Terror in Kashmir - April 22 Pahalgam Attack Leaves 28 Civilians Dead

 Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir — April 22, 2025

A brutal terrorist attack in the scenic Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam has left 28 civilians dead and dozens injured, marking one of the most devastating militant strikes in recent years. The attack, reportedly orchestrated by the Kashmir Resistance, targeted a group of non-Muslim tourists—many from Karnataka, Odisha, Gujarat, and two foreign nationals.

According to initial investigations by local police and intelligence sources, the attackers emerged from nearby pine forests and opened fire on civilians without warning. Eyewitnesses claimed the gunmen shouted religious slogans before vanishing into the dense terrain.

Who Were the Victims?

The victims were primarily Hindu tourists visiting Kashmir during the spring bloom. This marks the second mass civilian attack in the region since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019—a constitutional move that ended Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status and intensified tensions between India and Pakistan.

Government sources say the attack was deliberately sectarian, aiming to instil fear among non-Muslim visitors and disrupt post-Article 370 integration efforts. While no group has claimed official responsibility, posters allegedly from the Kashmir Resistance surfaced on encrypted platforms soon after the massacre.

The Attack: Strategic, Symbolic, and Sectarian

• Security experts and regional analysts describe the assault as highly calculated.

• The attackers used Surprise timing, striking at the peak of tourist season.

• Geographic cover, escaping into forests in Anantnag, Pulwama, and Kulgam—hotbeds of militant activity.

• Religious targeting, aimed at undermining national unity and tourism revival.

Escape Routes: How Militants Evade Capture

Based on past patterns, militants use a combination of tactics:

 1. Immediate Forest Cover (40%)

Attackers often vanish into South Kashmir’s Pir Panjal forest range, moving toward Banihal Tunnel to avoid checkpoints.

 2. Exit Corridors (30%)

Militants may flee toward the LoC, or use forest paths into Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, or slip into metro cities like Delhi.

 3. Cultural Camouflage (20%)

Disguises such as Hindu pilgrim clothing or blending into mass transit help them exploit India’s open society. These patterns exploit social diversity and surveillance gaps across state lines.

Regional Implications and Domestic Gaps

• Despite drone surveillance and elite unit deployment, security critics highlight:

• Weak inter-state intelligence sharing

• Poor border surveillance in rural districts

• Inadequate de-radicalization tracking of returnees

States like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and West Bengal are identified as potential post-attack transit zones for militants.

International and Domestic Responses

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah condemned the attack. “India will not forget nor forgive,” Modi said during a national address.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed solidarity, calling the massacre “a barbaric assault on the world’s largest democracy.”

Global condemnations poured in from France, Japan, and Israel, while diplomatic pressure on Pakistan is expected to intensify over harboring terror operatives.

Conclusion: What This Attack Signals

This was not just a massacre—it was a geopolitical message. The targeting of non-Muslim civilians in a highly sensitive region is designed to shake India’s secular fabric and challenge its national sovereignty.

The Kashmir conflict must no longer be viewed solely as a bilateral border issue—it is a transnational security concern, demanding:

Stronger local intelligence

Robust inter-state coordination

Coordinated international pressure against state-backed terror

India’s response will shape its internal stability, global credibility, and role as a defender of democratic values in an increasingly volatile world.

By Balananthini Balasubramaniam (Nila Bala)

Investigative journalist, field researcher, and independent voice from the Global South

Date: 22/04/2025

Time: 20:30 BST

Location: United Kingdom

Copyright © 2025 Small Drops Balananthini Balasubramaniam

All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced without written permission from the author.

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