New Delhi, April 23 (H.S): Amidst the terrorist attack that occurred in Pahalgam on Tuesday, Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has shortened her official trip to the United States. This attack claimed the lives of 26 people, most of whom were tourists.

The Finance Ministry announced on ‘X’ on Wednesday that in light of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has curtailed her U.S. tour. Sitharaman is cutting short her official trip to the U.S. and Peru. She is returning to India on the earliest available flight to be with our people during this difficult and tragic time. In her ‘X’ post, Sitharaman condemned the attack, stating that there are no words to express the sorrow. She expressed condolences to the victims. She wrote, Heartbreaking news from Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. I condemn this act of terrorism.

The Finance Minister reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words, stating, “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared! Their nefarious agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to combat terrorism is unwavering and will grow even stronger.”

Sitharaman is a member of the five-member Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Modi also cut short his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to India. Sitharaman was on an 11-day trip to the United States and Peru from April 20 to participate in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings and the meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar