Srinagar: The serene meadows of Baisaran, often dubbed “Mini Switzerland” in Pahalgam, turned into a scene of horror this Tuesday. What should have been a tranquil summer outing for nearly a thousand tourists became a blood-soaked tragedy, with 26 innocent lives—including a local pony handler—lost to a mindless terror assault.

This wasn't just another act of terrorism. It was a loud, brutal signal. The timing of the attack is no coincidence. Only days earlier, Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim, addressed a crowd of overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad, invoking the unrest in Balochistan and, more pointedly, the “jugular vein” that Pakistan claims as Kashmir. His speech drew a standing ovation—a chilling reminder that even in economic despair, Pakistan’s military establishment knows how to ignite nationalist flames.

What followed in Pahalgam was likely more than just a strike against civilians; it was a calculated attempt to push the Kashmir issue back into the international spotlight. And in doing so, to distract Pakistan’s own people from inflation, political dysfunction, and global diplomatic isolation. General Asim's speech seemed like a green light to Pakistan-based terror outfits—Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Hizbul Mujahideen—to renew their anti-India operations. It’s........

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