Beyond visits

THE visit of Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi to Kashmir on Friday in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack — which left 26 persons dead — is a symbolic assertion of military resolve. Yet, for a region that has endured decades of tragedy, symbolism must now yield to accountability. The brazenness of this attack, carried out in a zone long considered relatively safe and with no prior intelligence alerts, has reignited public outrage and shaken faith in the system’s preparedness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swift intervention —cutting short his foreign visit to respond to the crisis — and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s hospital visit to meet the injured underscore the gravity of the moment. But, optics, however sincere, cannot substitute for systemic reform. J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha’s call to “hunt down every perpetrator” only satisfies a short-term need for reassurance.

The questions in everybody’s minds are pointed: Why were there no troops in a region of vulnerability? What were the intelligence agencies doing? And how did terrorists so easily penetrate the security apparatus? These queries demand transparent answers — not just public statements but a plugging of the holes exposed by this attack. As General Dwivedi reviews operational coordination among the security forces, what Kashmiris — and the nation — seek is more than just a reactive tightening of protocols. The crisis must prompt a reimagining of intelligence-sharing mechanisms, faster response frameworks and ownership of security outcomes.

In Kashmir, the stakes are always high — militarily, emotionally and politically. For those who lost loved ones in Pahalgam, national resolve means little unless it translates into real change. Boots on the ground must now be matched by a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths — and correct them.