Time for a sober, strategic response

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir which killed at least 26 people. The timing and execution of the attack highlight Pakistan’s desperate attempt to destabilise Kashmir. Although India needs to react forcefully to this act of war, the response should be strategic and not heighten tension in the region.

Reports have identified senior LeT commander Saifullah Khalid as the mastermind of the attack. The suspicion of a larger Pakistani agenda has been raised by the timing of the attack. It took place days after Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir called Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein”, a provocative remark that is being seen as having possibly influenced the
attackers. That the attack coincided with US Vice President J D Vance’s visit to India is significant.

TRF which seeks to portray militancy in Kashmir as a “local” movement combines the operational styles of LeT with that of groups such as Ghaznavi Hind and Tehreek-e-Millat Islamia to evade investigation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) while pursuing Pakistan’s proxy war in Kashmir. In January 2023, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs classified TRF as a terrorist organisation for its involvement in recruitment, propaganda, infiltration, and cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons.

The goal of the attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination with a high volume of visitors, is to impede the region’s economic development and instil fear in the locals and tourists. Targeting tourists is uncommon and demonstrates Pakistan’s intention to use violence to bring global attention to the Kashmir issue. This is a calculated attempt to discredit India’s claim of stability in Kashmir. India cannot afford to let this brutal attack go unanswered as inaction risks emboldening terrorist groups and their sponsors. To prevent a full-scale conflict that could further destabilise the area, the response must be well-thought-out.

India should step up its counter-terrorism efforts, concentrating on eliminating LeT and TRF agents in Jammu and Kashmir. The sketches of three suspected terrorists – Abu Talha, Suleman Shah, and Asif Fauji – have been made public. The network of terror might be disrupted by cross-border operations that target LeT bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where members such as Abu Musa have been advocating violent jihad.

Firm, yet restrained

India must use global platforms to reveal Pakistan’s involvement in financing terror. The attack’s timing during Vance’s visit offers a chance to mobilise international and American opposition to Pakistan’s actions. Efforts should be made to designate top TRF operatives as global terrorists and for tougher FATF sanctions. It might signal its zero tolerance for state-sponsored terrorism by limiting trade with Pakistan or enacting economic sanctions. Future infiltrations might be avoided by fortifying defences along the Line of Control (LoC) and improving intelligence-sharing with allies.

India must refrain from launching rash military attacks even though the political establishment and the public call for a strong response. A poorly thought-out move could increase tensions – a prudent strategy that combines diplomatic isolation with clandestine operations would prevent Pakistan from presenting itself as a victim.

With political parties, trade unions, and civil society organisations demanding a valley-wide shutdown to protest the killings, the Pahalgam attack has brought Kashmir together in grief. While Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar to examine the security measures, Prime Minister Narendra Modi abruptly ended his trip to Saudi Arabia to address the crisis. India’s determination to fight terrorism is demonstrated by this coordinated response, but it needs to be accompanied by a plan that strikes a balance between regional stability and retaliation.

Pakistan’s inability to accept Kashmir’s integration with India remains at the root of its desperation which is demonstrated by its use of proxies such as TRF to sow chaos. Islamabad is under pressure to take action against terrorist organisations as a result of the shock and condemnation expressed by the international community, which includes allies such as China. India needs to take advantage of this opportunity to dismantle the terrorist network without starting a wider war that would impede its diplomatic and economic advancement.

The attack in Pahalgam serves as a reminder of Pakistan’s persistent animosity and use of terrorism to undermine India. To ensure long-term peace in the region, India should respond with firmness, focussing on the offenders and their backers, but exercising strategic restraint. Justice must be served but the response must be led by wisdom.

(The writer is an author and businessman based in Nepal)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.