‘Devotion is etched in our consciousness’: PM Modi pays tribute to fallen soldiers on Pulwama attack anniversary India News

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to the soldiers killed in the Pulwama attack seven years ago, calling them “brave heroes”.“In memory of the brave heroes who laid down their lives in Pulwama on this day in 2019. Their dedication, determination and service to their country are forever etched in our collective consciousness. Every Indian draws strength from their enduring courage,” Prime Minister Modi said on X.Vice President Radhakrishnan also expressed his condolences on the seventh anniversary of the attack. “I salute the brave men and women who gave their lives in this war Pulwama terror attack. Their supreme sacrifice will forever remain etched in the memory of the nation and continue to inspire us in building a strong and secure India. “On February 14, 2019, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Indian history occurred in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. A suicide blast attacked a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy traveling along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, killing 40 people. The day has since become known as “Black Day” in the country’s security narrative.A convoy of 78 buses carrying nearly 2,500 Central Reserve Police personnel was traveling from Jammu to Srinagar when an explosive-laden vehicle rammed into one of the buses, causing massive casualties and destruction.The attack drew widespread international condemnation and led to an immediate tightening of security protocols in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility and said a suicide bomber carried out the attack, local media reported.India responded with a series of counterterrorism measures, the most notable of which were air strikes on so-called terror training camps in Pakistan. The military operation marked a sharp escalation in tensions between the two countries.Beyond its immediate impact, the Pulwama attack has reignited global debates on cross-border terrorism, militants in Jammu and Kashmir and broader security dynamics between India and Pakistan.