Indian media without evidence blames Pakistan for Kashmir terror attack

Gunmen opened fire and killed at least 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, in one of the deadliest attacks in the disputed territory in recent times.

The attack took place in the Baisaran meadow, about 5km (3 miles) from the disputed region’s resort town of Pahalgam.

Following the attack, several Indian media outlets and social media accounts began linking the attack to Pakistan, without any evidence to substantiate the claim.

Pakistan Army Chief’s Remark

Indian media outlet NDTV erroneously linked the attack to a recent speech by Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.

“The terrorist attack in J&K’s Pahalgam district came days after Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir described Kashmir as Islamabad’s “jugular vein”,” the outlet wrote.

Addressing the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad on April 16, General Munir had said Kashmir, “Our stance is absolutely clear, it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it. We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle.”

The Hindustan Times also echoed similar sentiments and attempted to shift the blame on the Pakistan military, saying the “attack comes on heels of Pakistan Army chief’s ‘jugular vein’ comment”.

Without any evidence and citing “Kashmir watchers”, it says “the attack also came at a time when the Pakistani security establishment is facing domestic scrutiny and pressure for its inability to tackle a resurgent Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, which has challenged the control of civilian authorities in parts of the country’s northwest, and insurgent groups in Balochistan, where the Balochistan Liberation Army recently hijacked a passenger train with 380 people on board.”

The Economic Times also stuck with sensationalist reporting with its headline.

Without any references, it reported that “India’s intelligence agencies are linking Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir’s recent comments on Kashmir with the deadly attack in Pahalgam.”

It adds, “(Pakistan Army Chief Gen) Munir had described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” while reviving the two-nation theory in a public speech. Sources say his remarks may have encouraged a Lashkar proxy group to carry out a mass killing during US Vice President JD Vance’s visit. The investigation points to cross-border handlers and local support enabling the strike.”

India Today also continued the hyper-sensationalist report with the news headline,”5-6 Pak terrorists attacked tourists, arrived in Pahalgam few days back: Sources.”

“Intelligence sources suspect the involvement of five to six terrorists in today’s attack. The group reportedly included foreign terrorists (FTs), believed to be Pakistanis, who infiltrated the Valley just days before launching the attack on tourists. Sources also said that the attackers had conducted reconnaissance of the area prior to executing the assault.”

Pakistan’s response

Pakistan has expressed concern at the loss of tourists’ lives in the attack. While there was no official finger-pointing towards Islamabad in the hours immediately following the attack, authorities here are bracing for a pushback.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Khan in a statement said: “We are concerned at the loss of tourists’ lives in an attack in Anantnag district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

“We extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he added, as reported by Pakistani daily Dawn.