Pahalgam Massacre: The Celebration of Terror and a Nation’s Response

A Day of Bloodshed in the Meadows

On April 22, 2025, the peaceful meadows of Baisaran near Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, were turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. In a meticulously planned ambush, five heavily armed terrorists stormed a tourist site packed with families enjoying the spring weather. Within minutes, 26 civilians—primarily Hindu pilgrims and tourists—were gunned down in cold blood. Among the dead were 24 Hindus, one Christian tourist, and a local Muslim pony operator. The attackers, wielding AK-47s and M4 carbines, unleashed a massacre so brutal that it sent shockwaves not only across India but throughout the global community.

The Pahalgam terrorist attack took place on April 22. (File: PTI) | India Today

Eyewitness to Horror: Gunfire as Celebration

In the aftermath of the attack, a startling testimony emerged from a local eyewitness—now described by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a “star witness.” According to his account, after the terrorists completed their assault, they encountered him and forced him to recite the Islamic kalma. Hearing his regional accent, they spared his life. What followed was even more chilling—they fired several rounds into the air, not out of fear or warning, but in celebration of the carnage they had just committed. These shots of jubilation were later confirmed through ballistic evidence, with four empty cartridges found at the site, further corroborating the witness’s account.

The Local Link: Betrayal from Within

The probe revealed that the attackers did not operate in isolation. Two local residents, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad, were arrested for providing critical logistical support to the terrorists. According to the same witness, these men had been safeguarding the attackers’ bags before and after the shooting. It later surfaced that Parvaiz had offered them shelter the night before the assault, supplying them with food and essentials. In conversations with the attackers, he discussed tourist movement patterns and security arrangements, helping them prepare for maximum devastation. Bashir, too, played a part in aiding the killers’ escape route. Their complicity has exposed a deeply troubling layer of local radicalization in the Valley.

Who Were the Killers? A Familiar Name Returns

Among the terrorists, one was identified as Hashim Musa, alias Suleiman Shah—a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander. He had previously orchestrated the October 2024 attack on workers near the Z-Morh tunnel. Hashim was no stranger to intelligence agencies, and his presence at Pahalgam marks yet another instance where Pakistan-based outfits have directly targeted civilians inside Indian territory. The broader operation was later claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an LeT proxy operating under a pseudo-Kashmiri identity, attempting to mask its cross-border roots.

India Responds: Diplomacy, Retaliation, and Introspection

The brutality of the Pahalgam massacre drew a swift and multi-pronged response from the Indian government. Diplomatic ties with Pakistan were frozen, envoys were expelled, and the Wagah border was sealed indefinitely. In a high-level operation named Operation Sindoor, Indian intelligence and armed forces executed targeted precision strikes on nine terrorist camps and infrastructure across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and parts of Pakistan. According to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the retaliatory action neutralized over 100 militants and sent a clear message: India will not let its civilians bleed without consequence.

Even within India, the fallout was intense. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, publicly acknowledged the lapse in local intelligence and took personal responsibility for the failure. Across the region, security forces launched one of the largest counter-insurgency operations in recent years, detaining dozens of suspects and dismantling potential sleeper cells. Yet, these measures were not without criticism. Reports surfaced of overreach and harsh crackdowns in villages, prompting human rights concerns.

Tourism and the Spirit of Resilience

Pahalgam, often called the "Valley of Shepherds," has always been a symbol of tranquility and natural beauty. The attack threatened to shatter that image. But in the weeks that followed, both the administration and locals worked hard to revive the region’s battered tourism sector. Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat personally visited the Valley, assuring the public that safety would be reinforced. The story of local hero Nazakat Ahmad Ali Shah, who saved 11 tourists during the ambush, also inspired hope amid grief.

Nevertheless, the impact was undeniable. Bookings dropped sharply, international media coverage painted Kashmir as unstable, and a wave of communal tension spread to parts of the mainland. A particularly haunting reminder of the attack came from a video captured by a ziplining tourist named Rishi Bhatt, who inadvertently filmed the beginning of the massacre from above, not realizing he was witnessing history’s most tragic turn.

Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for India and the World

The Pahalgam massacre is not just another episode in India’s long battle against terrorism—it is a deeply symbolic moment that reveals the evolving nature of the threat. The use of local collaborators, the targeting of civilians for their faith, and the grotesque celebration by the attackers after the killings point to a disturbing shift in terror tactics. This was not just an act of violence; it was an attempt to fracture the soul of a diverse nation.

India’s military and diplomatic responses have demonstrated strength, but this event has also highlighted the urgent need for better internal security, community monitoring, and international cooperation to choke funding and ideological pipelines flowing from across the border. Above all, the bravery of eyewitnesses and the resilience of ordinary Kashmiris offer a path forward: one rooted not in fear, but in truth, accountability, and unity.

(Sources: OpIndia, Moneycontrol, India Today)