Preet Choudhary

PhD scholar, SSS, Jawaharlal Nehru University

"Geographical continuity makes dialogue between India and Pakistan imperative. India’s first response to the cowardly terrorist killings in Pahalgam was to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. In future negotiations, India should use its upstream geographic advantage to frame a treaty ensuring equitable resource distribution and legal backing for infrastructural development to correct decades of unjust generosity."

Shashi Singh

PG student: Modern Indian History, University of Delhi

"The Pahalgam tragedy is a source of profound and persistent agony for all of us; however, long-lasting regional peace is unattainable without dialogue. At the same time, India's stance on terrorism should be unyielding, and all efforts should be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur. It will be an arduous task, yet it presents an opportunity to demonstrate diplomatic deftness."

Bhavya Sood

PG student of Int'l Relation, South Asian University

"Though the wounds remain unhealed, a student from humanities background sees the issue with neutrality and critical distance. Rather than hastily resuming talks and risking strategic weakness, being toothless elephant in international arena, India should proceed cautiously and deliberately. Adopting issue-based engagement, where cooperation is pursued in limited, non-sensitive areas, can help maintain dialogue, rebuild trust gradually, and safeguard India’s long-term strategic interests. A gradual, issue-based engagement can rebuild trust while safeguarding core interests."

Lokendra Pratap Singh

UG student of Political Science, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi

"Since independence, India has faced the challenge of cross border terrorism from the neighbour along its western frontier that remains an epicentre of such violence. A year after the barbaric Pahalgam attack, the talks could resume, though the resumption of talks (if any) must uphold the fundamental and non negotiable red lines of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security; principles that are, in effect, the bedrock of the global order. Dialogue now is a tool, not a default. Engagement should be cautious, needs based, pragmatic and matched by verifiable action, not just words. The era of unconditional dialogue is over now; the bar for trust is now much higher than in the past."

Harish, MJMC

Central University of Haryana

"I feel India needs to be careful about rushing into talks with Pakistan. It’s easy to say 'let's just talk,' but when you think about incidents like Pahalgam, it’s not that simple. Of course, shutting down every line of communication isn't a permanent solution, but any conversation must be based on reality, not just words. We want peace, but we also want to stand tall as a nation. It has to be a balance of both"

Anchal Thakur , 2nd year, M.A JMC

Central University of Haryana 

"One year after the Pahalgam attack, the wounds remain fresh. India lost innocent lives, yet there was a disturbing silence across the border, with no meaningful condemnation from Pakistan. Forgiveness cannot precede accountability. Normal communication demands trust, and trust cannot grow where empathy is absent. Until genuine remorse is shown, India must prioritize dignity over diplomatic convenience."