The gruesome massacre of innocent holiday makers at Pahalgam, killing at least 28 people and injuring several others, has been condemned by all major world leaders including US President Trump and Russian President Putin. Israel has shown solidarity. That it happened at a time when US Vice President JD Vance was in India, indicates the audacity of the attackers and their backers. PM Modi, who was on a visit to a leading Muslim country Saudi Arabia, had to cut short and rush back. The Indian Security Establishment immediately went into a huddle. India’s Home Minister Amit Shah and the Army Chief rushed to Pahalgam to take stock of the ground situation. Terrorists have already been identified and their Pakistan links established. The three military chiefs are party to the discussions looking at all options. This will not be allowed to go by. There is nation-wide anger. There will be repercussions. A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials are investigating on the spot. Recent events in Bangladesh, infiltration and riots in West Bengal, and Pakistan Army Chief’s venomous position on Hindus are indicative of a major gameplay.
Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s Remarks
Addressing the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad, General Asim Munir didn’t just speak about Balochistan. “We will beat the hell out of these terrorists very soon. You think these 1,500 terrorists can take away Balochistan from us?” he said. “Even ten generations of terrorists cannot harm Balochistan and Pakistan.” Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, had famously said that Hindus and Muslims followed different philosophies, customs, and laws – making national unity impossible. Munir returned to the very roots of Pakistan’s ideological foundation. “Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different — that’s where the foundation of the Two-Nation Theory was laid. We are two nations, we are not one nation,” he said. He called on overseas Pakistanis to pass down this ideology to future generations. “You have to narrate Pakistan’s story to your children so that they don’t forget it,” he added. His anti-Hindu diatribe was nothing short of instigating the masses. Is he a reincarnation combine of Military Generals Yahya Khan and Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who ruled Pakistan by spreading religious hate? Is he preparing to return the financially impoverished country to the pre-1971 East Pakistan crisis? In his speech he was also tacitly giving a signal to moderate elements within the military establishment and Imran Khan’s supporters to take a hard-line stand.
Pakistan Army’s Direct Role in Pahalgam
Hindu hatred is clearly visible from the modus operandi of the attack. Footprints and tell-tale signs of Pakistan Army’s backing are emerging. Pakistan cannot stand peace and prosperity emerging in Kashmir. The state has been incident-free after Article 370 abrogation. Tourist numbers have been going up. Public participation in elections has been very significant. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been working closely with the Central Government for the betterment of the masses. Kashmir’s integration with India was not palatable to the Pakistan ruling establishment (Pak Army). Pakistan is an ideological state, and the Pakistan Army has taken up the mantle of the guardian of the ideology. Despite India having an army of 1.3 million, the Pakistan Army claims that India cannot intimidate it. He obviously forgets about the meek surrender of 93,000 able-bodied but defeated Pakistani Army soldiers in 1971.
“China condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and said they oppose terrorism in all its forms. Hope China will then find courage to ask tough questions to their ‘iron brother’ Pakistan on why it continues to sponsor terrorism on directions of Asim Munir. Let this be clear. Mastermind of Pahalgam terror attack is not Hafiz Saeed or Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. Mastermind of Pahalgam Massacre is Asim Munir of Pakistan Army sitting in Rawalpindi. Pakistan Army and ISI need to pay for the bloody carnage in Kashmir. Modi Govt should act boldly,” tweeted senior journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, a Hindu Kashmiri.
Unfolding Political and Diplomatic Actions
The Indian public is angered and openly saying that the mantra “Never Forget Never Forgive” be put into action. India has for long taken the soft line. It cannot be seen as a weak state. Perhaps that is the reason some have taken India for granted. There are lessons to be learnt from Israel. There are diplomatic, political and military options. All need to be exercised in tandem. Strong expressions of support and solidarity have been received from many Governments around the world, which have unequivocally condemned this terror attack. India has conveyed appreciation for such sentiments, which reflect zero tolerance for terrorism. The world is with India. They all have suffered from terror. Major Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE have spoken in favour of India.
India has suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. All trade between the two nations, including through third countries, has been suspended. It has closed the Integrated Check Post Attari with immediate effect. All ceremonies at the India-Pakistan border check-post have been stopped. Pakistani YouTube and other social media channels have been barred in India. Cricket and other sporting events have been suspended. Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. SVES visas already issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. He said any Pakistani national currently in India under an SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India. The Foreign Secretary informed that the Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared Persona Non Grata. He emphasised that they have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions by 1st May. India will use its financial and diplomatic muscle to teach Pakistan a lesson.
Other options with India are to support secessionist forces in Pakistan and more actively support insurgency in Balochistan, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. India must work closely with Afghanistan and Pashtuns. Pakistan’s economy is in a mess. The politicians, generals and judiciary are all siphoning money and stacking abroad. Run a campaign for the Pakistan public to know about it. Pakistan has the highest number of beggars in the world. Saudi Arabia has just deported 4,000 of them.
Military Options
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) reviewed the overall security situation in its meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence and directed all forces to maintain high vigil. Armed Forces have already launched Operation “Tikka”. A few terrorists have already been eliminated. The Indian Army is giving a massive response to unprovoked firing at the Line of Control (LoC). The ceasefire is de facto annulled. Indian armed forces are already carrying out preparatory joint military exercises. Selective mobilisation of Armed Forces is possible, albeit, to send a strong signal. India could exercise a massive punishing multi-domain strike.
India has many unspoken options. It could activate operatives to strike military establishments within Pakistan. An artillery barrage against terror camps across the border could be launched. Pakistan will run out of ammunition much faster. Carry out much wider military air strikes against a host of terrorist camps. Use BrahMos and other cruise missiles. The Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier has already sailed into the Arabian Sea. The Indian Navy is positioning itself in threatening slots. A few submarines could follow or may already be in the region. India is much better prepared than Kargil or Balakot. India has the French Rafale with SCALP-EG and Meteor. The Su-30MKI and upgraded MiG-29 and Mirage-2000 are potent assets. Coordinate with Baloch liberation and Pashtuns to open multiple fronts. The escalation will have to be graded and managed.
Expect and prepare for a Pakistani military retort, and then India should be ready for a disproportionate response. India could also work towards selective America and Israel-style assassinations of terrorist leaders in Pakistan plotting against India. Pakistan has few backers. Iran and Saudis are not their friends anymore. China will at best act as a mediator. USA, Russia, Israel and Europe will back India for controlled aggression. The bigger aim is to show the Pakistan Army in poor light. Call the nuclear bluff. Punishment has not to be a one-time activity; it has to be a continuous program from now on. Make it painful for them to support terrorism. Stop peace overtures like “Aman ki Asha”. Meanwhile greater attention is required towards building military capability. Get Indian Air Force fighter squadron numbers. Stop downsizing the Indian Army. Get more nuclear submarines. Increase nuclear warheads.
Initial Pakistani Response
Pakistan has also put its military on alert. Border areas are being sensitised by them for a possible Indian attack. Pakistan has suspended the Shimla Agreement that had made the LoC as the temporary border. They have stopped Indian airlines’ overflights. They have increased anti-India rhetoric to raise the morale of their already suffering public. Pakistan has announced that diversion of water due to them from the Indus Water Treaty will be treated as an act of war. It is a wait-and-watch situation.
Time for India to Curb Infiltration
There are many Indian politicians, especially in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, who consider Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators as their political support base and are turning a blind eye to their entry and settlement. It is time to take appropriate actions to curb this trend. Many countries of Europe are already suffering because of uncontrolled unauthorised migration. There is a tendency for security forces and intelligence agencies to be less vigilant when there is an extended period of peace. It happened in Kargil. Kashmir is different. Vigil will be required for decades ahead. If these terrorists were within the region for nearly a month as reports indicate, then we need to look into the mirror. The Indian Judiciary is often seen as soft against terrorists. This needs serious review. The Indian public has to be sensitised much more against terrorists. Time to allow Indians to buy property in Kashmir. Time to act is now. Soft reaction will invite further similar dastardly acts.
Note: The article was originally written by the Author for Russia Today on 25th, April 2025, it has since been updated.
Header Picture Credit: Representative Image Generated using AI
Twitter: @AirPowerAsia
Air Power Asia 