This Week in Explainers: How India will not be sparing Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror assault

It’s been a heartbreaking week for India. Pahalgham’s scenic Baisaran Valley, buzzing with vacationers at the moment of the 12 months, is normally crammed with cheer and pleasant squeals. As an alternative, on April 22, the sounds of gunshots and screams of the harmless reverberated within the air. Terrorists went on a rampage, killing 26 folks, largely vacationers, in entrance of their households – their wives, daughters and kids.

It’s the most important terror assault on Indian soil because the dastardly 26/11 bloodbath in Mumbai. As soon as once more, all fingers level at Pakistan.

India is seething. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to “establish and punish each terrorist”. Taking powerful measures, the federal government has paused the Indus Waters Treaty, closed the Attari-Wagah border checkpost, and suspended all Pakistani visas. Islamabad has distanced itself from the fear assault – prefer it at all times does – and has suspended the Simla Settlement and shut its airspace to Indian plane. The ties between the 2 nations have as soon as once more hit an all-time low. And the state of affairs is more likely to escalate.

In our weekly wrap, we discuss in regards to the Pahalgam terror assault and its aftermath.

1. It was a busy afternoon in Baisaran Valley, which was teeming with vacationers. However all of a sudden, all the thrill and pleasure vanished. Terrorists in military fatigues descended from the encircling forests. They singled out the boys, requested them about their faith after which gunned them down. Right here’s
how the fear assault unfolded.

2. Twenty-six had been killed within the assault; most of them had been vacationers. There was a newlywed Indian Navy officer on his honeymoon, a US-based techie who was holidaying together with his spouse and son, an Intelligence Bureau officer, and an area ponywallah, amongst others.
These are their heartbreaking tales.

3. Hours after the assault,
an image went viral. That of a newlywed girl, carrying chooda, kneeling helplessly subsequent to the physique of her husband. The person, who was killed mercilessly, was Indian Navy officer Vinay Narwal; the girl, who has grow to be the face of the tragedy, is his spouse, Himanshi. The 2 tied the knot on April 16, 4 days earlier than the tragedy.

4. Pointing their weapons at helpless vacationers, the Pahalgam terrorists requested them to recite the Kalma. Those that couldn’t had been killed. A professor from Assam knew the Islamic verses, and his life was spared. However
what’s the Kalma, and what’s its significance to Islam? We clarify.

5. Who’s behind the Pahalgam bloodbath? The Resistance Entrance claimed duty for the fear assault quickly after the killings. The TRF is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba and began gaining notoriety in Kashmir in 2020. Right here’s
what we learn about TRF, which was declared a terrorist organisation by India in January 2023.

6. There are conflicting numbers on what number of terrorists attacked Pahalgam. Nevertheless, the investigation has revealed three names:
Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai alias Talha from Pakistan, and a Kashmiri recognized as Adil Hussain Thoker. Based on stories, Lashkar-e-Taiba’s prime commander,
Saifullah Kasuri, also called Khalid, masterminded the assault. Right here’s what we learn about them.

7. As India grapples with the tragedy, it has taken powerful motion towards Pakistan. In an enormous transfer, it has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. The federal government declared that the pact with stay suspended till Pakistan “credibly and irreversibly” abjures its help for cross-border terrorism.
What is that this treaty? And the way will pausing it have an effect on the neighbouring nation? This story analyses the affect.

8. Within the aftermath of Pahalgam, the ties between India and Pakistan have reached a breaking level. India has
shut the Attari border, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and cancelled all Pakistani visas. Islamabad has hit again. It has suspended the
Simla Settlement and
closed its airspace to Indian airways. Right here’s how
tensions between the 2 sides escalated in a matter of days.

That’s all from us this week. That is a vital studying checklist on the Pahalgam tragedy. We’ll be following this story intently. Yow will discover the
newest explainers right here.

PS: Amid a grim week, right here’s a narrative of hope. Shakti Dubey from Prayagraj topped the UPSC examination… on her fifth try.
Right here’s how she cracked it.