Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to identify, trace and punish every terrorist and their backers, spelling out India’s resolve in his first speech after the attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in which at least 26 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down.

He started his speech in Bihar’s Madhubani, calling on the audience to pay their respects to those killed in Kashmir.

Modi switched to English when he said, "Friends, today from the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished."

In the stern message, he said, "Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us. I thank the people of various countries and their leaders who have stood with us in these times."

In a message to Pakistan without naming the country, Modi said he will state it categorically that the terrorists who carried out the attack and those who hatched the conspiracy, they will be punished beyond their imagination. "Punishment will definitely be served." The Prime Minister said the willpower of 140 crore Indians will break the back of patrons of terrorism.

Paying condolences to the victims and their families, he said citizens across the country are in mourning over the brutal manner in which terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians in Kashmir on April 22. The nation stands with their families, he said.

Modi, other leaders on the dais and the crowd observed silence to pay homage to the victims of the attack at the beginning of the Prime Minister's speech.

The Prime Minister said all of India shares the pain of the families who have lost their loved ones in the dastardly attack.

“Some lost their son, some a brother, some a partner. This sorrow is the sorrow of the entire nation,” he stressed.

“No one will be spared,” he vowed. “Neither the ones who pulled the trigger nor the ones who plotted in the shadows.”

Modi’s speech is to address panchayati raj Institutions and gram sabhas across the country. He is also launching several projects worth approximately Rs 13,500 crore on the occasion.

(With inputs from agencies)