diplomatic steps which are to be taken to ensure the complete isolation from the international community of Pakistan of which incontrovertible is available of having a direct hand in this act," said Arun Jaitley.
10:39 am: Former army chief and Minister of State VK Singh says the government's action against the terror attack would be well thought of the decision. "It will be well thought of. What you do must have resulted. It is a very sad incident. Each incident in Kashmir is sad. Each incident tells you what needs to be done People on the ground will come up with an appropriate response," he says.
10:30 am: The Kashmir Police on February 8 had sent an intelligence input to the CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, Army and the Air Force warning of a possible terror attack.
10:25 am: The NIA team rushes to the Pulwama terror attack site; the entire blast attack area has been cordoned off by security officials.