The terrorist attack in Pahalgam last week, which brutally claimed 26 innocent lives, has left an indelible scar on the heart and soul of Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s unanimous resolution to condemn the attack and pledge to defeat the forces of hatred is a necessary and welcome step. But resolutions alone are not enough. Today, more than ever, Kashmir needs its people to come out openly, boldly, and unequivocally against the forces of terror that seek to derail peace and progress. Terrorism thrives not only on violence but also on silence. Every time society hesitates to speak out, every time fear dictates our reactions, it emboldens those who kill in the name of ideology or hatred. We Kashmiris have long suffered — economically, socially, emotionally — because of a cycle of violence they did not choose. Yet, a decisive turning point comes only when the silent majority finds its voice. It is imperative that Kashmiris — youth, elders, religious leaders, educators, and civil society — step beyond muted condemnation and demonstrate openly that terror has no place in their homes or in their hearts. This means organizing peace marches, speaking against radicalization in mosques and classrooms, using art, poetry, and media to reclaim the narrative of Kashmir’s centuries-old culture of coexistence and brotherhood. It means standing by the victims without ambiguity and isolating those who even subtly glorify or justify violence. Silence today can be misconstrued tomorrow as consent. The world must see that the people of Kashmir want peace, not through words alone, but through decisive, public action. Terror outfits survive by creating the illusion that they speak for the masses — an illusion that must be shattered. The enemy thrives when Kashmir appears divided or hesitant; they are weakened when Kashmiris present a united front. Our progress depends on peace, and peace depends on collective will. The Assembly’s resolution captures the political consensus, but social consensus is equally vital. Every voice raised against terror strengthens the foundation of a future where no child grows up amid gunfire and fear. The Pahalgam tragedy should not be another moment mourned and forgotten. Let it be the watershed that brings ordinary Kashmiris — shopkeepers, students, teachers, farmers — out into the open, to declare that they choose life over death, unity over division, hope over despair. Only then will the sacrifice of those 26 souls find true meaning, and only then will Kashmir march towards the dawn it so richly deserves.