Srinagar, Apr 24: An all-party meeting was convened in Srinagar on Thursday to address the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.
The meeting saw leaders from across the political spectrum coming together in shared grief and condemnation of the violence.
Among the attendees were NC President Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, DPAP Chief Ghulam Nabi Azad, J&K Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra, Apni Party Chief Altaf Bukhari, People’s Conference Leader Sajad Lone, and PDP’s Mehboob Beg. Representatives from BJP, JDU, CPI(M), AIP, PDF, ANC, AAP, and NPP were also present. NC’s Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi joined the meeting, which took place at the SKICC starting at 3 pm.
This meeting followed the devastating terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists and left many others injured. The gathering came two days after the tragedy, as political leaders sought to unite in a collective response.
Omar Abdullah had announced the meeting on Wednesday through a social media post, emphasising the importance of all major political parties, MPs, and the Leader of Opposition coming together at this critical moment.
In his letter to party heads, Omar expressed sorrow, describing the attack not just as a tragedy for J&K but “a wound on the soul of Jammu and Kashmir.” He called on political representatives to set aside differences and respond collectively.
During the meeting, a joint resolution was passed, strongly denouncing the attack. Omar Abdullah, reading out the resolution, said, “We, the participants of this All-Party Meeting, are deeply disturbed by the brutal killings of innocent people in Pahalgam. We condemn this act in the strongest terms.” He called the killings a direct threat to the values of Kashmiriyat and the idea of India, both of which stand for peace and unity.
Omar also appealed to other states and union territories to ensure that Kashmiris living or studying outside Jammu and Kashmir are not subject to mistreatment or discrimination in the wake of the incident. “All of us in J&K, regardless of party, are committed to helping bring those behind this attack to justice,” he said, adding, “We also support the actions announced by the Union Government in response to this tragedy.”
The resolution also extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. Special mention was made of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a pony handler who lost his life while trying to protect tourists. His bravery, as he attempted to fight off one of the terrorists, was widely praised. “His courage reflects the true spirit of Kashmir and our tradition of hospitality,” said Omar.
The meeting also recognised the kindness shown by local Kashmiris toward tourists during this difficult time. Leaders commended the peaceful protests held across many towns and villages, noting that they reflected the people’s commitment to peace, justice, and brotherhood.
The resolution further urged governments across India to take strict steps to protect Kashmiris who are away from home—especially students and workers—and to ensure their safety from any threats or unfair treatment.
Lastly, the resolution called upon all political parties, community and religious leaders, youth groups, civil society members, and the media to remain calm, stay united, and reject any efforts to disturb peace in the J&K.
