Mohamed Garba
In a forceful address from Bihar on Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that terrorism would not go unpunished following a devastating attack in Kashmir. The incident in the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam marked the deadliest assault on civilians in the disputed region since 2000, leaving 26 lives tragically cut short.
During his address, Modi emphasized India’s unwavering determination to track down and hold every perpetrator accountable. “I say to the whole world: India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backer,” he declared, emphasizing that the pursuit would extend “to the ends of the Earth.” In a rare switch to English towards the end of his speech, he reaffirmed, “Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done.”
Before launching his development projects in Bihar, Modi led the crowd in a solemn two minutes of silence to honor the victims of the massacre. Speaking in Hindi to the predominantly local audience, he added with resolute determination, “Whoever has carried out this attack, and the ones who devised it, will be made to pay beyond their imagination. They will certainly pay. Whatever little land these terrorists have, it’s time to reduce it to dust. The willpower of 1.4 billion Indians will break the backbone of these terrorists.”
The Pahalgam attack, which targeted a highly frequented area in the Himalayan terrain, has sent shocks through the region known for its long-standing disputes. While initial reports detail that 26 individuals lost their lives—with accounts noting that the victims comprised 26 Indian citizens and one Nepali—the attack further deepens the scars in a territory that has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan since the latter’s independence in 1947.
In response to the unfolding tragedy, New Delhi has taken stern diplomatic measures by downgrading ties with Islamabad, accusing Pakistan of fostering “cross-border terrorism.” Though Pakistan has flatly denied any involvement in the incident, the rapid escalation has heightened regional tensions and fueled calls for intensified security measures.
Kashmir has long been embroiled in conflict, with rebel groups launching an insurgency in the region since 1989. These groups, seeking either complete independence or unification with Pakistan, have steadily eroded the sense of peace in the area. In the wake of Thursday’s attack, Indian security forces have initiated an extensive manhunt, detaining a significant number of individuals in an effort to dismantle the terrorist network responsible for the carnage.
With Modi’s uncompromising rhetoric and a nation united in grief and resolve, the government’s latest actions mark a significant pivot toward a stringent response against terrorism. As India mobilizes its forces both on the diplomatic front and in the rugged terrain of Kashmir, the coming days will likely determine how far New Delhi is willing to go to secure justice and restore peace to one of its most volatile regions.