In chat intercepts, fringe terror groups call attack a ‘wake-up call’ for country
Within 24 hours of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 tourists were gunned down by The Resistance Front (TRF), intelligence agencies intercepted conversations from fringe terror outfits referring to the incident as “a wake-up call not only for Delhi but also for those who support Delhi’s ‘questionable’ strategies”.
Excerpts of these intercepted conversations, attributed to a group calling itself the ‘Kashmir Resistance’ and accessed by The Tribune, suggest India had been warned against politicising the Kashmir conflict by “manipulating tourist inflow” and promoting “development work” in Jammu and Kashmir.
The group claimed the Pahalgam victims were not ordinary tourists, but individuals linked to security and intelligence agencies, including personnel from the Indian Navy and Air Force. Two such officers were reportedly among those killed. They alleged the victims were part of a government-sponsored or covert agency conducting research in the region.
The intercepted chats also accused such groups of previously influencing government policy in Kashmir — alleging their recommendations led to controversial measures like granting domicile status and government jobs to non-locals, as well as awarding public and private contracts, which they claimed reduced employment opportunities for locals.
In a chilling warning, the group vowed to intensify attacks against those “undermining J&K’s resistance struggle”, threatening that they would “face appropriate consequences”.
Further messages from earlier this month contained direct threats to the Indian Government, including one directed at Home Minister Amit Shah: “Be prepared to receive some body bags of your mercenary forces.”
The intercepted conversations also revealed discussions about future strategies for an “armed resistance” to support the “Kashmir cause”. The terrorists also discussed, “All those persons who recently pledged their allegiance to the ‘Occupier Indian Constitution’ should be declared traitors.”
They emphasised the need for a new representative who could advocate the Kashmir cause “honestly and diplomatically”.
The chats highlighted a push for clarity within their ranks: “There should be no ambiguity regarding the armed resistance. All cadres must remain active on the ground and loyal to the executive body.”
Terror operatives also discussed creating a 10-year “comprehensive roadmap”, to be reviewed monthly, and establishing a new representative body composed of Kashmiris actively participating in the so-called “resistance struggle”. The group insisted that only Kashmiris should represent the cause to “show the world what is happening in Kashmir”.
India