Pahalgam attack marks turning point in Kashmir’s fight against terrorism: Omar Abdullah in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly

Abdullah, however, cautioned that the government should avoid any step that will alienate the public.

Srinagar: In an emotional address to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday described the public reaction to the recent Pahalgam attack as a historic turning point in the region’s long battle against terrorism.

Speaking at a special session convened to condemn the tragedy, Abdullah said the spontaneous outpouring of grief across Kashmir signalled “the beginning of the end of terrorism.

For the first time in over two decades, he said, ordinary Kashmiris rose up independently—without political calls or government orders—to reject violence. “They lit candles, marched silently, and sent a clear message: ‘Not in my name,’” he said.

The chief minister recounted visiting the police control room after the attack, where 26 civilian victims lay before heartbroken families. “What was their fault?” he asked, his voice heavy with emotion. “They came seeking peace and paid with their lives.”

Reflecting on Kashmir’s painful history, Abdullah recalled past attacks—from the 2001 Assembly bombing to assaults on Pandit and Sikh communities—and lamented that the horrors had returned.

Yet amid the bloodshed, he found hope. “This time, there were no excuses, no justifications. The people condemned the attack loudly and without hesitation,” he said, adding that terrorism would end not just with guns, but with the will of the people.

Abdullah highlighted a symbolic moment from Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, where worshippers observed a two-minute silence for the victims before Friday prayers—a rare and powerful gesture from a site long associated with political sermons.

Addressing political undercurrents, the Chief Minister firmly rejected the idea of using the tragedy to push for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.

“How could I stand in Delhi and bargain with the deaths of 26 innocents? Their lives are not political currency,” he declared.

However, Abdullah reaffirmed his commitment to the cause of statehood but insisted that this moment was solely for mourning and solidarity.

The Chief Minister spoke of young Kashmiris who protected tourists under fire, boatmen who offered fruit to stranded visitors, and taxi drivers who opened their homes without demanding payment. “This,” he said, “is the true spirit of Kashmir—the hospitality, the courage, and the heart that no violence can destroy.”

The Assembly later passed a unanimous resolution condemning the attack and expressing solidarity with the victims and their families.