Pakistan’s response to the devastating Pahalgam terror attack—which left 26 tourists dead—has drawn mixed reactions. In a statement issued a day after the incident, the Pakistan Foreign Office said it was “concerned at the loss of tourists’ lives” and extended condolences to the families of the deceased, also wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
While the statement marked a rare expression of sympathy from Islamabad following an attack in Jammu and Kashmir, it notably stopped short of condemning the perpetrators or mentioning the terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF), which has been linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a group long associated with cross-border terrorism and based in Pakistan. This omission has sparked criticism and reinforced concerns about Pakistan’s ambiguous stance on terrorism in the region.
Meanwhile, India’s response has been swift and solemn:
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah, within hours of the incident, flew into Srinagar and laid wreaths on the coffins of the victims at the Police Control Room.
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He met with the families of the victims and survivors, offering assurances that the attackers will be tracked down and punished.
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Shah was also briefed on the situation by J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, and chaired a high-level security review meeting, attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
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In his interactions, Shah promised that “no stone will be left unturned” to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore a sense of safety in Kashmir.
The visit and immediate actions reflect the seriousness with which the Indian government is treating the attack, particularly due to its targeting of unarmed civilians and tourists, a rare but shocking move by militants aiming to destabilize peace and tourism in the valley.
The Baisaran meadows attack has become a critical flashpoint, not only in terms of national security but also in the diplomatic narrative between India and Pakistan, especially given Islamabad’s restrained reaction and its history with terror groups like LeT.
