The dastardly terror attack on innocent civilians on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Kashmir calls upon Indian armed forces to respond swiftly. The earlier strategic operations i.e. Balakot air strike and surgical strikes on Pakistan’s terror launch pads are apt examples for India’s befitting replies. However, India should choose its time and mode of retaliatory attack.  India’s calm, proportionate response should be a congruence of military, political and economic factors. India should push its diplomatic offensive in cornering Pakistan on the world stage and rightfully label it as perpetrator and instigator of terrorism in the region. Former diplomat, Kanwar Sibal has aptly remarked that blood and water do not go together, while commenting on the decision undertaken by India for an indefinite suspension of Indus water treaty with Pakistan.
Kinetic Measures
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his trip to Saudi Arabia and Home Minister Amit Shah paid a visit to Pahalgam, a slew of kinetic measures were announced by the Ministry of External Affairs, decided at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Security held in New Delhi, yesterday. The measures include: keeping the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance; Pakistani nationals not to be issued an Indian visa; the Atari border check post with Pakistan will be shut down; India will withdraw staff from its high commission in Pakistan; and the current visas of Pakistani nationals have been cancelled, and they must leave India within 48 hours. It would be no surprise that more stringent and vigilant measures would follow to safeguard the security and integrity of India.
There is a global outrage after the Pahalgam terror attack. Nations stands with India as solidarity pours in from across the globe. US President Trump strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of the heinous attack. Russian President Putin extended condolences and said that this brutal crime has no justification whatsoever and its perpetrators will face a deserved punishment.  The foreign ministry in Beijing offered sincere sympathies following the attack. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman also expressed his anguish over the terror attack in Kashmir. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas also condemned the attack.  The global sentiments are aligned with India’s zero tolerance towards terrorism. India acknowledges sympathies and condolences, nevertheless, she would act in her national interest in holding those responsible for the horrific attack accountable.
India’s calm, proportionate response should be a congruence of military, political and economic factors. India should push its diplomatic offensive in cornering Pakistan on the world stage and rightfully label it as perpetrator and instigator of terrorism in the region
The Talibanisation of Afghanistan, persecution of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, marginalisation and displacement of Uyghurs in China and this condemnable act of terror perpetrated by Pakistan has once again placed South Asia as a hotspot of violence. It may be recalled that before former US president Bill Clinton’s visit to India in 2000, terrorists carried out an attack that killed 35 Sikhs in Chittisinghpura village of Anantnag district. The last big terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir was on June 9, 2024, the day of the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third term. Unidentified terrorists fired upon a bus ferrying pilgrims, resulting in the death of at least 10 people and injuring 33 others in the Reasi district of Jammu. The Pahalgam terror attack comes days after 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Tahawwur Rana was successfully extradited from the US and arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Delhi.
TRF: A Lost Cause
Reports suggest that The Resistance Front (TRF) has claimed the responsibility for the attack. TRF, a proxy of the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba came into existence in 2019. Its operations are believed to be supported by Pakistani state mechanisms, including the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). In January 2023, the Indian government designated TRF as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Front is reportedly involved in narcotic trade and claimed responsibility for the Ganderbal attacks as well.
By 2020, the group started taking responsibility for minor attacks, including targetted killings of individuals. Its recruits consist of fighters from an amalgam of splinter rebel groups. By 2022, most of the armed fighters killed in gunfights in Kashmir were affiliated with TRF, according to government records. TRF members were increasingly using small arms such as pistols to carry out targetted killings, including those of retired security personnel and people accused of being informers. It indeed now becomes the prerogative of Indian security agencies to dismantle the operations of TRF once and for all.
The Government of India has taken credible efforts in restoring normalcy in the Kashmir valley as was evident in the abjuring of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The local panchayat and state assembly elections were successfully conducted. The tourism was picking-up in terms of its contribution to the state economy. The upcoming Amarnath yatra calls upon security agencies to heighten their vigil. In backdrop of the terror attack, the Chief Minister Omar Abullah has called for an all-party meeting to deliberate on the path ahead in ensuring peace, justice and resilience.
The Government of India has taken credible efforts in restoring normalcy in the Kashmir valley as was evident in the abjuring of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The local panchayat and state assembly elections were successfully conducted. The tourism was picking-up in terms of its contribution to the state economy
Myth of Normalcy
Ajai Sahni, executive director of South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), remarked that there is no normalcy in Kashmir. According to him, the narrative of normalcy or zero militancy in Kashmir is impossible to realise for two reasons. First, the normalcy narrative creates a situation where groups are encouraged to engineer attacks. Any terror attack is enough to disturb the normalcy given the abrupt escalation of terror activities on the part of the TRF. Secondly, the absence of political solution within the state has broken the myth of normalcy as claimed by government agencies. Nevertheless, Government of India is steadfastly committed to root out causes of terrorism in Kashmir and strive to uphold Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s legacy and vision of Insaniyat (humanism), Kashmiryat (inclusive Kashmiri culture) and Jamhooriyat (democracy).
–The writer is Assistant Professor, ICFAI School of Liberal Arts, ICFAI University, Jaipur. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
