Pahalgam Terror Attack: Aimed at Destabilizing Tourism and Fostering Division, Says Jaishankar
Overview of the Pahalgam Terror Attack
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that the recent terror attack in Pahalgam was intended to disrupt the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir and to create a religious divide. He made these comments during a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tianjin, China.
While addressing fellow foreign ministers, including Pakistan's Ishaq Dar, Jaishankar emphasized that the SCO was established to tackle the intertwined issues of terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
He remarked, “It is not surprising that these issues often manifest together.”
In reference to the Pahalgam incident that occurred on April 22, he noted that the UN Security Council condemned the attack and stressed the importance of holding accountable those responsible for this act of terrorism.
Jaishankar asserted, “We have taken action against the perpetrators and will persist in our efforts. It is crucial for the SCO to uphold its founding principles by taking a firm stance against this threat.”
The SCO, founded in 2001, includes member nations such as India, China, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
His comments came a month after India declined to endorse a joint statement at the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in China, citing that it did not adequately represent India's stance on terrorism.
According to Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, India sought to include concerns regarding terrorism in the document, which was not accepted by one member state.
The joint statement reportedly omitted any mention of the Pahalgam attack.
Following the meeting, the SCO secretariat released a statement indicating that members discussed various areas of cooperation, including political, economic, and cultural matters, but did not address terrorism.
The Pahalgam attack on April 22 resulted in 26 fatalities and 16 injuries, with terrorists reportedly targeting tourists based on their religious identity. Most of the deceased were Hindu.
In retaliation to the attack, India conducted military operations, dubbed Operation Sindoor, targeting alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The Pakistan Army responded with artillery fire across the Line of Control, resulting in casualties among Indian civilians and military personnel.
On May 10, both nations reached an agreement to cease hostilities following several days of conflict.