Srinagar: The Government of India believes that the Pahalgam terrorist attack was approved by the General Headquarters (GAQ) in Rawalpindi with the Islamist inclination of Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Muni Munir, Kashmir and Restrest Pakistan has tried to bring back global attention to this issue.
Sources in the Indian Defense and Safety Foundation say that the attack, in which tourists were shot out and shot, were greenlight due to two major factors: developing internal dynamics within Pakistan and rapidly converted to Jammu and Kashmir, especially a sharp decline in recruitment of local people by Terror Outfits.
The attack, which claimed the life of 25 Hindu tourists and a local Muslims, violated an unwritten rule seen by the terrorists – which is important for tourists, Jammu and Kashmir economy, should not be targeted to avoid separation of the Kashmiri population.
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This time, in a rare public response, Kashmir saw a full voluntary shutdown, as well as a comprehensive protest to condemn the attack in Pahalgam’s Bairsran Valley. East Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehboba Mufti, in an interview.Condemned the attackers as “terrorists” and called for strict action.
After the attack, ThePrint spoke with several defense and safety sources to understand the widespread strategic motivations behind this harsh change in Pakistan’s posture.
GHQ shift under General Munir
One of the most important changes in Pakistan’s Kashmir policy arises from the rise of General Asim Munir as the head of the army employees.
Munir, who was at the top of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) at the time of the Pulwama attack, is considered as a staunch Islamic-as a predecessor, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, whose principle of the name, whose principle of names advocated a working relationship with India.
“Munir sees Bajwa’s soft view as a failure. There was no talk, no cricket, no cultural exchange and terrorists were seen ‘MujahideenThe ‘so -called’ unknown gunmen ‘were being systematically terminated. Meanwhile, the extremism in Balochistan deteriorated, ”a source said. Connecting the dissatisfaction of Pakistan Army was embarrassment caused by fatal Jaffer Express Attack Last month was done by Baloch militants.
With domestic anger on the role of Pakistan Army in former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s jelling, sources say that there was pressure on Muni to claim the army’s strength and relevance. “Munir believes that India is orbiting disturbance in Balochistan and other places. Pahgam’s attack, in the part, there is a lack of vengeance – which means to incite,” Another source said.
The more aggressive stance during Pakistan’s compliance with Kashmir solidarity day (5 February) was clear, inviting Hamas and Hizbullah representatives. A third source said, “It marks a axis-for a comprehensive pan-Islamist campaign from a legend of Sashmi ‘Freedom Struggle’,” a third source told.
According to several sources, General Munir saw a fragmented Pakistani state in Kashmir and struggled in Kashmir as a way to resume the issue of Kashmir in international forums, where traction for it has decreased. The third source said, “Munir is gambling on this. He, in his mind, has calculated India’s response and believes that Pakistan can manage it.”
A peace is very uncomfortable for GHQ
Pakistan is losing influence on land in Kashmir. Rapid growth, infrastructure development, and increase in access to education and economic opportunities have started shaping the valley again. The third source said, “Kashmiris are now receiving peace dividends. Many people are studying all over India.
But the biggest shock for Pakistan is a dramatic decline in the recruitment of local Kashmiris, which is in the form of terrorist operators. For example, Pulwama – a former hotband of extremism – negligible recruitment of local residents by terrorist organizations in the last two years.
According to security agencies, there are about 80 terrorists operating in Kashmir, only 18–20 local, and the rest of the Pakistani citizens, who infiltrated India after some time after 2020.
“In such a scenario, what kind of freedom struggle is this when locals are not joining?” An official asked.
The Pahalgam attacks, sources believe that, was to incite fear, disrupt tourism and provoke a backlash that could reverse these benefits. Initial signs are already visible – wicked are leaving Kashmir in large numbers, and many have canceled travel plans for UT.
At the same time, sources said that targeting Hindu tourists was a deliberate step to deepen communal division and to incite a huge response from Indian security forces.
A fourth source said, “Post-Atac Crackdown will essentially lead a large-scale detens. Even though only two of the ten friends are suspicious, all ten can be raised. It creates a sense of mass hunting between other eight.” Security forces have been allegedly directed during the search to prevent the local population from separating.
Big picture: Terror for strategic benefits
Pakistan’s goals, sources claim, it is clear: revive terrorist recruitment, especially local, and project struggle as a rebellion led by Kashmiris to achieve international sympathy.
“The economy is growing, education is spreading, and no one wants to pick up the gun anymore. But if that economy slows down, if the Kashmiris feel targeted again, the victim’s story returns. This is what Pakistan wants and they will catch fish to increase terrorist recruitment in these disturbed water.”
The Pahalgam attack, then, is not just a separate function of terror. It is an expression of “Muni Siddhanta”, which is a rigorous military strategy aimed at vandalizing Kashmir’s economic progress, revival of extremism and pulling the valley and the world back into a decades -old struggle, stated by sources at the Indian Defense and Security Foundation.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also read: Pahgam attack: Pakistan wants a never ending war, let’s give it one