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| Baisaran Carnage shamed Kashmir, Kashmiris & Kashmiriyat! | | Straight Talk |
K B Jandial
The past 35 years’ Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has experienced a series of horrifying terrorist attacks—targeting every section of the population including Kashmiri Pandits, local Muslims, journalists, civil servants, JKP personnel, security forces, political figures, and pilgrims. However, the 22/4 terrorist strike at Baisaran, Pahalgam marked a chilling departure from past gory incidents. This attack was not just exceptionally brutal but bore a disturbing footprint of the 7/10 HAMAS terror strike in Israel. Eyewitness accounts reveal that the terrorists were equipped with body cameras, recording their heinous acts while remaining in constant communication with handlers—exactly as HAMAS operatives did on October 7, 2023, against Israeli civilians.
In a heart-wrenching sequence of events that continued for about an hour, the terrorists, after unmistakably establishing identity, gunned down twenty-five Hindu tourists in front of their begging wives and wailing children. The survivors recount horrific tales of the brutal methods used by this gang of butchers, a mix of radicalised Pakistanis and locals. For the first time, the terrorists linked killing of people to their support to Modi, saying to one of the victims, "Tum logon ne Modi ko sar par chadha diya hai". This linkage of religious identity to political allegiance exposed a deep-rooted hatred for both Hindus and Modi, making Hindus an explicit target for their support of India's leadership.
During the carnage, the attackers verified the religious identity of the male tourists before executing them. One terrorist even shouted that a particular male did not look like Muslim. Commanding the other male victim at the barrel of their gun, to recite Kalima (the sacred Islamic Verse/ expression of faith -"La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur rasulullah" –There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah) and pumped bullets in him for his ignorance. Another tourist was stripped of his pants to establish his religion before gunning him down. When another grieving wife of another victim begged the terrorists to kill her as well, she was told that they are leaving her alive so that they can tell Modi about it. This kind of religiously charged brutality had not even been seen during the infamous 26/11 Mumbai attacks carried out by Ajmal Kasab and his cohorts killing 166 persons.
Such acts raise inevitable questions: can these attackers still be brushed aside as mere "militants," or is the label "Islamic terrorists" now undeniable? When killers use religious doctrine from the Quran to justify their brazen murders of Hindus, the ideological motivation becomes painfully clear. On top of that communal mindset, there are some social media disturbing videos highlighting views of a local Muslim who while calling Baisaran carnage as inhuman, justify in the same breath, killing of “Kafirs” (infidel) quoting some Quranic verses- highlighting a terrifyingly entrenched extremist mindset.
Historically, Kashmir’s travel operators would often assure tourists that militants fighting for "Kashmir’s azadi" would never harm visitors, emphasizing the crucial economic benefits brought by tourism. This belief was a point of pride for many Kashmiris. Yet the events of 22/4 have shattered this narrative completely. The jihadists not only massacred innocent Hindu tourists but also dealt a severe blow to Kashmir’s burgeoning tourism sector, which had been experiencing record footfalls in recent years.
It was once commonly asserted across India’s secular circles that "terrorism has no religion." Despite the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits and Hindu passengers in regions like Doda, there was a reluctance to accept the religious angle, as some Muslims, perceived as pro-India, were also among the victims. However, the Pahalgam massacre has stripped away this secular façade. By explicitly targeting Hindus, the terrorists have underlined the stark religious dimension of their actions, staining the land of Sufis and Kashmiriyat—a tradition built on harmony, brotherhood, and hospitality which have been very special to Kashmiris. They have shamed Kashmir, Kashmiris, and their much-admired tradition of Kashmiriyat.
The horror of Pahalgam continues to dominate television screens, but amid the despair, some positive stories have emerged that should not be dismissed as mere token gestures. Despite the grave risk, a few local Kashmiris showed remarkable courage and compassion. Syed Adil Hussain, a young pony handler and tourist guide, sacrificed his life while trying to save the tourists. Although most onlookers, largely dependent on tourism for their livelihood, understandably could not intervene against armed terrorists, individuals like Abdul Wahid played crucial roles. Wahid’s video recordings have proven vital for identifying the perpetrators. Similarly, another local, Sajjad, was filmed carrying an injured tourist on his back to a nearby hospital, risking his own life in the process.
In another unprecedented development, a significant number of Kashmiris took to the streets to denounce the massacre. Candlelight marches were organized, and Srinagar joined Jammu to observe shutdowns on April 23 in solidarity with the victims & to express their anguish and condemn Hindu tourist killings. Protesters also held placards stating, "Not in our name," bravely defying potential threats from terrorists. This visible outrage marks a hopeful shift in Kashmir’s societal response—a glimmer of collective conscience that needs to be nurtured and encouraged. Such acts of defiance against terror likely rattled not just local militants but also their Pakistani handlers and backers in the ISI. Adil Hussain should become the voice of Kashmir’s resistance against terrorism.
The Pahalgam terror strike appears to be a carefully orchestrated operation inspired by HAMAS-style terrorism, signalling the advent of a new and more dangerous phase of jihadist activity in Kashmir. Reports suggest that the terrorists were trained at ISI camps by Hamas operatives. One HAMAS leader reportedly participated in an anti-India rally in Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, 5th February 2025, later meeting Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed leaders, and ISI officers to devise new strategies to recuperate dying terrorism in J&K. The UT has seen revival of militancy especially in rural and mountainous areas uncovered by the security grid. They also reactivated their overground workers. The Baisaran terror strike could be the first major strike in their new plan. There are reports that ISI took HAMAS leader to Dhakka and discussed measures to synergize their expanded Islamic Jehadi action plan to make a joint cause of Palestine & Kashmir under a global jihadist umbrella. Alarmingly, Bangladesh’s current political environment, influenced by anti-India radical groups, may also be providing tacit support to this dangerous coalition.
Given the increasingly volatile geopolitical scenario, India faces serious threats. In response to the Pahalgam massacre, security forces have launched widespread anti-terror operations across several districts, determined to dismantle any remaining terror infrastructure.
While we can keep lashing at Pakistan for cross border terror strikes and rightly so, the tragic events at Baisaran also exposed critical security and intelligence failures internally. We can live on complacency of ‘breaking the back of militancy’ to our own peril as happened at Baisaran, upper reaches of Basohli, Majalta belt. It is shocking that nearly 3000 tourists could visit Baisaran daily—by pony rides or on foot—without any meaningful security presence. A gap of this magnitude must not go unanswered. Although accountability measures can follow after current operations succeed, the government has already acknowledged these lapses in an all-party meeting, vowing corrective action. Strengthening intelligence gathering through the active involvement of local police officers—who possess invaluable ground-level contacts—is a crucial step forward.
Prime Minister Modi’s initial response was combining diplomacy with strong signalling. While the nation expected swift, retaliatory strikes across the border, Modi chose to issue powerful warnings instead. Speaking at a rally in Bihar during the National Panchayati Raj Day, Modi delivered a firm message: "India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers." Modi, who usually speaks in Hindi, made a rare switch to English to convey to Pakistan and the world that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack won't be spared. He ensured that India's message on terror echoed far beyond its borders and resonated globally—particularly targeting Pakistan and the international community.
Although immediate military action was not undertaken, strategic responses, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, have long-term devastating effects on Pakistan’s already struggling economy. Omar Abdullah confirmed that IWT was brazenly discriminatory to J & K and India had already sent notices for revisiting the Treaty With overwhelming international support to Modi, India has linked this decision with Pakistan continuing to bleed India, marking a shift toward using economic measures as weapons of statecraft. While the full impact of these actions, like raising dam heights, will take time, it sends an unambiguous message: India is prepared to use every available tool to counter Pakistani proxy aggression.
While war must remain a last resort—echoing Modi’s consistent stand that "this is not the era of war"—there is an undeniable public demand for a strong and memorable response. With his reputation built on "Modi hai to mumkin hai", there is little doubt that India will soon undertake bold measures to ensure that the blood spilled at Pahalgam is avenged—and that such tragedies never repeat. Even without any military strike, Modi’s threat and diplomatic surgical strike have unsettled Pakistan as they are living under a constant fear of being targeted.
(Author is a retired IAS officer, feedback: [email protected])
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