The blood spilled in Pahalgam has stained the conscience of a nation. Twenty-six innocent lives were lost in a brutal terrorist attack that has shaken Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India to its core. Among the haunting images and viral videos that emerged from the aftermath, one stands out: Sheetal Kalathia from Gujarat, crying in anguish, confronting a Union Minister with piercing questions . “What about the taxpayer? Where were the soldiers? Where was the medical help?” Her pain echoes the unanswered questions haunting every Indian today.
Why was there no security at Baisaran, a tourist hotspot known for its picturesque beauty? How could such an attack happen in one of the world’s most militarised zones, especially after the repeated assurances that Kashmir is now “normal” and safe? These questions demand more than token responses they demand accountability.
For decades, Kashmir has lived under the shadow of conflict. Veteran journalist Anuradha Bhasin rightly notes that since the 1990s, it has been rare to see any public space without some form of security. Her bewilderment is justified: how could such a lapse occur in a region that has always been under tight
surveillance?
More troubling is the speed with which authorities released details about the attackers, sketches, names, affiliations within hours of the incident. How were these conclusions reached so quickly, when security forces reportedly took time to even arrive at the scene? Bhasin, like many others, questions the credibility of the investigation and warns against political narratives overshadowing ground realities. The abrogation of Article 370 was supposed to usher in peace, but sporadic violence and loss of life continue, revealing an unsettling truth:
military presence may suppress, but it does not resolve.
Security experts are divided. Professor Amitabh Mattoo of JNU points to a recent trend pulling back visible military presence at tourist sites to promote a sense of normalcy. But this “invisible strategy,” as he calls it, seems to have created a dangerous blind spot. Former J&K DGP SP Vaid echoes this concern, arguing that remote tourist zones should have at least basic police deployment. The Kashmir Valley spans 120 by 38 kilometers; the idea that it’s impossible to secure every corner cannot justify failing to secure well-known, populated locations.
Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the Pahalgam attack is the deliberate targeting of civilians, especially Hindus. An ominous shift from traditional strategies of targeting security forces. Retired Lt Gen Satish Dua compares this to the Hamas-style attacks seen in Israel in 2023. This new tactic is designed not just to kill, but to amplify terror, to provoke a visceral response across the nation. Women survivors, traumatised and grieving, become messengers of horror fuel for the emotional fire the attackers intended to light across India.
Why are civilians now in the crosshairs? Mattoo suggests this may be a calculated move to shatter the illusion of peace and reject the notion of a “normal” Kashmir. It raises another uncomfortable question: was there an intelligence failure?
Both Mattoo and Dua agree .Yes, there was. The lack of advance warning, the absence of electronic intercepts, and the missed signs especially provocative statements by the Pakistani Army Chief days before the attack suggest a breakdown in our security apparatus. India, Dua warns, is over-reliant on electronic surveillance and must reinvest in human intelligence to prevent such tragedies.
In the wake of the massacre, the Indian government convened an emergency Cabinet Committee on Security. Harsh measures were taken revoking Pakistani visas, suspending the Indus Water Treaty, and expelling diplomats. But punitive diplomacy cannot compensate for the failure to protect citizens on Indian soil.
Pahalgam is not just a site of tragedy; it is a mirror held up to the nation. It forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about our preparedness, our policies, and the narratives we choose to believe. The cries of grieving families must not fade into background noise. We owe them justice, answers and above
all change.