"Intelligence failure": Asaduddin Owaisi asks govt to "fix accountability" for Pahalgam terror attack

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 23 (ANI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday morning demanded that the government punish "terrorists" involved in the killings of innocent tourists in the Pahalgam terrorist attack and said that the incident was an "intelligence failure".
He stated that the central government must examine whether its deterrence policy on terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir was working or not. Owaisi demanded that the government fix accountability in the matter, saying that the killing of tourists was more condemnable than the Uri and Pulwama attacks.
"This is an intelligence failure, too. The government has to analyse whether its deterrence policy is successful. This incident is more condemnable than the Uri and Pulwama attacks. The terrorists targeted civilians this time. It is a massacre. We demand from the government that accountability must be fixed in this matter," Owaisi told reporters here.
The terrorists reportedly cornered the tourists, who had come from across the country, at the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam and killed them. He said that the AIMIM stands with the families of the victims while wishing recovery for the injured.
"Terrorists have killed innocent people in an indiscriminate manner, asking about their religion before killing them. We strongly condemn what happened in Pahalgam yesterday, and we hope that the government will punish these terrorists. We stand with all the families of those who were killed by the terrorists and wish that those injured recover as soon as possible," Owaisi said.
In the aftermath of the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of innocent tourists, Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier in the day met the families of the victims outside the Police Control Room in Srinagar.
As the security forces continue to carry out search operations, the Indian Army has allowed limited operations of its Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv choppers in Srinagar and adjoining affected areas amid heightened tensions and security concerns.
The coffins carrying the victims of the terror attack were brought to the Srinagar airport. Several state government representatives have arrived in Srinagar to facilitate the return home of victims and tourists from their respective states.
This has been one of the biggest terror attacks after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The government, however, has yet to officially confirm the number of casualties in the terror attack in Pahalgam.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has arranged four new flights, two each to Delhi and Mumbai. Based on demand, they are in touch with airlines to increase their efforts.
Following the terror attack, security forces have launched search operations to track down the terrorists responsible. Security has been heightened since the attack, with visuals from the area showing the streets deserted in the usually bustling tourist area. Many organisations have also called for a Jammu bandh following the attack. (ANI)