When terrorists targeted the Indian Army’s brigade headquarters in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, on September 18, 2016, leading to the loss of 17 soldiers, India carried out a series of surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) within 10 days. It was a bold response that rewrote the rules of engagement with terrorists. These strikes, conducted on the night of September 28, were led under the watch of Lt Gen DS Hooda, then General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADClick here for Pahalgam terror attack LIVE updatesImportantly, Lt Gen Hooda still had over two months left in his tenure—he retired on November 30, 2016. This gave him sufficient time to assess the situation, plan the operation and execute it with clinical precision. His tenure provided a stable window for retaliation—something the current scenario does not allow.More from India
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Terrorists singled out & shot non-Muslims in Pahalgam attack, say sources & witnessesIn sharp contrast, Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, the current GOC-in-C of the Northern Command, is set to retire on April 30, 2025—barely a week after the April 22 Pahalgam attack. The ticking clock leaves little room for delay. The critical question now is whether the Indian establishment will act within this narrow window, following a Hooda-like timeline, or wait for his successor, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, to assume command.In February 2019, after the Pulwama terror attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel, India’s response was immediate—an airstrike on Balakot in Pakistan, marking a decisive shift in India’s approach to cross-border terrorism. The operation demonstrated India’s willingness to act swiftly, even when it involved complex military operations beyond the LoC.After all, history shows that India’s most effective military responses have come not from protracted deliberation, but from bold, time-sensitive action.The Pahalgam massacreOn April 22, 2025, terrorists struck in Pahalgam, killing at least 26 people, mostly tourists including foreign nationals, and injuring others. The attack took place in the Baisaran Valley, a lush, scenic meadow about 5 kilometres from Pahalgam town, in the afternoon, around 2.30 pm. The Resistance Force (TRF)—an offshoot of Pakistan-based and backed Lashkar-e-Taiba—claimed responsibility.Survivor accounts paint a chilling picture: the attackers emerged from the surrounding forests and opened fire indiscriminately, reportedly asking male tourists about their religious identity before pulling the trigger. The majority of those killed were Hindu tourists. The list of the deceased released officially included one Muslim victim, a local resident of Pahalgam.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADIn one calculated moment, the attackers shattered lives and sought to ignite communal tensions in a region already fraught with historical grievances. This is being described as the deadliest civilian attack in Jammu and Kashmir in over two decades.Why Pahalgam?Pahalgam is more than just a tourist hotspot—it is a gateway to the Amarnath Yatra, a spiritual pilgrimage undertaken by thousands every year. An attack here achieves dual objectives: inflicting mass civilian casualties while dealing a symbolic blow to India’s religious and economic fabric.Targeting tourists, especially pilgrims, amplifies terror. Unlike political or military targets, tourist spots lack comprehensive security fortification. Moreover, tourists are unfamiliar with local threat dynamics, making them soft targets. By striking here, the attackers not only disrupted civilian life but also attempted to cripple the tourism-dependent economy of Jammu and Kashmir.Religious targetingThe sectarian undertones of the attack cannot be ignored. Reports that the terrorists asked for religious identity before firing suggest a deliberate attempt to inflame religious hostilities.This violence came just six days after a speech by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, delivered at the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad on April 16, 2025. In a particularly stark section of his address, General Munir proclaimed:“Our forefathers thought we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life. Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different. That’s where the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid. We are two nations, we are not one nation.”STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThese remarks are not mere diplomatic footnotes—they legitimise and reinforce the ideological framework that terrorists may use to justify violence. Do we really need to sift through history to understand the origins of such hatred, when such narratives are actively being repeated by serving military leadership?Geography of vulnerabilityThe Baisaran Valley is beautiful—but that beauty masks a dangerous reality. The area is remote, forested and mountainous making it both difficult to secure and easy to infiltrate.Pahalgam is relatively close to the LoC with several unguarded or lightly patrolled mountain passes in the Pir Panjal Range. In the past, terrorists have used natural gaps, caves and even tunnels to cross over into Indian territory. The Anantnag and Bijbehara forests, dense and difficult to patrol provide excellent cover for terrorists.Add to this the Aru Valley and the Lidder River corridor, which only complicates a logistical nightmare for counter-infiltration efforts. Despite increased surveillance, the geography makes complete security coverage nearly impossible.India’s next move: Waiting for Lt Gen Sharma?The ball now rests in India’s court. The Narendra Modi government, give its response after Uri and Pulwama terror attacks, may opt for another punitive strike on terror camps of the group responsible for the Pahalgam massacre. The question some analysts are speculating about when and who will lead the response.Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, the designated successor to Lt Gen Kumar, is expected to take charge of the Northern Command by April 30. His resume reads like a preparation manual for this very moment: former Brigadier of the 80 Infantry Brigade in Jammu and Kashmir, Major General commanding the 25 Infantry Division in Rajauri and Director General of Military Operations.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADEven before stepping into his Udhampur office, he finds himself at the epicentre of a national security crisis.That’s not to take away from the contributions of Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar, a highly decorated officer who served as Vice Chief of the Army Staff before his current post. But if a response is planned after April 30, it will be Lt Gen Sharma holding the reins.A hideous actThe Pahalgam attack was no random act of terror. It was a nefariously planned strike—symbolically powerful, deviously shrewd and ideologically charged. It targeted India’s unity, its spiritual backbone and its economic heartbeat in one fell swoop.As India mourns its dead and the government plans its response, the world has extended support to the nation that is anguished and angry. The Pahalgam massacre is not just an attack on Indian citizens, it is also an attack on the very idea of peaceful coexistence. Terrorists singled out tourists by their religious identities and chose men to shoot down. And in that sense, the terrorists succeeded in one thing: reminding India that the battle for Kashmir is not just territorial—it’s profoundly ideological.TagsIndiaIndian ArmyIndianAirForceJammu and KashmirKashmirNarendra ModiPakistanSaudi ArabiaShehbaz SharifEnd of Article
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Pahalgam massacre: Will India’s response come under a new Northern Command chief?
