Tag: Pakistan Sponsored Terrorism

‘War Can’t Bring A Lasting Solution; Terror From Pakistan Won’t Stop’

By LokMarg

Ravinder Kumar Bhanot, a Chandigarh-based social activist, says while military strikes offer short-term relief, lasting peace warrants a long-term strategy. His views:

The devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including tourists and locals, sent shockwaves across the nation. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a series of missile strikes targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir leading to escalations in military operations on both sides.

The human cost of these conflicts is immeasurable. Families living along the Line of Control have faced relentless shelling, leading to the destruction of homes, schools, and places of worship. The psychological trauma inflicted upon these communities, especially children, is profound and long-lasting. And hence I firmly believe that peace is the only viable path forward.

History has shown us that war is not a solution to any problem; conflicts like the USA versus Vietnam, the USA versus Russia in Afghanistan, and of late Russia against Ukraine have only led to devastation on both sides.

While I am not a resident of a border area, I believe that India’s decision to target terror bases in Pakistan was justified. Pakistan has long been notorious for supporting terrorism, and with backing from China and the USA, they may have felt invincible. India’s actions served as a necessary reality check.

On the surface, these actions appear to have been successful. However, the forces involved would be better judges of their overall effectiveness.

That said, I do not believe this will stop terrorist activities from across the border. Pakistan’s support for terrorism is deeply entrenched, and unless all terror bases in Pakistan are completely dismantled, these activities will continue.

ALSO READ: ‘Op Sindoor Struck Only aThe Symptoms of Problem’

India needs to secure solid global support, similar to what was achieved during Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure. Additionally, decisive actions to neutralize all terror bases and armament depots in Pakistan, including their nuclear facilities, could significantly weaken Pakistan’s capabilities.

I am uncertain about engaging in dialogue with Pakistan. Past experiences indicate that Pakistan has not acknowledged previous dialogues. Any future discussions should involve a mature ally—not the USA or China.

To effectively address the issue, cutting all trade ties with Pakistan could be a strategic move. When a country’s financial power is diminished, it becomes significantly weakened. Currently, Pakistan is facing a severe food crisis, with reports indicating a shortage of over five million tons of wheat expected next year. By severing trade relations, India could exert economic pressure that might compel Pakistan to reconsider its stance.

While military actions may provide short-term solutions, lasting peace can only be achieved through sustained diplomatic efforts and strategic economic measures.

As told to Mamta Sharma

‘Pakistan Repeatedly Demeans, Defames Islam; Indian Army Must Hit Back Decisively’

By LokMarg

Dr Ehasan Hasan, Assistant Professor of Urdu in Benaras Hindu University, says that the time has come to give a body-blow to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. His views:

The attack on tourists in Pahalgam reminded us of the attack by a terrorist organization called Al Shabab at a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya in 2016. During this attack also, the terrorists killed all those who could not recite kalma to prove their allegiance. The terrorists did the same in Pahalgam too. They asked people about their religious identity and asked them to recite kalma and even made some people remove their clothes to confirm their identity.

Innocent and unarmed men were shot in front of their wives and children A Hindu professor from Assam was saved because he was able to recite the kalma. How can a human do this to a fellow human being!

The incident also reflects the core reality of the mindset of all those who are involved in this kind of gruesome acts across the world: to prove themselves as the superior and every other as inferior, even unsuitable to live on this beautiful palnet.

A glaring proof of Pakistan’s involvement in this act of terror is the context of the recent statement by Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir, in which he had said that Muslims are different from Hindus. He said that “our thoughts, beliefs, culture etc. are all different” from Hindus, in a clear expression of inherent hatred towards Hindus and India. Within a week of this hate speech, the attack took place in Pahalgam. This cannot be mere coincidence. This dog-whistle automatically exposes Pakistan’s ill intentions substantial evidence to reduce India down to ashes.

What we could make out, as citizens of India is: this incident took place because of the assembly elections that were held peacefully in Jammu and Kashmir, in which a large number of people participated. Also, after the removal of Article 370, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was becoming normal and a large number of tourists were reaching there bringing tourism in the region back on track. Obviously, this was an eyesore to Pakistan and it was itching to turn the clock back to the dark days.

ALSO READ: ‘Are You Playing Into The Hands of Pahalgam Terrorists?’

Pakistani army was also troubled by its various internal problems and was becoming unpopular. Recently, the hijacking of a Pakistani train by Baloch fighters caused great embarrassment to their army and there are reasons to believe that the Pakistani generals scripted the Pahalgam attack to divert the attention of their people and create an environment of fear and chaos in their country. This is a tested formula for Pakistani generals.

India has almost the same Muslim population as Pakistan, where about 97 percent of the population is Muslim. If there is a terrorist incident in which people are killed for not being able to recite kalma, then it hurts the image of Islam. Islam is a religion which says ‘Lakum Deenukum Wale Yadeen’ (your religion is with you and mine iswith me). The Pahalgam incident in a way has attacked the basic tenets of Islam. The terrorist incident clearly wanted to rupture the Indian fabric and trigger a conflict between two communities of the counrty.

India and Indians have however defeated this notion by standing united amid this tragic moment; this is proved by the people of Kashmir and the rest of the country by raising their voice and action against terrorism. It is the responsibility of both the communities and their leaders to ensure that no hatred grows between Hindus and Muslims. And also the government and the army settle the matter once and for all conclusively with the wily neighbour.

Kashmiri Pandit

‘The Kashmir Files Brings Alive Our Pain And Plight’

By LokMarg

Ashwani Kachru, a Kashmiri Pandit staying in Gr Noida, says the movie also exposes the political and intellectual ignorance about his community’s struggle

First and foremost, I wish to congratulate Vivek Agnihotri, the director of The Kashmir Files, from the bottom of my heart. Never ever before this movie, the facts about the forced and violent migration of Kashmiri Pandits were laid out before the rest of the country so realistically.

Some of the scenes in the movie brought alive my own frightening memories of the 1990s. My house was located barely one km from the spot where four Air Force personnel were shot dead in Srinagar by terrorists. Other scenes of selective killings of Kashmiri Pandits; the horrific announcements made from places of worship against non-Muslims and; the Hindu families from the Valley living in fear… as shown in the movie, left me in cold sweat.

Agnihotri has the heart to call a spade a spade. This was not an exodus; this was a genocide – premeditated ethnic cleansing of Pandits from the crown of India. Radical Islamic groups supported from within the country and across the border distinctly targeted a peace-loving community in Kashmir and the unfortunate part is that all this happened in a free and democratic India.

Yet, no one in over three decades every talked openly about the pain and tragedy of the victims; in fact repeated attempts were made by the previous governments, terrorist sympathisers, liberal thinkers and the so-called intellectuals to misguide the people of India on this issue and to cover up the real face of a radicalised movement.

ALSO READ: ‘Kashmir Will Never Be Same Without Pandits’

I am glad, the issue is now being talked and how! The filmmakers have done justice to our sufferings by revealing the truth. Simultaneously, they have also exposed the brain-washed Kashmiris involved in our killings, a couldn’t-care-less government machinery, a section of the deaf and dumb media, and the intelligentsia.

Communal harmony is the proven culture of India since centuries and this could not be digested by terror sympathizers who want to dismantle the several thousand years old Indian secular structure.

I often wondered why those people in power kept quiet to our situation. It seems as if these people and organisations were funded to prove the terrorists in the Valley innocent. Spineless governments and judiciary never showed the courage to act against such anti-national elements.

Through your columns, let me also congratulate the state governments who have made this movie tax free, this will definitely help in conveying the message to a large section of our society.

I recently read media reports that a political leader, an ally of the Congress party in Assam, has demanded a ban on this movie. I feel the Congress party has remained at the centre of many major problems that India is facing today. Their declining vote share is a clear indication that the new and young Indians don’t want to continue with their policies any longer.

As told to Deepti Sharma