New Delhi [India], April 28 (ANI): Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday launched a sharp attack on Pakistan, for continuing to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

While addressing the media, Puri said, 'Pakistan has been using terror as an instrument of state policy now for as long as I remember... Governments before Modi Ji would express some anger and then return to normalcy soon after,' Puri said. 'What the government will be doing is not for us here to speculate. We have a strong, mature government.'

Responding to the recent remarks made by Pakistan, Puri said, 'These stupid statements coming from there (Pakistan), they need to get their mental situation checked.'

He assured that stringent actions will be taken, saying, 'This time there will be no compromise and the government will take strict action... They will be brought down to their knees.'

Earlier today, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta distributed Ayushman Bharat cards to eligible senior citizens under the Pradhan Mantri Vay Vandana Yojana at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi.

The launch event marked the distribution of Ayushman Vay Vandana cards, which aim to provide healthcare benefits to citizens aged 70 and above.

The Indian government on Friday revoked all categories of visas issued to Pakistani citizens, except for long-term, diplomatic, and official visas, effective immediately from April 27. The Union government's decision to suspend visa services for Pakistani nationals followed the Pahalgam terror attack.

The terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on tourists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, including one Nepalese national, who were brutally gunned down.

The incident happened around 2 pm at Baisaran meadow, near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans. (ANI)