Pahalgam Massacre Exposes State-Sponsored Islamist Terror in Kashmir

On April 22, 2025, Islamist militants struck in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, stripping and murdering 26 Hindu tourists after confirming their faith in the deadliest assault on civilians there in years. India immediately blamed Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front for planning and executing the attack, citing intercepted communications and known training camps across the border. Islamabad denied state complicity and called for a neutral probe, even as it stepped up security for LeT chief Hafiz Saeed amid fears of covert retaliation. Cross-border firing along the Line of Control intensified, with nightly skirmishes prompting both sides to suspend visas and close key border crossings. On April 30, Pakistan warned of credible intelligence indicating an imminent Indian military strike within 24–36 hours, raising fears of wider conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged de-escalation and cooperation in the investigation, while regional leaders called for restraint to avert further bloodshed.