On April 22, 2025, a horrific terrorist attack shook the serene Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, claiming the lives of 26 civilians, primarily Hindu tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based militant group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), initially claimed responsibility for this heinous act, the deadliest attack on civilians in the region in nearly two decades. Despite Pakistan's swift denial of involvement, international media and analysts, including Reuters, Al Jazeera, and the Pacific Forum, have provided compelling evidence pointing to TRF's role, exposing Pakistan's attempts to deflect blame through a sophisticated public relations strategy.
The Attack and TRF's Claim
The attackers, armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, targeted tourists in Pahalgam’s picturesque meadow, killing 26 people, including one Nepali citizen and a local Kashmiri Muslim who heroically attempted to intervene. TRF claimed responsibility via Telegram, stating the attack was a response to India’s issuance of over 85,000 domiciles to non-locals, which they alleged facilitated demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir. However, within days, TRF retracted its claim, alleging a cyberattack by suspected Indian intelligence operatives. This sudden reversal, as noted by Pacific Forum’s political scientist Max Abrahms, was likely due to pressure from Pakistan’s security establishment, which sought to distance itself from the attack amid widespread protests by Kashmiris and international sympathy for the Indian victims. Abrahms stated, “My research leaves little doubt that the attack was indeed carried out by the Islamist group that originally claimed organizational credit.”
Pakistan’s Denial and False Flag Narrative
Pakistan’s government and military have consistently denied involvement, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claiming the attack was a “false flag operation” orchestrated by India. This narrative was propagated through Pakistani media and social media campaigns, with hashtags like #IndianFalseFlag and #PahalgamDramaExposed trending on X. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) analysis revealed that over 75% of these posts originated from Pakistani accounts, many linked to pro-military narratives, suggesting a coordinated effort to deflect blame. Pakistani media outlets, such as Samaa TV and Dunya News, amplified these claims, falsely reporting chaos within India’s military leadership.
The United Nations Security Council, in its April 25 statement, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the governments of India and Nepal, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable. This statement implicitly rejected Pakistan’s false flag narrative, urging all states to comply with international law.
India’s Response and Escalation
India responded decisively, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari-Wagah border, banning Pakistani imports, and blocking Pakistani ships from Indian ports. These measures, aimed at pressuring Pakistan to curb cross-border terrorism, have significant implications, as 80% of Pakistan’s agriculture and one-third of its hydropower depend on the Indus basin. On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, conducting precision missile and drone strikes on nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, targeting LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) infrastructure. Pakistan retaliated with drone attacks and shelling, resulting in civilian casualties in India’s Poonch district. India’s defense systems, including the S-400 TRIUMF, Barak 8, and Akash missiles, successfully neutralized Pakistan’s aerial assaults.
Economic and Social Fallout
The closure of the Attari-Wagah border halted trade worth ₹38 billion annually, disproportionately affecting small traders in Punjab. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) noted that Indian companies indirectly export goods worth over ₹850 billion to Pakistan via ports like Dubai and Singapore, highlighting the economic complexity of the embargo. Meanwhile, the attack triggered a wave of communal tensions in India, with reports of violence against Kashmiri Muslims and students in states like Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Such actions, including attacks by groups like Bajrang Dal and Hindu Raksha Dal, mirror the divisive tactics of the Pahalgam attackers, undermining India’s unity.
Exposing Pakistan’s Proxy War
The TRF, formed in 2019 after India revoked Kashmir’s partial autonomy, is widely regarded as a proxy for LeT, designed to project a “neutral” resistance narrative to evade international scrutiny. Indian intelligence has linked TRF to LeT’s infrastructure, with digital traces leading to safe houses in Muzaffarabad and Karachi. The presence of high-ranking Pakistani officials at the funerals of known terrorists, including LeT’s Hafiz Abdul Rauf, further exposes Pakistan’s complicity. The US Treasury Department’s 2010 sanctions list confirms Rauf’s role in LeT’s financial network, contradicting Pakistan’s claim that he is a “common family man.”
A Call for Unity and Accountability
The Pahalgam attack and its aftermath underscore the need for accountability and unity. While Pakistan’s military propagates divisive narratives, India must address internal extremism, as seen in attacks on Kashmiri Muslims and inflammatory remarks by figures like BJP leader Kunwar Vijay Shah, who insulted Colonel Sophia Qureshi, a decorated army officer. The Indian government’s decisive actions, including Operation Sindoor, demonstrate a commitment to combating terrorism, but the economic and social costs of escalation demand careful consideration. As Himanshi Narwal, widow of a Pahalgam victim, poignantly stated, “We want peace, and only peace.”
Let us stand united against terrorism and extremism, both external and internal, to build a stronger, more inclusive India. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!
.jpg)
.jpg)
0 Comments