Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said that the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack was Pakistan sponsored act of terror and asserted that Operation Sindoor has drawn clear red lines for Pakistan.
In an interview to a national news daily, Sinha described the Pahalgam attack as a Pakistan-sponsored act of terror intended to sow communal discord and derail the region’s economic progress.
“While the attack was a deliberate attempt to target India’s unity, it should not be seen as evidence that terrorism is resurgent across the Union Territory,” he said.
“The intention of the neighbour (Pakistan) was to create a communal divide and trigger a backlash against people of J&K living in other parts of the country, adding to the feeling of alienation,” he said.
According to Sinha, the timing and location of the assault were aimed at undermining Kashmir’s booming tourism sector and overall economic revival.
“In the past five years, the J&K economy’s size has doubled. Tourists have been flocking in high numbers. This was a hit by Pakistan at the economic well-being of Kashmir,” Sinha said.
He said the widespread condemnation by ordinary Kashmiris was a “befitting reply to Pakistan and terror outfits.”
Asked whether the participation of local accomplices in the attack posed a fresh challenge for security forces, Sinha maintained that local recruitment of militants had fallen to record lows.
“There has been just one incident of local recruitment this year compared to 6–7 last year. There was a time when this figure used to be 150–200. But it is also a fact that Pakistan has facilitated the infiltration of a large number of terrorists in both Jammu region and Kashmir region,” he said.
Sinha said tourist arrivals had almost stopped after the Pahalgam attack. “We believed that the Amarnath Yatra would be the turning point”.
The LG said tourist destinations closed after the attack have gradually reopened. “Many have already opened. Others will be opened too in a phased manner, after finalising a robust security plan for each”.
Reflecting on the broader security environment, Sinha said the success of Operation Sindoor had drawn clear red lines for Pakistan.
“India has made it clear that any terror attack will be considered an act of war. The manner in which our forces carried out precise hits against terror facilities in Pakistan conveyed a stern message. But a country that has made terrorism its declared state policy is not to be trusted,” he cautioned.