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The massacre of 26 people, most of them tourists, in Pahalgam, Kashmir, by Islamist terrorists has jolted the conscience of the nation and the world. It is a tragic reminder of the constant threat of terrorism, which strikes without warning at innocent civilians. The mind-numbing reports of the attackers identifying victims by religion before executing them at close range mark a new low in the history of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the attack site, asserted that “Bharat won’t bend to terrorism,” while Prime Minister Narendra Modi curtailed his visit to Saudi Arabia to return to New Delhi. India must speak in one voice in this period of national calamity. It is imperative to avoid internal divisions that could threaten social cohesion. The unity of the Indian people is the most potent antidote to terror instigated from across the border. Amid the horror, a local Muslim man tried to shield the tourists but lost his own life in the process. Widespread protests across Kashmir following the incident also signalled a rejection of such violence by ordinary citizens. The victims hailed from all parts of India, reflecting the diversity of those who were drawn to Kashmir as it re-emerged as a favoured tourist destination. The attack has disrupted not just lives, but also livelihoods in a region economically dependent on tourism.
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New Delhi’s response must address the people of Kashmir, the broader Indian public, Pakistan, and the international community. Since 2019, India has followed a new policy approach in Kashmir, strengthening infrastructure and connectivity to integrate the region more closely with the rest of the country. Yet, the broader global environment has grown more volatile, with internal instability and international conflicts on the rise. India’s strategy must be guided by realism grounded in national interest and devoid of empty rhetoric as it seeks to isolate Pakistan, whose export of terrorism is predicated on the two-nation theory and Hindu-Muslim hostility. The national resolve must be firm and focused in the face of terror as the government does everything possible to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.
Published – April 24, 2025 12:48 am IST
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Unity and resolve: On the terror attack in Pahalgam
