By Kundan Kashmiri, Kashmir Watcher & President, KPC

Khan Feroz(CNI)

The soul of Kashmir continues to bleed, and the conscience of the nation is shaken—yet again. The recent cold-blooded, targeted killing of innocent Indian tourists is not just an act of terror, but a direct assault on the very spirit of humanity. It is both unfortunate and infuriating that such incidents continue to be met with hypocritical silence or hollow condemnations from Kashmir-centric leaders and Hurriyat sympathizers, who hide behind the convenient excuse of “terrorist acts” while romanticizing ideals like Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat, and Jamhooriyat.

Let the truth be laid bare: these lofty words ring hollow in the face of continued brutality. They have become a smokescreen for those who wish to escape accountability while harboring sympathy for separatists and extremists. The fact remains—many of the top ten terrorists operating in Kashmir are not foreigners, but locals. How do these men survive for months in forests, strike with precision, and vanish without trace unless they have support on the ground? Who provides them shelter, supplies, guidance, and real-time intelligence? Who enables their cowardly acts?

It’s time to confront this bitter truth: terrorism in the Valley thrives on an ecosystem of enablers—sympathizers, informants, and silent collaborators. This is not a mere security issue; it is a societal crisis. And every Kashmiri who values peace and prosperity must now choose a side—there can no longer be neutrality between terror and humanity.

The irony is glaring. The same tourists who are welcomed with smiles and offered hospitality are the ones gunned down in cold blood. These are Indian citizens who arrive in Kashmir trusting the assurances of peace given by the government and local tourism stakeholders. They spend their hard-earned money to support the Valley’s economy, directly benefitting hotels, taxi drivers, shopkeepers, guides, and countless others. Is this how Kashmir repays their goodwill?

Let us not forget—Kashmir’s economic lifeline is tourism. The Union Territory earns barely Rs. 12,000 crore in its own revenue, while its budget exceeds Rs. 1.18 lakh crore—funded overwhelmingly by the Indian taxpayer, many of whom reside in the very states from where these tourists come. This dependence cannot be denied. Without peace and security, this economic structure will collapse like a house of cards.

This is the moment for the Kashmiris—leaders, civil society, and especially the common man—to rise above fear, politics, and excuses. Stop issuing meaningless bandh calls. Stop hiding behind ambiguous statements. Call out the hate-mongers. Condemn not just the act but also the ideology behind it. Speak up against those who poison the minds of youth, glorify terrorism, and push Kashmir back into darkness.

The latest targeted killings were not random—they were premeditated crimes of hate, revealing the undeniable communal bias that underpins much of the terrorism in the Valley. Those who continue to whitewash this reality and shield anti-national elements are complicit in the destruction of Kashmir’s fabric.

The Government of India must now act with unmatched resolve. Pakistan—the fountainhead of cross-border terrorism—must be made to pay a very, very heavy price. This time, the response should be so costly, so devastating, that it sends a loud and clear message: India will not tolerate bloodshed of its innocents. The cost of terrorism must be unbearable for Pakistan—so harsh that it dares not repeat its mistakes ever again.

Moreover, within our own soil, the time has come to crush the internal ecosystem of terrorism and separatism with an iron hand. The supporters, handlers, and paid agents of terrorists and anti-national forces must be uprooted, named, shamed, and punished without mercy. No leniency, no appeasement. These enemies of the nation must be silenced from the very noise they create. Let justice roar and traitors tremble.

Let there be no confusion: the future of Kashmir lies in a decisive choice—either stand with India, peace, and progress, or align with violence, anarchy, and eventual ruin. The middle ground is gone. The cost of silence and denial is too high.

This is the final call for introspection. The Valley must reclaim its soul—or prepare to lose everything.