THE CLIFF NEWS

The brutal terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead, has brought to light a long-active terror module operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Considered one of the deadliest attacks since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the incident has triggered strong diplomatic and security measures from India against Pakistan, which has been accused of sheltering the handlers of the group responsible. The attack was carried out by a group affiliated with the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) organisation. The team comprised mostly foreign terrorists, aided by local militants and overground workers from the Valley, and operated under the control of 26/11 mastermind and Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed. Module’s Past Operations Sources indicate that this particular Lashkar module has been active in Kashmir for an extended period. Security agencies link the group to several major terror strikes, including attacks in Sonamarg, Boota Pathri, and Ganderbal. In October 2024, the module was involved in an attack at Boota Pathri, where two Army personnel and two civilians lost their lives. That same month, six labourers and a doctor were gunned down during an assault on tunnel construction workers in Sonamarg. Hashim Musa, one of the prime suspects in the recent Pahalgam massacre, is believed to have been involved in these earlier attacks as well. Following the Sonamarg attack, a major breakthrough occurred in December 2024 when Junaid Ahmed Bhatt, an A+ category Lashkar terrorist from Kulgam and a key figure in the module, was neutralized during an encounter in Dachigam. However, other members of the module managed to escape and went underground, hiding in dense forested regions until they received fresh orders from their Pakistani handlers. Direct Links to Lashkar Leadership The module is reportedly overseen directly by Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed and his deputy Saifullah, both operating from Pakistan. According to Indian intelligence agencies, the module receives not just ideological support, but also logistical and tactical guidance from Pakistan’s military establishment and its intelligence wing, the ISI. Although dominated by foreign fighters, the module also includes a network of local militants and overground workers embedded within the region, who provide logistical support, safe houses, and intelligence crucial for executing major attacks.

Senior journalist Rahul Kanwal is set to take over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Editor-in-Chief of NDTV, effective June 16, 2025. The decision was approved by the Board of Directors during a meeting held on April 25, 2025, based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. The appointment is subject to approval from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The announcement was made through a regulatory filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE). Kanwal, who recently announced his departure from the India Today Group after more than two decades, will now lead NDTV’s operations. His appointment marks a significant leadership shift at the network as it seeks to bolster its presence in the highly competitive news market. An alumnus of the General Management Program at Harvard Business School, Kanwal has a strong academic background, having studied journalism at Delhi University and pursued a program in International Broadcast Journalism at Cardiff University. He is also a Chevening Scholar and recipient of the Roy Peck Trust Grant for Hostile Environment Journalism. Over his career, he has earned multiple awards for journalistic excellence. Kanwal brings with him vast experience in television journalism, having held key editorial positions at Aaj Tak and India Today TV. At the India Today Group, he served as News Director of TVTN and later as Executive Director of Business Today. At NDTV, Kanwal’s role will involve overseeing the channel’s editorial direction, strategic planning, and operational functions. He is expected to play a critical role in driving NDTV’s growth, strengthening its news coverage, and leading its digital transformation initiatives.

A day after announcing the suspension of visa services for Pakistan nationals, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday directed all states to identify individuals residing in India under 14 different visa categories — including film, journalist, pilgrim, and business — and ensure their prompt return. In response, states like Gujarat and Odisha have already started taking steps to facilitate their departure. The move comes in the wake of the deadly terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 people — mostly tourists — were killed. The Union Home Ministry clarified that the suspension covers categories such as medical and student visas but exempts long-term, diplomatic, and official visas. According to an official MHA order, individuals under categories such as SAARC visa, business visa, visa on arrival, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist, pilgrim, and group pilgrim visas must exit India by April 26–27, while medical visa holders have until April 29. In a video conference held Friday with all chief secretaries and Union Territory administrators, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan emphasized strict enforcement of these orders. Officials confirmed that existing visas issued to Pakistani nationals — except for Long-Term, Diplomatic, and Official visas — have been revoked effective April 27. The Ministry of External Affairs and Bureau of Immigration have been instructed to ensure compliance with the new directives. Data from the Ministry of Home Affairs reveals that between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, India granted 1,112 Long-Term Visas to members of minority communities from Pakistan. These visa holders are not impacted by the latest order. The visa cancellation is part of a broader series of retaliatory actions taken by India following the Pahalgam terror attack. India has also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic relations, expelled diplomats and senior defence officials from the Pakistan High Commission, and closed the Attari-Wagah border. Security agencies have stated that three of the five militants involved in the attack had infiltrated from Pakistan. India shares a 3,323-kilometer-long land border with Pakistan, traversing Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Over the years, India has consistently accused Pakistan of sponsoring militancy and promoting secessionist activities within its territory.