India (Commonwealth Union)_ The peace of Pahalgam, a tranquil town in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, was shattered by gunfire on April 22, 2025. Once celebrated for its alpine beauty and spiritual significance, the town became the site of the deadliest civilian attack in Kashmir in years. In a horrifying act of terrorism, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists, killing at least 26 and injuring more than 30 others. For a region often at the crossroads of conflict and diplomacy, the Pahalgam tragedy marks a painful turning point, not only in terms of security but also in the rapidly deteriorating relations between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan. What followed the massacre has been a chain reaction of political, economic, and diplomatic decisions that threaten to undo decades of fragile peacebuilding.
The Attack: Blood on the meadows
The attack took place at a popular tourist resort nestled in the Baisaran meadow, locally known as “mini Switzerland.” It was meant to be a time of serenity for families and pilgrims, many of whom had come to admire the Himalayan foothills or were en route to the sacred Amarnath Yatra. Eyewitnesses spoke of chaos and despair. Survivors recounted how the attackers seemed to deliberately verify the identities of their victims before opening fire, raising suspicions of targeted, religiously motivated violence. One survivor, with tears in his eyes, shared how he escaped death by lying motionless among the fallen. Among the heart-wrenching stories was a child who kept asking, “Where is Papa?” and a young boy who recounted the terror of hiding behind a stone wall while bullets flew overhead. The human cost of this atrocity continues to echo across the nation.
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India-Pakistan responses
India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in its entirety but govern separate portions. India accuses Pakistan of supporting Islamist separatists in Kashmir, a claim Pakistan denies. Following the Pahalgam attack, India suggested cross-border links, identifying two Pakistani nationals among the attackers, but did not provide any evidence. Pakistan rejected these claims, calling them baseless and urging India to take responsibility for its failure to protect civilians rather than engaging in a blame game.
India on high alert
In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Mumbai and surrounding areas have been placed on high alert. Security has been heightened at beaches and public places, with increased vigilance by the Mumbai Police. Additionally, Nainital in the Kumaon region and all seven Uttar Pradesh districts bordering Nepal have also been put on high alert, with enhanced monitoring of public spaces.
India’s stern response
India’s government wasted no time in framing the attack as an act of cross-border terrorism. In an emergency Cabinet Committee on Security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India adopted a multi-pronged approach to retaliate.
Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty
Perhaps the most significant diplomatic action was the immediate suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, a landmark agreement brokered by the World Bank that had survived wars and decades of hostility. The treaty’s suspension is not merely symbolic, it could have long-term consequences for water resource management in both countries.
Closure of Wagah-Attari Border
India also closed its mainland border crossing at Attari. While humanitarian crossings were briefly allowed for those returning home, all other movement was ceased indefinitely.
Diplomatic expulsions and trade halt
India suspended all trade ties with Pakistan, reduced its diplomatic staff in Islamabad, and declared Pakistani military and air attachés persona non grata. A mirror response came swiftly from Pakistan.
SAARC Visa Exemption revoked
India also cancelled all SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas for Pakistani nationals, ordering those in the country to leave within 48 hours.
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Pakistan’s countermoves
Pakistan responded by implementing a series of retaliatory measures that have further strained relations between the two countries.
Airspace closure
Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian-operated airlines, causing chaos in global aviation routes. Flights that typically crossed over Pakistani airspace now face longer routes and rising fuel costs. Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have had to cancel or reroute many of their flights to Europe and Central Asia.
Trade halt and diplomatic retraction
Pakistan suspended all trade ties with India, including informal third-country trade. It also slashed its diplomatic presence in New Delhi, mirroring India’s earlier move, further weakening the diplomatic dialogue that once helped keep peace.
Suspension of the Simla Agreement
Pakistan announced a suspension of the 1972 Simla Agreement, a cornerstone of peace and dialogue after the 1971 war and creation of Bangladesh. Analysts believe this decision could dangerously impact bilateral talks and future ceasefire agreements.
Kashmir tourism in ruins
One of the deepest scars left by the Pahalgam attack is on the tourism sector in Kashmir. Once hailed as a success story under the Modi government’s policy of integrating Kashmir into mainstream Indian tourism, the valley is now gripped with fear and uncertainty. Thousands of tourists are cancelling trips, and many local businesses, from houseboats to tour operators, have come to a standstill. Furthermore, a group of 70 tourists from Tamil Nadu narrowly escaped the carnage due to a delayed visit, a twist of fate that spared dozens of lives. With the summer season approaching and the annual Amarnath Yatra just weeks away, security forces are scrambling to regain control. But fear, once seeded, is difficult to uproot.
Markets react with panic
The ripple effects of the terror attack reached financial markets as well. On April 24, the Indian stock market saw the Sensex plummet over 1,000 points, slipping below the 79,000 mark. The Nifty also fell significantly. In Pakistan, the Karachi Stock Exchange dropped over 2,500 points, reflecting global investor anxiety over escalating geopolitical tensions. Experts warn that a prolonged standoff between India and Pakistan could lead to long-term economic consequences, not just for South Asia, but for broader markets reliant on regional stability.
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Indian diaspora stands united
Indian communities across the world responded with grief and solidarity. In the United States, particularly in the Bay Area, Indian Americans held candlelight vigils. Advocacy groups like Hindus for Human Rights and the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) condemned the attack while urging calm and justice. Indian American lawmakers took to social media to express outrage and called for international cooperation in identifying and penalizing the perpetrators.
World leaders condemn the terror attack
From Washington to Tokyo, world leaders unequivocally condemned the Pahalgam massacre. US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance extended their condolences, calling the attack “devastating” and assuring India of America’s support against terrorism. French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and British PM Keir Starmer joined a chorus of condemnation. The United Nations, through Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, labeled the violence “an unacceptable act of terror.” Even nations typically neutral in Indo-Pak tensions, such as Denmark, Germany, and Mauritius, sent strong messages of support to New Delhi. Pakistan, notably, also condemned the attack. It extended condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized the need for credible investigations, while rejecting India’s allegations of cross-border involvement without evidence. Additionally, other countries such as Nepal, Italy, Jordan, Japan, Beijing, Australia, Russia, Sri Lanka, EU, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and European Commission also condemned the attack and stood by India in the fight against global terrorism.
BCCI sends strong message to Pakistan
Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made it clear that India will not engage in any bilateral cricket series with Pakistan. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla stated that India has not played a bilateral series with Pakistan since 2012-13, and this stance will continue. He emphasized that India’s decision aligns with the government’s position, and any future encounters would only occur in ICC events, where both countries are required to participate.
The Kashmir question rekindled
The attack has reignited long-standing questions over Kashmir’s future. Both India and Pakistan claim the region in full but govern parts of it. Armed insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir has claimed tens of thousands of lives over decades. Since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, India has maintained a tight grip on the region, both administratively and militarily. Though tourism numbers had improved, critics argue that deep-seated alienation and suppression of civil liberties have worsened local resentment. Tuesday’s attack is a grim reminder that peace in Kashmir is fragile, and without sustained diplomatic engagement, cycles of violence are likely to recur.
A tragedy that may define the decade
The Pahalgam attack has created a seismic shift not just in the security landscape of Kashmir but in the fabric of India-Pakistan relations. What was once a carefully managed, albeit tense, peace is now on the verge of collapsing into a full diplomatic crisis. It is a moment of reckoning for both nations, for the people caught in the crossfire, and for a region that has long aspired for peace. Whether the Pahalgam attack becomes a turning point toward deeper conflict or a painful catalyst for dialogue remains uncertain. But for the families who lost their loved ones, for the child who still wonders where his father is, and for a community robbed of peace once more, this day will remain etched in memory, a day when silence was shattered by violence, and a dream of harmony was lost to the gun.
