In the peaceful slopes of Pahalgam, once the postcard-perfect emblem of Kashmir’s charm, the past returned with a vengeance. On April 22, 2025, militants ambushed a group of tourists in the Baisaran Valley, killing 26 civilians in an act that shook not only India but the world.

The Resistance Front (TRF), widely considered an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. This was not merely another tragic incident; it was an assault on India’s ongoing efforts to stabilize and develop the region and widen the religious fault lines of India's multi-faith society.

A New Chapter in Kashmir’s History

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, his administration has taken decisive steps to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 was a constitutional and national assertion, a long-overdue correction to a policy of half-measures and appeasement that had failed to deliver either peace or prosperity.

Under the Modi government, Kashmir has seen infrastructure expansion, a revived tourism economy, and a renewed emphasis on grassroots democracy. Panchayat elections have empowered local voices.

Investment summits have attracted national and international attention. Unprecedented connectivity projects like tunnels, new roads, and a fast-tracked rail network, have brought the region closer to economic parity with the rest of the country.

But progress has enemies. And peace has its price.

Pakistan’s Proxy Game and the Persistence of Terror

India’s long-standing concerns about cross-border terrorism are not speculative. They are substantiated by decades of hard evidence.

Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, lived freely in Lahore for years, delivering public sermons while under only token restrictions.

Masood Azhar, founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed, designated a UN global terrorist, has continued to evade accountability in Pakistan.

More recently, groups like The Resistance Front (TRF) have emerged and rebranded under different names, but pursuing the same agenda destabilizing Kashmir and derailing India’s efforts to bring peace, development, and constitutional normalcy to the region.

A Nation Grieves, a Nation Hardens

The mood across India has shifted into a familiar yet volatile rhythm with a mix of grief, fury, and a firming of resolve.

In the immediate aftermath, mourning swept across the nation. News channels ran solemn visuals of the slain civilians, families wept on camera, and editorial columns struck elegiac tones. But as night fell and the hashtags rose, the grief turned quickly into outrage. #PahalgamAttack, #StrikeBackNow, and #JusticeForBraves trended across X (formerly Twitter), reflecting a now-ingrained pattern in India's response to terror: digital solidarity laced with calls for military reprisal.

The nationalistic right, particularly vocal on social media, demanded immediate retribution. “This is no time for restraint,” one trending tweet read, echoed by thousands. For them, Pahalgam is not just another attack, it is proof that peace must be enforced with power, not patience.

Popular influencers, retired generals, and television anchors joined the chorus, amplifying a sentiment that sees Kashmir not as a political question but as a security problem.

Global Powers Respond: Support Tilts Toward India

The Pahalgam attack drew swift and unified condemnation from the world’s leading powers, underscoring growing global alignment with India’s counter-terrorism narrative.

The United States reaffirmed India’s right to defend itself and called on Pakistan to dismantle terrorist safe havens. The European Union, particularly France and Germany, echoed support for India’s sovereignty, with quiet backing of its Kashmir policy reforms.

Russia, while traditionally cautious, emphasized its strategic partnership with India, avoiding any criticism of New Delhi’s internal decisions. China issued a neutral statement, reflecting its complex stakes in both Pakistan and regional stability.

The Gulf nations, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, strongly condemned the attack marking a diplomatic shift that increasingly sees India as a vital partner for security and growth.

India’s Response: Measured Strength, Diplomatic Resolve

In the days following the Pahalgam massacre, the Indian government launched a swift and multifaceted response, combining national security reinforcement with diplomatic clarity. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a firm démarche to Pakistan, holding it accountable for its continued tolerance of terrorist groups operating from its soil. As a signal of diplomatic displeasure, India expelled Pakistani military attachés and scaled down the strength of its mission in Islamabad.

In a significant geopolitical move, New Delhi announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a symbolic serious step that underscored India’s frustration with Pakistan’s inaction against cross-border terrorism. The decision reverberated globally, marking one of the rare instances when India linked water diplomacy with national security.

Simultaneously, all visas granted to Pakistani nationals were revoked, and visa services were suspended indefinitely. Land crossings such as the Attari-Wagah border were sealed, effectively halting people-to-people movement, a clear departure from the cautious restraint that typically follows such incidents.

On the security front, Indian forces initiated intensified counter-terror operations across South Kashmir. Surveillance drones were deployed in infiltration-prone areas, and Indian Army Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv helicopters were authorized to support aerial reconnaissance and rapid troop movement.

Ground forces launched targeted operations based on real-time intelligence, aiming to dismantle militant networks believed to have local support and external orchestration.

Politically, the government convened an all-party meeting to brief opposition leaders and seek a national consensus on its response. This move was both symbolic and strategic as it projected unity at home while signaling to adversaries that internal differences would not dilute India’s resolve.

PM Narendra Modi, in a nationally televised address, condemned the attack unequivocally, vowed justice, and emphasized that India’s strength lies in its democracy and collective determination.

What Must Continue: India’s Forward Momentum

India must continue with plans to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Free and fair elections, along with a vibrant press and independent institutions, will further cement its democratic fabric and blunt separatist narratives.

Development must reach every district and every demographic. Employment, skills training, and entrepreneurship will empower the youth to choose books over rifles and classrooms over bunkers.

Precision intelligence, modern surveillance infrastructure, and regional coordination will ensure that terrorism is not just countered but uprooted. India must continue to strike at the logistics of terror, both internally and across international forums.

Pakistan Must Choose Peace Over Provocation

The onus of peace cannot rest solely on India. Pakistan must abandon its outdated strategic calculus that views Kashmir as a low-cost, high-impact pressure point. So long as Rawalpindi clings to the doctrine of “bleeding India by a thousand cuts,” meaningful dialogue will remain elusive.

India has extended the olive branch on numerous occasions through backchannel diplomacy, cultural exchanges, and track-II dialogues. But no peace process can survive under the shadow of the gun. The international community must also play its part by holding Pakistan accountable for supporting non-state actors.

The People of Kashmir Deserve a Future, not a Flashpoint

The tragedy of Kashmir is not just the lives lost, but the narratives stolen. For too long, Kashmir has been reduced to a geopolitical chessboard. It is time the region is seen for what it truly is: a land of poets and pines, of scholars and shepherds, of resilience and renewal.

India, with its democratic strength, economic momentum, and geopolitical maturity, is uniquely positioned to lead Kashmir into a new era, one of dignity, peace, and progress.

The recent bloodshed in Pahalgam should not deter this trajectory. It should strengthen India’s resolve. In the end, the battle for Kashmir is not just a territorial one, it is a battle for the soul of India’s democracy. And India must win it not with domination, but with justice.