Shifting Tide in Kashmir’s Perception of Cross-Border Terrorism

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On 25 April 2025, the Mirwaiz of Kashmir denounced the Pahalgam terror attack from the pulpit of the Jamia Masjid during the Friday sermon, previously associated with Pakistan-backed separatism and which instigated the near-daily pre-2019 stone-pelting incidents across all major towns across the Kashmir Valley. He condemned the massacre of tourists by terrorists based on their religion, highlighting a fundamental transformation in the Valley’s stance on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Other religious leaders across Kashmir condemned the attack as well, as the entire region witnessed widespread protests, candlelight vigils, and anger against the Pakistan-perpetrated terror incident. Identifying a silver lining in these challenging times proves difficult; however, there is one: for the first time in 35 years, the Kashmir Valley is experiencing a complete shutdown in protest against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Although such public solidarity may not address all issues, it holds substantial significance–consider the fortunate survivors of the Pahalgam massacre who received aid from local Kashmiris to escape danger.

Although certain individuals within the Kashmiri community act in opposition to the integration of Kashmir with the rest of the nation, as in any community, these individuals will ultimately be held accountable for their actions.

Since 2019, a significant proportion of the Kashmiri youth has shown an increased interest in India through various integration processes, unequivocally condemning the violence perpetrated by Pakistan. They perceived the Pahalgam terror attack as a collective punishment imposed by Islamabad on their aspirations for peace and harmony, which profoundly unsettles the very essence of the Valley. Although certain individuals within the Kashmiri community act in opposition to the integration of Kashmir with the rest of the nation, as in any community, these individuals will ultimately be held accountable for their actions. The youth, in particular, have a crucial role in enhancing their vigilance regarding their surroundings and on social media to aid security agencies in combating traitors and proxies within society. This active participation is essential to ensure they do not disappoint the nation at this critical juncture.

Shockwaves, Grief, and Outrage in the Valley

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam occurred as Kashmir advanced with New Delhi in economic development and integration, with separatism and terrorism at unprecedented lows. Following the abrogation of Article 370 and 35a in 2019, the youth’s attitude towards full integration with India has significantly shifted both psychologically and emotionally. Before 2019, Article 370 facilitated misgovernance, corruption, and autocratic rule, as the central government frequently overlooked the issues of separatism, terrorism, and regional political parties ensnaring the Valley in a cycle of terrorism, supported by Pakistan. Following the 2019 administrative and security reorganisation, New Delhi dismantled separatism, the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and prohibited pro-Pakistan groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), among others. In response, terrorists and terrorist organisations primarily from Pakistan altered their strategies, establishing proxy organisations and shadow groups like the Kashmir Tigers, the People’s Anti-Fascist Front of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Laskhar-e-Taiba’s splinter group, The Resistance Front (TRF).

The mounting protests within the valley forced TRF to deny any involvement in the Pahalgam attack and claimed it was part of an ‘orchestrated campaign’ to malign the Kashmir resistance.

With a limited support base and heightened security measures, these proxy terrorist organisations have not only altered the geographical landscape but have also begun to target vulnerable entities, such as non-local workers and off-duty police officers within the Valley, for psychological subversion. People of Kashmir started protesting these targeted killings all over the Valley, as Kashmiris consider such acts a calibrated doctrine of perpetual pain. People began to liken these assaults on humanity to a tactic aimed at weaponising trauma to sustain unrest in the Kashmir Valley. The Pahalgam terror attack sent shockwaves throughout the whole nation, and all of Kashmir reverberated with slogans like “We are Indian”, “India is ours,” and “Terrorism has no place”, sending shockwaves to the Pakistani-supported terror outfits and Pakistan. The mounting protests within the valley forced TRF to deny any involvement in the Pahalgam attack and claimed it was part of an ‘orchestrated campaign’ to malign the Kashmir resistance. The changing sentiments among Kashmiri Muslims, dissatisfied with the tactics of terrorist organisations, have forced these groups to initiate targeted actions against moderate voices within the Valley. On 27 April 2025, terrorists perpetrated yet another killing of a 45-year-old individual in the Kupwara district of northern Kashmir to instil fear among the Kashmiri population, especially the youth.

Fake Narrative Online 

In light of the evolving circumstances and political changes within the Valley, Kashmiris must exercise caution against the dissemination of misinformation and misleading videos propagated by Pakistani media, as well as from social media accounts originating from the Middle East and other regions. Soon after the heinous terror attack, the Pakistani press claimed it was a ‘false flag’ operation carried out by government agencies with a coordinated effort. The precipice of political change within the Valley encountered an additional dilemma: videos disseminated by Kashmiri Facebook news portals, lacking authenticity and propagated by Pakistan along with certain social media accounts, were extensively circulated to amplify propaganda and create a communal divide. In the absence of authenticity, numerous social media accounts disseminated videos from the past two years to amplify the narrative that Kashmiri students are being targeted and intimidated. This underscores the need for critical thinking and verification of information. Although instances of intimidation and threats from fringe elements have occurred in certain states, it is noteworthy that state governments have implemented various measures to ensure the safety of Kashmiri students and businesspeople. The state police even registered a first information report (FIR) against such incidents and met with Kashmiri students to calm the environment.

The Pakistani establishment has failed to manipulate this cowardly attack into a vile communal narrative.

The sentiments of the entire nation, including Jammu and Kashmir, are profoundly characterised by anguish. However, specific Kashmiri social media news portals and individuals utilising social media must refrain from succumbing to the false narratives sometimes amplified by Pakistan and confident regional political leaders. The Pakistani establishment has failed to manipulate this cowardly attack into a vile communal narrative. The Valley’s unified condemnation of Pakistani terrorism stands as a testament to the desire towards more emotional and sociopolitical integration with New Delhi. Under such circumstances, the people of Kashmir must not yield once again to the prevailing narrative on social media, as this level of provocation by Pakistan was explicitly designed to achieve that outcome. The citizens of India, as well as Kashmiris, need to recognise that it is not militaries that engage in warfare but entire nations that do so.

Ayjaz Wani (PhD) is a Fellow in the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation

• Terrorism
• India
• Pakistan
• cross-border terrorism
• Kashmir Terror Attack
• Orchestrated Campaign
• Pahalgam attack
• Pahalgam terror attack
• Pakistan-sponsored terrorism
• proxy terrorist organisations
• Security measures in Kashmir
• Sociopolitical integration

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