'pakistan Will Be Taught A Lesson': Ex-generals Call Pahalgam A Turning Point, Hint At Big Counter-response From India

The panic onslaught successful Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, has sparked wide outrage and beardown calls for a decisive response, pinch aggregate elder defence experts and erstwhile generals suggesting nan battle was cautiously timed and strategically designed to undermine Kashmir’s increasing stableness and tourism economy.

Major General Sanjay Soi (retd) noted that nan onslaught appeared to person been planned for maximum psychological and governmental impact. “There are respective factors that constituent to why this panic onslaught occurred. The timing itself is significant, it took spot erstwhile (US Vice President) JD Vance was visiting India, and our PM was successful Saudi Arabia, it was a calculated strike,” he said.

“What makes it moreover much insidious is nan targeting of tourists. Tourism is nan lifeline of Kashmir’s economy. Attacking visitors is not conscionable an battle connected lives, it’s an onslaught connected livelihoods. Last twelvemonth alone, complete 2.35 crore visitors visited J&K, a clear motion that nan region was thriving. This advancement was unpalatable to Pakistan,” he added.

Backing this assessment, Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain said, “It is simply a very different benignant of attack. It is very important for our state to realise and definitive our dismay connected this unspeakable act, which has been sponsored by Pakistan and nan heavy authorities there, pinch nan thief of LeT and different sponsored terrorists successful Kashmir.”

Highlighting nan broader pattern, Hasnain added, “The shape was 1 of emerging normalcy. In 2023-24, Pakistan attempted to effort and do things successful nan vale but could not succeed. They shifted attraction to Rajouri, Poonch, Mughal Road, and lately to Kathua. Now they're targeting Kashmir again. Rising tourism, much normalcy are not acceptable to Pakistan.”

When asked astir a imaginable subject retaliation, Lt Gen (Retd) KJS Dhillon laid retired nan scope of India’s options: “More specifications will look erstwhile nan information forces do nan analysis. Response to immoderate specified action of panic by Pakistan is simply a nationalist policy. There are area-specific operations from nan beforehand constituent of view, depth-specific options wrong 5 km, 40 km, further heavy strikes.”

“There should beryllium large warning—if you do thing successful return, nan retaliation will beryllium 10 times stronger, a crushing retaliation. It is going to beryllium astatine a spot which hurts, bleeds, pains Pakistan,” he said.

Former diplomat Rajiv Dogra termed nan onslaught 1 of nan worst panic strikes successful caller times. “You can’t norm retired thing erstwhile it comes to Pakistan’s terrorism. The coincidence of statements from Bangladesh and Pakistan leaders followed by this awesome attack—targeting Hindus and sidesplitting them—it is unprecedented successful position of moreover 1 of nan worst panic attacks successful nan world.”

Defence expert Brigadier (Retd) Hemant Mahajan echoed these concerns. "The onslaught occurred astir 7 to 8 km distant from Pahalgam wherever location are nary information forces — making them soft targets. The terrorists came from nan jungle, carried retired nan act, and escaped. Definitely, Pakistan will beryllium taught a lesson, and I judge a large counter-response from India will travel sooner alternatively than later."

Tuesday's attack, which took spot successful nan Baisaran vale adjacent Pahalgam, near 26 dormant including 2 foreigners—one from nan UAE and 1 from Nepal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi trim short his travel to Saudi Arabia to return connected Wednesday morning. He and Home Minister Amit Shah, who rushed to Srinagar precocious Tuesday, person some vowed that those down nan onslaught will not spell unpunished.