A Strategic Perspective

The Pahalgam terror attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, claimed the lives of 28 people and injured over 17 others. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, claimed responsibility for the attack, thereby exposing Pakistan’s direct involvement. Among the victims were Indian tourists, local residents, and foreign nationals, including an Indian Navy officer and an Intelligence Bureau official. The occurrence of this attack on the eve of U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia should not be viewed merely as a coincidence; rather, it reflects a well-calibrated and well-thought-out strategy aimed at fostering instability in Jammu and Kashmir, bleeding India, and drawing global attention.

This deliberate act aimed to counter the growing narrative of peace, normalcy, and economic progress in Jammu and Kashmir—a region that has recently witnessed growing tourism and development. By targeting Pahalgam, a symbolic and high-profile tourist hub, Pakistan aimed to ensure the attack would reverberate globally. The message was clear: remind the United States, Gulf countries, and the rest of the international community that Jammu and Kashmir is a volatile and deadly hotspot that requires immediate global attention and intervention.

This is not the first time Pakistan has carried out attacks during important diplomatic occasions. During US President Bill Clinton’s 2000 visit to India, Pakistani-sponsored terrorists carried out the Chattisinghpora massacre, killing 35 Sikhs in Kashmir. Today, many Gulf countries that were formerly close allies of Islamabad are now aligning more deeply with New Delhi, leaving Pakistan feeling alienated and marginalized in the region. New Delhi’s growing influence in the Gulf is evident through enhanced economic and strategic partnerships, such as participation in initiatives like the I2U2 and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. As India deepens its geostrategic and geo-economic engagement with these countries, Pakistan has lost much of its traditional support. By deliberately and strategically perpetuating unrest in Jammu & Kashmir and reminding the international community—particularly Gulf nations—that the region remains volatile and unresolved, Pakistan hopes to shift their focus back to the Kashmir issue, even as they continue to strengthen their partnerships with New Delhi.

Moreover, this brutal Pahalgam massacre should be seen as an isolated incident but part of Islamabad’s broader strategy to undermine peace and stability in this region. Just months earlier, terrorists ambushed a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu’s Reasi district, causing it to plunge into a gorge and killing at least nine people. This incident further illustrates Pakistan’s continued strategy to target civilians and religious pilgrims in an attempt to internationalize the J&K issue and perpetuate regional instability and unrest.

Eyewitness testimonies from the recent Pahalgam terror attack have unveiled a chilling dimension of the incident. One survivor, after witnessing the brutal murder of her husband, pleaded with the terrorists to end her life as well. Instead, the attackers chillingly responded, “We are sparing you so you can deliver our message to Modi.” This harrowing incident exposes how Pakistan-backed terrorists use psychological terror as a tool to further their geopolitical aims—exploiting grief and trauma to send political signals. It further underscores how Pakistan uses terrorism as a geopolitical tool, viewing India as a strategic rival and Kashmir as a means to further its agenda. The terrorist’s message reflects Pakistan’s long-standing hostility toward India, deep-rooted resentment and rage, and a belief in using violence as a means to achieve political objectives. This attack, like many others, demonstrates how Pakistan continues to leverage instability in Jammu & Kashmir to challenge India’s sovereignty and create geopolitical pressures.

Pakistan’s military and political leadership openly admit and promote their nefarious designs against India. Recently, General Asim Munir, the current chief of the Pakistan Army, reiterated that Kashmir is Pakistan’s “jugular vein,” stating, “Our stance is absolutely clear: it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, and we will not forget it. We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle.” He also vowed to continue providing “diplomatic, moral, and political support” to the Kashmiri cause — thinly veiled code words for sustaining cross-border terrorism. Pakistan has consistently used this strategy to foster unrest in Jammu & Kashmir. Additionally, recent rallies organized by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Pakistan, notably in December 2024 and April 2025, have prominently featured calls for jihad and anti-India rhetoric. While these rallies were officially framed as solidarity marches for Gaza, the speeches and slogans at these events included direct appeals for jihad and strong criticisms of Indian policies, further highlighting the continuation of Pakistan’s hostile stance toward India.

While the people of Kashmir have overwhelmingly condemned the attack—with candlelight marches, social media outpourings, and shutdowns in protest—Pakistan’s agenda remains clear: keep Jammu and Kashmir in turmoil. Today’s Kashmiri society is fatigued by decades of conflict and yearns for peace and development. However, Pakistan, driven by its anti-India agenda and self-perpetuated geopolitical insecurities, continues to foster instability in the region.

Local political leaders in J&K also have a responsibility in this context. Irresponsible statements about demographic changes and divisive narratives, even if unintended, are quickly exploited by terror outfits like the Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Such rhetoric provides ammunition for Pakistan’s propaganda machinery and terrorist networks. While local politicians may not directly support terrorism, their narratives must be more responsible, focusing on governance and development rather than feeding separatist sentiments.

Internally, Pakistan itself is crumbling under a series of crises — Baloch insurgency, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacks, economic collapse, political turmoil, and rising unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). China’s mounting pressure on Pakistan to safeguard its investments, particularly from Baloch groups like the BLA, has further strained its internal stability. In such circumstances, diverting public attention to Kashmir serves Pakistan’s internal political needs, helping its establishment maintain a semblance of unity by invoking religion and projecting a “larger cause.”

Moreover, state-sponsored radicalization under the current Pakistani leadership echoes General Zia-ul-Haq’s era, using Islam as a political tool to unify a fractured society. General Asim Munir recently reinforced this divisive rhetoric, stating, “Our forefathers believed that we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life. Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different. Our thoughts are different. Our ambitions are different.” This emphasis on religious and cultural differences feeds into Pakistan’s narrative of separation from India and justifies its continued support for terrorism in Kashmir. Terrorism in Kashmir thus serves dual objectives for Islamabad: challenging India and keeping Pakistan’s domestic populations distracted from their worsening conditions.

The Pahalgam attack should also be understood as part of Pakistan’s psychological and information warfare. Immediately after the attack, Pakistani media and social media platforms launched a coordinated propaganda campaign, blaming Indian agencies for the carnage. Such disinformation tactics aim to confuse the international community, create doubts within Kashmir, and tarnish India’s global image. India must not only respond firmly to cross-border terrorism but also counter this information warfare with a robust and integrated strategy. A narrative that highlights Pakistan’s double standards, its sponsorship of terrorism, and the real aspirations of Kashmiris for peace and prosperity must be amplified internationally.

In conclusion, Pakistan’s objectives remain unchanged: to bleed India, foster instability in Jammu and Kashmir, and distract from its own existential crises. However, the resilience shown by the people of Kashmir, their rejection of terrorism, and their desire for peace and progress are strong counters to Pakistan’s designs. It is now imperative for the Government of India to craft a more strategic, multi-dimensional response to both Pakistan’s terrorism and its accompanying psychological operations.

Ayaan Malik, Research Associate, Centre for South Asian Security Studies, India.