Terror attack in Pahalgam targets peace and tourism

Source: The post Terror attack in Pahalgam targets peace and tourism has been created, based on the article “Responding to the terror attack in Pahalgam” published in “The Hindu” on 24 April 2025. Terror attack in Pahalgam targets peace and tourism.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organised crime with terrorism.

Context: The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, was not a random act. It was a deliberate strike aimed at creating fear and disrupting peace. It came just as tourism returned to the Valley and U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance visited India.

Symbolism and Timing of the Attack

1. A Peaceful Space Turned Violent: The attack took place in Baisaran, a tourist meadow called ‘mini Switzerland’. It is a site known for picnics and school trips. The violence in such a serene setting shocked the public.
2. Tourism as a Strategic Target: The aim was not only to kill but to damage the idea of Kashmir as a safe tourist space. Attacking tourists was a symbolic move to break the sense of normalcy.
3. Political Messaging Through Terror: The timing and location were calculated. It sent a message — to instill fear, challenge state control, and bring Pakistan back into India’s foreign policy focus.

Security Gaps and Intelligence Lapse

1. Failure in a Sensitive Area: Pahalgam is a major route to the Amarnath shrine. The area should have been well-guarded, but the response shows reduced vigilance and poor coordination.
2. Technology Not Deployed: Despite investments in drones and surveillance tools, these systems were not in use. This was a serious lapse in a high-risk zone.
3. Impact Beyond the Attack: Though not as large as Kargil, the failure may leave a deep social impact. It raises concerns about India’s preparedness against such threats.

Pakistan’s Role in Terror Operations

1. The Use of Proxy Groups: The Resistance Front, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. It follows Pakistan’s known tactic of using proxies with ISI support to maintain deniability.
2. A Strategy Without Cost: Such attacks continue because Pakistan rarely faces serious consequences. Global scrutiny has not changed this behaviour.
3. Shift in Military Doctrine: General Asim Munir, the current Army Chief and former ISI head, is reviving the policy of ‘managed escalation’. His rhetoric mixes religious grievance with strategic goals.

India’s Strategic and Diplomatic Response

1. Strategy Over Emotion: India must move from emotional condemnation to planned deterrence. Outrage alone is ineffective in changing enemy behaviour.
2. Escalatory Credibility Matters: India must signal it can impose real costs — through diplomacy, trade, or covert action. These are accepted tools in global statecraft.
3. Pushing for Global Action: India should pressure allies, especially the U.S., to act before attacks occur. Sympathy after violence is not enough.

Rebuilding Deterrence and Internal Unity

1. Sabotaging the Normalcy Narrative: Kashmir’s growing tourism is a sign of hope. The attack aims to cut it off and isolate the region again.
2. Local Population as Victims: Kashmiris are not partners in terror. They are its first victims. The youth want jobs and peace, not conflict.
3. Internal Strategy for Inclusion: India must invest in education, employment, and political engagement. Repression must not replace integration.

The Need for Clarity and Consequences

1. Breaking the Cycle of Ambiguity: Terror thrives in uncertain response. India must send a clear message: every attack has a cost.
2. Credible Deterrence, Not Escalation Alone: This moment demands clarity and credible consequences. That is the only language Pakistan’s strategy responds to.

Question for practice:

Examine how the Pahalgam attack reflects a strategic shift in the objectives and methods of cross-border terrorism against India.