The Kashmir Dialogues
The blood-soaked soil of Pahalgam bears yet another painful testimony to the long, tragic saga of terrorism in Kashmir. The recent massacre, which claimed the lives of 27 innocent civilians—mostly non-local tourists—has not only shaken the Valley and the Indian mainland but has also sent shockwaves across the world. The killings, carried out on the basis of religious identity, have forced every thinking individual around the globe to reassess the approach towards terrorism and its epicenters.
In response, candlelight marches were held across Kashmir as a sign of solidarity with the victims’ families. People of all religions came together to express grief and show that the Valley, which once struggled with the flames of radicalism, now rejects the ideology of hate. But mere condemnations, marches, and symbolic gestures are no longer enough.
The time has come to strike at the very root of the problem. And the root is not hidden; it lies across the Line of Control—in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK).
The terror ecosystem in Kashmir has always operated with its headquarters safely nestled in POJK. For decades, this illegally occupied territory has functioned as a launchpad for cross-border terrorism. It houses the training camps, recruitment hubs, propaganda machinery, and logistic bases that sustain terrorism in the Valley. These establishments flourish with the active support of Pakistan’s deep state, which has always seen terrorism not as a problem, but as a tool of state policy.
The Pahalgam tragedy, then, is not an isolated event. It is a reminder—a loud, violent reminder—that peace in Kashmir can never be permanent as long as POJK remains under Pakistan’s control. Every infiltration attempt, every act of violence, and every radical sermon traces its origins back to Muzaffarabad or Rawalpindi.
Terrorism has walked on our chests for far too long, spilled the blood of innocents, divided communities in the name of faith, and insulted the spirit of India. For decades, Pakistan has parroted the phrase “Kashmir is our jugular vein,” implying it is vital for their existence. But the new Kashmir, post-abrogation of Article 370, has cut that very vein. Kashmiris themselves have risen in defiance of Pakistan’s narrative. They have embraced nationalism, rejected separatism, and rejoined the national mainstream.
The terrorists might view the Pahalgam massacre as a tactical win, but strategically, Pakistan has lost. Kashmiris no longer see Pakistan as their savior; they now see it as the perpetrator of their pain. This is the greatest defeat for Pakistan—the loss of the narrative war. And it is this defeat that now creates an opportunity for India to act.
India, too, is not what it was in the 1990s. It has grown economically, militarily, and diplomatically. It has asserted itself on global platforms and has emerged as a responsible and decisive global power. Simultaneously, Pakistan is crumbling under its own weight. Its economy is in shambles. Inflation is rampant. The Pakistani Rupee has plummeted. People struggle to afford basic commodities. Fuel prices, food shortages, and power cuts have crippled daily life.
Amid this chaos, the people of POJK are rising. They no longer want to be used as cannon fodder for Pakistan’s Kashmir obsession. Protests have erupted in the streets of Muzaffarabad and Gilgit-Baltistan. The people demand jobs, schools, hospitals, and roads—not war, not terrorism. Many are even demanding reunification with India, seeing the transformation of Jammu and Kashmir post-Article 370 as a beacon of hope.
This is a moment of rare convergence—Pakistan’s internal collapse, growing public discontent in POJK, and India’s geopolitical strength. This moment must not be wasted.
Redrawing the boundaries is not an act of aggression. It is a strategic necessity. Reclaiming POJK is not about territorial expansion but about finally putting an end to a decades-long cycle of violence. It is about dismantling the very infrastructure that gives life to terrorism in the Valley. It is about uniting divided families. It is about righting a historical wrong.
Let us not forget: POJK is not “disputed” territory. It is an integral part of India, illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947. The Indian Parliament passed a unanimous resolution in 1994 declaring that the entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir, including POJK, belongs to India. That resolution must now become action.
India has the moral, legal, and now strategic right to reclaim its land. As the world watches, India must send a clear message—enough is enough. We will no longer tolerate terrorism bleeding our people while its masters live comfortably across a boundary that was never meant to exist.
The map of India must reflect its truth—a truth that includes Gilgit, Baltistan, and Muzaffarabad. The Indian flag must fly in those regions, not just in spirit, but in reality.
To the families of the Pahalgam victims, our hearts grieve with you. But grief must now transform into resolve. To the soldiers who laid down their lives to defend our nation, let us honor their sacrifice not with silence but with action. And to the people of India, let us understand the gravity of this moment.
A Message to Fellow Indians
We are all in mourning. We are angry. We want justice. And that is fair. But in this moment of pain, let us not be divided. Pakistan aims to exploit our divisions—be they religious, regional, or political. Let us not fall into that trap.
You may recall the painful days of 1947. The entire subcontinent was ablaze with communal riots. Yet, Kashmir stood tall. Despite being a Muslim-majority region, the Valley maintained communal harmony. Not a single incident of communal violence was reported. It was then that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said, “I see a ray of hope coming from the Valley.”
Over the decades, that light dimmed due to betrayal by some religious and political leaders who misled the people of Kashmir. They sowed seeds of hate and division, manipulating young minds and leading them astray. But now, that tide has turned. Kashmiri youth are waving the tricolor, joining national forces, excelling in sports and education, and rejecting the ideology of violence.
It is this Kashmir that we must embrace and protect. And to protect it, we must eliminate the threat at its root.
In conclusion, the question is not whether we can redraw the boundaries. The question is whether we must. And after Pahalgam, the answer is clear.
Yes. The time has come.
The time has come to take back what was snatched from us. The time has come to silence the guns across the LoC. The time has come to honor our martyrs with justice, not just words. The time has come to reunite Kashmir.
For the sake of peace. For the sake of justice. For the sake of India.
M S Nazki
