ICAI holds council meeting in Pahalgam, first such high-level gathering since April 22 attack

In a gesture of solidarity, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) chose the serene valley of Pahalgam to celebrate India’s 79th Independence Day, becoming the first national institution to hold a high-level meeting there since the attack on April 22 when terrorists shot dead 26 civilians.

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The gathering of around 150 members comprising ICAI members and their families served as a beacon of hope for a community still reeling from loss and uncertainty in the aftermath of the April terror attack.

The ICAI decided to host its 445th council meeting in Pahalgam from August 12–14, 2025 and its president, Charanjot Singh Nanda, said it was a conscious effort to rebuild trust and signal a return to normalcy.

Charanjot Singh Nanda during the 79th Independence Day celebration in Pahalgam, Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, on August 15, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI