Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that he wants the world to know that India will find and punish every terrorist. Speaking in English, which he rarely does, Modi said those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack, as well as those who planned it, will be punished in ways they can't even imagine.

He added that the whole country is deeply saddened by the cruel way in which terrorists killed innocent people—mostly tourists—in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. Speaking in English, Modi told the crowd in Madhubani, the state that is headed to elections, "Today, from the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world, India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers." Bihar will have assembly elections later this year. The event was attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, and other important leaders from both the state and central governments. This was Prime Minister Modi’s first public statement after the tragic terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Before starting his speech, Modi asked everyone present to observe a few minutes of silence to honour the victims of the Pahalgam attack. “Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve,” Modi said. His words in English were then tweeted by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Modi usually speaks in Hindi during public rallies, but this time he spoke in English when promising action against those responsible for the Pahalgam attack—likely to make sure the message reached a broader international audience.

Everyone who believes in humanity is with us, the PM said. “I thank the people of various countries and their leaders who have stood with us in these times,” he said. On April 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke in Hindi while addressing Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Gram Sabhas from across India during an event held in Madhubani, Bihar. Before his speech, he launched multiple development projects worth around ₹13,500 crore.

The event was organised to celebrate National Panchayati Raj Day. This day marks 32 years since the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, which gave Panchayats a constitutional status as local self-government bodies in rural areas. The terrorist attack in Pahalgam took place on April 22 in the well-known Baisaran meadow. On the same day, U.S. Vice President JD Vance was visiting India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on an official trip to Saudi Arabia. After the attack, PM Modi ended his visit early and came back to New Delhi on Wednesday morning.

In response, India took strong steps: it immediately shut down the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, located on the India-Pakistan border in Punjab. Additionally, India announced it would suspend the Indus Water Treaty until Pakistan clearly and permanently stops supporting cross-border terrorism. On April 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, where it was decided to reduce diplomatic relations with Pakistan due to suspected links between Pakistan and the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

The group believed to be behind Tuesday’s attack is The Resistance Front (TRF), which is linked to the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, Mint has not been able to confirm this information. Some reports claim that a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, Saifullah Kasuri (also known as Khalid), may have masterminded the attack. But there has been no official confirmation yet. Pakistan has, however, denied any involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack. “Pakistan has nothing to do with it (Pahalgam terror attack),” Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told a local TV channel on April 23.