CS Krishnamurthy
The brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir—where 26 innocent tourists, including honeymooning couples, jubilant families, and foreign nationals, were massacred—has ripped through the heart of India’s collective consciousness. What should have been a peaceful retreat to one of the most serene landscapes in the world turned into a horrifying bloodbath, shaking the nation to its crux.
This was not just another tragedy -but a targeted assault on humanity, harmony, and hope. These were not just statistics but living, breathing people with dreams, milestones, and stories. A newlywed naval officer and his bride, a proud father from Karnataka, a bank retiree, a local Kashmiri Muslim who shielded guests from gunfire -all fell to bullets born of hatred. These victims remind us that terror knows no religion, no reason—only ruin.
Kashmir, often poetically hailed as “Paradise on Earth,” now stands scorched with grief, its snow blood-stained. The psychological wounds inflicted on the survivors will outlast any headline -children who watched parents die, mothers who lost their sons, friends who couldn’t save friends. The emotional, human toll defies articulation.
While the human cost of the Pahalgam attack is overwhelming, its broader implications are equally chilling. This was a direct strike on Kashmir’s socio-economic soul. The Valley, slowly emerging from the shadows of militancy, had been basking in a tourism boom -with over 2 crore visitors last year alone. Local businesses, hotels, houseboats, and artisan markets had come alive, offering hope and employment to thousands.
That is exactly what the terrorists wanted to destroy.
They didn’t just aim to kill people. They intended to murder Kashmir’s comeback story, scare away its visitors, and strangle its economy. This wasn’t random violence -it was economic sabotage wrapped in ideological extremism.
Will tourists feel safe again? Can we truly protect those who come to celebrate Kashmir’s beauty?
These are not just rhetorical questions. They demand real answers and swift action.
A crisis of security, the cost of complacency
For all the government’s reassurances about a “terror-free Kashmir,” the reality has proven painfully different. Pahalgam, with its proximity to the Amarnath Yatra route, should have been under high surveillance. Yet, heavily armed terrorists, dressed in military fatigues, crept in with chilling precision.
What went wrong? Was there a lapse in intelligence? Why was real-time surveillance not active in such a critical location?
These are not questions of blame, but accountability.
Despite their claims, terror outfits like The Resistance Front (TRF)—a known proxy of Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba - continue to operate with impunity. The timing of the attack, coinciding with the visit of US Vice President JD Vance and a critical diplomatic trip by India’s Prime Minister, indicates this was a calculated move.
Pakistan’s hand in this is not just suspected -it’s glaring. The toxic rhetoric from their Army chief just days before the attack underscores their continued support for cross-border terrorism. It's time, the world recognises Pakistan not merely as a “troubled neighbour” but as a habitual offender.
What must be done?
India must now act -not react -with strategic clarity and moral courage. Here are some urgent steps:
1. Tourist hubs must be secured with AI-driven surveillance, drone patrolling, and better on-ground visibility.
2. Strengthen local informant networks by restoring trust and empowering community policing.
3. Victims’ families need both compensation and trauma care. Business recovery packages for local stakeholders are essential.
4. Global platforms like the UN must be used to expose Pakistan’s terror nexus, demanding sanctions where necessary.
Mere condemnation is not enough.
Lastly
Kashmir is not just a piece of land. It is a pulse, a people, a promise of unity in diversity. Let Pahalgam not just be remembered for the blood spilled—but for the united resolve it awakens. Let us not be divided by religion, but united by justice. Let this not remain just another news cycle, but a national awakening.