Blood on the meadows: The dark turn of Pahalgam's peace

Gunmen killed at least 26 people and injured a dozen others in a suspected terror attack in the disputed Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, a rare assault on tourists in an area fraught with decades of insurgency and opposition to India's rule.

Now, the question is, why did militants choose Pahalgam?

Where is Pahalgam?

Pahalgam is a hill station in the southern part of Indian-administered Kashmir. Located about 90km [56 miles] from the airport in the region's main city, Srinagar, the town is a major tourist centre and accounts for a bulk of tourist footfall in the state.

It is around 200km from the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides the disputed region of Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

The state government recently announced that more than 23 million tourists visited the state in 2024 - a huge chunk of them are believed to have visited the scenic town.

The town and its surrounding areas are known for their lush green meadows and stunning natural beauty, and are a favourite with Indian filmmakers.

Pahalgam also serves as the base camp for the annual Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath cav,e offering the pilgrims essential facilities like accommodation, medical support and transportation for the arduous trek ahead.

Why is Pahalgam so important?

Pahalgam, a scenic town in Indian-administered Kashmir's Anantnag district, plays a crucial role in one of Hinduism's most revered religious events.

Pilgrims use the town as a base camp before starting their 32km (20 miles) journey on foot or on horses through the mountainous terrain to reach the Amarnath cave temple, which is dedicated to Hindu god Shiva.

This is one of several routes that pilgrims take for what is known as the annual Amarnath Yatra. The attack has come just months before the 39-day yatra gets underway on 3 July.

Although Tuesday's targeting of tourists is rare, the pilgrimage route has been targeted before as well. At least 32 people were killed when the Nuwan base camp was attacked in 2000, and 11 died in an attack at Chandanwari base camp in 2002. In 2017, at least eight people died in Kulgam when a bus carrying pilgrims came under attack.

Why did the militants choose Pahalgam?

Some people on social media assumed that these militants wanted to give a big message to the Narendra Modi government, after amendments in the WAQF act, reports Oneindia.

One of the victims' wife also claimed the same in a viral video, stating that the terrorist shouted "Bata dena apne Modi ko" after shooting her husband dead.

Political turmoil and its shadows

Pahalgam has not remained untouched by the broader political instability in the region. The Kashmir conflict—marked by decades of militancy, military operations, and civic unrest—casts a long shadow over this otherwise idyllic town.

While Pahalgam has seen fewer direct clashes compared to other parts of South Kashmir, the sense of unease is ever-present.

In recent years, several incidents have disrupted the fragile peace. In July 2017, an attack on a bus of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims near Anantnag sent shockwaves through Pahalgam, a key transit route for the pilgrimage.

Though the town itself was not the target, the incident rattled its image and dented its tourism-dependent economy.

Locals still recall the incident with pain, not only because of the violence but because it threatened their livelihoods and the communal harmony they strive to preserve.

A paradise threatened

Pahalgam has traditionally been synonymous with peace and tranquillity. But over the last two decades, it has been increasingly strained by unsustainable development.

Massive influxes of tourists, especially during the Amarnath Yatra season, have led to overcrowding, waste mismanagement, and ecological degradation.

The once-pristine Lidder River now bears the burden of plastic and untreated sewage.

Pine forests are being slowly encroached upon by expanding resorts and illegal constructions. The carrying capacity of the town has long been breached, and the consequences are visibly painful.

The 2014 floods that ravaged large parts of the Kashmir Valley, including Pahalgam, were a wake-up call.

Environmentalists pointed out that rampant deforestation, encroachments on riverbanks, and poor urban planning had exacerbated the disaster. Yet, little has changed.

A 2023 report by the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board highlighted rising levels of air and water pollution in Pahalgam, noting that tourism had become both a boon and a curse.

Local lives, global impacts

The tragedy of Pahalgam is not just environmental or political—it is deeply human. The local population, primarily consisting of Gujjars, Bakarwals, and Kashmiri villagers, faces a tough paradox.

On one hand, tourism offers economic opportunity; on the other, it erodes their natural resources and traditional way of life. Seasonal employment in the tourism sector is not always stable, and profits often benefit external investors more than local communities.

Moreover, the militarisation of the region, though aimed at securing peace, has added layers of tension.

The presence of armed forces, checkpoints, and surveillance has altered the social fabric. While violence in Pahalgam is rare compared to other conflict zones, the town remains within the operational periphery of the larger Kashmiri conflict.