No more Pahalgam terror attacks

A month ago, India was rudely shaken out of complacency by the Pahalgam terror attack. The horrifying massacre of tourists in the picturesque Baisaran meadow was a bolt from the blue — and a grim reminder that cross-border terrorism was alive and kicking. The tragedy united the entire nation in grief and anger — Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Ahmedabad to Aizawl — and the Modi government came up with a calibrated, befitting response. An economic and diplomatic squeeze was followed by Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes on terror sites in Pakistan. Subsequently, the Indian armed forces not only thwarted Pakistan’s attempts to attack military bases in this country but also launched a fierce counter-attack on Pakistani military installations.

Amid a wait-and-watch ceasefire, India has initiated a global outreach against terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned the hostile neighbour about the new normal — any future terror attack on Indian soil will be treated as an act of war that will trigger strong retaliation. The message to Pakistan is loud and clear: Mend your ways or face punishment. Even as India has upped the ante in the international arena, it is vital to gather irrefutable evidence of Pakistan’s role in the April 22 carnage.

It’s worrisome that the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which took over the probe from the J&K Police days after the attack, has not yet been able to track down the killers. Are they in India, Pakistan or somewhere else? The NIA’s appeal to tourists and local residents to provide leads about the assailants has apparently not led to any breakthrough. The armed forces have done their job with a well-executed Operation Sindoor. The onus is on the premier probe agency to unearth the whole conspiracy, zeroing in on the assailants as well as their handlers. An airtight case against Pakistan will help India ensure that there are no more Pahalgams.

Editorials