On April 22nd, terrorists targeted tourists in Baisaran Valley, Kashmir, India, resulting in the deaths of 26 people. Since the attack, tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have escalated. India and Pakistan have fought multiple wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir, which both countries claim. This article will examine the political ramifications within India, particularly through the lens of right-wing discourse. It will contextualise the multiple dynamics of the terrorist attack on India’s secularism and diversity, as the majoritarian political ecosystem constructed and weaponised narratives for ideological and political advantages.
On April 22, 2025, terrorists targeted 26 individuals in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, Kashmir, often referred to as the ‘Switzerland of India.’ Among the victims, 25 were Indian nationals and one was from Nepal. The attackers inquired about the religious identity of the men and targeted non-Muslims, while leaving women and children unharmed. Two of the three suspected attackers have been identified by India as Pakistani, a claim that Pakistan denies. The attack has allegedly been claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States. However, TRF has denied its involvement.
Pakistan has long utilized proxy attacks to target India and undermine any efforts for peace in the valley. The current attack comes days after Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir stated in front of an Overseas Pakistani Convention on April 16th that, “Our stance is absolutely clear, it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it. We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle.” In Pakistan, the army, which holds significant power, has encountered public dissatisfaction over its support for a regime considered by many to be illegitimate as well as the imprisonment of Imran Khan, a prominent political figure. Therefore, for the army, this may have been the only option left.
The attack is unprecedented because it specifically targeted tourists. It was the first significant incident following the abrogation of Article 370, by the Indian government, which revoked the special status of the disputed state in 2019. This change resulted in the formation of two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh, both governed by a lieutenant governor. Both India and Pakistan claim sovereignty of the region and have fought multiple wars over it.
Domestic Socio-Political Ramifications
While the focus is currently on the tensions and the possibility of conflict between the two nations, there are other domestic developments within India which have unfolded in the backdrop of the attack. The majoritarian politics of the right-wing government in India, since it came to power in 2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi have systematically constructed an ‘enemy’: the Muslims. Its electoral success largely depends upon mobilising the majority, Hindus, against this enemy. Its goal is to establish a Hindu-majority nation (Hindu Rashtra). For the terrorists targeting the Hindus provided the right opportunity to stir the already existing extreme hatred and resentment towards the minority. Eventually, the terrorists’ objective is to ensure a continuous flow of recruitment by tapping the frustrations and dissatisfaction of the Muslim youth, particularly from Kashmir. Thereby keeping the region disturbed and volatile for decades would provide the terrorists and their backers legitimacy and purpose.
The Following Observations are Significant:
First, the terrorists’ targeting of specific victims based on their religious identity undoubtedly exacerbated the already polarised domestic political ecosystem. It is clear that at this point, the terrorists — who follow Islam — targeted Hindus, not Indians. The terrorists also left the wives and children unharmed so that they could go back and recount the stories and events in the exact same detail, as was clear when one of the terrorists said to a victim’s wife, “Go, tell this to Modi.” The targeting of ordinary people by terrorists based on their religious identity resonated with the general public. Such a narrative found easy acceptance among ordinary people (i.e. the majority) who, for the last decade, have been subjected to mechanised hate and systemic polarisation. The ecosystem fostered by right-wing politics, which has systematically demonized minorities, has become further normalised and widely accepted. Furthermore, media outlets aligned with the government deliberately deflected attention from government accountability by participating in polarising debates. This helped create a favourable narrative in support of the government. Ordinary people then carried out the government’s agenda through the extensive network of social media. Their target: Indian Muslims. The labels used: ‘traitors’, ‘Pakistan supporters’ and ‘anti-Hindu’. The enemy is no longer Pakistan. It is now Muslims globally — regardless of their origin.
Secondly, in a media briefing, Piyush Goyal, a senior minister, stated that such attacks would continue unless Indians considered patriotism and nationalism as their paramount ‘dharma’. By invoking nationalism rooted in the majority religion and equating it with a false sense of pride and patriotism, the government has successfully constructed a narrative that further strengthens its support among the majority population. Loyalty to Hinduism became an object of paramount duty for loyal citizens in times of crisis. Jingoism and nationalism-based stories were being circulated to invoke the patriotism of its citizens. This ‘patriotism’ is closely linked to Hindu identity rather than Indian identity. India’s secularism became a sign of weakness. Liberals and liberalism became derogatory terms used to discredit the concepts and those who believe in them. Anyone propagating such a value system became the object of incessant trolling and hatred. For example, the newlywed wife of a naval officer, Lt. Vinay Narwal, was the symbol of the tragedy when her husband became one of the victims of the attack. Her photo sitting alone beside her dead husband’s body became symbolic of the depth of the tragedy, which was (mis)used to stir emotions. However, after a few days, speaking in front of the media, she stated that she does not support the atmosphere of hatred. She is against the targeting of innocent Muslims and Kashmiris. She was immediately targeted by trolls, who questioned her loyalty and integrity.
Thirdly, Muslims, everywhere, became synonymous with terrorists. Islamophobic sentiments became widespread. Kashmiri students nationwide are being attacked. The Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah, intervened and sent ministers nationwide to protect Kashmiris. As far as Kashmir is concerned, people from all walks of life have come together in solidarity to protest against the brutal targeting of innocent civilians. The region’s economy, which heavily relies on tourism, is expected to be significantly affected by this attack, leading to widespread suffering among ordinary citizens. However, around 1,500 people in Kashmir have reportedly been detained for questioning. The body of one of the detainees was later found in a river after he reportedly jumped to escape. This sparked a huge uproar among regional parties, who demanded answers from the union government. Houses belonging to the relatives of alleged suspects or those who have crossed over to Pakistan have been demolished. Although Omar Abdullah has supported these actions, he has also warned against the potential collateral damage to innocent people. The trust between the local population and the Indian state was irreparably damaged long before there was any chance of its being revitalised. Indian Muslims found themselves in a precarious position. They engaged in proving their loyalty by strongly condemning the terror incident. Yet, they also frequently apologised for the behaviour of the terrorists with whom they happen to share a religious identity.
Accountability – A Distant Dream
Finally, following this tragic event, questioning the government is equated as unpatriotic. The government has avoided accountability by manipulating a carefully crafted narrative. People are no longer asking questions about security lapses and the reasons behind them. And this is although the government accepted a security lapse at the all-party meeting convened immediately after the attack. The focus was unequivocally on religious debates. Those who dared to ask questions were targeted with first information reports at police stations. Neha Singh Rathore, a folk singer and Dr Medusa, an assistant professor at Lucknow University, have been booked under various charges for their critical comments about the government. The reasons provided by the police: for “endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.”
The government has failed to address key questions and issues regarding the attack. For example, some of the statements made by the government have been misleading. For instance, the government claimed that local authorities were not informed about tourists being taken to the Baisaran Valley. However, this location is open year-round, except during heavy snowfall. It is therefore surprising that the authorities were unaware of the large number of tourists present during this peak travel season. The government’s portrayal across the international media was something they took very seriously. For example, it contacted BBC India head Jackie Martin about their use of the term ‘militants’ instead of ‘terrorists’. It is also to be noted that the PM was absent from the all-party meeting, as he was in the state of Bihar addressing rallies in preparation for the upcoming elections at the end of this year. Senior opposition leader of Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, criticized the PM for skipping such an important meeting on national security to campaign in Bihar.
Escalation and Ceasefire
On 7th May, India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan (a red powder put on the head by married Hindu women. The term is symbolic because once the woman becomes a widow, she is no longer allowed to use it. It signifies revenge for the recently widowed women). India has targeted 9 terrorists infrastructures belonging to Jaish e Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen and LeT ensuring minimal civilian casualties: Markaz Taiba (Muridke), Sawai Nala & Syedna Bilal Camp (Muzaffarbad), Barnala camp (Bhimber), Abbas & Gulpur Camp (Kotli), Sarjal Camp (Narowal), Mehmona Joya Camp (Sialkot) and Markaz Subhanallah (Bawahalpur). Ten family members of JeM Chief Masood Azhar have been killed. Pakistan has also continued its shelling across Poonch district in Jammu.
On 10th May, after overnight mediation by the United States, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. Although there have been accusations of violating it across the borders by both the countries, for now the tensions appear to have de-escalated. On the other hand, domestic fallout continues. Indian Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, and his family faced online abuses and became the latest victims of right-wing trolls for agreeing to the ceasefire. This clearly demonstrates that once the mob has been unleashed, it is nearly impossible to rein it in.
Suparna Banerjee
