Kashmir Mourns in Silence: The Valley Shuts Down After Pahalgam Terror Attack

In a heart-wrenching moment of shared grief, the Kashmir Valley stands still today for the first time in 35 years. Streets lie deserted, shutters down, as the collective sorrow of a people echoes through the silence. This shut down isn’t enforced — it’s a natural response to a tragedy that has shaken the very soul of Kashmir.

On April 23, 2025, a brutal terror attack unfolded in Pahalgam, one of Kashmir’s most beloved tourist destinations. Several innocent Hindu lives and two foreign tourists — were lost in an act of cold-blooded violence that targeted visitors among the meadows of Baisaran, nestled in the upper reaches of Anantnag district.

The Victims were asked about their Religion and then Killed.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadowy offshoot of the Pakistan-backed Islamic Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the massacre. Their intention was cruelly clear: maximum impact, minimum chance of immediate rescue.

Armed militants emerged from dense forest trails — areas prized by trekkers and honeymooners — taking advantage of the remote terrain to strike. Government officials confirmed that the assailants used the natural seclusion of the area to delay security response. The non-motorable terrain of Baisaran meant that help could not reach the wounded swiftly — a fact that magnified the horror.

PM Narendra Modi rushed from Saudi Arabia – Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cutting short his diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, returned to India late Tuesday night. He held immediate meeting on the Airport itself for the emergency.

Families plead in front of Home Minister:  Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Kashmir to oversee the situation and offer support to grieving families. Broken and deeply saddened from the attack, Amit shah consoled the families.

What is The Resistance Front (TRF)?

Formed in October 2019, shortly after the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, the Resistance Front positions itself as a local militant group. In reality, it is widely believed to be a rebranded avatar of Islamic Lashkar-e-Taiba, designed to give an indigenous face to externally driven terror campaigns.

Despite no official confirmation of their latest claim,

• TRF has stated that the Pahalgam terror attack was a reaction to the issuance of 85,000 domicile certificates to non-local residents — a move they allege is aimed at altering the demographic fabric of the region.
• In chilling terms, the group has threatened further violence against what it calls “illegal settlers.”

A Pattern of Targeted Terror

TRF’s list of atrocities is long and deeply personal to the Kashmiri people.

• From the killing of Pandit chemist Makhan Lal Pandita
• School principal Supinder Kaur in 2021 to the murder of civilian construction workers in Ganderbal in 2024
• Notably, Kashmiri lawyer and activist Babar Qadri, known for his outspoken views on militancy and separatism, was gunned down in 2020 — another mark on TRF’s blood-stained ledger.
• The group was also behind the Reasi pilgrim attack in 2024 and the deadly 2023 encounter in Anantnag.

 New-Age Militant Front

What sets the TRF apart from its predecessors is its digital presence. The group has used GoPro cameras to document attacks on Indian security forces, later uploading them to encrypted platforms to radicalize and recruit youth. The Ministry of Home Affairs has repeatedly flagged their use of social media for terrorist propaganda, recruitment, infiltration, and even arms smuggling from across the border.

A Nation in Grief, A Valley in Mourning

As Kashmir wakes to the weight of loss, the air is thick with sorrow, rage, and unanswered questions. This religious war initiated from Islam was not just on lives — it was on peace, on trust, and on the hope that Kashmir could move beyond violence.

But amid the pain, there’s also resilience. From Srinagar to Anantnag, voices are rising — not in vengeance, but in solidarity. This tragic chapter in Kashmir’s history will not be forgotten. And while the world watches, Kashmir continues to seek peace — not through silence, but through strength.

PC : Business Standard (Business-standard.com)