After Pahalgam, presence is patriotism—Kashmir calls, and nation must answer

Time of India

21-05-2025

Mudasir Dar is a social and peace activist based in South Kashmir. He is a Rashtrapati Award recipient in world scouting and has contributed to many local and national publications on a diverse range of topics, including national security, politics, governance, peace, and conflict. LESS ... MORE
There are moments when the soul of a land mourns—not only because it is wounded, but because it fears being forgotten. The terror attack in Pahalgam was one such moment. It was not merely an act of barbaric violence; it was a calibrated message designed to fracture bonds, to generate silence, and to revive isolation. In its horror, it targeted not just pilgrims, but the very idea of national integration. It was meant not only to kill, but to separate Kashmir from India's emotional geography once again.
But what followed—what continues to unfold in the days after—may be more dangerous than the attack itself. Tourist bookings have plummeted. Hotel cancellations have multiplied. Footsteps that once filled our gardens, markets, and meadows have gone missing. This retreat, if allowed to persist, is not just a humanitarian loss or an economic downturn—it is a strategic gift to Pakistan.
We must understand what this truly is: psychological warfare. Pakistan does not merely aim to infiltrate our borders—it seeks to infiltrate our imagination. Its goal is not only to destroy lives, but to dismantle narratives. The Pahalgam attack was not a random strike—it was a sophisticated attempt to unravel a decade of progress, connectivity, and emotional trust between Kashmir and the rest of the nation. And by choosing not to come here now, we risk validating that strategy.
Kashmir's tourism is not merely an economic activity—it is a form of cultural integration. It is also a vibrant connection from Srinagar to Surat and from Pulwama to Pune. Every Indian who travels here helps shatter the myth that Kashmir is cut off, dangerous, or hostile. Over 2.35 crore tourists recorded J&K as their travel destination in 2024, the highest recorded number in history. This was not simply a business boom, it was a revival of faith, a reclamation of place and this was the result of the policies of the Indian Government, Particularly the office of LG administration. These visitors, after just one attack, stop that retreat and threaten to undo more than just economic profitability. It risks the social contract between Kashmir and the rest of India, which has been painstakingly pieced together through sustained dialogue, development, and a lot of contact among ordinary citizens. Tourism is not the lifeline of Kashmir's economy, but the region cannot withstand another further emotional ostracism.
This is not just a tragedy of economy only but goes much deeper – it is a societal issue. Mourning is not enough for Kashmiris. We need to respond to this with a civil disobedience movement anchored in humanity. More than just condemning violence, we need to work towards taking action that shows we welcome peace.
I had the privilege of hosting and leading two impactful protests a few hours after the Pahalgam attack, myself, in Pulwama. One of the protests was a large scale street protest which was attended by several youth mobilization groups, traders, and even transport union and civil society groups. The other one was a candle light vigil celebrating and paying homage to the deceased, as well as intentionally inspiring our shared conscience. The most delightful thing about these events is that the main slogans were 'Yeh jo dehshatgardi hai, iske peeche Pakistan hai.' And best believe this is the kind of anger that is simply fueled by emotions. It takes some regained consciousness. For the very first time, Pulwama a district who for so long has been unreasonably labeled returned, partially,.' and in the other sense stood proudly, head crowned and chest forward, for the unity of the nation and started publicly resisting terror.
This will require broader effort over a longer timeline than one district in one day. There needs to be a movement for peace that peoples march towards—not ideology-driven but civic conviction. From mosques to markets, schools to shrines, there is a need for Kashmir to become a region of positive assertion. We cannot limit our condemnation to mere words. Let it spill, let it aggressively diffuse into warmth. Let it resonate through welcome. Every local hand reaching out to a tourist should physically advertise how strong the counter-narrative is to the one terrorists tried to impose.
The attack in Pahalgam was distinctly sectarian where tourists were asked their religion before being executed. The goal was not just to kill, but to create an appeal for violence and disorder throughout India, sow division across communities, and instigate distrust. The killing and the public outcry from Kashmiris and the rest of Indian society demonstrates immense strength and 'submission.' That violence, and anger is in itself a statement which is bound by greater defiance.
And as the nation grieved, the Government of India responded with strategic resolve. Operation Sindoor, the first of its kind operation done against the terrorists in Pakistan after independence, a calibrated precision strike on terrorists and terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, it was not just a military action—it was a statement: terror will not be tolerated, and every act of violence will be answered. It was a show of sovereign will. But military strength must now be matched with civic courage.
It is here that every Indian must ask themselves: what is my role? Is it enough to express sorrow and light candles? Or do we have
a duty to confront terror not only on the battlefield—but on the boulevards of Srinagar and the banks of Dal Lake?
Come to Kashmir—not as tourists, but as defenders of a national promise. Your presence here is not a holiday—it is a declaration that the nation will not yield to fear. When you walk through the markets of Pulwama or share a meal in a Ganderbal home, you are not just engaging in travel—you are standing between Kashmir and those who seek to break it apart. Because if you don't come—if you allow fear to triumph over fellowship—you will be doing exactly what Pakistan wants. You will be conceding that terrorism can redraw maps, not only political, but emotional. You will be saying, however inadvertently, that Kashmir is dispensable.
The exodus of the Pandit community In the year 1990 went unaddressed by the country with any level of urgency, and neither did it respond during the time where action was most crucial. It was filled not by resolution—but by radicalism. Making that mistake forms of violence and inhumane forms of suppression that create suffering to countless human lives and pain to as many families. Nonetheless, radicalism did take place form such violence inflicts horrendous levels of destruction on civilizations, fostering the birth of new violent factions. Here we take a look at today's situation with the view encapsulated in the above lines. Pakistan's doctrine depends on disconnection. Let us not offer it on a silver platter. Kashmir is speaking. The people are protesting. The youth are rejecting violence. And now, they look to the rest of India and ask: will you stand with us, or will you disappear?
Moreover, the results of that withdrawal will not be restricted only to the Valley. It will encourage the adversaries while demoralizing the moderates, and reinforce the delusion that India is a nation where parts can be abandoned under pressure. That delusion is disastrous. The essence of a nation is not held together by flags alone, but rather by the resolve of its people to endure and be present even when it is challenging. This is not a moment for hesitation. It is a moment for defiance. For quiet courage. For everyday nationalism.
Come. Be here. Not just for us, but for the India that refuses to be fragmented. Because if we retreat now, we are not just cancelling vacations—we are cancelling our claim, our connection, and ultimately, our conscience.
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Views expressed above are the author's own.