I visited Pahalgam in 2007 with my family. It was a quiet, serene place, nestled in the Himalayas with lush green meadows and the Lidder River flowing gently through it. The town was a refuge from the noise of cities, a place where families, honeymooners, and adventure seekers gathered without fear. We stayed in a small wooden cabin, took pony rides to Betaab Valley, and drank kahwa while watching shepherds guide their flocks. There was no hint of unrest, no visible tension—just the calm beauty of Kashmir that so many travelers cherish.
Yesterday's terrorist attack in Pahalgam is a grim reminder of how fragile peace can be. Innocent lives were lost, families shattered, and a place once known for its tranquility has again been stained with violence. It is despicable—targeting tourists and locals who have no part in political conflicts. The brutality of such acts is not just an attack on individuals but on the very idea of coexistence. Kashmir has suffered too much, and every such incident pushes back the possibility of normalcy, leaving scars that take generations to heal.
I remember the shopkeepers smiling as they sold handmade carpets, the children playing near the riverbanks, and the quiet hum of daily life uninterrupted by fear. Today, those memories are overshadowed by the knowledge that terror can strike anywhere, even in places that feel untouched by the world’s chaos. It is a stark reminder that no region is immune to extremism, and the cost is always borne by ordinary people who just want to live without looking over their shoulders.
May the departed souls find peace, and may those responsible face justice. The only way forward is to reject violence entirely, to rebuild trust, and to ensure that places like Pahalgam remain safe for travelers and locals alike. The people of Kashmir deserve better—a life free from fear, where the mountains and rivers are symbols of beauty, not battlegrounds. Until then, we can only hope, remember, and refuse to let terror rewrite the story of a land that has already endured too much.