Pahalgam Islamic Terror Attack: A Grim Reminder of the Security Threats in Post-Article 370 J&K Samvada World

The TRF, which claimed responsibility, has evolved as a new-age Islamic terror front that adjusts its methods to changing geopolitical situations.
Identifying and deliberately targeting Hindus, asking victims to recite the Kalma and checking for circumcision reminds us of the tragic period in Kashmir’s history.
The tourism industry, a symbol of normalisation, has become a target for terrorist groups seeking to destabilise the region and undermine the Indian government’s narrative of inclusion.
The Pahalgam terror attack demonstrates not just a failure in security but also a fundamental oversight in the way Islamic terror and its chief proponent, Pakistan, are handled.

The devastating terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 28 people, mostly Hindus, and injured 20, has once again drawn global attention to the changing nature of terrorism in the region. The attack, carried out by Islamic terrorists connected with The Resistance Front (TRF), a branch of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, highlights the changing dynamics of terrorism in Kashmir, particularly since the repeal of Article 370 in 2019.

Anatomy of the Attack

Initial reports indicate that the attack took place in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, a popular tourist attraction in the Anantnag region, at approximately 2:50 PM. Twenty-four Indian tourists, all Hindus, two Kashmir residents, and two foreigners from Nepal and the United Arab Emirates were among the casualties.^[1] Among those killed were a 26-year-old Indian Navy officer^[2] and an Intelligence Bureau member. Survivors said that the terrorists pretended to be police officers and targeted non-Muslims by asking them to recite the Islamic kalma and checking for circumcision, which clearly shows the Islamist agenda. One victim described being forced to report the event to PM Modi, revealing a larger propaganda goal behind the killings. ^[3]

TRF and the Tactical Shift

The TRF, which claimed responsibility, has evolved as a new-age Islamic terror front that adjusts its methods to changing geopolitical situations. Since the removal of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s unique constitutional status, terrorist organisations have changed their tactics. They used to target military and police people, but today they focus on “soft symbols” like tourism and public opinion. Pahalgam, noted for its scenic splendour and as the gateway to the Amarnath Yatra, has seen an increase in visitor arrivals. In March 2022 alone, 180,000 tourists visited Kashmir, the most in a decade.^[4]

However, as a symbol of normalisation, the tourism industry has become a target for terrorist groups seeking to destabilise the region and undermine the Indian government’s goal of inclusion. However, such affluence is no longer guaranteed. The extremists’ choice to assault a tourist destination is not coincidental; it cuts to the heart of the government’s post-370 narrative of calm and normalcy.

Additionally, the attack demonstrates TRF’s use of technology and communication tools, which makes operations more nimble and difficult to detect. As Firstpost noted, the group has increasingly used encrypted texting and GPS-based navigation for execution and escape.^[5]

Perhaps more worrying is the geographic spread of violence. Since mid-2021, there have been more than two dozen incidents in Jammu, which has usually been less violent than the Kashmir Valley. These invasions coincide with India’s troop transfer to Ladakh due to rising tensions with China, unintentionally exposing exploitable security vulnerabilities.

Terrorists are increasingly leveraging Jammu’s difficult terrain and civilian disguises to infiltrate. The pattern is clear: undermine stability, divide integration, and destroy public trust in post-Article 370 government policies.

Religious Targeting and Demographic Anxiety

The religious implications of the Pahalgam incident cannot be ignored. The practice of identifying and deliberately targeting Hindus, asking victims to recite the kalma and checking them for traces of circumcision reminds us of the tragic period in Kashmir’s history. Such tactics were widely used during the Islamic insurgency of the 1990s, which contributed to the large flight of Kashmiri Pandits, with an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 fleeing the Valley owing to targeted killings and threats. In the post-Article 370 era, these religiously inspired acts of violence signify a new phase of sectarian polarisation. Since the repeal of Article 35A, which previously prohibited non-Kashmiris from owning land or residing permanently in the territory, more than 85,000 people from outside Jammu and Kashmir have reportedly obtained domicile certificates and resided in the Union Territory.^[6]

This demographic shift has been a rallying point for separatist and terrorist organisations. Pakistan and its intelligence agency have persistently presented the domicile policy as a drive to change the Valley’s Muslim-majority composition, framing it as a type of “ethnic cleansing”

Islamic terrorist organisations like The Resistance Front (TRF) have capitalised on these worries, framing their actions as “resistance” against an “occupying settler state.” However, the repercussions of such speech are lethal. Attacks on Hindu pilgrims, migrant labourers, and now tourists not only cause panic but also send a frightening message to non-Muslims: Kashmir is off-limits.

The plan combines ideological and tactical elements. By advocating for religious polarisation, terrorists hope to incite Hindu-Muslim tensions across India, causing New Delhi to over-militarise the Valley and thereby validate the narrative of tyranny and occupation. It’s a terrible cycle of violence feeding grievance, which fuels more bloodshed.

India’s Response: Swift but Strained

In the immediate wake of the Pahalgam massacre, the Indian government moved quickly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his official visit to Saudi Arabia^[7]. Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to Kashmir to monitor the next steps in person. A high-level crisis conference was held in Delhi, prompting the deployment of more than 2,000 security forces to Pahalgam and nearby areas. Special forces units performed cordon-and-search operations, which were assisted by drone surveillance and aerial reconnaissance.

To prevent the transmission of provocative content, Anantnag and Srinagar districts were placed under a 48-hour curfew, and internet connectivity was banned in south Kashmir. Dozens of suspects were detained for questioning, including those with alleged ties to TRF and Lashkar-e-Taiba sleeper cells operating under civilian cover.

At the administrative level, India repeated its claim that TRF is essentially a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, which receives logistical and ideological support from Pakistan’s ISI.

Security planners anticipated an increase in violence. During a National Security Council meeting led by Home Minister Amit Shah in November 2024, intelligence reports indicated an enhanced infiltration pattern through the Jammu sector, leading to the launch of the “Zero Terror Zone” policy^[8], which included fortified roadway lanes in Jammu and Poonch, biometric registration of tourists and labourers and community policing in vulnerable areas.

Even as India strengthens its counter-terror architecture, it faces an uphill battle in addressing the security loopholes and shortcomings, as was evident in the Phalgam terror attack. Security experts have opined that India’s response has to be brutal with devastating consequences for Pakistan and its terror infrastructure.

Conclusion: The Long Shadow of Article 370

Nearly six years after the repeal of Article 370, the promise of peace in Kashmir remains elusive. While tourists increased, internet blackouts faded, and stone-pelting decreased, the threat from Pakistan persisted. The Pahalgam terror attack demonstrates not just a failure in security but also a fundamental oversight in the way Islamic terror and its chief proponent, Pakistan, are handled.

Security measures alone will not guarantee Kashmir’s future security. It demands a two-pronged strategy: speedy retribution for the terrorist act and genuine political will at the centre and state levels to tackle radicalisation at the root level. While the issues pertaining to land rights, cultural preservation, unemployment, and political disenfranchisement are all issues that must be addressed, de-radicalisation and inculcating respect for non-Muslims will go a long way in tackling Islamic terrorism and avoiding similar terror attacks.

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