On Tuesday, 26 innocent civilians, most of them tourists, were gunned down in a brutal terrorist attack in Baisaran, Pahalgam—one of Jammu and Kashmir’s most delineated and peaceful destinations. The Resistance Front, linked to the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. The incident has shocked the nation and brought fresh attention to an urgent truth: terrorism must be defied with unity and lucidity, not confusion and compromise.
Terrorism is the deliberate targeting of innocent lives to spread fear and chaos. It is not born from religion but from hatred, power struggles, and political manipulation. No faith, whether Islam, Christianity, or Hinduism, teaches the killing of innocents. Yet, time and again, we see terrorists hide behind religious symbols or nationalist flags to justify their acts. This must stop.
When we start labeling terrorists by their religion—terms like “Islamic terrorism” or “Hindu extremist” or “Christian radical”—we make a grave mistake. We unintentionally give them a false cause to hide behind. A terrorist should be called only what they are: a terrorist. Not a representative of any community and not a spokesperson for any faith.
When we chain terrorists to specific states or religions, we not only deepen divisions between communities, but we also make it significantly harder to isolate and defeat the actual perpetrators of violence. This misdirected blame allows the real wrongdoers to slip through the cracks using national or religious identity as a shield. It politicizes the issue, turning a criminal act into a religious or diplomatic controversy, which distracts from the urgent need for justice. Instead of focusing on the individuals and networks responsible, we get snarled in international blame games or interfaith tensions, often leading to polarization rather than resolution. Worse, it gives extremist groups a propaganda tool—they can claim persecution or victimhood, rallying more support and spreading their ideology under the false guise of defending a community. A collective, unbiased approach rooted in global cooperation and shared human values is the only way to dismantle these networks. We must treat terrorism as a crime against humanity, not as a proxy war of religions or nations. Only when we come together, setting aside labels and loyalties, can we truly corner the forces of terror and bring peace to those who suffer most.
What is even more dangerous than labeling terrorism is legitimizing it through negotiation. The international community must reflect on this mistake. For instance, when powerful nations sit at the table with groups like the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—an alliance with known ties to militant factions—it sends the wrong message. It tells the world that violence can earn you a seat of power. It tells young and radicalized individuals that brutality may one day bring them political recognition.
This is unacceptable. We cannot treat those who kill the innocent the same as those who fight for peace. Negotiating with terrorists not only dishonors the victims but also weakens the global resolve to combat extremism.
After any terror attack, communities begin to brace. Ordinary Muslims, Hindus, or Christians worry that the criminal act of one person will be used to adjudicate them all. This fear isn’t imaginary, but it’s rooted in experience. In many Western countries, Muslims in particular have faced Islamophobia, suspicion, and marginalization all because of the actions of a few.
This leads to a vicious cycle: marginalization breeds resentment, and resentment can breed radicalization. When communities feel excluded or constantly under suspicion, it creates fertile ground for extremist narratives to take root. We must break this cycle by rejecting all forms of stereotyping. A person’s faith, ethnicity, or nationality should never be the basis for blame. Justice must be specific, not collective.
The attack in Pahalgam is a tragedy. But if we fail to respond with moral clarity, it will also be a missed opportunity. This is the moment for world leaders to speak with one voice: terrorism will not be tolerated, justified, or negotiated with. It must be confronted and defeated.
Let us remember terrorists do not represent the religions they claim, the nations they exploit, or the people they pretend to protect. They represent only death, destruction, and division. And the only way to defeat them is to remain united across countries, communities, and faiths.
No more excuses. No more negotiations. Just justice.
