On April 22, 2025, a horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in the deadliest assault on civilians in the region since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The attack, initially claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based offshoot of the UN-designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, targeted Hindu men, with survivors reporting that attackers demanded religious identification before opening fire. This brazen act of violence has not only escalated tensions between India and Pakistan but also galvanized a robust US-India partnership to combat terrorism. With the US offering unqualified support—from intelligence sharing to diplomatic backing—the question looms: has the Pahalgam attack crossed a critical red line, prompting a decisive shift in the global fight against terrorism?
In This Article:
The Pahalgam Attack: A Brutal Escalation
The attack unfolded in Baisaran Valley, a picturesque tourist spot known as “Mini Switzerland.” Five armed militants, equipped with M4 carbines and AK-47s, stormed the area, singling out Hindu men and killing 26, including a local pony guide, Adil Hussain Shah, who died heroically trying to protect tourists. Indian authorities have linked the attack to Pakistan, citing digital traces to safe houses in Muzaffarabad and Karachi, with one identified attacker, Hashim Musa, a former Pakistani paramilitary officer turned Lashkar-e-Taiba operative. The Resistance Front’s initial claim, later retracted, cited opposition to Indian policies allowing non-Kashmiri settlement in the region.
The attack shattered the narrative of normalcy in Kashmir, where the Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has promoted tourism and development since revoking the region’s special status in 2019. It also reignited India-Pakistan tensions, with India accusing Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism—a charge Islamabad denies. India’s response was swift: suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari-Wagah border, revoking visas for Pakistani nationals, and banning Pakistani airlines from its airspace. These measures, coupled with ongoing military exchanges along the Line of Control (LoC), signal a perilous escalation.
US-India Alliance: A Unified Front
The United States has emerged as a staunch ally in India’s response, marking a significant alignment in the global fight against terrorism. US President Donald Trump condemned the attack as a “heinous” act, pledging “full support” to India to bring perpetrators to justice. Vice President JD Vance echoed this, expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in calls with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, reaffirmed US commitment to counterterrorism cooperation with India while urging Pakistan to condemn the attack and assist in investigations.
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized The New York Times for downplaying the attack by using terms like “militants” instead of “terrorists,” reflecting a broader American resolve to call out terrorism unequivocally. FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the attack, pledging full US support, including intelligence-sharing to hunt down perpetrators. US Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard explicitly backed India’s efforts to “hunt down Islamist terrorists,” signaling a departure from past US caution in India-Pakistan disputes. US lawmakers Ro Khanna and McCormick, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India, called for enhanced intelligence cooperation and support for Indian counterterrorism operations.
The US has also offered practical support. Analysts suggest the US could leverage its intelligence capabilities, including satellite imagery and signals intelligence, to track perpetrators and their networks. The US could also deploy P-8I Poseidon aircraft for overflight surveillance, as India has used these to monitor Pakistani forces in past crises. Diplomatically, the US could pressure Pakistan through economic coercion or sanctions to curb support for terrorist groups, given India’s claims of Pakistani complicity.
A Red Line Crossed?
The Pahalgam attack’s brutality—targeting civilians based on religion in a tourist haven—has raised questions about whether it marks a red line, demanding a paradigm shift in counterterrorism. Several factors suggest it may:
- Targeted Communal Violence: The attackers’ focus on Hindu men, demanding religious identification, was a deliberate attempt to inflame communal tensions, threatening India’s social fabric. This echoes the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which also targeted civilians to maximize fear and division, and signals an escalation in terrorist tactics.
- Geopolitical Fallout: India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and visa revocations indicate a willingness to dismantle decades-old bilateral agreements with Pakistan, risking broader conflict. Pakistan’s retaliatory trade suspension and warnings of Indian military action further escalate the crisis. The UN and US have urged restraint, but India’s grant of “full operational freedom” to its armed forces suggests a potential for retaliatory strikes, reminiscent of the 2019 Balakot airstrike.
- International Condemnation: The attack drew unequivocal global condemnation, with leaders from France, Russia, Kuwait, and others standing with India. Jaishankar’s diplomatic outreach to UN Security Council members, including Denmark and South Korea, underscores India’s intent to isolate Pakistan internationally. The US’s strong backing, including Trump’s call to Modi, marks a shift from its historically balanced stance in India-Pakistan disputes.
- Domestic Pressure: In India, public outrage and protests, coupled with calls from opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi for decisive action, have placed immense pressure on Modi’s government. The attack has punctured the BJP’s narrative of a stable Kashmir, exposing security lapses and fueling demands for a robust response.
However, whether this constitutes a red line depends on the response. A red line implies a threshold beyond which escalation is inevitable or fundamentally alters policy. India’s current measures—diplomatic, economic, and military—suggest a strong reaction but stop short of open conflict. The US’s support, while significant, remains within the bounds of intelligence and diplomatic cooperation, not direct military involvement. For the attack to truly cross a red line, it would likely require India to launch overt military action, such as airstrikes into Pakistan, or for the US to impose sanctions or designate Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism—steps neither has yet taken.
Challenges and Risks
The US-India partnership faces challenges. First, Pakistan’s denial of involvement and its claim of “credible intelligence” about imminent Indian military action complicate de-escalation. Second, any Indian retaliation risks a spiral, as seen in 2019 when Indian airstrikes in Balakot led to Pakistani counterstrikes and a downed Indian jet. Third, the US must balance its support for India with its interests in Pakistan, a key player in Afghan stability and China containment. Overly aggressive US backing of India could strain this delicate balance.
For India, the risk of communal polarization looms large. Isolated incidents of harassment against Kashmiri students and traders have been reported, necessitating efforts to maintain harmony. The demolition of suspected militants’ homes and mass detentions in Kashmir, while aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, could alienate locals, as warned by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
-By Manoj H
