Pahalgam Terror Attack - A Deliberate Assault On The Secular Ideas Of India & The Economic Stability Of Kashmir That Has Cost Us 26 Innocent Lives
On April 22, 2025, a peaceful, picturesque part of Kashmir , Pahalgam, also known as “Mini Switzerland,” was shattered by an act of unspeakable violence. In what is now being described as one of the most horrifying terror attacks in recent memory, 26 innocent, unarmed tourists — all men — lost their lives. These were not soldiers or security forces; they were civilians simply seeking peace, beauty, and a break from everyday life.
What makes this attack even more harrowing are the chilling details that continue to emerge. Multiple reports suggest that the attackers first confirmed the religion of the victims before executing them. Most of the victims were Hindus — labeled “kaafirs” before being shot. This was not just an attack on human lives; it was an assault on the very fabric of our society.
The incident has sparked intense debates across social media platforms. Is this a case of terrorism against Indians, or is it more sinister — a targeted hate crime against Hindus? In the emotional aftermath, many have taken to the internet with cries of unity, urging people to look beyond caste and regional identities. Posts are circulating with messages like, “We may be Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, or Sudhras by caste, but we are Hindus first.”
On the surface, these calls for unity may seem well-intentioned. But we must pause and ask: Are we unknowingly fulfilling the objectives of the terrorists by allowing ourselves to become more fragmented along religious lines? Are we helping those who want to divide India from within?
Let's be clear — this is not a call for blind secularism. This is a call for practical, strategic, and compassionate unity. The heated minds that respond to such incidents with communal hatred fail to see the larger game at play. In blindly blaming an entire community for the actions of a few, we aren’t solving anything —we’re making things worse.
When Hindus are provoked into uniting against Muslims as a community, we generalise. We paint an entire religion with the brush of terrorism, forgetting that countless Indian Muslims, too, have laid down their lives to protect fellow citizens. People like Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who was martyred in the same Pahalgam attack while trying to save Hindu tourists. Or Naseer Ahmad, who lost his life during the 2019 Pulwama attack. Or Havildar Jhantu Ali Sheikh of the 6 Para SF, who was martyred in the retaliatory operation after the Pahalgam incident.
Today, social media is flooded with anti-secularist rhetoric. Individuals who speak in favor of secularism are being mocked, trolled, and even abused. But I ask, what exactly is the point of opposing secularism? What do those who claim to be educated gain by championing pseudo-leadership based on fragments of misinformation and emotional outbursts?
Do we even understand what secularism means anymore?
It means ensuring equal dignity, safety, and respect for all citizens, regardless of faith. It means preventing exactly the kind of hate that terrorists try to spark. When we reject secularism, we don’t punish terrorists — we play into their hands. We alienate innocent people. We plant the seeds of future radicalisation by making Muslims in India feel like outsiders in their own homeland.
This is their strategy — divide Hindus and Muslims. Make Indian Muslims feel stateless, powerless, and unaccepted. A deeper divide between the Hindus and the Muslims, and an India that turns against itself. If Muslims begin to feel like they are no longer accepted in their own country, what do you think would happen next? Do you expect that every Muslim in this country will respond like a Bollywood hero—repaying hatred with loyalty, risking their lives to prove they belong? Some already have. Havildar Jhantu Ali Sheikh, for instance, laid down his life for this country, a silent answer to those who doubted a Muslim's patriotism. But let’s not fool ourselves into believing that this quiet resilience will last forever. The truth is, constant hatred and exclusion are planting dangerous ideas in young Muslim minds. These children grow up seeing themselves treated as outsiders in their own homeland. Their minds are like blank pages—what we paint on them, they become. If all they see is rejection and suspicion, they become easy targets for radical groups who offer belonging and identity. And when these young people, shaped by our own prejudice, are manipulated into turning against the nation—whom will we blame? The terrorists? Or the society that made them feel like they never belonged? It’s not just about what they become—it’s about what we are turning into.
Moreover, this attack wasn’t just on lives or on religious harmony. It was an economic attack, a blow to the very heart of Jammu and Kashmir’s revival story. Post-abrogation of Article 370, tourism in J&K has seen a significant boost. With nearly 7–8% of the region’s GDP coming from tourism and over 2–2.5 lakh people dependent on it directly or indirectly, the ripple effects of such an attack are massive.
Fewer tourists mean fewer hotel bookings, less income for taxi drivers, tour guides, artisans, and local vendors. Wage cuts follow. Job losses follow. Families suffer. Investments that were planned — new hotels, remote working hubs, startups — are delayed or scrapped. The economy starts to slip again, dragging down with it the narrative of integration, growth, and opportunity.
This economic decline, especially among unemployed youth, becomes a breeding ground for radicalisation. With reduced tourism and public activity, terrorist groups gain more ground — literally and figuratively. Remote areas become easier to control. Arms and recruits flow more freely. The very presence of tourists, which symbolized peace and unity, disappears — and with it, a powerful tool of cultural exchange and national integration.
The abrogation of Article 370 was supposed to bring Kashmir closer to the rest of India. But without economic growth and employment, it risks becoming an empty promise. A symbolic gesture without substance. And this is what the attackers want: to prove that India cannot integrate Kashmir. That India cannot protect its citizens. That India cannot stand united.
And we? Instead of resisting their narrative, we’re feeding it. By attacking secularism, we’re letting them win.
What should we be doing instead?
We need to stand together. Not as Hindus or Muslims. Not as Kashmiris or mainlanders. But as Indians. Our response must be unity, not division. Progress, not propaganda.
We can start by supporting Kashmir’s economy:
• Promote Kashmiri products and crafts.
• Support local businesses through online platforms.
• Invest in startups and tourism infrastructure.
• Hire remotely from the region, if possible.
• Amplify voices of peace, like that of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, with dignity and pride.
Even if we cannot visit physically, our economic and moral support matters. Kashmir is not just a piece of land — it is home to millions of fellow Indians who deserve safety, opportunity, and dignity.
In this fight for the soul of our nation, let’s not confuse anger with action. Let’s not trade empathy for ego. And let’s never forget: the real battle is over minds, narratives, and unity.
Only by choosing reason over rage, compassion over confrontation, and secularism over sectarianism can we ensure that terrorism does not win — not just in Kashmir, but in all of India.
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