At least 26 local tourists were killed and dozens more injured in a deadly attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Kashmir, during the peak of the holiday season. The region, renowned for its breathtaking beauty, has unfortunately remained a site of violence for over three decades due to ongoing conflict. Pahalgam, meaning “Valley of Shepherds” in Kashmiri, is situated approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Srinagar and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Among the victims were a diverse group of individuals, including an Indian Navy officer from Haryana on his honeymoon, a retired banker from Andhra Pradesh, a realtor from Karnataka, an accountant from Odisha, a cement dealer from Uttar Pradesh, and a Gulf-returnee from Kerala. Additionally, a foreign national from Nepal was also among those killed in the attack.
A Provocative Statement Amidst Tensions: General Asim Munir’s Remarks
The incident occurred shortly after Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, delivered a controversial speech in which he reaffirmed the ideological basis of the two-nation theory, asserting that religion was a central factor in the partition of India in 1947. He notably remarked, “Those who claimed that they buried the two-nation theory in the Bay of Bengal, where are they now? The Kashmir issue is an unfinished agenda of the partition of India and Pakistan.”
This statement reignited tensions and has been viewed by many as a provocative commentary on the ongoing dispute over Kashmir, a region that continues to bear the scars of its partitioned history.
India’s Reaction: Grief, Anger, and Calls for Accountability
“This is an act of war. That’s how we are seeing it. It has come just days after that speech by Pakistan’s army chief,” Tara Kartha, director at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), a New Delhi-based think tank, said. Kartha, who was formerly an official at India’s National Security Council Secretariat, was referring to last week’s address by Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, where he reiterated his support for the two-nation theory that led to India’s partition in 1947, and affirmed the “difference from Hindus.”
While that statement is unlikely to calm passions in India, where the government will face pressure to act tough against Pakistan, some experts cautioned against an impulsive reaction. India’s relative stability compared with its “highly volatile neighbor” should inform its response, said Saba Naqvi, a veteran political commentator based in New Delhi.
“As for India, most people here think the BJP regime will simply drop bombs there and everything will be avenged,” she said, referring to Modi’s Hindu-majoritarian Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “But it is not as simple as that.”
Modi, who was earlier supposed to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a state dinner in Jeddah, cut short his trip and rushed back to India.
“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected,” PM Modi said in a tweet. “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice … they will not be spared!”
Home Minister Amit Shah also rushed to Srinagar and met top security officials in the region. Rahul Gandhi, the top opposition leader from the Indian National Congress, slammed the government, urging it to move beyond the “hollow claims” of normalcy in Kashmir since the revocation of the special status in 2019.
Pakistan Responds: Rejecting Blame and Calling for Accountability
Following the tragic attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed allegations of Pakistani involvement, stating that the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is the result of indigenous resistance against India’s oppressive policies and its pursuit of a Hindutva-driven agenda. He urged New Delhi not to shift blame without evidence.
Additionally, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal statement expressing deep concern over the loss of innocent lives, extending condolences to the families of the victims, and wishing a swift recovery for the injured. The statement reiterated Pakistan’s consistent position that peace in the region cannot be achieved without addressing the root causes of the conflict—particularly the denial of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination as enshrined in UN resolutions.
The Impact on Kashmir’s Tourism Industry and Public Sentiment
The deadly attack has sent shockwaves through the tourism industry in Kashmir, a region that heavily relies on seasonal visitors for economic sustenance. With the incident occurring at the height of the holiday season, fear and uncertainty have gripped both local stakeholders and potential travelers. Tour operators have reported cancellations, and authorities have stepped up security across key tourist destinations. Meanwhile, public sentiment across India is marked by grief and anger, as the nation mourns the loss of innocent lives. The tragedy has reignited debates around the security of civilians in conflict-prone areas and further strained the already fragile peace in the region.
The Overlooked Martyr and the Rising Hate
In the aftermath of the brutal militant attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives, most headlines focused on numbers, speculation, and fury. But hidden behind those numbers was a man named Syed Adil Hussain Shah—a local Kashmiri who lost his life while trying to save others.
Adil, 34, was a pony rider, one of many hardworking Kashmiris who guide tourists up steep paths for a meager daily wage of 300–400 rupees. On the day of the attack, he was not carrying weapons or spreading hate. He was helping tourists explore the natural beauty of Pahalgam. When the bullets started flying, Adil didn’t run. He turned back toward the gunfire, trying to shield his customers.
Just weeks earlier, his family had buried his young daughter. Now, they’ve buried him. His father, Syed Haider Hussain Shah, recounted the pain in a broken voice:
“My son went to Pahalgam to work… around 3 pm, we heard about the attack. We tried calling him, but the phone was off… Later we found out he had been injured. By the time we reached, it was too late.”
Islamophobic rhetoric takes over the internet
Within hours of the attack, instead of solidarity or grief, a toxic wave of hate began to dominate social media. Hindutva-linked accounts and influencers, many with massive followings, erupted with calls for revenge—not justice. Not even clarity.
One X Space titled “Islamist Terrorist Attack in Pahalgam Kashmir #BoycottKashmir” broadcast open calls for genocide. Prominent users made statements like:
“Cut their hands and hang their bodies in Lal Chowk.”
“Every Kashmiri was involved in this massacre.”
“This is India’s October 7.”
Others demanded the creation of a Union Territory for Jammu with no legislative assembly, using phrases like:
“Forget Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriayat. Save Insaniyat!”
Several called for Israel-style retaliation, even “bulldozer justice.” Pages like those of BJP Chhattisgarh shared AI-generated illustrations with captions meant to inflame further hatred:
“They asked for religion, not caste… We will remember.”
“We will also take down their pants and kill them.”
Instead of mourning victims like Syed Adil Hussain Shah, these voices weaponized tragedy into a rallying cry for hate. Islamophobic slurs and fake news flooded the platforms. Social media was filled with Islamophobic and warmongering posts, with Hindutva pages unleashing hate comments across platforms.
Amid the tragedy, none of the viral posts offered condolences to the victims who lost their lives and families in the horrific attack. Instead, both social and mainstream media platforms became flooded with Islamophobic rhetoric and divisive propaganda. This wave of hate speech sparked widespread outrage online, with many users condemning the communalization of the incident and calling it a vile attempt to turn a national tragedy into a unresoleable conflict.
The irony is glaring: A Muslim man dies alongside Hindu victims, and yet Muslims are being held collectively responsible. What message does this send to Kashmir’s Muslim population—especially those like Adil, who put others before himself? What message does this send to young Kashmiris who still dream of peace in a land that has seen too much blood?
In weaponizing this tragedy, hate-mongers are not just dishonoring the dead—they are endangering the living.