On April 22, 2025, the serene Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, transformed into a scene of unimaginable horror. The sounds of laughter of tourists turned into screams of pain and terror when terrorists opened fire at them. At least 28 people were killed and 20 were injured.
The victims included 24 Indian tourists from states such as Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Haryana, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, two local Kashmiris and two foreign nationals—one from Nepal and one from the United Arab Emirates—were among the killed. Notable casualties included a 26-year-old Indian Navy officer, Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, and an Intelligence Bureau official, underscoring the attack’s audacity. The injured hailed from states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. The targeting of civilians, particularly tourists, marked a departure from previous attacks in the region, which often focused on security forces.
This massacre was one of the deadliest civilian-targeted terror attacks in the region since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-backed terror outfit linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility.
Timing and Duration
The attack began at approximately 2:50 PM on April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran Valley, which is located about 5 kilometres from Pahalgam’s main town. The valley is accessible only on foot or pony. That day it was crowded with tourists enjoying a sunny afternoon after days of rain. Eyewitness accounts suggest the attack was swift and brutal, lasting approximately 10 to 15 minutes. About 6 militants emerged from nearby forests and opened fire with M4 carbines and AK-47s. The attackers targeted tourists at close range, with survivors reporting that the gunmen checked identities and demanded that victims recite the Islamic kalma, sparing Muslims while targeting non-Muslims, particularly Hindus. The rapid nature of the assault, combined with the remote location, delayed immediate response from security forces, allowed the attackers to escape.
Historical Precedents
The Pahalgam attack is not an isolated incident in Jammu and Kashmir. However, direct attacks on tourists have been relatively rare. Historical precedents include the 1995 abduction of six foreign tourists by the Al-Faran group in Pahalgam, where one was killed, one escaped, and four were never found. In 2000, 32 people, including 21 Hindu pilgrims, were killed in Nunwan, Pahalgam, and in 2017, eight pilgrims were killed in Anantnag. These incidents highlight the vulnerability of civilians in the region, but the scale and communal targeting of the 2025 attack draw parallels to the 2019 Pulwama bombing, which killed 40 CRPF personnel, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which targeted urban civilians. The Pahalgam attack’s focus on tourists aimed to disrupt the region’s booming tourism economy, which saw 3.5 million visitors, including 43,000 foreigners, in 2024.
The Perpetrators: The Resistance Front
The Resistance Front (TRF), which claimed responsibility for the attack, is a Pakistan-backed terror outfit formed in October 2019. This was when Article 370 was abrogated, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. TRF is an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and incorporates elements of Hizbul Mujahideen, both have been designated as terrorist organisations. TRF is described as a faceless and tech-savvy group. It uses social media to propagate its actions by posting videos of attacks filmed with body cameras to recruit and radicalise youth. The group is led by Sheikh Sajjad Gul, its supreme commander. Its other leader, Basit Ahmed Dar, died in May 2024. The Pahalgam attack was reportedly masterminded by Saifullah Kasuri (alias Khalid), a top LeT commander known for his close ties to Pakistan’s military establishment. The attack was executed by a group that included Pakistani nationals Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha.
Sponsors and Agenda
TRF operates as a proxy for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). It is funded and trained by Pakistan’s military. TRF’s stated agenda is to oppose India’s integration of Jammu and Kashmir. TRF claims that over 85,000 domicile certificates have been issued to non-locals since 2019, which the group claims facilitates “demographic change” in the Muslim-majority region. The outfit targets non-Kashmiris, religious minorities like Kashmiri Pandits, and security forces to disrupt stability and create communal discord. Its broader goal aligns with Pakistan’s narrative of portraying Kashmir as a disputed territory requiring “liberation” from Indian control. TRF’s activities, including recruitment via online platforms and smuggling of weapons across the Line of Control (LoC), underscore its role as a tool of Pakistan’s deep-state terrorism.
International Community’s Reaction
The Pahalgam attack sparked global outrage over the targeting of civilians. U.S. President Donald Trump called the incident “deeply disturbing” and expressed solidarity with India. French President Emmanuel Macron and France’s ambassador to India voiced strong support in the fight against terrorism. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew parallels with their own experiences of terror. Iran’s Foreign Ministry denounced the act as a “heinous terrorist crime” and a violation of human rights. Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus reaffirmed his country's anti-terrorism stance. China’s response, though offering “sincere sympathies,” was notably muted. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the violence and called for justice. Leaders from countries including Armenia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the European Commission joined in denouncing the attack and emphasised its inhumanity.
Pakistan’s initial silence lasted nearly 12 hours. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif eventually denied involvement, expressing “concern” over the loss of lives. This delayed and tepid response fuelled suspicions of Pakistan’s complicity. This suspicion is reinforced by the reported deployment of aircraft to forward bases and high alert along the LoC in anticipation of Indian retaliation, similar to the 2019 Balakot airstrikes.
Link to Pakistan Army Chief’s Anti-India Speech
On April 16, 2025, Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, delivered a provocative speech at the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad. He described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and vowed to support the Kashmiri “struggle” against Indian “occupation.” He emphasised the Two-Nation Theory, highlighting “stark differences” between Hindus and Muslims. He labelled Hindus as “kafirs”. Was it a “dog whistle” to terror groups to escalate operations in Kashmir? A second speech on April 18 by LeT commander Abu Musa in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir called for jihad in retaliation for Article 370’s abrogation. The timing of the Pahalgam attack, just six days after Munir’s speech, suggests a correlation.
Contextual Analysis
Pakistan is clearly frustrated with Kashmir’s increasing stability post-2019, which is marked by record tourism, infrastructure development, and democratic elections. The abrogation of Article 370 diminished Pakistan’s diplomatic leverage. International bodies like the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation offered only token support. Munir’s rhetoric revived the Zia-era terminology, which aimed to reassert the Pakistan Army’s relevance domestically by emphasising the “India threat.” The Pahalgam attack aligns with this strategy, targeting India’s economic and cultural core to disrupt normalcy and stoke communal tensions. While direct evidence of Munir’s involvement remains circumstantial, TRF’s Pakistani links strongly suggest his speech emboldened terror proxies.
Consequences for Pakistan
The recent attack has placed Pakistan under intense international scrutiny, with serious potential repercussions. Global condemnation, combined with Islamabad’s sluggish response, threatens to deepen its diplomatic isolation. India’s push to expose links between The Resistance Front (TRF), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI may bolster international demands for Pakistan’s re-listing on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey or even black list for terror financing. Domestically, the Pakistan Army’s habitual use of anti-India rhetoric to rally a divided populace risks backfiring if India responds forcefully, revealing Pakistan’s strategic vulnerabilities. This risk is amplified by Pakistan’s ongoing economic crisis and its cooling ties with traditional allies like the U.S. and Saudi Arabia—both of whom are strengthening relations with India. Moreover, any Indian measures such as suspending the Indus Waters Treaty or lobbying for FATF sanctions could deliver further economic blows to Pakistan, already struggling with high debt and inflation.
India’s Response: Retaliation or Diplomacy?
India stands at a critical crossroads in the wake of the latest terror attack, weighing military retaliation against diplomatic and economic pressure. Historically, India has not hesitated to respond militarily to cross-border terrorism, as seen in the 2016 Uri surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes following the Pulwama attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s declaration that the perpetrators will be “brought to justice,” and Home Minister Amit Shah’s pledge of the “harshest consequences,” suggest a strong inclination toward a robust response. Security experts, including former Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid, have advocated for a “Hamas-style” retaliation, citing the magnitude of the attack and Pakistan’s continued provocations. However, the imminent retirement of Northern Command chief Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar on April 30, 2025, may delay immediate military action until his successor, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, takes over. Despite these logistical hurdles, a targeted response—such as precision strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—remains a viable option to deter future attacks, though it carries the risk of escalation between two nuclear-armed states.
On the other hand, India may choose to prioritise diplomatic and economic measures to isolate Pakistan globally. These options include revoking the Line of Control ceasefire to signal that Pakistan cannot maintain a peaceful border while sponsoring terrorism. India could also explore reinterpreting the Indus Waters Treaty to economically pressure Pakistan, which is heavily dependent on the Indus River system. Additionally, India can intensify lobbying efforts with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to have Pakistan re-listed as a terror-financing state, particularly by highlighting the involvement of the TRF and its links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). By coordinating with allies such as the United States, France, and Israel, who have already condemned the attack, India can amplify international pressure on Islamabad without immediate military escalation.
Strategically, India must strike a careful balance. Military action could trigger a wider conflict, especially given Pakistan’s nuclear capability and reported troop movements. Yet, a purely diplomatic route may appear weak and embolden future attacks. A calibrated hybrid strategy—merging targeted military operations with aggressive international diplomacy—offers the most effective way to maintain deterrence, deliver justice, and reinforce India’s global standing.
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