The brutal killing of at least 28 tourists in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam on Tuesday is nothing short of a national shame. That such a heinous act could be carried out in one of India’s most picturesque and heavily visited tourist destinations is a chilling reminder that the threat of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir is far from over. It is also a wake-up call for a country that has grown too comfortable in the illusion of “normalcy.”
The attack, reportedly carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF)—an offshoot of the Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba—was deliberate, targeted, and devastating. Two foreigners were among the dead, while dozens more were injured in what is the deadliest strike on civilians in the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The message is clear: India’s internal security framework is in urgent need of re-evaluation.
Despite numerous high-level security reviews, this attack exposes glaring lapses in surveillance, intelligence gathering, and protection of civilian zones. The government has repeatedly promised peace and progress in the region. But how can these promises hold weight when tourists—symbols of returning confidence—are gunned down in broad daylight?
Terrorists have once again succeeded in their goal: to create fear, disrupt civilian life, and undermine India’s sovereignty. But they could not have done so without the loopholes that exist within our security architecture. That such a high-casualty attack could be executed in a place under constant monitoring should prompt nothing less than a complete security overhaul.
This is not just a tragedy for Kashmir—it is an attack on the very idea of India as a safe, inclusive, and united nation. It is imperative now for the Centre to move beyond reactionary statements and make visible, structural improvements to national security. Intelligence coordination must be sharpened, tourist hotspots must be fortified, and local communities must be empowered to act as the first line of defense.
The Prime Minister’s early return from Saudi Arabia is symbolic, but what India needs now is substance: stronger counterterror strategies, actionable intelligence operations, and unambiguous diplomatic messaging to Pakistan. This must be treated not merely as a regional incident, but as an act of war against civilians.
The blood spilled in Pahalgam should not fade into the background of political convenience. It should strengthen our resolve to fortify every inch of this country—and ensure that never again are innocent lives lost to the cracks in our security system.
