Pahalgam’s pain: Will India strike back before the clock runs out?

On April 22, 2025, the serene meadows of Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, turned into a scene of horror. Terrorists, armed with guns and hatred, stormed this tourist paradise, killing 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Force (TRF), a shadow of the Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for this brutal attack. Survivors shared chilling tales: the attackers, emerging from the forests, asked men about their religion before shooting them down. This was no random act of violence—it was a calculated strike to wound India’s heart, economy, and unity.

This piece draws inspiration from a detailed report by Firstpost, which vividly captured the tragedy and its implications. But the story doesn’t end with the attack. As India mourns, a critical question looms: will the nation respond with the same boldness it showed after Uri and Pulwama, or will the ticking clock of military leadership changes delay justice?

A Wound That Cuts Deep

Pahalgam is not just a dot on the tourist map. It’s a gateway to the sacred Amarnath Yatra, a pilgrimage that draws thousands every year. By targeting this spot, the terrorists didn’t just aim for casualties—they struck at India’s spiritual and economic core. Tourism is the lifeblood of Jammu and Kashmir, and an attack on a place like Pahalgam sends a message: no one is safe, not even those seeking peace in its valleys.

The attackers’ methods were as sinister as their motives. Reports of them demanding to know victims’ religious identities before firing reveal a clear intent to stoke communal fires. This wasn’t just about terror—it was about dividing India along religious lines. The fact that the majority of those killed were Hindu tourists, with one local Muslim among the victims, only adds to the calculated cruelty of the act.

The timing of the attack raises eyebrows too. Just six days earlier, on April 16, 2025, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir delivered a speech in Islamabad, fanning the flames of the two-nation theory. He spoke of irreconcilable differences between Hindus and Muslims, echoing the divisive rhetoric that fuels groups like TRF. While words alone don’t pull triggers, they can light the fuse. Munir’s remarks, made in a public forum, cannot be brushed off as mere rhetoric—they provide the ideological cover for such violence.

The Ghosts of Uri and Pulwama

India has faced such wounds before, and its response has often been swift and decisive. In 2016, when terrorists attacked the Indian Army’s brigade headquarters in Uri, killing 17 soldiers, the nation didn’t wait long. Within 10 days, on September 28, surgical strikes were launched across the Line of Control (LoC), targeting terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Lt Gen DS Hooda, then head of the Northern Command, led the operation with precision, rewriting the rules of engagement. His two months of remaining tenure gave him the time to plan and act.

Three years later, in 2019, the Pulwama attack claimed 40 CRPF personnel. India’s response was even bolder—an airstrike on a terror camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan. This wasn’t just about retaliation; it showed India’s willingness to cross borders and hit terror at its source. Both Uri and Pulwama proved one thing: when India acts fast, it sends a message that echoes beyond its borders.

But the situation today is different. Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, the current Northern Command chief, is set to retire on April 30, 2025—just a week after the Pahalgam attack. His successor, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, will take over soon after. With such a tight timeline, can India plan and execute a response under Kumar’s watch, or will it wait for Sharma to step in? The clock is ticking, and history suggests that delays can dull the edge of justice.

Why Pahalgam Is a Perfect Target

Pahalgam’s beauty is its vulnerability. The Baisaran Valley, surrounded by dense forests and rugged mountains, is a logistical nightmare for security forces. The area’s proximity to the LoC, with its unguarded passes and natural hideouts, makes it a magnet for infiltrators. The Pir Panjal Range, the Anantnag forests, and the Lidder River corridor offer cover for terrorists to slip in and out. Despite stepped-up surveillance, sealing every gap in this terrain is like trying to hold water in a sieve.

Tourists, unlike soldiers or politicians, are soft targets. They’re unfamiliar with local dangers and unprotected by heavy security. An attack on them doesn’t just claim lives—it cripples the economy and shakes public confidence. By choosing Pahalgam, the terrorists hit a nerve, knowing the ripples would be felt in every corner of India.

The Leadership Dilemma

Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar is no stranger to high-stakes situations. A decorated officer with experience as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, he has the credentials to lead a response. But with only a week left in his tenure, time is not on his side. Planning a surgical strike or similar operation requires coordination, intelligence, and precision—tasks that demand stability at the top.

Enter Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, the incoming Northern Command chief. His track record is impressive: from commanding a brigade in Jammu and Kashmir to serving as Director General of Military Operations, he’s no novice to the region’s challenges. If India waits for him to take charge, it could ensure a fresh perspective and a longer window to execute a response. But waiting also risks losing momentum. The longer the delay, the harder it becomes to channel the nation’s anger into action.

What India Must Do

The Pahalgam massacre is not just an attack on 26 lives—it’s an assault on India’s spirit. The terrorists didn’t just target tourists; they targeted the idea of a united, peaceful nation. Their actions, backed by divisive narratives from across the border, demand a response that is swift, strong, and smart.

India has the tools to act. Its military is battle-hardened, its intelligence networks are robust, and its leadership—whether Kumar or Sharma—is capable. The Modi government, with its track record of bold moves, is unlikely to let this attack go unanswered. But the question is when and how.

A surgical strike, like the one after Uri, could target TRF camps across the LoC. An airstrike, like Balakot, could send a louder message. Whatever the method, the response must be precise enough to punish the guilty and bold enough to deter future attacks. At the same time, India must strengthen security in vulnerable areas like Pahalgam, using technology and local intelligence to plug gaps in the terrain.

A Nation Awaits

As India grieves, the world watches. The Pahalgam attack has drawn global condemnation, with nations standing in solidarity against terrorism. But sympathy alone won’t heal these wounds. India must act—not out of vengeance, but to protect its people and its values.

The terrorists succeeded in one thing: reminding us that the fight for Kashmir is not just about land. It’s about ideology, identity, and the right to live without fear. India’s response, whether it comes in a week or a month, will shape not just its future in Kashmir but its place in a world where terror knows no borders.

The clock is ticking. Will India strike back before it runs out?

(The author Girish Linganna of this article is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him, at: girishlinganna@gmail.com )

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