Your editorial (Irish Times) on the heinous act of terrorism in Pahalgam in India’s union territory of J&K is not only lacking in professional objectivity but is in sharp contrast with the expressions of sympathy the Indian embassy has received from the people of Ireland, led by Taoiseach Michel Martin who stated that “Ireland stands in solidarity with the people of India” (“Wider conflict must be avoided”, Editorial, April 28).
What happened in Pahalgam on April 22 was not a mere “attack” on “tourists” or a random act of violence. It was a barbaric, premeditated, targeted massacre in which the perpetrators killed Hindus after ascertaining their religion, shooting most of them at point-blank range in front of their wives and children. It clearly bore the trademark of an operation executed by the military establishment of Pakistan, a state founded on hatred for Hindus. The modus operandi of the terrorists echoed the voice of the Pakistan army chief, who had delivered an incendiary speech about the nefarious two-nation theory on April 16.
The Pahalgam attack has been condemned worldwide. President of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, was among the first global leaders to condemn the vile terror attack”. The UN Security Council also unanimously “condemned in strongest terms the terrorist attack” and underlined “the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice” (The Irish Times failed to mention this main operative portion of the UN statement).
It is bizarre that instead of standing with the innocent victims, The Irish Times has chosen to provide cover fire for the terrorists by charging the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, of “rattling sabres” and equating india with Pakistan, the global epicentre of terrorism, known for harbouring UN-designated terrorists and providing a safe haven for many years to Osama bin Laden.
Contrary to The Irish Times’s misperception about J&K’s “limited autonomy replaced by direct rule and a harsh security crackdown on Hindu nationalist Modi’s election in 2019”, the people have, in fact, witnessed unprecedented economic and infrastructural development. There has been a revival of domestic and foreign investments and booming tourism, as well as a fully-fledged democratic political process since the abrogation of the temporary Article 370 from the constitution of India in 2019. The people of J&K elected a democratic government in a free and fair election in 2024 with 63.9 per cent turnout. There is outrage in India over the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The entire nation, including people in the Kashmir valley, all political parties and leaders of the opposition, and all prominent Muslim leaders and civil society, are united behind the government of India in its determination to punish the perpetrators and conspirators of the massacre. Such unity is extraordinary in a country of incredible diversity and plurality.
India, the mother of democracy, and its elected leadership have an accountability and obligation to its 1.4 billion citizens to provide them with a terror-free environment for a normal life.
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