The recent brutal attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam has jolted the collective conscience of Jammu and Kashmir. Yet, amid the grief, a powerful shift has emerged: for the first time in decades, villages across the Valley have risen not against the government, but against the true enemy—Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and radical extremism. This spontaneous, unified outcry from the people sends a clear and resounding message: enough is enough.

Kashmir’s lifeline—its economy—depends heavily on tourism, an industry that thrives only in peace. Without security, there can be no tourism, no livelihood, and no progress. Yet for decades, the people of the region have been held hostage by militant groups acting on the orders of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. These groups, like Lashkar-e-Taiba and others, are not freedom fighters but instruments of geopolitical sabotage. It is time to break free from this vicious cycle.

This moment calls for unwavering national support for our security forces—whether it is the Indian Army, the CRPF, or the Jammu and Kashmir Police. These brave men and women are engaged in an asymmetric war, battling ideologically radicalized and militarily trained guerrilla operatives. Their mission is challenging and dangerous, and they must be empowered with the best tools, actionable intelligence, and most importantly, the backing of a united nation.

India also finds itself at a pivotal diplomatic juncture. As the international community grows increasingly intolerant of terrorism as a tool of statecraft, we must seize this momentum. Just as former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee galvanized global opinion against terror, today’s leadership must expose Pakistan’s duplicity. While the United States has expressed solidarity after the Pahalgam attack, China’s muted response reveals the complexities of geopolitics. Even so, the current environment favors decisive Indian action—politically, militarily, and diplomatically.

Pakistan’s own ministers have, without shame, admitted to doing the “dirty work” for the West—an open confession of state-sponsored terror. This hypocrisy must be challenged on every international forum. It is time to shine a light on the suffering inflicted by Islamabad, not only in Kashmir but in regions across its own borders and in Afghanistan.

At home, our security architecture in Jammu and Kashmir must be recalibrated. The use of encrypted digital communication by terrorists has made it harder to track their movements. Therefore, our counter-insurgency grid must return to basics: strengthening human intelligence, building community trust, and conducting precise operations based on credible ground-level inputs. Public cooperation and grassroots vigilance must be the backbone of our anti-terror efforts.

This is not just a matter of security—it is a moral and civilizational imperative. The people of Kashmir have spoken. They seek peace, prosperity, and a future unshackled from the shadow of violence. We must stand with them—not merely in our rhetoric but in concrete action. Let us unite for a terrorism-free Jammu and Kashmir, where every citizen can dream, build, and thrive without fear.

Moreover, we must not lose sight of the unfinished chapter of our national struggle—Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It is not foreign land; it is an integral part of India, illegally occupied since 1947. The people of PoK continue to endure neglect, suppression, and forced demographic changes under Islamabad’s colonial policies. The Indian Parliament has already declared PoK as part of our sovereign territory. This is no longer just a territorial issue—it is a question of national pride, constitutional justice, and historical truth.

The time is now—to fight terrorism with unity, to challenge falsehoods with truth, and to restore the dignity and rights of every Kashmiri. Let us act, together, for the future of a peaceful, undivided, and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.