Pahalgam Terror Attack: How India Hunted Militants and What Security Forces Must Learn

The brutal massacre in Pahalgam, where 26 Hindu tourists were systematically targeted and killed by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, serves as a grim reminder of the persistent threat of cross-border terrorism. Hindustan Times, in its in-depth analysis, confronts the stark reality of our security failures. The extended period—over three months—during which the perpetrators operated freely after the attack before being neutralized, points to critical gaps in our intelligence and response mechanisms. While the political leadership has empowered security forces, the incident reveals a breakdown in the crucial chain of defense, from pre-emption to rapid reaction. This is not merely a security lapse; it is an affront to our national security and a deep wound inflicted upon the families of the victims and the collective psyche of our nation. We must relentlessly pursue accountability and fortify our defenses to ensure such a tragedy never recurs. The narrative of terrorism, often spun by rogue states, must be countered with unwavering resolve and a commitment to justice.

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the cost of terrorism is humongous: lives lost, families destroyed, and a country forced to confront the failure of its security architecture in the face of a “rogue state” on India’s western border.