Pulwama Terror Attack: Post Kashmir Visit, Rajnath Singh To Brief All-Party Meet On Security Situation At 11am

In wake of the Pulwama attack on Thursday (14 February) in which more than 40 soldiers were martyred, the government will be holding an all-party meeting today (16 February) beginning at 11 am, reports Hindustan Times.

The announcement of the all-party meet was made by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the aftermath of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) where possible response options were discussed.

The government is addressing parties only now as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had travelled to Srinagar in order to take stock of the situation there; Singh will be responsible today in briefing leaders at the all-party meet about the security scenario in wake of the Pulwama attack.

The Pulwama attack took place when a CRPF convoy with more than 2,500 troops on 78 buses was attacked on the Jammu-Srinagar highway by a suicide bomber. The attacker rammed his SUV, which was rigged with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), into one of the buses, causing a massive explosion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised a strong response against terrorists and their backers. The main opposition party Congress has also come out to back the government and security forces. Other parties have also expressed their support, with BJP ally Shiv Sena suggesting that a special joint session of Parliament be conducted for a discussion on the attack.