**Kashmir: Can the Indian Government and Media Avoid Responsibility?**

**The Meaning of 'Pahalgam' and the Tragedy of April 22, 2025**

The word *Pahalgam* means “the settlement of shepherds.” In the Kashmiri language, shepherds are called *Pehel*, and *Gam* means village or settlement. In ancient times, Pahalgam was a peaceful, picturesque grazing ground. Only a few homes belonging to shepherd families were scattered around the area. But since April 22, 2025, this beautiful natural haven has turned into a killing field. A blame game has ensued.

On the afternoon of April 22, 28 Indian tourists were brutally murdered in Pahalgam. It was a heinous, condemnable, and anti-humanitarian crime. This massacre also goes against the teachings of Islam, which does not support the killing of unarmed people. Terrorism has no religion. If we condemn attacks on ordinary passengers of the *Jafar Express* in Balochistan, we must equally denounce the attack on unarmed tourists in Pahalgam. The most significant aspect of this incident is the glaring question: Why was no proper security arrangement made for such a large number of tourists from Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and other Indian states in this dense forested hill town?

Those familiar with the history and geography of Jammu and Kashmir are well aware that the Pahalgam area has long been a high-risk zone for Indian citizens. So why didn’t the Indian government issue any warnings to its citizens?

Suddenly, armed militants emerged from the forest, wielding M4 rifles and AK-47s. They surrounded the happy, vacationing tourists and selectively shot only the men. Undoubtedly, Indian security agencies cannot escape responsibility for this failure. The attackers did not shoot women or children. In fact, when one woman, witnessing her husband’s murder, pleaded with the militant to shoot her too, the militant refused to do so.

Not long ago, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly stated that 3.5 million tourists visited the region in 2024, including 43,000 foreigners. Based on these figures, Indian media claimed that the “era of unrest” in Kashmir was over. But now it must be said that Indian security agencies cannot evade responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre of unarmed tourists. Similarly, a share of the blame lies with the Indian media, which failed to inform the public about the real dangers of traveling to this region.

Pahalgam was not always considered risky. In 1992, after Hindu extremists demolished the Babri Masjid, the first attack on Hindu pilgrims participating in the Amarnath Yatra occurred in Pahalgam in 1993. Before that, Pahalgam was a symbol of religious tolerance. This scenic location, situated 96 kilometers from Srinagar, is part of the Anantnag district. In 1664, the then governor, Islam Khan, named it *Islamabad*. The word *Anantnag* means “City of Countless Springs.” According to Hindu belief, this region was once the abode of Lord Vishnu. The famous Hindu pilgrimage site, the Amarnath Temple, is located 45 kilometers from Pahalgam in the high Himalayas. Every year during the full moon of the month of Shravan, thousands of Hindu devotees participate in the Amarnath Yatra. Their journey begins from Pahalgam.

The pilgrims proceed to *Ganeshbal* in the Lidder Valley for a sacred bath. Then they reach *Chandanwari*, where a steep and treacherous uphill climb begins. After crossing this, the pilgrims reach the shores of *Sheshnag Lake*, where they bathe again. From there, they continue to *Panjtarni*, meaning “the valley of five rivers.” After bathing in the cold waters and singing devotional songs, the devotees reach the mouth of a massive cave. When wild pigeons emerge from the cave, the pilgrims believe they have had *darshan* of Amarnath, meaning a vision of the divine. After this, they return to complete their pilgrimage.

There is a famous spring in Anantnag called *Naghabal*. This site is a remarkable example of religious coexistence—where a Hindu temple, a Muslim mosque, and a Sikh gurdwara stand side by side. Another example of religious harmony is the mosque of *Baba Daud Khaki*, which has a Hindu temple in its courtyard. In the same region lies the shrine of *Resh Moul*, a revered Kashmiri Sufi saint. His shrine is visited by both Muslim and Hindu devotees.

Unfortunately, the communal harmony in the region began to fracture after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. On August 15, 1993, eight Hindu pilgrims were killed in an attack in the same area. In 1994, five were killed; in 1998, twenty; in 2000, thirty-two; in 2001, thirteen; in 2002, nine; in 2006, five; in 2012, seven; in 2022, four; and most recently, ten pilgrims were killed in 2024. Even last year, on May 19, 2024, there were attacks on tourists in Shopian and Anantnag. Therefore, issuing warnings to tourists this year was crucial. But neither the security forces nor the Indian media adequately informed the public.

Security forces routinely conduct search operations in the forests of Pahalgam. In September 2023, the Indian Army and local police launched a joint drone-assisted operation in the forested region of *Kokernag*, Anantnag. Intense fighting continued for several days, during which Indian Rifles Colonel Manpreet Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Police SP Humayun Bhat were killed. This confrontation was with the same group that later claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam tourist attack.

This group, known as *Mahaz-e-Muqawamat* (Front of Resistance), emerged after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in 2019. Its leader, Sheikh Sajad Gul, is a resident of Srinagar. He was released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail in 2006 after serving a four-year sentence. Following the events of August 5, 2019, he became active again. The group opposes the Indian government's policy of allowing outsiders to settle in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, attacking unarmed tourists can never be considered part of a legitimate freedom struggle. Such acts tarnish the image of the attackers’ race, religion, and group, no matter where they occur in the world. It is worth noting that after the February 14, 2019, Pulwama attack on a CRPF convoy, India launched airstrikes in Pakistan on February 26. Now, following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, there is growing fear of war-mongering between the two nations once again.

However, it must be made clear that the Kashmir issue cannot be resolved through military operations; it can only be resolved through dialogue.