On the evening of April 22, while tourists were enjoying the serene beauty of Pahalgam, terrorists launched a brutal attack. They singled out individuals by asking their names and religion, ultimately killing 26 innocent Indian citizens. The entire nation was left mourning this horrific tragedy. The attack posed a direct challenge to the writ of the state and raised serious questions about the security situation in Kashmir.
The government swiftly initiated an anti-terror operation, simultaneously terminating the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. They also began deporting Pakistani nationals residing in India. This decision raised eyebrows, as hundreds of Pakistani nationals, some of whom have lived in India for decades and possess valid Aadhaar cards, have even participated in elections. This underscores the seriousness of India’s commitment to internal security and the importance of obtaining Indian identification.
Ideological basis of Islamic Jihad
Many theorists of Islam project jihad as a political tool to convert the disbelievers (kafir). They aim to destroy the democratic system and install an Islamic caliphate. Terrorists are often guided by this ideology; for instance, Sayyid Qutb of Egypt, in his book “Milestones” (also known as “Ma’alim fi al-Tariq”), argued for the destruction of secular societies and the establishment of a totalitarian theocracy, using the Quran as a revolutionary manifesto. He introduced the notion that Muslim-majority societies not governed by his vision of Sharia are in a state of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic ignorance) and are thus legitimate targets. Several verses of the Quran somehow justify the killings of non-Muslims. For instance, Quran 9:5- known as the “Verse of the Sword” states: “Slay the polytheists wherever you find them…” Additionally, Quran 9:29 says: “Fight those who believe not in Allah…” Lastly, Quran 8:12 states: “I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Strike above their necks…” This verse has become a favourite for propaganda videos by ISIS and similar groups, often cited as a divine endorsement of beheading and psychological terror.
History of Jihad in the Valley
As renowned writer Taslima Nasreen stated at the Delhi Literature Festival, “Islam has not evolved in 1,400 years. Terrorism will stay as long as Islam is there.” The militancy in Kashmir has undergone three phases, beginning with the J&K Liberation Front (JKLF), which advocated for the pro-independence of Kashmir. The second phase commenced with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, which Favors the state’s merger with Pakistan. The third phase began in the late 1990s when pan-Islamist foreign groups joined the militancy, particularly under the leadership of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
From the 1950s, Pakistan adopted a quadrilateral approach to militancy in Kashmir. Between 1950 and 1990, four major groups were active in the Kashmir Valley: Jamat-e-Islami, which engaged in the groundwork for the radicalisation of Kashmiri youth; the Master Cell, which actively participated in terrorism and sent youth to Pakistan for terror training; Al-Fatah, an extension of the Master Cell; and JKLF, a politico-militant organisation advocating for the separation of J&K from India.
In the mid-1970s, political normalcy began in Kashmir following the Indira-Abdullah Accord. The Islamists of Kashmir, particularly Jamat-e-Islami and Al-Fatah, were dissatisfied with this development and sought assistance from Pakistan. Conversely, the JKLF initiated resistance against the Abdullah government, demanding a separate and independent Kashmir, which resulted in the massacre of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley.
For Pakistan, both the JKLF and the Abdullah government posed challenges to its strategies in Kashmir, prompting the diversion of Hafiz Saeed and his mujahideen to combat the insurgency. With the Afghan jihad nearing its end, Hafiz Saeed established a new terror outfit called Lashkar-e-Taiba in 1989. Meanwhile, the Jamat-e-Islami of Pakistan formed a new terror outfit known as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HeM), with cadres from Jamat-e-Islami Kashmir and Al-Fatah becoming the first recruits of HeM.
Subsequently, militants from LeT and HeM began targeting JKLF fighters and Kashmiri Hindus. The 1990s witnessed a surge in insurgency in the Kashmir Valley, with foreign fighters from Chechnya and Afghanistan participating in the Kashmir jihad, as Hafiz Saeed had connections with foreign recruiters. Following his release from the Kandahar hijacking, Masood Azhar established a new terror outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammed, to continue the fight for Kashmir. Currently, Pakistan has four quadrilaterals in Kashmir: Jaish-e-Mohammed, LeT, HeM, and the Hurriyat Conference, which have operated in the region until 2019 when Prime Minister Modi revoked Article 370.
After the removal of Article 370, the conflict economy of Kashmir crumbled, leading to the downfall of the Hurriyat Conference and HeM. Pakistan learned that the people of Kashmir would not be swayed under the umbrella of LeT and Jaish, prompting a dismantling of these groups. LeT redirected its cadres into The Resistance Front (TRF), while Jaish directed its cadre into the People Anti-Fascist Front. These two new entities have gained traction within global freedom movements, such as feminist and anti-fascist movements, portraying themselves as freedom fighters opposing the fascist Indian government, despite being composed of former members of Jaish and LeT. Essentially, they represent old ideologies in a new guise.
Foreign elements behinds the radicalisation of subcontinent
Radicalisation in this subcontinent is neither new nor did it originate from external sources. Ideologies such as Deobandi, Barelvi, and, in fact, significant elements of Wahhabism can be traced back to the medieval period. From Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi and Shah Waliullah to Maulana Masood Azhar, radicalisation has always existed in the minds of the mullahs. Foreign influence during the Cold War institutionalised this ideology through petrodollars and the support of the Uncle Sam.
In 1979, when the USSR entered Afghanistan, America perceived it as a golden opportunity to avenge the loss in Vietnam. With the assistance of Saudi Arabia, the United States began radicalising the Afghan people. Several madrasas were established in Pakistan, where professors and clerics from Saudi Arabia came to indoctrinate the youth of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Osama bin Laden, along with his professor Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, who is often referred to as the father of global jihad, played a significant role in this movement. Numerous madrasas were established across Pakistan to radicalise the youth of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Markaz-ud-Dawa, the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was also established in Muridke, where India conducted a strike on May 7.
The year 1979 was revolutionary in the history of Islam. The Iranian Revolution occurred, leading to a power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia within the Muslim world. Both nations sought to position themselves as the true leaders of Islam, resulting in significant investments in proxy terror groups, which contributed to radicalisation across the globe.
In the same year, the seizure of Mecca took place, where a group of 200 radicals, followers of Juhayman, gathered at the Grand Mosque alongside 50,000 other pilgrims. After prayer, one of them began to read a prepared speech: “Fellow Muslims, we announce today the coming of the Mahdi… who shall reign with justice and fairness on Earth after it has been filled with injustice and oppression.” They believed that the House of Saud had become spiritually corrupt due to the influence of petrodollars, and that only a divine intervention could guide the Muslims. For the pilgrims in the courtyard, this was an extraordinary announcement.
According to hadiths, reports of what the Prophet Muhammad said or approved of the coming of the Mahdi, or the divinely guided one, is foretold. He is described as a man endowed with extraordinary powers by God, and some Muslims believe he will usher in an era of justice and true belief. The preacher, Khaled al-Yami, a follower of Juhayman, claimed that “countless visions have testified to the coming of the Mahdi.” Hundreds of Muslims had seen him in their dreams, Yami asserted, and now he was in their midst. The Mahdi has come, and he is Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Qahatani. After 15 days of fighting, the siege was finally broken with the assistance of French forces. Following this incident, Saudi Arabia adopted an ultra-conservative path for most of the next four decades, which further fueled radicalisation in the subcontinent.
Siege ceasefire and after
As Ruchir Sharma states, “India disappoints both optimists and pessimists. When hopes run high, there is disappointment, but when the country manages to avoid a crisis, there is optimism.” Fourteen days after the Pahalgam massacre, India finally struck back. On May 7, early in the morning, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine locations in Punjab and deep within Pakistan. Indian missiles destroyed terror camps and eliminated remaining trainee terrorists, including high-ranking individuals. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh quoted the Ramayana in Parliament, stating, “Jinh mohi mara tee main mara,” meaning we eliminated those who attacked us; we specifically target terrorist camps, not military or civilian infrastructure. Following this, Pakistan retaliated with several missiles and drones, targeting 15 cities, but all were destroyed by our air defence system. The final strike occurred early in the morning on May 10, when India targeted four air bases of the Pakistan Air Force, jeopardising its air power. All PAF squadrons became sitting ducks. We claimed total superiority over Pakistan and undermined its atomic bluff; however, in the evening, news emerged that India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire. This incident became another chapter in the history books, where we were just a few steps from victory, only to be interrupted by unforeseen circumstances.
India has agreed to a ceasefire on its terms, stipulating that any further acts of retaliation or terrorist attacks will be regarded as acts of war. The suspension of the Indus Water Treaty remains unaffected. No information will be shared with Pakistan, and India will initiate water projects on the three northern rivers. The duration of this ceasefire remains uncertain; however, we are undoubtedly witnessing a shift in India’s doctrine of warfare, wherein India will respond to any actions without regard for nuclear deterrence. There remains significant potential for a major terrorist attack. Asim Munir is weakened in Pakistan due to his misadventures, which have permanently harmed Pakistan’s water security. This situation has real-world consequences, and his only viable option for survival appears to be terrorism. Although peace is often transient, it is an inherent characteristic of peace; India has gained significantly by dismantling several terrorist camps and madrasas, effectively eliminating future terrorists whom Pakistan considers a second line of defence.
Some hard-hitting lessons
After this incident, we learned some hard lessons on internal security, terrorism, and foreign policy. First and foremost, we cannot totally eliminate Pakistan or annihilate terrorism in the near future. We can only maintain and create a credible deterrence for the near future. We attempted this after the Uri and Balakot strikes, but those measures were not long-lasting. This time, we hope messaging and deterrence should be much more credible and stronger.
Second, when we discuss internal security in India, a common understanding is that demography is destiny. Famous author and historian Arnold Toynbee remarked, “Civilisations die from suicide, not by murder.” This means that when the creative minorities of a country, namely the executive, legislature, and judiciary, do not respond aptly to challenges and focus more on short-term goals and personal interests, it leads to a suicidal tendency that can result in the collapse of civilisation. Today, demography is changing rapidly due to the heavy infiltration of Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims, and we do not have a National Register of Citizens (NRC) yet. However, it is high time to deport them back. When the Hasina government was in power in Bangladesh, it was difficult to deport illegal Bangladeshis because of personal relations. But today, with a hostile government in Bangladesh, it is an opportune time to conduct the NRC and deport all illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims.
Third, we have learned a hard lesson in foreign policy. In today’s world, if you maintain a neutral stance on all international issues, when a crisis arises, no one will support you. We did not receive substantial backing from the international community. No one condemned Pakistan in unequivocal terms. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised certain European countries, stating that India seeks partners rather than preachers who do not uphold the same principles at home. While it is not inherently detrimental to engage in our conflicts independently, we exhibit a significant degree of self-reliance in this respect. We prefer that no foreign power intervenes in our domestic affairs; if one is unable to support India, then it is advisable not to interfere in our matters either.
Last, In these challenging times of conflict, our armed forces and political leaders are diligently fulfilling their responsibilities. However, as responsible citizens of Bharat, we, too, have vital duties to uphold. Misinformation is rampant on social media and, alarmingly, even in some leading newspapers that many young aspirants consider reliable sources. This misinformation is causing unnecessary panic among the masses. It is our duty to educate our fellow citizens and dispel any fears, countering false narratives with factual information, especially during this critical period. We must be prepared for the consequences of war; if the cities of Pakistan are vulnerable, so too are the cities of India.
We must brace ourselves for a multifaceted conflict in the near future. While our army defends our borders, we, as citizens, must safeguard our communities from within. It is essential to protect critical infrastructure, foster local community resilience, and educate others to eliminate panic. We may face losses, including soldiers and civilians, as well as aircraft and drones. Nevertheless, we must support our government, combat misinformation, protect our citizens, and uplift the morale of our people, soldiers, and government.
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