Reality of Pahalgam Attack: Who is Failing India?
On April 22, 2025, a horrifying terrorist attack shook India’s heart. In the serene town of Pahalgam in Kashmir, a tourist bus was ambushed by terrorists, leading to the deaths of 26 civilians, most of them Hindu pilgrims. This incident has raised serious questions about India’s internal security, intelligence failures, and political accountability.
What Happened in Pahalgam?
The attack was sudden and brutal. The terrorists opened fire on a moving tourist bus, which was returning from a pilgrimage site. Initial reports suggest that the bus was not registered with the official convoy, had no police protection, and was moving outside of the designated safe time window. This indicates not just a terrorist attack but a failure of basic security protocols.
Eyewitnesses reported chaos and terror, with local civilians risking their lives to help the wounded. In a region already sensitive to communal tensions and militancy, this attack has deepened the scars
Intelligence and Security Lapses
One of the biggest questions emerging from this tragedy is: how did this happen despite multiple layers of security?
Kashmir is one of the most militarized zones in the world. There are checkpoints, intelligence agencies, army patrols, and local police everywhere. Despite this, terrorists managed to get information about the movement of an unprotected bus and execute a well-planned attack.
There were prior intelligence warnings too. Agencies had intercepted communications about a possible attack targeting civilians. However, it appears that these warnings were not taken seriously, or the preventive actions were not adequate.
Some glaring mistakes include:
- Allowing an unregistered bus without a security escort,
- Not enforcing strict curfew timings for tourist vehicles,
- Ignoring specific threat alerts.
This suggests either gross negligence or a systemic failure in India’s security machinery.
Political Blame Game
After the attack, political leaders were quick to start the blame game. Opposition parties accused the ruling government of focusing more on elections and public image rather than on ground-level security.
The ruling party responded by blaming “foreign forces” and “terrorist sympathizers,” without accepting responsibility for the internal lapses. The Union Home Minister promised strict action and launched an investigation, but critics argue that these promises are made after every attack, with little systemic change afterward.
Elections are around the corner in many states, and politicians seem more focused on using the tragedy for electoral gains rather than ensuring justice or preventing future attacks.
The Pakistan Factor
As expected, India blamed Pakistan-based terror groups for planning and executing the attack. Pakistan, as usual, denied any involvement.
Cross-border terrorism has long been a point of conflict between the two nations. Despite multiple diplomatic warnings and military actions like surgical strikes, the ground reality has hardly changed. Terror networks continue to operate with impunity across the border, and attacks like Pahalgam keep occurring.
However, solely blaming Pakistan is not enough. If India claims to have the world’s best security and intelligence agencies, how do these attacks still succeed? Shouldn’t stronger domestic countermeasures prevent these incidents?
Who is Really Failing India?
The Pahalgam attack is not just the failure of security forces on the ground. It reflects deeper issues:
- Intelligence Inefficiency: Intelligence inputs exist but are not acted upon in time.
- Political Distraction: Governments focus more on political narratives than governance.
- Poor Coordination: There is a clear lack of coordination between intelligence agencies, local police, and military forces.
- Reactive, Not Proactive: Security reforms only come after tragedies, not before.
In essence, it’s a combination of bureaucratic apathy, political priorities, and systemic rot that is failing India—not just external enemies.
What Needs to Change?
To prevent such attacks in the future, India needs:
- Accountability: Officials must be held responsible for lapses, not protected by political patronage.
- Actionable Intelligence: Intelligence must be acted upon swiftly and decisively.
- Security Reforms: Updated protocols, better training, and better equipment for forces on the ground.
- De-politicization of National Security: Security should not be used for political mileage.
- Community Involvement: Winning the trust of local populations can help in getting real-time ground intelligence.
Conclusion
The Pahalgam attack is a wake-up call. It’s a painful reminder that despite tall claims of national strength, India remains vulnerable. True patriotism lies in demanding accountability, fixing the system, and valuing every Indian life equally, not just reacting after tragedies strike.
Until India addresses these internal failures, blaming external enemies alone will not secure the nation.
