On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticized Pakistan for a deadly terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. He said that by targeting innocent people, Pakistan attacked insaniyat (humanity) and Kashmiriyat (the unique culture of Kashmir). According to him, the aim was to create religious tensions in India and destroy the livelihood of Kashmiris who depend on tourism.
PM Modi made these remarks while launching the first-ever train service to the Kashmir Valley and inaugurating major infrastructure projects — including the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed Anji bridge.
Pakistan Targeted Livelihoods of Poor: PM
He said tourism brings jobs and helps people connect, but Pakistan has always been against peace and development.
“What happened in Pahalgam on April 22 shows that Pakistan doesn’t just oppose India — it opposes the poor people’s daily earnings,” said PM Modi. He spoke about Adil, a pony operator who died in the attack while trying to protect others. A total of 26 people were killed.
He explained that many locals — guides, pony operators, dhaba (roadside eatery) owners, shopkeepers, and guesthouse owners — earn their living through tourism. The attack was an attempt to break the back of this economic lifeline.
Operation Sindoor: A Strong Reply to Terror
Modi said that after the Pahalgam attack, Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor against the terrorists in Pakistan. “Every time Pakistan hears the name Operation Sindoor, it will remember how badly it was defeated,” he said.
New Projects for a Stronger Jammu & Kashmir
The Prime Minister also flagged off the Vande Bharat train to the Kashmir Valley. This was done to mark the completion of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line (USBRL) — a major project that cost around ₹43,780 crore. The rail line includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, connecting Kashmir with the rest of India in all weather.
Also Read: On World Environment Day, PM Modi Plants Sapling Gifted by 1971 War Heroines
He called this project a “symbol of a stronger and more empowered Jammu and Kashmir.”
PM Modi also laid the foundation stones and inaugurated development projects worth over ₹46,000 crore in Katra, the town that serves as a base camp for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi temple.
In conclusion, PM Modi said that these projects mark a new beginning for Jammu and Kashmir, bringing hope, strength, and better connectivity for the region.
