Revisiting the horror: One year after the Pahalgam massacre

On the eve of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam massacre, the memory of 22 April 2025 returns with a weight that has not diminished. What began as an ordinary spring morning in one of Kashmir’s most beloved tourist valleys descended into one of the darkest days India has witnessed since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

That afternoon, Pakistan‑backed terrorists infiltrated a village near Pahalgam, armed with M4 carbines and AK‑47s, and executed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, after singling them out by religion. Newlywed couples, families on holiday, and a local Muslim pony operator who tried to resist the attackers were among those killed. The brutality of the assault, and the deliberate targeting of non‑Muslims, left the nation stunned.

Investigations later revealed that the attackers operating under aliases Suleman (Faizal Jatt), Hamza Afghani, and Zibran had crossed over from Pakistan and were in communication with handlers across the border using ultra‑high‑frequency wireless sets. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the UN‑designated Lashkar‑e‑Taiba, initially claimed responsibility before retracting its statement. Evidence recovered from the slain terrorists including Pakistani voter ID slips, Pakistan‑manufactured chocolates, and biometric data linked to Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority reinforced India’s assertion that the attack was planned, facilitated, and executed from across the border. An eight‑month NIA investigation traced the conspiracy to Pakistan, culminating in a 1,597‑page chargesheet naming Lashkar‑e‑Taiba, TRF, and six individuals.

The massacre did not end with the gunfire. Its aftermath rippled through Kashmir for months. Tourism, the economic lifeline of Pahalgam, collapsed overnight. Hoteliers, taxi drivers, pony operators, guides, and small shopkeepers saw their incomes evaporate. Weddings were cancelled, bookings disappeared, and the valley’s fragile recovery from earlier disruptions was abruptly reversed. The silence in the once‑bustling Baisaran Valley became a symbol of the attack’s economic and emotional toll.

Yet amid the grief, there was solidarity. Candle marches lit up towns across Jammu and Kashmir. Families of victims stood shoulder to shoulder with local residents, raising slogans against terrorism and demanding accountability. The shared mourning of at least 25 bereaved families created a collective memory that continues to shape public sentiment.

Operation Sindoor: India’s Decisive Military Response

India’s response was swift and forceful. On 7 May 2025, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, striking terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir. Nine major launchpads linked to Lashkar‑e‑Taiba, Jaish‑e‑Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen were destroyed, and over 100 terrorists were neutralised. Pakistan retaliated with drone attacks and shelling, but the damage inflicted on its terror infrastructure was significant enough that its Director General of Military Operations sought a ceasefire by 10 May.

Parallel to the cross‑border strikes, Indian forces initiated Operation Mahadev to track down the perpetrators. By 28 July 2025, the three attackers were killed. Their identities were corroborated through witness testimony, recovered documents, and digital forensics including a GoPro camera used for reconnaissance and a micro‑SD card containing biometric data from Pakistan.

Terror as a Tool of Destabilisation

The Pahalgam attack did not occur in isolation. It fits into a long‑documented pattern in which Pakistan‑based militant groups have targeted civilians, minorities, and tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. In an interview with Sky News, a senior Indian official noted that Pakistan has historically funded, trained, and supported such organisations, an assessment echoed in multiple international reports over the years. The attack also triggered a diplomatic rupture: India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and expelled Pakistani diplomats, while Pakistan retaliated by suspending the Simla Agreement and closing airspace.

The NIA’s ongoing investigation continues to uncover transnational linkages. A Letter Rogatory sent to China seeks details about an electronic device used in the attack, underscoring the cross‑border complexity of the conspiracy.

Parallel to the cross‑border strikes, Indian forces launched Operation Mahadev to track down the perpetrators. By 28 July 2025, the three attackers were killed. Their identities were corroborated through witness testimony, recovered documents, and digital forensics, including a GoPro camera used for reconnaissance and a micro‑SD card containing biometric data from Pakistan.

In November 2025, the Delhi Police Special Cell busted a Pakistan‑backed gangster‑turned‑terror module, arresting three individuals. In a separate operation, police arrested Bandhu Man Singh, linked to the Goldy Dhillon gang, for supplying weapons used in attacks including the shooting at comedian Kapil Sharma’s restaurant in Canada. Investigators are now probing international arms routes, funding channels, and potential targets. These developments highlight how Pakistan‑linked networks increasingly blur the lines between terrorism, organised crime, and transnational violence.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani threat landscape has widened. In January 2026, TRF issued a direct death threat to Junaid Qureshi, Director of the European Foundation for South Asian Studies, intercepted on the encrypted platform Element X. The message stated the group “will not hesitate in eliminating” him an escalation from routine intimidation.

One Year Later: Memory, Warning, and Resolve

As India marks one year since the massacre, the Indian Army has invoked the memory of Operation Sindoor with a message that resonates deeply: “When boundaries of humanity are crossed, the response is decisive. Justice is served. India stands united.” The anniversary is not merely a remembrance of loss, it is a reminder of the persistent attempts to destabilise peace in Kashmir by exploiting communal fault lines and targeting the most vulnerable.

The Pahalgam attack altered South Asia’s security landscape. Its shockwaves continue to influence diplomatic equations, counterterrorism strategies, and public consciousness. It exposed vulnerabilities, revived old tensions, and forced governments across the region to confront the fragility of peace.

But it also revealed something else: the resilience of ordinary people. The candle marches, the protests, the collective mourning, and the refusal to forget these were acts of defiance against fear. They affirmed that while terrorism seeks to divide, the response of a united society can be stronger than the violence inflicted upon it.