1. Context and Background
Location and Timing: The attack occurred at 14:50 on April 22, 2025, in Baisaran Valley, a remote meadow 5 km from Pahalgam, accessible only by foot or pony. Known as “mini Switzerland,” it was crowded with tourists due to favorable weather after days of rain. In 2024, Kashmir saw 35 lakh visitors, including 43,000 foreigners, reflecting a tourism boom.
Political Context: Jammu and Kashmir has faced an insurgency since 1989, driven by separatist groups seeking independence or merger with Pakistan. Violence dropped significantly after India revoked the region’s special status in 2019, splitting it into two union territories (Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh). The 2019 move allowed non-residents to buy land and secure jobs, issuing 83,000 domicile certificates by April 2025, sparking local resentment.
Recent Trends: The attack is the deadliest since the 2019 Pulwama bombing (40 CRPF personnel killed) and the first major civilian-targeted assault since 2019. A May 2024 attack in Pahalgam injured two tourists, signaling a shift toward targeting soft targets.
2. Perpetrators and Execution
Group Responsible: The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and linked to Hizbul Mujahideen, claimed responsibility. Intelligence identifies Saifullah Kasuri (alias Khalid), an LeT commander, as the mastermind, with operatives from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Attackers: Four to six militants executed the attack, including two Pakistani nationals (speaking Pashto) and two locals (Adil from Bijbhera, Asif from Tral). They wore camouflage outfits and kurta-pyjamas, used M4 carbines, AK-47s, and advanced communication devices, firing 50–70 rounds. Some wore helmet-mounted cameras, likely for propaganda.
Planning:
Reconnaissance: Conducted April 1–7, 2025, with local support, targeting Baisaran’s lack of security, delaying rescue efforts.
Logistics: Militants infiltrated days prior, equipped with dry fruits, medicines, and military-grade weapons, indicating cross-border training. Digital footprints traced to safe houses in Muzaffarabad and Karachi.
Targeting: Attackers checked IDs, demanded victims recite the kalma, and verified circumcisions to target non-Muslims, particularly Hindus, sparing Muslims and some women. Survivors reported chilling directives, e.g., “Go tell this to Modi.”
3. Motives
Stated Objective: TRF claimed the attack opposed the settlement of 85,000 non-Kashmiris, alleging “demographic change” post-2019, aligning with separatist narratives.
Strategic Goals (per analysts):
Global Attention: Counter-terrorism expert Faran Jeffery and ORF’s Tehmeena Rizvi argue the attack sought international focus on Kashmir, leveraging its tourism surge.
Economic Disruption: Targeting tourists, a key revenue source, aims to destabilize Kashmir’s economy.
Communal Tensions: Intelligence suggests intent to inflame Hindu-Muslim divides through selective targeting.
Political Timing: Lt Gen KJS Dhillon (Retd) notes the attack coincided with high-profile visits (US VP JD Vance in India, PM Modi in Saudi Arabia), aiming to embarrass India.
Critical Examination: While TRF’s motive centers on demographic changes, the attack’s sophistication and targeting suggest Pakistani strategic interests, possibly as a distraction from domestic issues like Balochistan’s rebellion and economic woes. However, solely blaming Pakistan risks ignoring local grievances, as the domicile policy has fueled discontent, potentially aiding recruitment. The establishment’s narrative of “Pakistan’s desperation” may oversimplify complex dynamics.
4. Impacts
Casualties: 26–28 killed (reports vary), including 6 from Maharashtra, 3 from Gujarat, 3 from Karnataka, 2 from West Bengal, 1 each from other states, a Nepali tourist, and a local. Notable victims: Navy Lt Vinay Narwal (26, killed days after his April 16 wedding), IAF Cpl Tage Hailyang, and IB officer Manish Ranjan. 17–20 injured, some critically.
Tourism: An immediate tourist exodus followed, with airlines (Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo) adding seven flights from Srinagar on April 23, waiving cancellation fees until April 30. High airfares reflect demand-driven economic strain.
Social Sentiment: Kashmiris widely condemned the attack, with protests and mourning reflecting solidarity. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah noted “unanimity” in rejecting terror, though a “deafening silence” underscored grief.
Security: Enhanced measures include checkpoints, quick reaction teams, and a 5-km radius combing operation by Army, CRPF, J&K Police, special forces, and drones.
5. Responses
Indian Government:
Leadership: PM Narendra Modi cut short his Saudi trip, chairing a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting on April 23 with Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and others. Shah visited the attack site and injured victims, vowing justice.
Investigation: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over, releasing sketches of three suspects (Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, Abu Talha) and collecting forensic evidence (bullet shells, statements).
Military: Army neutralized two infiltrators in Uri on April 23, recovering AK rifles, a pistol, and an IED, indicating proactive counter-terrorism.
Aid: J&K government announced Rs 10 lakh ex gratia for deceased families, Rs 2 lakh for seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for others.
International Condemnation: Leaders from the US (Trump, Vance), Russia (Putin), Saudi Arabia, France, Iran, Israel, Germany, Nepal, and others condemned the attack, pledging anti-terrorism support. UN’s Antonio Guterres called civilian attacks “unacceptable.”
Pakistan’s Response: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry expressed condolences but framed the attack in “Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” avoiding LeT condemnation. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif denied involvement, claiming “home-grown” revolutions across India, which India dismissed.
Critical Note: India’s swift response contrasts with Pakistan’s ambiguous stance, reinforcing its perceived complicity. However, opposition leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi cited “intelligence failure,” questioning preparedness despite recent stability. The government’s focus on Pakistan may sideline local factors, risking incomplete solutions.
6. Broader Implications
India-Pakistan Tensions: The attack risks escalation, with fears of Indian retaliation, as seen post-Pulwama (2019 airstrikes). Analyst Kartha warns of a “serious crisis” unless Pakistan acts against terrorists, though its weak condemnation suggests reluctance.
Kashmir’s Stability: The attack undermines J&K’s post-2019 progress, with 46 terror incidents in 2023 down from 153 in 2019. Targeting tourism threatens economic revival, potentially alienating locals reliant on it.
Communal Dynamics: Selective targeting of Hindus risks inflaming tensions, as intelligence warns. Public figures like Devoleena Bhattacharjee questioning “Islamic” terror reflect polarized sentiments that could deepen divides.
Global Perception: International coverage fulfills TRF’s goal of spotlighting Kashmir, but widespread condemnation strengthens India’s diplomatic position. Support from the US, Russia, and Saudi Arabia may bolster India’s case against Pakistan.
Critical Lens: The establishment narrative blaming Pakistan is compelling but risks oversimplifying local grievances, such as domicile policies, which may fuel radicalization. Pakistan’s denial ignores evidence of LeT’s PoK bases, undermining credibility. Both sides risk entrenching a blame cycle over resolution.
Conclusion
The Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, 2025, by The Resistance Front, killed 26–28 civilians, targeting tourists to disrupt Kashmir’s economy, inflame communal tensions, and gain global attention. Its sophisticated execution, with Pakistani and local operatives, underscores cross-border links, though local grievances like domicile policies may amplify radicalization. India’s robust military, investigative, and diplomatic responses contrast with Pakistan’s equivocal stance, risking escalation. The attack threatens J&K’s stability and communal harmony, but international support bolsters India’s position. Critically, addressing local discontent alongside punishing perpetrators is essential to disrupt the terror cycle, a nuance the establishment narrative may overlook.
If you’d like a deeper focus on a specific aspect (e.g., intelligence failures, local Kashmiri perspectives, or international responses) or a Telugu translation, please let me know!
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