The Baisaran Meadows terror attack shattered the fragile illusion of normalcy in Kashmir. Striking at the heart of tourism in Pahalgam, the assault was not just a loss of lives—it was a direct hit on the narrative of peace the region had been cautiously rebuilding. It was also being made known to the world. In its wake, the state responded with will force: swift cordon operations, strikes on hideouts, and bulldozer justice targeting alleged sympathizers. Yet, for all the muscle, the accused vanished into oblivion, the less talked about the masterminds, the better. As with many attacks in the Valley’s dark history, the real architects remain untouched, while the wounds deepen.
The attack led to one of its kind national outrage. Economic levers—threats over the Indus Waters Treaty, visa clampdowns, and trade suspensions—were wielded as instruments of pressure, some for the first time in the last so many decades of our topsy turvy relationship. Media channels drummed up war cries, political rhetoric soared, and the Line of Control began buzzing with military movement. Mock drills, troop reinforcements, and satellite mobilization painted a picture of imminent escalation. Then the hell broke loose with India launching precision strikes on identified terror launch pads. The conflict escalated, expanded and became much more intense that on the 10th May, it seemed we were on the verge of a full blown war. Nonetheless, to the credit of our armed forces, India remained in command of the situation. Who knows this war could have turned out to be a final blow to terrorism!
This was not the whole story. The country was fed on the stage managed media fury while back channel negotiations had another story brewing up. It was contrary to all that was being projected in the public domain. Then came the Trump mediated and Trump announced ceasefire; unexpected, uneasy, and largely unexplained. The military buildup dissipated without release, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. No clarity on the probe’s final outcomes, no closure for the victims’ families, and no accountability for the known accused who still roam free. Instead, the symbolic gestures—demolitions, detentions, and denials—are paraded as policy. Kashmir’s peace remains hostage not to insurgents alone, but to a system that confuses reaction for resolution.
So, where are we now? Back at square one, or perhaps worse. The local population, which rallied against the violence, finds no justice. The opposition, united in grief, is at a loss of words now. The unconditional support of all to the government could bring us only this far. And the people—scarred, silent— watch as their suffering is repackaged into headlines and hashtags. What have we solved or resolved? The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is certainly fainter now. The final tragedy isn’t just the attack. It’s the realization that despite all the noise, nothing has changed— except the depth of our disillusionment.
THE COUNTRY IS CONFOUNDED; WHERE HAS WAS WAR AGAINST TERRORISM FINALLY REACHED?