India Vows Strong Response After Deadly Kashmir Attack
The attack in Pahalgam, a crucial base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, comes just months before the yatra is set to begin.
RMN News Report
Pahalgam, Kashmir – A horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, has claimed the lives of 26 people, primarily tourists. The attack occurred in the picturesque Baisaran Valley on Tuesday (April 22) evening, when gunmen reportedly emerged from forests and opened fire with automatic weapons on visitors.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has issued a strong warning, vowing direct retaliation against the terrorists and their handlers. He stated that those responsible will receive a strong response in the near future and that India will identify and bring to justice all who conspired against it. Singh explicitly said that attackers and their masters will be targeted. He added that India has a zero-tolerance policy for terrorism and will take every necessary and appropriate step. “India is an ancient nation and we will not be scared of terrorism,” he declared.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the attack and vowed to bring the guilty to book. He cut short a state visit to Saudi Arabia to return to Delhi. Mr Modi stated that “Those behind this heinous act will not be spared… their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakeable…”. While in Saudi Arabia, he directed Home Minister Amit Shah to go to Jammu and Kashmir and review the situation first-hand.
Home Minister Amit Shah has visited Baisaran, the scene of the attack, and vowed to ensure justice for the families of those killed and injured. He paid his last respects to the victims and met survivors, stating that “Bharat [India] will not bend to terror”.
[ Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Asks Modi Govt to Release the Inquiry Report on Pulwama Terror Attack ]
The Resistance Front, reportedly a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Pakistan has denied any involvement, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif describing the killings as homegrown insurgencies against the Indian government and calling it “easy” to blame Pakistan. Kashmir is claimed by both India and Pakistan and has seen a decades-long insurgency against Indian rule, with Delhi accusing Islamabad of funding and supporting it, a charge Pakistan denies.
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the terrorists “animals and inhuman,” noting the attack was “much larger than anything directed at civilians in recent years”. Protests condemning the killings have taken place in towns across Kashmir, including Srinagar, where traders demonstrated in Lal Chowk, waving black flags and placards saying “no to terrorism” and “stop killing innocents”.
The attack in Pahalgam, a crucial base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, comes just months before the yatra is set to begin. Previous attacks have targeted pilgrimage routes, including in 2000, 2002, and 2017.
Today as we remember our 40 CRPF martyrs in the #PulwamaAttack , let us ask:
1. Who benefitted the most from the attack?
2. What is the outcome of the inquiry into the attack?
3. Who in the BJP Govt has yet been held accountable for the security lapses that allowed the attack? pic.twitter.com/KZLbdOkLK5
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 14, 2020
The timing of the attack coincides with the visit of US Vice-President JD Vance to India. This is not the first time militancy in Kashmir has overlapped with key US visits, with previous attacks occurring before US President Bill Clinton’s visit in 2000 and during US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca’s visit in 2002.
US Vice-President JD Vance offered condolences, calling the attack “terrible” and stating the US was providing whatever assistance they could. Russian President Vladimir Putin also condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with India, stating Moscow was ready to cooperate to combat terrorism.
Entire Nation pays homage to martyrs of #Pulwama !
Questions remain-:
1. Why is the report of Pulwama attack not being made public?
2. Who is accountable?
3. Who brought the 350 Kgs IED?
4. Why were intelligence reports of attack ignored?
5. Did Devinder Singh have any role? pic.twitter.com/0bG0eWu0Id— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 14, 2020
The attack could severely impact Kashmir’s tourism economy, which had seen a massive surge in tourist arrivals recently. With the peak travel season approaching, there is panic among visitors and fear among those planning trips, leading to many cancellation requests.
In related news concerning previous attacks, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in February 2020 raised questions about the February 2019 Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel. He asked the Modi government to release the inquiry report and identify who was accountable for security lapses.
This report includes allegations that the Pulwama attack might have been stage-managed by the Modi government for electoral advantage, citing the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh. Pakistan had also previously termed Indian allegations regarding the Pulwama incident as “false and baseless”.
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