The killings in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, were not an aberration but a return to a pattern India has struggled with for decades. The episode underscores a stubborn reality: the architecture of cross-border terrorism linked to Pakistan has endured despite years of diplomatic engagement and periodic de-escalation.

What has changed is not intent but method. Networks have become more agile, tactics more dispersed, and timing more calculated to exploit perceived gaps in vigilance. The message from across the border remains consistent—bleed India through deniable means while avoiding the costs of open confrontation.

Why the security net still has gaps

India’s counterterrorism grid has evolved, but it has not sealed every vulnerability. Two constraints continue to weigh heavily on operational assessments: infiltration across the Line of Control and intelligence deficits in difficult terrain.

The absence of fully operational, all-weather surveillance—exacerbated by delays in space-based assets—limits continuous monitoring in adverse conditions. Technologies, such as drones and ground sensors, have improved coverage, yet the Valley’s harsh weather and topography frequently degrade their performance.

In parallel, human intelligence in forested belts remains inconsistent, leaving space for small, mobile “hybrid” units to slip through the net.

The rhythm of violence and strategic signalling

Pahalgam follows a familiar rhythm. Periods of relative calm are punctuated by high-impact strikes designed to provoke public anger, test New Delhi’s response thresholds, and revive international attention........

© Free Press Journal