The targeted killing of at least 26 individuals—including two foreigners, two locals and 22 domestic tourists at the Pahalgam health resort in south Kashmir on April 22 is a brutal reminder of the dark forces still at play in the Valley. This heinous act, one of the deadliest civilian attacks in recent years, is not just an assault on innocent lives but an open challenge to our sovereignty and security. Prime minister Narendra Modi’s government must respond with unflinching resolve—both to punish the perpetrators and dismantle the ecosystem that enables such terror. This massacre is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of targeted violence aimed at disrupting peace, scaring away tourists, and undermining the administration’s efforts to stabilize Jammu and Kashmir. The victims were ordinary people—visitors and locals alike—caught in the crosshairs of an ideology that thrives on fear and division. The timing, just ahead of the peak tourism season and Amarnath Yatra, suggests a deliberate attempt to cripple economic recovery and project Kashmir as ungovernable. Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly vowed zero tolerance for terrorism, and the time has come to reaffirm that promise through decisive action. The attackers must be hunted down without delay. But justice cannot stop with the gunmen alone. Equally culpable are those who provide them shelter, resources, ideological backing, and political cover. The support system—spanning local overground workers, cross-border handlers, and international sympathizers—must be exposed and eradicated. Security forces must be given full freedom and necessary reinforcements to conduct thorough counter-terror operations. Simultaneously, intelligence infrastructure needs urgent strengthening. If such a high-profile attack could be executed in a well-guarded zone like Pahalgam, it is evident that gaps in surveillance and intelligence gathering still exist. These must be plugged immediately. The political response too needs clarity and spine. There can be no space for appeasement, ambiguity, or diluted condemnation. The narrative must be shifted from reactive to preventive. The Modi government must also rally international support to isolate and pressure nations and groups that promote terrorism in India. Diplomatic channels must be mobilized to label and sanction those who lend ideological or financial aid to terror outfits operating in Kashmir. Ultimately, the government owes it to the victims—and to every citizen—to send a message loud and clear: India will not tolerate the murder of its people on its soil. Tough times demand tough decisions, and the Modi government must now show that it has the will and the strategy to deliver both justice and deterrence.