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What is The Resistance Front
The serene valleys and majestic mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, often called 'Heaven on Earth', have, for far too long, borne the brunt of senseless violence and terror. The shadow of terrorism has persistently loomed, casting a pall over the lives of its residents and the brave security forces that stand guard.
This grim reality intensified significantly after the horrific attack in Pulwama in February 2019, marking a watershed moment in the region's struggle against externally sponsored militancy.
Since that dark day, India has witnessed a heart-wrenching loss of precious lives – dedicated soldiers, vigilant police personnel, and innocent civilians alike. Each attack, each loss, leaves an indelible scar on the nation's soul.
Based on the available records, the known fatalities include at least 26 lives lost in Pahalgam (April 2025), 40 brave CRPF jawans in Pulwama (February 2019), at least 10 pilgrims in Reasi (2024), and 7 civilians in Ganderbal (October 2024).
This brings the total of explicitly mentioned fatalities to at least 115, a number tragically compounded by numerous other casualties in ambushes, grenade attacks, and other violent incidents not specifically quantified here.
The years that followed Pulwama have been marked by a series of brutal incidents, seemingly orchestrated with chilling precision, aimed at destabilising the region and inflicting maximum pain upon the Indian populace.
The consistent recurrence and strategic timing of these acts of terror, often coinciding with significant national events or visits, strongly suggest a calculated campaign by forces seeking to undermine peace and stability, driven by a nefarious agenda of bloodshed.
The breathtaking beauty of Pahalgam, often likened to "mini Switzerland," was brutally marred on April 22, 2025. This idyllic spot, usually a haven of peace for tourists, became the site of one of the most savage attacks on civilians in recent memory. The incident unfolded around 2:25 PM in the picturesque Baisaran meadow, where tourists were simply enjoying the serene surroundings.
Eyewitness accounts paint a horrifying picture. Survivors recounted the sudden burst of gunfire, followed by a terrifying silence, only to be broken by more shots and utter chaos as people desperately sought cover. The attack resulted in a tragic loss of at least 26 lives – 25 Indian nationals and one citizen of Nepal. Several others sustained injuries, their lives forever changed by the trauma.
The Resistance Front (TRF), an organisation widely understood to be a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility.
Disturbingly, reports emerged indicating that the attackers specifically targeted Hindu tourists after demanding their names and religious affiliations. This points to a deeply concerning sectarian motive behind this brutal act.
The militants were reportedly armed with sophisticated weaponry, including M4 carbines and AK-47 assault rifles, and were clad in military-style attire, suggesting a level of training and access to resources often indicative of external support.
The Pahalgam attack resulted in the tragic loss of 26 precious lives, individuals from various parts of India and Nepal, each with their own stories and dreams, cruelly cut short.
The date February 14, 2019, remains etched in the collective memory of India as a day of immense sorrow and national outrage.
On this fateful afternoon, a convoy of vehicles carrying personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was targeted in a horrific suicide bombing on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in the Pulwama district.
The attack involved a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) that ripped through a bus, leading to the martyrdom of 40 brave CRPF jawans. The sheer scale of the explosion and the resulting loss of life sent shockwaves across the nation.
Responsibility for this cowardly act was claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a terrorist organisation operating with impunity from Pakistan.
The perpetrator was identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, a local youth tragically radicalised and used as a pawn by these handlers across the border.
In the aftermath, India unequivocally condemned Pakistan for its continued support and harbouring of terrorist groups on its soil.
The nation's response was a mix of profound grief and a steely resolve to avenge the fallen heroes. In a decisive and necessary move, India launched retaliatory airstrikes on Balakot, targeting alleged terrorist training camps within Pakistan.
This action served as a strong message against cross-border terrorism and demonstrated India's unwavering commitment to protecting its security interests. The Pulwama attack stands as a stark and painful reminder of the persistent threat of terrorism emanating from across the border and its devastating consequences for India.
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Despite the strong response to the Pulwama attack, the shadow of violence continued to loom large over Jammu and Kashmir in the years that followed.
Various terrorist incidents occurred, targeting different segments of society, from pilgrims on their sacred journeys to ordinary civilians in their villages and the security forces maintaining peace.
The Amarnath Yatra, an annual pilgrimage of immense religious significance for Hindus, has tragically been a recurring target for terrorist groups seeking to disrupt this sacred journey and instil fear among devotees.
Even before Pulwama, the yatra faced threats, as evidenced by the attack on a bus in Kulgam on July 10, 2017, which tragically killed eight pilgrims.
More recently, on June 9, 2024, terrorists ambushed a bus carrying pilgrims in the Reasi district, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 10 people and injuring 33 others. These repeated attacks reveal a clear and disturbing pattern of targeting religious sentiments and attempting to undermine the unity and faith of the Indian people.
Despite these cowardly acts, the Indian government has consistently reassured the public of its unwavering commitment to ensuring a safe and successful Amarnath Yatra, highlighting the nation's resolve not to be deterred by such acts of terror.
Beyond attacks on security forces and religious pilgrims, terrorists have also frequently targeted innocent civilians in villages, often in remote and less protected areas. The aim is clearly to instil widespread fear and disrupt the fabric of daily life.
In more recent times, particularly in 2022 and 2024, there has been a disturbing trend of targeting migrant workers. These attacks, often resulting in fatalities, have triggered widespread panic among the migrant worker population, leading to a significant and unfortunate exodus from the valley, impacting the local economy.
A particularly gruesome incident occurred in Ganderbal in October 2024, where a local doctor and six migrant workers were killed when terrorists attacked a construction site. These deliberate acts of violence against vulnerable civilians, especially minorities and non-locals, expose a sinister agenda aimed at creating communal disharmony and undermining the social cohesion of the region.
Security forces operating in Jammu and Kashmir constantly face the grave threat of attacks and ambushes by militant groups. While specific details about every ambush between 2019 and 2024 are not exhaustively available in the provided material, there are mentions of significant incidents.
For example, in May 2024, an attack on an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy occurred in Poonch, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by our forces even when not directly engaged in counter-insurgency operations.
It is also crucial to note the frequent ceasefire violations and instances of shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), which, while not always direct ambushes, represent a sustained form of aggression against Indian security positions and attempts to facilitate infiltration.
More direct confrontations, such as the encounter in the Guddar forest area of Kulgam in April 2025, where security forces bravely engaged with suspected terrorists, demonstrate the continued operational activity of militant groups in the region.
These ambushes and encounters often result in casualties on both sides, tragically underscoring the dangerous environment in which our security personnel operate and the persistent threat they face from well-trained and armed militants. The external support these groups undeniably receive is further evidenced by cross-border firing and infiltration attempts.
Urban centres in Kashmir, particularly Srinagar, have also been subjected to terrorist violence in the form of cowardly grenade and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks.
A review of available information reveals a disturbing pattern of grenade attacks in Srinagar between 2019 and 2024. These indiscriminate attacks have resulted in numerous injuries and, tragically, some fatalities.
One notable incident was a grenade attack on a Sunday market in Srinagar in November 2024, which injured at least 12 civilians, highlighting the complete disregard for human life by these perpetrators.
The frequency of grenade attacks in Srinagar, even if the overall number of terror incidents has seen a decline, indicates a persistent effort to disrupt normalcy and instil fear in the urban population.
A recurring and undeniable theme in the analysis of terrorist activities in Kashmir is the alleged, and strongly evidenced, role of Pakistan in sponsoring and supporting these acts of violence.
Groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), both based in Pakistan, have claimed responsibility for numerous high-profile attacks in Kashmir, including the Pulwama and, initially, the Pahalgam attacks.
The emergence of The Resistance Front (TRF) as a proxy organisation for LeT is widely seen as a cynical strategic move to project a false image of indigenous Kashmiri resistance while maintaining the support, operational direction, and logistical backing from across the border.
Reports frequently pinpoint that attackers involved in these incidents, including the Pahalgam attack, have infiltrated the valley from Pakistan, often aided and abetted by state actors.
Furthermore, in the case of the Pahalgam attack, intelligence sources reportedly traced the digital footprints of the perpetrators to safe houses located in Muzaffarabad and Karachi, providing further damning evidence of cross-border links and state involvement.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, the numerous accusations from India, and international pressure, Pakistan has consistently and unconvincingly denied any involvement in these terrorist activities.
The continued operation of these designated terrorist groups from Pakistani soil and the irrefutable evidence linking them to attacks within Indian territory strongly suggest an enduring and unacceptable pattern of state-sponsored terrorism emanating from Pakistan. This is a direct challenge to regional peace and global security.
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The period since the Pulwama attack has been marked by immense suffering, grief, and the tragic loss of life in Jammu and Kashmir. The devastating attack in Pahalgam in April 2025 serves as a stark and painful reminder of the continued threat that terrorism poses to the region and the entire nation. When viewed alongside the memory of the 40 brave CRPF personnel martyred in Pulwama, and the countless others lost in the intervening years, the sheer scale of human tragedy becomes profoundly apparent.
Yet, amidst this enduring violence and pain, the spirit of the Indian people remains unbroken, resilient, and resolute. The resolve of the Indian nation to stand united against this scourge, to protect its citizens, and to pursue all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of its people remains steadfast and unwavering.
India will not be cowed by terrorism, and the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and innocent civilians will not be in vain. The fight for peace and justice in Kashmir continues, with the unwavering support of a resilient nation.
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