Terror in Pahalgam: Why Did Terrorists Target Tourists? India Rattled, Army Hits Back with Operation TIKKA...
Shimla/Srinagar– Kashmir is once again bleeding. In a shocking daylight terror attack on Monday, gunmen opened fire at tourists near the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam – a lush green glade known for serenity and natural beauty.
Images and screams of innocent people that have emerged from the terror site haunt and knock out soul.
At least 26 tourists from different parts of India including a local horseman were killed, mostly Hindu male tourists. Survivors say the attackers asked for names and religion before pulling the trigger.
“They asked for my name, asked me to recite a religious verse. I couldn’t. They shot me.”
That’s what one survivor from Kanpur told reporters from his hospital bed. His wife said the terrorists told her they were “sending a message to the Indian government.”
Government Response: Flights, Road Openings, and Operation TIKKA
As fear gripped the Valley, thousands of tourists began rushing out of Kashmir.
The J&K government requested the DGCA for additional flights, while one-way traffic was allowed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway to ease the panic exit.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, expressing pain over the exodus, said, “It’s heartbreaking to see our guests leave, but we understand. The road is fragile and movement must be regulated to avoid chaos.”
In Delhi, Prime Minister Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia visit, rushed back, and chaired a high-level National Security Council meet. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the attack site and declared, “Bharat won’t bend to terror. The culprits will not be spared.”
The Indian Army has launched “Operation TIKKA”, targeting the terrorists believed to have fled into nearby forests. Already, two Pakistani terrorists were killed in Baramulla, and AK-47s, grenades, and IEDs recovered.
Who Is Behind This Attack?
Top intelligence sources suspect Lashkar-e-Taiba, and reportedly Hafiz Saeed, the man behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, is the mastermind.
There is now a growing call to bring him to justice, the way America eliminated Osama bin Laden after 9/11.
But many voices, including security experts, warn: “We shouldn’t blindly copy the US playbook. India must act with its own Buddhi – wisdom, strategy, and precision.”
Why Were Tourists Not Protected?
With tourism booming and Article 370 revoked, why were sensitive spots like Pahalgam not fortified?
This isn't the first time terrorists have tried to derail peace by targeting pilgrims or civilians. The Amarnath Yatra attack, the Pulwama suicide bombing, and now this.
Why was there no police patrolling? No drone surveillance? These are the questions people across the country – and on social media – are asking.
Outrage Across India, Condemnation From World
There is massive outrage in Jammu, across India, and in global capitals. Protests erupted in Himachal and other states.
The US Vice President, currently in New Delhi, has been briefed. Several world leaders have condemned the attack, including France, Italy, and Russia.
Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti condemned the killings, but critics say words are not enough.
On X (formerly Twitter), journalist Aditya Raj Kaul posted:
“Mastermind is Hafiz Saeed. Pak Army in Rawalpindi needs to be held accountable. Kashmir can’t be sacrificed at the altar of appeasement anymore.”
What Next?
Security has been beefed up in all tourist spots across Kashmir. Combing operations continue, but the fear remains:
Can peace really return if terror keeps knocking at the gates?
Have terrorist masterminds achieved their targets?
The Modi government, Entire Opposition at the Centre and the Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir need to present a united response to the terrorists and their masterminds.
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