Pahalgam terror attack: A shocked nation retaliates against perpetrators, takes steps to punish Pakistan

Pahalgam terror attack: A shocked nation retaliates against perpetrators, takes steps to punish Pakistan

A volley of bullets directed at tourists visiting the scenic Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, shattered the peace that Jammu and Kashmir was getting used to in recent years. The attack left 26 people, including a 41-year-old from Odisha, dead; several others were injured. 

The Resistance Front (TRF), known to be a front for the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack which was the deadliest in the region since Pulwama in 2019.  The group's name also figured in a draft UN Security Council statement condemning the Pahalgam attack before it was removed, apparently at Pakistan's behest. As if on cue, the TRF also denied involvement in the attack  and attributed its earlier statement claiming responsibility to an online breach. Meanwhile, intelligence inputs and evidence from the ground have also pointed to Pakistan’s active involvement.

The objective of the terrorists seemed to be two-pronged. An attack on tourists would set the clock back and act as a deterrent for others planning to visit Kashmir in the near future. The local tourism industry, whose revival had been showcased as a sign that normalcy was returning to the region, would be badly affected.

The second objective was to create a communal divide and spark a Kashmiris versus ‘outsiders’ debate. This belief was strengthened by survivor accounts which said the terrorists asked tourists their religion before shooting them. A local tour guide, who protected a group of tourists and guided them to safety, received praise for his brave act even as the attack threatened to polarize people among communal lines.

The gruesome killings sparked a wave of shock, grief, outrage, and anger across the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised that those involved would not be spared. “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. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice...they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” he said. 

Messages condemning the terror attack poured in from across the world; the United States categorically described it as an act of terror. In New Delhi, the central government weighed all its options to hold to account those who were involved in the attack. In a show of unity, political parties in the opposition expressed their support for any course of action that the government deemed fit.

 The immediate response of the Indian government was to suspend visas for Pakistani nationals and hold the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance with immediate effect. The measure would be in place until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjured its support for cross-border terrorism, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra announced after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Modi a day after the terror attack.

Under the treaty, India has control over the "Eastern Rivers", which refer to the Sutlej, the Beas, and the Ravi, for its own use; water from the 'Western Rivers", namely the Indus, the Jhelum, and the Chenab are for use by Pakistan. The move is expected to hit Pakistan where it hurts most – according to estimates, the Indus and its tributaries feed nearly 80% of the country’s irrigated agriculture and hydropower needs.

 Foreign Secretary Kwatra also announced the following steps:

1.   Closure of the Integrated Check Post Attari along the Wagah border in Punjab.

2.   Denying permission to Pakistani nationals to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas.

3.   Declaring the Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi as Persona Non Grata and giving them a week to leave and withdrawing its own Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

4.   Bringing down the overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions.

The Pahalgam terror attack sparked an intense debate on what India’s response should be, with suggestions ranging from all-out war to targeted strikes through the air and ground to punitive action against Pakistan. The terror attack led to a military mobilization of the kind not seen in recent years, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response.

Talk of military action following the Pahalgam terror attack centred around two earlier operations carried out by India.

The 2019 Pulwama attack, in which terrorists blew up a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along the Jammu-Srinagar highway, killing 40 personnel, prompted India to launch aerial strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack.

Earlier, following the attack on an army base in Uri in September 2016 that left 20 soldiers dead, India had carried out “surgical strikes” against terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The raids were conducted by Indian Army soldiers including Para (Special Forces) commandos.

However, this time around, the Indian government also explored and exercised non-military actions to target Pakistan economically, as the decision on the Indus Waters Treaty showed. The authorities have also tried to counter misinformation campaigns being run on social media by blocking their reach in India.

On the ground, the Pahalgam terror attack is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA); it has questioned several people, including the family members of victims and tourists present at the attack site, as well as pony riders in the area. Images of the terrorists involved were released hours after the attack and security forces mounted a massive operation to hunt them down. Security measures have been boosted across Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, security arrangements as well as restrictions to ensure safety are in place at several tourist destinations.

Odisha Mourns and Survives
What was meant to be a serene getaway for several Odia families turned into a blood-soaked tragedy in the picturesque hills of Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. As terrorists unleashed terror on unsuspecting tourists, stories of survival, sacrifice, and swift state response have emerged from Odisha.
 

Prashant Satpathy, a devoted employee of CIPET in Balasore, was among the 26 victims killed in the gruesome terror attack. His untimely death sent shockwaves across Odisha. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited Prashant’s home in Ishani village on April 20 to pay floral tributes and condemned the attack in strong terms. The state announced ₹20 lakh financial assistance to the bereaved family, a government job for Prashant’s wife, and free education for their nine-year-old son. Thousands attended his funeral, reflecting the collective grief of a community.

In another chilling episode, an Odia man named Debashis narrowly escaped death by blending in with Muslim tourists who were chanting the Kalma. With presence of mind, he joined in the prayer, convincing the terrorists he was one of them. His beard, too, aided in the deception. “They asked if I was chanting Ram’s name. I kept chanting the Kalma louder,” he later said."

Meanwhile, a Cuttack Bhola family also survived the attack after hiding just feet away from the gunmen. Ranjit Bhola, his wife, son, and daughter-in-law had been clicking pictures when chaos erupted. “We were just five feet from them. We watched as three people were killed before us,” said Ranjit. “I saw 14 bodies. We'll never return.” The family is now receiving psychological counselling and medical care in Odisha.

Amid the shock, the Odisha government has begun acting on a Home Ministry directive by issuing exit notices to 12 Pakistani nationals living in the state on long-term visas. This crackdown is part of a national review after Union Home Minister Amit Shah instructed states to ensure no Pakistani citizen remains beyond the official deadline.

What was meant to be a serene getaway for several Odia families turned into a blood-soaked tragedy in the picturesque hills of Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. As terrorists unleashed terror on unsuspecting tourists, stories of survival, sacrifice, and swift state response have emerged from Odisha. Prashant Satpathy, a devoted employee of CIPET in Balasore, was among the 26 victims killed in the gruesome terror attack. His untimely death sent shockwaves across Odisha. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited Prashant’s home in Ishani village on April 20 to pay floral tributes and condemned the attack in strong terms. The state announced ₹20 lakh financial assistance to the bereaved family, a government job for Prashant’s wife, and free education for their nine-year-old son. Thousands attended his funeral, reflecting the collective grief of a community.

In another chilling episode, an Odia man named Debashis narrowly escaped death by blending in with Muslim tourists who were chanting the Kalma. With presence of mind, he joined in the prayer, convincing the terrorists he was one of them. His beard, too, aided in the deception. “They asked if I was chanting Ram’s name. I kept chanting the Kalma louder,” he later said.

Meanwhile, a Cuttack Bhola family also survived the attack after hiding just feet away from the gunmen. Ranjit Bhola, his wife, son, and daughter-in-law had been clicking pictures when chaos erupted. “We were just five feet from them. We watched as three people were killed before us,” said Ranjit. “I saw 14 bodies. We'll never return.” The family is now receiving psychological counselling and medical care in Odisha.

Amid the shock, the Odisha government has begun acting on a Home Ministry directive by issuing exit notices to 12 Pakistani nationals living in the state on long-term visas. This crackdown is part of a national review after Union Home Minister Amit Shah instructed states to ensure no Pakistani citizen remains beyond the official deadline.