- Ever since the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent state assembly election, Jammu & Kashmir has been watched with keen eyes from different stakeholders, national and international, on how the once insurgency-infected region would progress. The Union Government and the State Government initiated several measures that have not only propelled the region to integrate into the mainstream but also given further impetus to the economic mainstay, tourism, to prosper on the back of an improved security situation. The local employment opportunities generated by the improvement in the security scenario opened avenues for tourism to center stage, generating huge amounts of footfall and accompanying revenue for the State Government. All seemed well.
PC: Live Law
- Things were looking positive with an elected government in place in the Union Territory and duly supported by the Union Government. Of course, the country is witness to sporadic incidents of terrorist strikes from the region since the abrogation of Article 370 took effect. The killings continued despite the law enforcement agencies and the security forces not taking their eyes off the newly found peace in the region, long known for disturbances of a vivid nature. Apart from the local tourism taking a great upward movement, the developmental projects announced and supported by the Union Government had a tremendous positivity surrounding the region, leading to a visible feel-good factor emanating all around. Then the terrorists struck in Pahalgam.
PC: Times of India
- Disturbing, distressing, dejection, agitated, aggrieved, and greatly devastating feelings must be coursing through the Indian citizens after witnessing how the terrorists went about killing innocent tourists mercilessly in Pahalgam. The dastardly and cowardly act perpetrated by the terrorists, duly backed by the deep state from Pakistan, has come at a time when the UT appeared headed towards realizing its true potential after all those years of turbulence. That terrorists chose Pahalgam, one of Kashmir’s best-known and most-loved tourist destinations, for executing one of the worst attacks in the Valley in a long time, and that too just as the tourist season began, was aimed at spreading fear and uncertainty among both locals and visitors.
PC: Deccan Herald
- Also consider the timing in three other contexts as well. PM Modi was out of the country visiting Saudi Arabia, a friendly country and arguably the most influential player in the Islamic world, Trump’s deputy Vance in India for a high-profile visit, and Pakistan’s army chief made one of the most aggressive comments last week on Kashmir. Undoubtedly, this is a huge security challenge for the Union Government, and it needs to respond quickly and intelligently, with the first job being hunting down the perpetrators with intent. The public opinion about how to respond to inhumane and irrational killings is unambiguous. The terrorists and their backers must be brought to justice in whatever ways suit the Union Government. No politics on the matter, please!
