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In response to the , a series of targeted airstrikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The on April 22 did more than shatter a moment of peace in one of South Asia’s most scenic regions. The assault has significantly increased India-Pakistan tensions and generated worries of possible military conflict .

Though for sheltering terrorist groups.

In response to the attack, India has taken several actions against Pakistan, including downgrading

This rapidly deteriorating situation underscores the broader consequences of the devastating Pahalgam assault.

Human tragedy

Described by the region’s chief minister, Omar Abdullah, as “,” the assault in Pahalgam is not only a humanitarian tragedy and a blow to Kashmir’s economy but a flashpoint in an already fragile regional relationship.

The Pahalgam attack’s timing coincided with United States Vice President JD Vance’s in April. This mirrors hours before his arrival.

By staging violence during diplomatic milestones, militants aim to amplify global attention and send a message to the Indian government. As global attention shifts back to Kashmir, the Baisaran massacre appears to mark a new chapter in the long-fought battle over this territory — one that risks tourism, targets civilians and threatens to unravel regional stability.

Strategic targeting of Kashmir’s economy

Though Kashmir has seen warfare for decades, militant groups had mostly avoided targeting visitors because of the

The calculated selection of Pahalgam — one of Kashmir’s top tourist sites — reveals a plan to attack the core of Kashmir’s economy. According to counter-terrorism expert not to compromise the tourism industry.

By breaking this unwritten rule, the militants have demonstrated a willingness to inflict economic harm on the population.

Nearly everyone in Kashmir, particularly in the valley, depends on tourism either directly or indirectly. Tourism, which has , generates thousands of .

Experts like Amitabh Mattoo, from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, warn that A significant has already taken place.

Challenging India’s post-2019 Kashmir narrative

The assault also weakens India’s narrative on Kashmir, an area that has been disputed by both Pakistan and India since their independence from Britain in 1947.

The attack took place as India Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled , which his government contends will enhance tourism and economic development.

Modi’s administration has presented the rise in tourism as proof of following

The intentional targeting of visitors sends a message that the illusion of normalcy is misleading.

A deadly departure from past tactics

The Resistance Front (TRF), a rather unknown militant group founded in 2019 and by the Indian government in January 2023, . They offered no proof to back their assertion.

represents a new breed of militant Indian intelligence agencies have connected the group to the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba.

TRF’s communication regarding the assault emphasized resistance to new “outsider” residency rights. This corresponds with worries and get employment in the area.

The government disclosed in April 2025 that under these new standards in the last two years.

The future of Kashmir’s stability

Apart from causing obvious human sorrow, the Pahalgam slaughter also endangers years of economic development and could send Jammu and Kashmir back into a cycle of bloodshed and instability.

Targeting tourists could mean militants are willing to risk Kashmir’s economic core. The assault appears to be an attempt to internationalize the Kashmir problem at a time when worldwide interest had started to fade. It also exploits religious divides, and has succeeded in inciting severe security reactions.

The future seems more and more uncertain for ordinary Kashmiris caught between security crackdowns and militant brutality. Historical trends indicate that , putting more strain on civilian life.

For many teenagers and young people in Jammu and Kashmir, the lack of consistent income, mobility limitations and increased monitoring .

Radical groups can take advantage of these frustrations. To counter this, economic policies must address these inequalities.

A strategy for the way ahead

The Pahalgam incident calls for a counter-terrorism strategy that balances security with socio-economic stability.

For example, tourism profit-sharing systems could be implemented and tax advantages or subsidies could be offered to tour businesses, especially those employing young marginalized demographics. This could help to bring some financial respite as well as long-term stability and .

The failure to pre-empt the attack despite heightened security during the Vance’s visit and the Hindu pilgrimage season reveals systematic intelligence failures.

The way ahead calls for tackling both security issues and the underlying complaints still driving militancy in Jammu and Kashmir as the region once again confronts the possibility of violence.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has .

, PhD Student, Department of Political Studies, International Relations,

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