Terror and Resilience

The brutal attack in Pahalgam, where terrorists singled out and murdered Hindu tourists in cold blood, has shaken not just Kashmir, but the collective conscience of the nation.

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It is a reminder that beneath Kashmir's postcard-perfect landscapes, the cruel hand of cross-border terror still runs. The targeted nature of the killings – men separated, names asked, lives ended – was not just an act of terror; it was a calculated assault on India's pluralism and its sense of internal peace. In response, the government has closed more than half of Kashmir's 87 tourist destinations, an extraordinary step that underscores both the scale of the threat and the urgency of restoring a semblance of order. This comes just as the summer season was beginning to bring thousands to the Valley, enticed by its beauty and reassured by a few quieter years. That illusion now lies shattered. The very act that sought to destabilise the region economically may have succeeded in doing so – at least in the short term. While the administrative decision to shut tourist spots is understandable in the context of immediate security, it is also a blow to a region whose economic revival increasingly depends on tourism. Hotels, guides, small businesses, and transport providers – many of them locals – stand to suffer. Fear drives away not only tourists but also investment and hope. Yet, there is little choice. The safety of civilians must come first. What cannot be allowed, however, is for this moment to spiral into a cycle of rhetoric and bombast. Tensions with Pakistan have flared, predictably, with accusations, denials, and even talk of imminent military escalation. The temptation to "do something" is immense. But India must tread carefully. Provocative statements may score political points but risk escalating a volatile situation. The moral high ground must be held with firmness, not fury. What this attack calls for is both resolve and restraint. India must enhance intelligence coordination, secure vulnerable areas, a