Table of Contents-India Vs Pakistan War 2025
- Introduction: A Day of Terror in Paradise
- Background: The Kashmir Conflict and Rising Tensions
- The Attack: What Happened on April 22, 2025
- The Perpetrators: Who Was Behind the Attack?
- Immediate Aftermath: Chaos and Response
- India’s Diplomatic Retaliation: Cutting Ties with Pakistan
- Global Reactions: A World on Edge
- Conclusion: A Call for Reflection
Introduction: A Day of Terror in Paradise- India Vs Pakistan War 2025|The Pahalgam Attack of 2025: A Tragic Turning Point in India-Pakistan Tensions
On April 22, 2025, the serene Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir—often called “Mini Switzerland” for its breathtaking meadows and snow-capped peaks—turned into a scene of horror. At around 14:50 IST, militants opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 26 people in a brutal attack that shocked India and the world. The victims included 25 Hindus, one Christian, and one local Muslim, highlighting the targeted nature of the assault. This tragedy, the deadliest civilian attack in the region since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, reignited tensions between India and Pakistan, setting off a chain of events that culminated in India’s military strike, Operation Sindoor, on May 7, 2025. For zikzik.in readers, this blog delves into the details of the Pahalgam attack, its perpetrators, and its far-reaching consequences.
Background: The Kashmir Conflict and Rising Tensions
The Pahalgam attack cannot be understood without the context of the long-standing India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir. Since the partition of 1947, both nations have claimed the region in full but administer it only in part, with the Line of Control (LoC) serving as a de facto border. Indian-administered Kashmir has faced an armed insurgency since 1989, with militants—often backed by Pakistan, according to India—targeting security forces and civilians. India accuses Pakistan of using terrorism as a state policy, a charge Pakistan denies, claiming it only provides moral support to Kashmiri self-determination.
Recent years have seen sporadic violence, including the 2016 Uri attack and the 2019 Pulwama bombing, both of which led to Indian retaliatory strikes. In 2024, attacks in Gagangir and Buta Pathri killed civilians and soldiers, signaling a resurgence of militancy. The Pahalgam attack followed this pattern but stood out for its brutality and civilian focus, evoking memories of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Tensions were already high, with India and Pakistan trading small-arms fire across the LoC in early 2025, making the region a tinderbox ready to ignite.
The Attack: What Happened on April 22, 2025
On a sunny afternoon, tourists from across India and one Nepali citizen were enjoying a picnic in Baisaran Valley, a popular spot near Pahalgam. At 14:50 IST, seven militants armed with steel-core 7.62mm bullets and wearing body cameras emerged from the surrounding forests. Eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen asked victims about their religious identities, specifically targeting non-Muslims. Many were shot execution-style, with bullets to the head, leaving little chance of survival.
The attack claimed 26 lives: 25 Indians (mostly Hindus), one Nepali, and one local Muslim who tried to intervene. Among the victims was Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, whose wife, Himanshi Narwal, later faced online trolling, prompting support from the National Commission for Women. Survivors recounted chaos as people scrambled for cover in the open valley, with little protection. Subodh Patil, a 60-year-old survivor, credited pony ride operators for saving his life after he was injured by a bullet.
The militants filmed the attack, likely for propaganda, a tactic often used by terror groups to incite fear. The assault lasted less than an hour, but its impact reverberated across India, drawing comparisons to the 2008 Mumbai attacks due to its civilian targeting and brutality.
The Perpetrators: Who Was Behind the Attack?
India quickly pointed fingers at Pakistan, identifying two Pakistani nationals among the attackers: Ali Bhai alias Talha, operating out of Dachigam forests, and another unnamed operative. The third identified attacker, Asil Hussain Thoker, was a local from South Kashmir who had visited Pakistan in 2018 and returned in 2024, allegedly conducting reconnaissance for the attack. A fourth militant remains unidentified, with sketches released by J&K police based on eyewitness accounts.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a known proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility but later retracted the claim, a move some analysts see as an attempt to avoid international backlash. Indian intelligence traced digital footprints to Karachi, with intercepts linking the attackers to handlers in Pakistan. J&K police identified Hashim Musa, a former Pakistani paratrooper commando, as a key orchestrator, noting his involvement in prior 2024 attacks in Gagangir and Buta Pathri. India accused Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of masterminding the attack, a charge Pakistan denied, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling for a “credible, neutral probe.”
Critically examining the narrative, India’s claims of Pakistani involvement are plausible given historical patterns—Pakistan has been linked to militancy in Kashmir for decades, as seen in the 2008 Mumbai attacks involving Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, Pakistan’s denial and the TRF’s retraction raise questions about the evidence’s strength. The lack of transparency in intelligence intercepts and the absence of a named fourth attacker suggest gaps in the investigation, potentially fueling Pakistan’s counter-narrative of being unfairly blamed.
Immediate Aftermath: Chaos and Response
The attack plunged Pahalgam into chaos. Emergency services struggled to reach the remote valley, with survivors like Subodh Patil relying on locals for initial aid. The Indian government deployed additional security forces to the region, with paramilitary personnel patrolling Anantnag and Srinagar to prevent further attacks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to hunt the perpetrators “till the ends of the earth,” reflecting public outrage across India.
In the following days, India launched a diplomatic offensive, briefing envoys from 25 countries, including the U.S., UK, Russia, and China, on Pakistan’s alleged role. Cyber-attacks surged, with Maharashtra Cyber recording over 10 lakh attacks on Indian systems, some traced to Pakistan-based hacking groups. Social media saw a wave of misinformation, including false claims about the removal of the Indian Army’s Northern Commander, which the government refuted.
Pakistan, meanwhile, held emergency meetings, with its National Security Committee discussing the escalating crisis. Posts on X captured public sentiment, with some alleging that Pakistan’s military leadership was divided, and others claiming the attack was a calculated move to undermine Kashmir’s tourism and internationalize the issue. These claims, while unverified, reflect the deep mistrust between the two nations.
India’s Diplomatic Retaliation: Cutting Ties with Pakistan
India’s response was swift and severe. Within days, the government suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a move Pakistan labeled “water terrorism.” The Attari-Wagah border was closed, visas for Pakistani nationals were revoked, and Pakistani diplomats were expelled. India banned Pakistani flights from its airspace until May 23, 2025, and later prohibited Pakistani ships from Indian ports, halting all direct trade and postal services.
These measures had immediate human consequences. Pakistani nationals in India, including those with valid documents, faced deportation, leading to emotional scenes at the Wagah border. The Supreme Court of India addressed a plea from a Pakistani family facing deportation, granting them the right to appeal in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. On the Pakistani side, the government allowed stranded citizens to return via Wagah, acknowledging the humanitarian crisis.
India also cracked down on Pakistani media and influencers, banning YouTube channels of Dawn News, Geo News, and individuals like Shoaib Akhtar and Wasay Habib for spreading “provocative, communally sensitive content.” The official accounts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and cricketers like Babar Azam were blocked, reflecting India’s intent to curb Pakistan’s narrative influence.
Global Reactions: A World on Edge
The Pahalgam attack drew widespread condemnation. Leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Modi to denounce the attack. U.S. Vice President JD Vance urged Pakistan to cooperate in hunting down the perpetrators, while the UN warned of “catastrophic” consequences if the conflict escalated. Russia affirmed its readiness to combat terrorism with India, while Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait called for de-escalation through dialogue.
Pakistan sought support from Muslim nations, with Sharif meeting ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait to urge India to defuse tensions. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar successfully pushed to omit the TRF’s name from a UN Security Council statement, arguing that evidence was lacking—a move India saw as Pakistan shielding terrorists. The U.S., under Trump, took a hands-off approach, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio encouraging dialogue but avoiding direct intervention, a shift from past U.S. mediation efforts.
Conclusion: A Call for Reflection
The Pahalgam attack of April 22, 2025, was a tragic turning point, claiming 26 lives and deepening the chasm between India and Pakistan. For zikzik.in readers, this event underscores the human cost of geopolitical conflicts—families torn apart, communities living in fear, and a region on the brink of further violence. While India’s accusations against Pakistan are backed by historical precedent, the lack of transparent evidence and Pakistan’s counter-narrative highlight the complexity of the situation. As both nations navigate this crisis, the voices of the victims and survivors remind us of the urgent need for dialogue, accountability, and peace. Let’s hope for a future where such tragedies are a distant memory.
