Senseless Acts of Terror Shatter the Calm Between India and Pakistan

On April 22, 2025, one of the deadliest terror attacks in recent memory unfolded at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, a picturesque hill station in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. Militants opened fire on a group of tourists, claiming the lives of at least 26 individuals and leaving 17 others injured. Among the victims were predominantly Indian tourists, including five from Maharashtra, alongside one foreign national and two local residents.

The attack was timed to coincide with United States Vice President JD Vance's visit to India and the burgeoning tourist and trekking season. It unfolded at approximately 3 PM, striking a devastating blow to Jammu and Kashmir's growing tourism industry.

Armed militants descended upon the idyllic grassland of Baisaran, often referred to as "mini Switzerland." They unleashed gunfire on unsuspecting tourists enjoying the serene surroundings — picnicking, taking pony rides, and dining at local eateries.

This chilling act of violence shattered the calm that had begun to take root in the region. A fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan is attempting to keep the problem from escalating.

Shadow Organization Claims Responsibility

As the news of the targeted assault spread, The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow organization of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. It was a heinous act, carried out in a remote area accessible only on foot or by pony. As such, it represents the gravest civilian tragedy in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Intelligence reports suggest the assailants infiltrated from the Kishtwar region. They navigated treacherous mountainous terrain to reach Baisaran via Kokernag in south Kashmir. The isolation of the site is believed to have facilitated both their movement and the execution of this devastating assault.

TRF was established in 2019, shortly after the Indian Parliament revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status. Its creation reflects a deliberate strategy by Pakistan to mask its sponsorship of terrorism in that region. Operating as a proxy for LeT, TRF is presented as an indigenous entity to deflect international scrutiny. By claiming responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack, TRF underscores its alignment with LeT's objectives, perpetuating violence and instability in the region under the guise of a separate identity.

*Women walk towards their damaged house in the Indian-controlled area of Kashmir on May 10. (©Reuters via Kyodo)*

Terrorism's Old Wounds

The tragedy at Pahalgam has reopened wounds from a series of terror attacks orchestrated by LeT, also known as Jama'at-ud-Da'awa. According to Indian sources, it is led by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. Based in Muridke near Lahore, Pakistan, LeT's actions underscore the urgent need for vigilance, inter-agency coordination, and community involvement to combat terrorism.

LeT's ideology extends beyond contesting India's sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir. Its agenda, detailed in the pamphlet Why are we waging jihad, advocates for the reestablishment of Islamic rule across India. The group operates training camps and recruitment centers throughout Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Locations such as Muzaffarabad are among them.

LeT first emerged in Jammu and Kashmir in 1993, when 12 Pakistani and Afghan mercenaries crossed the Line of Control alongside the Islami Inquilabi Mahaz, a terrorist outfit active in Poonch district. Following the Kargil War of 1999, LeT adopted a Fidayeen strategy, where small groups of 2-5 militants targeted security forces camps. Another tactic involved LeT cadres, disguised in security force uniforms, attacking remote villages to massacre Hindu or Sikh civilians.

Notable atrocities include the 1998 Wandhama massacre, where 23 Kashmiri Pandits were killed. Then in it carried out the 2000 Chittisinghpura massacre, where 35 Sikhs were murdered, allegedly to provoke communal unrest during President Bill Clinton's visit to India. It also took credit for the 2000 Red Fort attack in New Delhi and an assault on Srinagar Airport, which resulted in the deaths of five Indian civilians and six militants.

A man walks through rubble after a Pakistani military attack in Indian-controlled areas of Jammu and Kashmir on May 10th (©Reuters via Kyodo)

A Trail of Devastation

LeT has left a trail of devastation through a series of calculated attacks over the years. It claimed responsibility for an assault on Indian security forces along the border. In December 2001, the Indian government accused LeT, alongside Jaish-e-Mohammed, of orchestrating the deadly attack on the Parliament in Delhi.

Thirty-one lives were lost in the May 2002 Kaluchak massacre. That prompted the Australian government to designate LeT as a terrorist organization. The group struck again in March 2003 with the Nadimarg massacre, killing 24 Kashmiri Pandits. During Diwali in 2005, LeT bombed bustling Delhi markets, claiming 60 lives and injuring over 500. And there had been several other terrorist acts where the organization claimed credit.

LeT's propaganda arm issued a fatwa against Pope Benedict XVI in September 2006. Then, days later, top militant Abu Saad was killed in Kulgam, revealing the group's extensive operations. The 2008 Mumbai attacks, a horrifying blend of bombings, shootings, and hostage-taking, were later confirmed to be orchestrated by LeT with support from Pakistan's ISI and Army.

Pakistan's Ties

Under international pressure, Pakistan launched operations against LeT in December 2008. Nevertheless, in 2009, LeT issued ultimatums enforcing Islamic dress codes in Jammu and Kashmir. It also plotted attacks on Jewish religious sites in Pune and other tourist locations. Intelligence reports revealed chilling instructions given to the gunmen during the Mumbai attacks, emphasizing the group's ruthless ideology.

LeT's ties to Pakistan's ISI have been well-documented, with financial and material support aiding its operations. In 2010, Interpol issued warrants for two Pakistani Army officers linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Those highlighted the group's expanding network in Jammu, targeting regions with significant Punjabi populations.

The Resistance Front (TRF) operates as an extension of LeT, furthering its agenda under a different guise. Since 2019, TRF has orchestrated activities that jeopardize peace and security in the Jammu and Kashmir region. These include planning attacks on security forces and civilians, facilitating the transportation of weapons for banned terrorist groups, recruiting militants, infiltrating across borders, and smuggling arms and narcotics.

Saifullah Sajid Jutt, also known as Saifullah Kasuri, a prominent LeT commander, is believed to have masterminded the recent devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam. A native of Shangamanga village in Pakistan's Punjab province, Jutt has been identified by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a "hardcore terrorist."

TRF and the Illusion of Indigenous Terrorism

Some reports by experts indicate that TRF is a calculated creation of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Those reports say it is designed to mask its sponsorship of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir by giving it a veneer of indigenous origin. This strategy allows Pakistan to distance itself from direct involvement, enabling plausible deniability on the global stage.

In January 2023, TRF was officially banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and its commander, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, was designated a terrorist. This designation follows allegations of TRF's involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari in June 2018. The TRF's actions, closely aligned with LeT's objectives, underscore its role as a dangerous proxy in the region's ongoing conflict.

According to some experts, ISI's objective in launching TRF was twofold. First, to deflect international scrutiny, particularly from the Financial Action Task Force, which monitors terror financing. Second, to sustain its jihadi terror operations under a deceptive guise. By adopting neutral-sounding names like The Resistance Front or the JK Pir Panjal Peace Forum, the ISI avoids overt religious connotations. In turn, that furthers the illusion of a homegrown movement.

TRF's emergence and operations are emblematic of Pakistan's long-standing strategy to deflect attention from its internal challenges by exporting terror under the guise of indigenous movements. This calculated approach allows Pakistan to maintain plausible deniability while sustaining its disruptive agenda in Jammu and Kashmir.

Inciting Division Among Religions

Adding to this narrative is the provocative speech by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, which went viral for its incendiary reinforcement of the Two-Nation Theory — the ideological foundation behind the partition of India in 1947. Delivered by the head of a uniformed force, the speech was strikingly uncharacteristic, as it sought to emphasize the supposed differences between Muslims and Hindus in India. Munir's remarks appear to be a deliberate attempt to sow division and send a pointed message to Indian Muslims, asserting their distinctiveness from their Hindu counterparts.

Pakistan Army's desire to assert its dominance in national affairs, even at the expense of diplomatic decorum and regional stability. This confluence of TRF's activities and the Pakistan Army's inflammatory posturing highlights a broader pattern of destabilization. Proxies and propaganda are wielded as tools to perpetuate conflict and deflect scrutiny from Pakistan's own governance and societal issues.

The implications of these actions extend far beyond the borders of Jammu and Kashmir, threatening peace and harmony in the region. There is a ceasefire now, but much work needs to be done before there is a long-term peace.

Author: Professor Pema Gyalpo