United face against terror
April 22 is one of the darkest days Kashmir has witnessed since the past 35 years when terrorism and gruesome killings started here. The day reminds us of how ugly terror can be as not only lives are lost but entire families are shattered.
Since the past 35 years Kashmir and most of its people had in one or the other way raised their voice, albeit silently over the acts of terror and these voices were many a times silenced by the nefarious designs plotted by those who were propelling terror to achieve their vested objective.
On April 22, these very forces once again tried to raise their head by targeting innocent civilians in a way that was most inhuman and barbaric in nature. The way the terrorists acted display the brazen display of their plans and how they wish to target innocent people to create a scare and let the situation go out of hand once again.
Terrorism has no religion and it does not operate within some set norms and principles. Terrorism is a complex and multifaceted issue, often used as a means to achieve political objectives.
Terrorism only knows using violence and intimidation to achieve objectives, often targeting civilians or non-combatants and this very tool has been used quite brazenly in Jammu and Kashmir for more than three decades now.
The terror groups use propaganda and recruitment strategies to attract new members and spread their ideology and this has been going on for many years now, though the situation has shown remarkable improvement over the past few years now.
However, what came to fore during the past week reflects that terrorism needs to be rooted out completely and standing against terrorism requires a multifaceted approach that involves governments, communities and individuals.
The major step in this regard has been achieved as just minutes after the gruesome attack at Baisaran Pahalgam, people across Kashmir irrespective of their religious, political or demographic identities, untied not only to condemn these acts but also showed the real human face by facilitating the tourist groups who were attacked and killed in cold blood.
The people of Kashmir untimely denounced the terror act and demanded strict punishment for the killers which gave a clear message to those who still believe and feel that they can hide after getting involved in such heinous crimes.
People across the board across Jammu and Kashmir not only display tremendous response buy displayed their open willingness to take this fight forward ill this scourge is eliminated from the place.
It happened for the first time since the past 35 years that people from all sections vehemently opposed the use of violence to achieve any means. The people not only negated the theory of targeting innocents but also gave a clear message that enough blood has been spilled in Kashmir and things need to change once and for all.
Even today the lawmakers from the region also took this step forward and condemned this act of violence in the most appropriate way. The JK assembly unequivocally condemns the heinous, cowardly act that resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
The house said that such acts of terror are a direct assault on the ethos of Kashmiriyat, the values enshrined in the Constitution and the spirit of unity, peace and harmony that have long characterized Jammu & Kashmir and the Nation.
