A week after the deadliest attack on civilians in the contested region in years, Modi on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with army and security chiefs, during which he told the armed forces that they had the “complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response to the terror attack”, said the government source, who was not authorised to speak to the media.
The government released video images of a stern-faced Modi meeting with army chiefs, as well as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Indian police have issued wanted posters for three men accused of carrying out the Kashmir attacktwo Pakistanis and an Indian.
They have announced a two million rupee ($23,500) bounty for information leading to each man’s arrest and carried out sweeping detentions seeking anyone suspected of links to the alleged killers.
Iran has already offered to mediate and Saudi Arabia has said Riyadh was trying to “prevent an escalation”.
US President Donald Trump downplayed tensions, saying on Friday the dispute will get “figured out, one way or another”.