The horrific killing of 28 tourists and the injuring of many more in Pahalgam, Kashmir, is a grim reminder that terrorism is not merely an act of violence — it is a calculated strategy to divide, provoke, and destabilise. The terrorists who carried out this bloodbath had one clear aim: to ignite a communal fire across India.
There can be no other plausible explanation for such a targeted and brutal assault, especially when tourism remains the economic lifeline of Kashmir. It is a relief, and indeed a glimmer of hope, that the people of Kashmir have risen in unison to denounce the attack.
From mosque loudspeakers echoing condemnation to spontaneous street protests, the Valley has made it abundantly clear that terrorists do not speak for them. Nor do they represent them. In fact, one brave, poor Kashmiri even laid down his life trying to protect the very tourists the terrorists sought to kill — a heroic act that defines the true spirit of the Valley called Kashmiriyat.
Equally heartening is the composure displayed by people across the country. Despite the terrorists’ sinister attempt to trigger communal tension, reportedly asking victims for their names before pulling the trigger, there has been no retaliatory violence. This restraint reflects a maturity and unity that India must preserve at all costs. The silence of hate is more powerful than the noise of violence.
At this moment, communal harmony is not just a moral choice but a strategic imperative to defeat the larger designs of terrorism. Needless to say, terrorism has no religion, no nation, and no justification. Yet, terrorists thrive on religious symbolism, using it as a weapon to tear communities apart. It is a cruel irony that in their effort to destroy peace, they often end up harming the very people they claim to defend.
The greatest victims of this attack, apart from the deceased tourists and their families, are the ordinary Kashmiris whose livelihood depends on tourism. Hotels and resorts are now seeing mass cancellations, plunging thousands into economic uncertainty.
This is a war against evil in which all Indians, irrespective of religion, language, or region, must stand shoulder to shoulder. The government must move swiftly to identify and punish the perpetrators. If foreign hands, especially Pakistan’s, are found behind this heinous act, they must face consequences — diplomatically, strategically, and if necessary, militarily.
But the most powerful response must come from the people. By refusing to be divided, by continuing to visit Kashmir, by extending support to the victims and their families, and by reaffirming our shared values, we send a loud, unambiguous message: India will not break. Terror will not triumph. And hate will never win.
