It is with deep anguish and outrage that I, Tasleema Akhter, Chairperson of the Association of Terror Victims in Kashmir (ATVK), condemn today’s cowardly terror attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, South Kashmir. This heinous act is yet another grim reminder of the persistent threat posed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir.
Targeting unarmed civilians, especially peace-loving tourists who come to experience the natural beauty and harmony of Kashmir, is not only an act of inhumanity but a deliberate attempt to sabotage the region’s peace and economic revival. These attacks aim to instill fear, destroy livelihoods, and tarnish the image of Kashmir, which is finally on the path of progress and healing.
My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the terror victims. Our beloved 20 tourists—injured and killed today by Pakistan-sponsored guns—will never be forgotten. Their pain is our pain, and their loss is a wound on the soul of our land.
The people of Jammu & Kashmir reject this violence and the ideology of terror. We stand united in solidarity with the victims and their families. ATVK will continue to amplify the voices of those affected by such tragedies and expose the truth behind these attacks on national and international platforms.
This attack further exposes the hand of Pakistan in destabilizing peace in the region by sponsoring, training, and infiltrating terrorists into Indian territory. The world must hold Pakistan accountable for its continued support to terrorism.
I call upon the international community, human rights organizations, and global peace advocates to strongly condemn this act and support India’s efforts in combating terrorism. We will not be silenced. We will not be broken. Kashmir stands for peace, progress, and unity.