On April 22, 2025, terrorists affiliated with The Resistance Front(TRF), an affiliate of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, opened fire on a group of tourists at the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam in J&K, a remote tourist spot accessible by foot or pony. They used M4 carbines and AK-47s and massacred 26 people, injuring more than 20 others.
According to survivors, gunmen in military-style uniforms emerged from nearby forests and opened fire on the crowd. The attackers had asked for names and demanded that the victims recite the kalma. They checked for circumcisions to identify and spare Muslims, ensuring they kill only Hindus. This diabolic act of mindless violence has shaken the conscience of the nation.
It was not a mere terrorist attack, but a deliberate set piece attack planned and executed by the Pakistan establishment. Following events/statements substantiate this.
1. Due to continuous attacks on Pakistani Army personnel and civilians by the Baloch Liberation Army in Baluchistan, by TTP in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rampant corruption, the Pakistan Army is loosing its credibility and aura as saviour of people of Pakistan, gradually. Poor economy and high inflation are also hitting the common man. Also farmers in Pak’s Punjab and Sindh have been up in arms against Army as they are diverting water for making defence canals. To divert attention from domestic problems, Pak Army has been raking up the Kashmir issue in the past also, to stay relevant. Therefore while addressing the overseas Pakistani convention in Pakistan on 16 Apr 2025, General Munir spoke about Kashmir and said that “ Kashmir was our jugular vein and will remain so, we will not forget this and will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle.” He added that their ideology and culture are superior and they were different from Hindus in every aspect of life. This was the foundation of two nation theory. His hateful speech gave a green signal for terrorist for this violence.
2. National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhallah, in a TV interview said that they are not interested in tourism as this leads to cultural invasion in Kashmir. She encouraged hatred against outsiders and fuelled separatism
3. TRF commander Khalid (Saifulla Kasuri) was in touch with his Pak handler Abu Musa, who on 16 Apr 20254, in a speech at Faridkot in POK said that guns will keep raging and beheading will continue as Kashmir’s demography is being changed by the government by giving domicile certificates. Audio intercepts by our intelligence agencies reveal that detailed reconnaissance and rehearsal was carried out for this attack.
4. Timing of Attack
(a) US Vice President J D Vance is in India for a visit. This attack is an attempt to embarrass India. In Mar 2000, Chattisinghpura massacre of 35 Sikhs took place, just before the visit of Bill Clinton to India. After his visit 21 Amaranth pilgrims were killed by Pak terrorists. In Feb 2020, during Donald Trump’s visit’, Delhi riots took place. So there has been a pattern of such like violence.
(b) The PM was on a visit to Saudi Arabia and our relations are improving with them, which is not palatable to Pakistan.
(c) Situation in Kashmir has been improving after abrogation of Article 370. Last year over two crore tourist visited Kashmir. This year also the Kashmir has been full of tourists and the season has just started. Lots of investment is coming in the valley. Also elections were conducted peacefully without a shot having been fired.
Options For India
It is learnt that Pakistan has been anticipating some kinetic actions from India as has been after Uri and Pulwama attacks. Pakistan has moved some of its Air Force assets from Karachi to strengthen defences in Lahore and Islamabad Area. Air Defence on Indian border has also been beefed up and cross border firng took place in Poonch Area today. Indian government will however not have kneejerk reaction and will take strong, well thought out actions in various spheres keeping conflict escalation ladder in mind.
At present the government can take strong action against Pakistan as it has full domestic support for a stern action. Diplomatic cache in terms of international support of Modi is also much larger than any of his predecessors. In addition, Pakistan is a weak state economically, militarily, politically and due to fissures in their society.
Some of the options are in succeeding paras.
Non Kinetic Actions
1. It is just learnt that India has suspended Indus Water Treaty. A very bold and welcome step. This has not been done in last four wars we fought with Pak. This will exacerbate the water situation in Punjab and Sindh and their farmers will blame Pak Army for this. Also , this will help us in constructing dams on these rivers as per our requirement without any interference by the Pak, as had been happening so far e.g. Kishan Ganga Dam, Chandra Bhaga Dam.
2. Diplomatic and economic relations should be severed with Pak. Our mercantile exports to Pak was $1.21 billion in 2024. This should be totally stopped. Embassy staff has been reduced from 56 to 30 as per instructions issued today and hopefully will be further reduced.
3. A diplomatic blitzkrieg in all world forums must be launched to declare Pak as a terror sponsor state. FATF also needs to be sensitised.
4. In J&K, number of Muslims have been given illegal land in remote areas under Roshni Act. These people help infiltrators as guides through nalas and jungles. This should be stopped.
5. We need to strongly crackdown on underground and over ground support base of Pak in J&K . Our intelligence agencies and society as such should isolate and call out Pak sympathisers and apologists. Whole of nation approach is needed in this case.
6. No games to be played with Pak even in a third country. Any foreign player who plays in Pak should not be allowed to be part of IPL.
7. Any company who does business with Pak should be sanctioned and not allowed business with India.
8. In the long run we should separate Jammu from Kashmir. Jammu may be a state but Kashmir valley be made union territory without assembly under a Lt Governor.
Kinetic Actions
We did surgical and Balakot strikes in the past. Their effect lasted for few months only and Pak was back to its nefarious activities of fomenting trouble in Kashmir. Though our PM has been saying that this is not an era of war, but when war is thrust upon us, we should not be seen as a weak state. Following be done:-
1.Activate Line of Control and fire long range arty, mortars, missiles, drones. to target not only Pak posts and terrorist training bases, which enable infiltration but also their Brigade HQs, which are in POK. We must send body bags back in Pak Punjab.
2. Surgical strike at an appropriate target at the time of our choosing .
3. Baluchistan and KP are already in conflict with Pak Army. BLA and TTP also need economic and military support.
Let Pakistan call our actions an act of war and raise nuclear bogey. Appeals and warning to Pak are not warranted. Let our actions convey the message and compel Pak to approach us.
We also need to fill up the gaps in the security grid in J&K, which was thinned out for eastern Laddakh. Though it has happened partially. Also, creating intelligence grid on ground is a time-consuming process.
Deficiencies of manpower of defence forces be made up at earliest. Russia Ukraine war has shown that we need adequate manpower for fighting wars, despite availability of modern technology and weapon systems.. And especially in mountains and counter terrorist operations more manpower is needed. Cost cutting measures should be done keeping this in mind.
Action of the Supreme Court in forcing conduct of elections in J&K last year has somewhat weakened the security infrastructure in J&K. Now CM heads the Unified Command and all agencies report to him. Politicians and State administrative Service Officers of J&K, do have their say in various security related actions, which does affect coordination among security agencies may not be in the best interest, given the situation in J&K. The Supreme Court should also consider not transgressing in the domain of executive.
Today in West Bengal also Hindus are being targeted by Muslims with tacit support of the state government. PFI document caught sometime back revealed their plan for Gazwa-e- Hind by 2047. We need to smell the coffee and the society needs to unite to eradicate this menace of jihad.
Action announced today by the government are first in the series of various actions expected. We have a strong and decisive government at the centre, for whom national interest is always paramount. They will ensure the safety and integrity of our borders and citizens. Opposition parties also need to extend full support to the government in its endeavours.
