A month after the deadly terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam, security agencies are yet to make any breakthrough in tracking down the perpetrators, despite massive search operations and a high-level probe involving multiple intelligence and enforcement agencies. At least five terrorists- including three Pakistani nationals – are believed to have been involved in the targeted assault at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local guide. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), had claimed responsibility for the April 22 massacre. While the attack was heinous and indiscriminately violent, a pervasive and misleading portrayal has emerged, suggesting the victims were exclusively Hindu and targeted by radical Muslim Pakistani terrorists. This selective reporting overlooks crucial facts that underscore the non-discriminatory nature of the violence and, in doing so, risks fanning communal hatred and it is shocking that communalism was sought to be introduced into the tragedy to fit a particular narrative. Among the victims were individuals from diverse religious backgrounds, including two Christians and a Muslim. Sushil Nathaniel, a branch manager for LIC, was a Christian. His wife recounted how terrorists demanded he recite the Kalima, and upon learning of his Christian faith, shot him dead. Similarly, Tage Hailyang, from Arunachal Pradesh and a corporal in the Indian Air Force, also a Christian, was shot dead in front of his newlywed wife after the terrorists discovered his military affiliation. Furthermore, Syed Adil Hasan Shah, a local pony owner and a Muslim, was tragically killed while attempting to protect one of the tourists. These facts clearly demonstrate that the terrorists were not selective in their targets based on religion. They killed indiscriminately, aiming to inflict maximum terror and casualties, regardless of the victims’ faith. The attempt to communalize this tragedy by portraying it as an attack solely against Hindus is not only factually incorrect but also deeply irresponsible. Such narratives exploit the memory of those martyred for being Indians, transforming a shared national tragedy into a tool for division. The truth remains that all victims were Indians, and the terrorists demonstrated no religious selectivity in their murderous rampage. Had their intent been to target only non-Muslims, the Christian and Muslim victims would have been spared. The focus should be on the indiscriminate nature of the violence, which underscores the broader threat terrorism poses to all communities, rather than on exploiting the incident for communal gains. The international community has largely expressed solidarity with the victims of this heinous attack, widely believed to have been carried out by a Pakistan-backed terrorist group. This tragedy further strengthens India’s position in its long-standing campaign to expose cross-border terrorism and press for greater international accountability from states that shelter or support such groups. Islamist extremist violence has repeatedly targeted civilians of all faiths, including Muslims, as evidenced in Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. These instances reinforce the urgent need to isolate and censure governments that use terror as an instrument of foreign policy. Pakistan, long accused of waging a proxy war against India through terrorist proxies, remains central to this global security concern. Accurate and responsible reporting is paramount in such times to unite a nation against a common enemy, rather than sowing seeds of discord.
Saturday, July 19, 2025