Pahalgam Attack: Not In The Name Of Kashmiris

The CM of J&K delivered a landmark speech during the special session of the assembly on April 28, 2025 that was convened in the wake of tragic Pahalgam terror strike. The essence of what the CM said was that the terrorist on pretensions of fighting for the cause of Kashmiris had done exactly the opposite and that such dastardly acts cannot be in the name of Kashmiris. He went on to say that the crucial and unprecedented development in the aftermath of the Pahalgam tragedy was that the local population came out in a bipartisan manner to protest against horrific incident. The protests being purely spontaneous, saw participation from all the sections of society, irrespective of their respective class or religion. The CM added that guns could only manage or control the situation and that a permanent solution could manifest only when the people disown terror. Seemingly, the people of J&K are geared up for the same. Through perception building, a consolidation of peoples’ movement is the need of the hour and terrorists by killing 26 innocent tourists at Pahalgam have indeed prepared the ground for the same.

The widespread expression of the local population has the potential to resolve the terrorism related challenges of J&K, provided the dispensation builds upon the same rather than frittering it away. 

Our nation라이브 바카라 security forces (SF) in a counter-insurgency / counter-terrorism (CI/CT) have always seen the local population as the centre of gravity (CG), and have operated on the said tenet in J&K. However, at times, on facing losses and setbacks, the steadfast adherence to the basic underlying principle of focusing on local population gets diluted. Of course, the hunt for the perpetrators of Pahalgam has to be carried out relentlessly. The tracking down of terrorists however has to be based on the principle of use of minimum force, irrespective of the circumstances. There is nothing unfamiliar in the aforesaid and the same has been the hallmark of SF operating not only in J&K but also across the regions in the country

However, in a bid to restore the situation, the agencies have gone ahead destroying at least 11 houses belonging to the families of active local terrorists in the valley. The demolitions began on April 24, with the house of Adil Ahmed Thoker in Bijbhera, Anantnag. The individual belongs to LeT and was allegedly involved in Pahalgam massacre, according to the police. Demolitions continued on the following days in Anantnag, Bandipora, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian. 

The intent behind the acts of demolitions was to convey a message of policy of zero tolerance to terrorism and to deter local population from partaking in terrorism or supporting terrorists. In the shorter term, these measures may temporarily deter the terror support system and potential terrorist attacks, but in long term, this has the potential of frittering away the local support against terror that has been forthcoming in the wake of Pahalgam terror act. Such measures violate the time tested principles of CI/CT, and have the potential of distancing the dispensation from the CG, the local population—a detrimental development.

At first instance, it does appear reasonable to bring down the households of terrorists since these properties symbolise the support system of the terrorists. However, the knocked down brick and mortar leaves behind wailing family members of terrorists and sends an ominous message to the society, in general. The conditions of already traumatised local population, bearing the brunt of insecurity yearns for justice and not collective punishments, which the demolish houses mete out. The population that is yet to be won over by the state feels neglected and discriminated against after experiencing vagaries brought in by rash actions. Their likely tendency to walk across towards terrorists, in such eventualities, is exploited by the terror structure.

The high handedness on part of the state comprises all the ingredients from that playbook of ‘how not to counter terrorists’. According to psychologists Bessel van der Kolk and Ruth Leys, trauma from the destruction of personal property is far deeper than mere displacement. Homes are not just structures but symbols of dignity, history, belonging, and personal identity. Whenever a house is destroyed, the state risks severing these tangible anchors connecting individuals to their land and society, thereby distancing the local population from the state. 

The recruitment machinery of terror outfits feeds upon the alienation of locals. There are ample evidences of social media being deluged by the images of demolished houses with captions despising the situation of Kashmiris in India. For the terror propaganda setup, the demolitions are golden opportunities that are handed over to them on platter. The images of families standing on the ruins of destroyed houses are more potent, in today라이브 바카라 information wars, than any statement issued by the state. When young Kashmiris are bombarded with such posts and narratives on internet, they become vulnerable to radicalisation not only through ideology alone but also by powerful emotional manipulation. In such scenarios, a new recruit is not necessarily someone who is ideologically indoctrinated but is a grieving and angry teenager looking for dignity and revenge.

The kinetic approach in CT operations by using of force is undeniably important, and no state can allow militancy to fester unchecked in its territory. However, a purely punitive approach without the psychological outreach, will almost certainly prove counterproductive. The classical CI theories of David Galula and Robert Thompson argue that the ultimate objective in CI is to win over the population and not to eliminate the insurgents. Galula, a French military officer and scholar, while writing about his experience fighting insurgents in Algeria in his book "Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice" (1964) points out: "In any situation where the insurgent and the counterinsurgent confront each other, the population becomes the prize. The insurgent derives his strength from the population — it is as necessary to him as oxygen is to the fighter. Therefore, the counterinsurgent must gain and retain the support of the population. Without that support, he is like a soldier fighting in enemy territory without supplies or reinforcements." 

As a way forward, if demolishing a house is inescapable, it must be done through a transparent legal process, and not driven by the spirit of arbitrary revenge. In order to mitigate an emotional backlash, it needs to be ensured that the local community is convinced on the due process. The tactical operations, ideally should be backed by psychological operations. To counter the terrorists’ propaganda, effective counter-narratives through strategic communications are often neglected by the state. Examples of Kashmiri youth, succeeding through education and entrepreneurship should be amplified along with successful de-radicalisation stories. The de-radicalisation narrative in terms of a genuine outreach that focuses on gullible youth - parents, teachers, ulema amongst others are the crucial stake holders that could make the difference. 

In the long run, hope supported by justice will secure and normalise Kashmir.  A sustainable security embodies not just neutralising terrorist but in nurturing aspirations of the people that were clearly expressed when they came out on the streets against Pahalgam tragedy. In the current trying circumstances, it falls upon the state to act with all maturity rather than falling for false luring of brash measure that are superficially appealing.  

Colonel Shashank Ranjan is an Indian Army veteran with substantial experience of serving in counter-terror environment in J&K. He currently teaches at OP Jindal Global University. Mohit Vashisth is a doctoral candidate at OP Jindal Global University.