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Pulwama terror attack
The Pulwama terror attack of February 14, 2019, remains one of the deadliest strikes on Indian security forces in decades. Executed by a suicide bomber affiliated with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the attack led to the deaths of 40 CRPF personnel and triggered a massive shift in India's internal security policies and foreign relations.
This page on Moneycontrol.com offers a comprehensive overview of the Pulwama attack, its repercussions, investigation progress, and long-term counter-terrorism measures taken by India.
What Happened in Pulwama on February 14, 2019?- A convoy of over 70 CRPF vehicles was en route from Jammu to Srinagar when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into one of the buses near Lethpora in Pulwama district. The impact killed 40 jawans on the spot and injured several others. JeM quickly claimed responsibility.
- The bomber was identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, a local youth from South Kashmir who had reportedly joined JeM in 2018. The attack involved nearly 80 kg of explosives, including RDX and ammonium nitrate.
- In response to the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force launched the Balakot airstrike on February 26, 2019, targeting a JeM training camp in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. This marked India’s first air raid across the Line of Control (LoC) since the 1971 war.
- India revoked Pakistan’s MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status.
- Global pressure intensified on Pakistan to act against JeM leadership.
- The United Nations Security Council condemned the attack and eventually listed Masood Azhar, JeM chief, as a global terrorist.
- India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a detailed probe and uncovered a wide terror module operating from Pulwama and South Kashmir. Several overground workers and local collaborators were arrested. The NIA found that Pakistan-based handlers coordinated the attack via encrypted messaging apps.
- By 2023, all identified local operatives involved in the planning or logistics of the attack had either been neutralized in encounters or arrested.
- The Pulwama attack led to sweeping reforms in convoy movement protocols, border surveillance, and terror financing laws.
- Convoys are now accompanied by aerial surveillance drones and road sanitization teams.
- The government launched Operation All-Out, intensifying counter-terror operations in South Kashmir.
- Legislative changes allowed the seizure of property and bank accounts linked to terrorist funding.
- Shiv Sena cautions government against any kind of 'war for poll gain' rhetoric
The remarks came a day after the BJP and the Shiv Sena announced a seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections, overcoming their strained ties and earlier declarations of going solo.
- Delhi HC junks plea asking media to use word martyr for reporting casualties in terror attacks
A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao declined to hear the petition by a lawyer, who had contended that use of words like 'killed' or 'died' was not respectful.
- FIR against former JNU student leader Shehla Rashid for ‘spreading rumours’ on aftermath of Pulwama attack
Three days after the terror attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans, Rashid posted on Twitter that a few Kashmiri students had to lock themselves up as a violent mob had surrounded them.
- Pakistan civil, military leadership to meet to discuss tensions with India after Pulwama attack: Report
The attack has heightened bilateral tensions with both New Delhi and Islamabad calling back their envoys.
- Pakistan seeks urgent UN intervention to de-escalate fresh tensions with India
On February 14, at least 41 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in Kashmir's Pulwama district in a suicide attack claimed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group.
- Pulwama attack: Congress alleges 'huge security lapses', asks PM Narendra Modi to 'walk the talk'
The Congress in the last few days had avoided directly attacking the government after Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that his party is not going to have any conversation over the next couple of days other than the fact that "our most beloved people have been killed, their families need us, and we are going to stand with them".
- Branded traitors, Kashmiri students across north India fear for life
Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad members called on all Kashmiri students residing in Dehradun to leave “within 24 hours”
- Barkha Dutt alleges threat calls, harassment on social media, accuses Twitter of being 'tone deaf'
Noted Hindi language journalist Abhisar Sharma also registered an official complaint with the police in Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai about threats made to him and his family
- Who are the five separatist leaders whose security cover has been removed?
Most leaders on the list had stated that they did not need the security detail provided to them in the first place
- CREDAI offers 2BHK houses to families of CRPF martyrs in J&K
All 12,500 members of the association pray for the families struck by most grievous and untimely loss.
- Didn’t click selfie with Pulwama martyr’s coffin: Union Minister Alphons on viral photograph
Stating that such an act is punishable under the IPC, he said it is “uncharitable”, “unbecoming” and “illegal” to spread false news
- Pulwama attack shows time for talks over,hesitation to act against terror akin to encouraging it: PM Modi
Without naming Pakistan, Modi, after holding delegation-level talks with Argentine President Mauricio Macri here, said the world should unite to take concrete action against terrorism and those who support it.
- Yogi Adityanath visits slain CRPF jawan's family in Deoria
Vijay Laxmi, the slain CRPF jawan's wife, had refused to cremate the body till the chief minister visited them.
- Pakistan isolated globally after Pulwama terror attack: VK Singh
Speaking to mediapersons, the minister said more than 40 countries have issued strong statements against Pakistan.
- Terrorists using remote motorcycle keys to trigger IEDs in Kashmir: Report
The report stated that sometime back, an IED attack was engineered to target the personnel of the Army's 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) unit in Shopian district and it was found that the explosive was trigerred using a remote key used to lock and unlock a two-wheeler.
- Pulwama attack mastermind killed: All you need to know about Ghazi Abdul Rasheed aka Kamran
The 32-year-old, a Pakistani national, was a close and trusted aide of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar. He was an Afghan war veteran and an IED specialist and joined the terror group in 2008.
- Morale of armed forces high: Rajnath Singh
Singh's remarks came days after a terrorist rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a bus carrying CRPF personnel in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 40 jawans.
- Akhilesh Yadav attacks PM Modi govt over soldiers' deaths
Yadav had, on February 15, visited the house of slain CRPF personnel Pradeep, one of the 40 victims of the Pulwama terror attack, in Kannauj and paid condolences.
- MP Assembly passes unanimous resolution on Pulwama terror attack
On the first day of the session, the House also condoled the demise of senior leaders, including former defence minister George Fernandes and ex-Goa governor Bhanu Prakash Singh among others.
- India, Pakistan to face off in ICJ over Kulbhushan Jadhav's case
India moved the ICJ in May in 2017 against the "farcical trial" by the military court of Pakistan against 48-year-old Jadhav.
