After escaping the artillery fire, Lina Begum returned to her home in Kashmir, only to find it in ruins. The walls were cracked, the roof had caved in, and the remnants of shattered glass scattered across the floor were mixed with the ashes of her daughter’s book. “Hell is raining from there,” she said, gazing through the broken window frames toward the mountains.
Begum, 45, lives in a village near Uri, about 60 miles northwest of the capital of India-controlled Kashmir. This small hamlet is dangerously close to a heavily militarized border that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
The violent attack on April 22 intensified tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, resulting in the deaths of 25 tourists and a local guide in Pahargam. India accused Pakistan of having links to the incident, though no evidence was provided, while Pakistan denied any involvement.
Following the attack, artillery fire erupted across the border. “I felt my ears burst from the explosion,” described Begum, who remembered a previous skirmish that felt even more intense. “We thought we couldn’t survive.” She managed to flee to a nearby town with her husband and six-year-old daughter.
Since gaining independence in 1947, India and Pakistan have engaged in ongoing conflict over Kashmir, with both countries claiming rights to the region while only controlling parts of it.
In the 1990s, a significant uprising against Indian rule erupted in the mostly Muslim region of Kashmir, leading thousands of young men to take up arms seeking either integration with Pakistan or full independence. Most militant groups aligned with Pakistan, receiving training and support.
India responded with a large-scale crackdown that decreased the number of militants significantly, though the insurgency has never been fully quelled, leading to continuous violent incidents in Kashmir and beyond.
Heightened tensions arose after India’s reaction to the attack on tourists, which included raids against suspected militants in Pakistan and Kashmir. Pakistan perceives these actions as violations of its territorial integrity.
As the situation escalated to the brink of full conflict, both nations targeted each other’s military bases and airfields, bombarding each other with artillery for days until a ceasefire was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
By then, numerous casualties had been reported, and Kashmir was severely impacted, with around 50 civilian deaths on both sides and tens of thousands evacuated. Many residential areas were left in ruins.
As hostilities cooled, both countries claimed victory, but the sense of fear lingered in Kashmir. Begum and her family returned to rebuild their lives, though a genuine lasting peace feels doubtful. “I pray that this calm will continue,” she expressed. “But these countries will not exist peacefully unless the problem is resolved. It’s only a matter of time before we get caught up in the war again.”
This sentiment is shared by many residents and observers, who note that the underlying issues prompting conflict remain unchanged.
Fragile peace
Two days post-attack, local police uncovered three suspected gunmen and offered rewards for their capture. One was identified as a local militant, while another was from Pakistan.
In his first public address following the escalation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India would “suspend” military actions yet “retaliate on its own terms.” India’s defense minister declared that any attacks on Indian soil would be deemed acts of war.
Experts warn that such statements might provoke future escalations and could benefit extremist groups. Ajay Sani, a terrorism expert, criticized the comments as detrimental, noting they might lead to a knee-jerk response from India, where all terrorist actions might provoke retaliation against Pakistan.
In 2019, the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s limited autonomy and reorganized the region into two union territories, actions that burned fears of demographic shifts and new laws stripping locals of exclusive rights to land and employment.
Modi justified this move as a step linked to development and security. Since then, Kashmir has been promoted as a peaceful tourist destination, but the Pahalgam attack exposed vulnerabilities in this narrative.
Since 2019, there has been a resurgence of violent attacks by extremists targeting government forces as well as minority communities and pilgrims. Sources indicate that around 100 militants remain active in India-controlled Kashmir, trained in modern warfare and presenting significant challenges to counterinsurgency forces.
The likelihood of more attacks seems to have increased following India’s military operations. Reports suggest that groups like Al-Qaeda have issued threats to target India again.
Defense analyst Pravin Thorney remarked that India’s measures have done little to curb extremist activities and cautioned that the threshold for conflict between India and Pakistan has become perilously low, particularly with declarations that future militant attacks will be interpreted as acts of war.
The appearance of drones and munitions during recent flare-ups signals a new normal, Thorney noted, stating that “whenever India interacts, rockets and munitions are fired from across the border.” He added, “Kashmir is neither peaceful nor ordinary. It’s a war zone.” If tourists are brought in, attacks can occur anytime and anywhere, given that security forces can’t be omnipresent.
For many everyday Kashmiris, helplessness grows as they face the constant looming threat of violence alongside strict internal crackdowns. Following the Pahalgam attack, hundreds were detained, with around 90 individuals—mostly young men—held under the Public Safety Act, which permits detention without trial for up to two years.
