Killings debunk normalcy narrative

The dastardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in which at least 26 persons were killed is the deadliest act of terror in recent times and is particularly reprehensible because it targeted civilians and had an added communal dimension. The victims included people from many states, including Karnataka, and foreigners. It was also an attempt to hurt the tourism industry in the Union Territory which had revived in the last two years. The first quarter of this year saw the arrival of at least 500,000 tourists in the UT and about two crore in the last year. The Resistance Front (TRF), a group owing loyalty to the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack, making its origins evident.

The attack was staged during the United States Vice-President J D Vance’s visit to India. One of the objectives may have been to embarrass the country and to send out a message to the world that terrorists are still active in the UT. It should also be noted that many elements in Pakistan, including the top army brass, have held the view that there was an Indian hand behind the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train by Baloch separatists in March. If Pakistani involvement of any kind is established, India needs to respond to it.

The country has been united in its condemnation of the attack. Amid the Union government’s claims of having wiped terrorism out of Kashmir, stray attacks and encounters had continued. It is stated that the security forces cannot protect every inch of the territory and every citizen. But Pahalgam is a major tourist spot that needed special protection. There was an obvious intelligence failure – the government is answerable for the lapses of the security forces and the intelligence machinery. The people of the UT responded to this massacre – also aimed at damaging the economy of the region – with a hartal on Wednesday. The government should have a wider and deeper political engagement with people and should make concerted efforts to improve public trust. It has not yet acted on its promise of granting statehood to the UT. A peaceful election with a high turnout was held last year, leading to the establishment of a popular government. But the Centre has curtailed the government’s powers and backed the Lieutenant Governor to call the shots. It is not entirely with increased security measures but also with effective outreach that the State can foster public trust.