WEB DESK: A week after the deadly terrorist attack in Indian Occupied Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, India has failed to present substantive evidence backing its allegations of Pakistani involvement, New York Times report stated on Sunday.
NYT said that despite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vows of “severe punishment” and promises to “raze terror safe havens,” Indian authorities have neither officially identified the attackers nor provided proof of cross-border involvement. Pakistan has categorically denied any role in the attack.
Modi has thus contacted ‘more than a dozen’ world leaders in attempts to raise support but New Delhi’s case rests primarily on historical allegations of Pakistan allegedly supporting anti-India militant groups rather than fresh evidence. While mentioning unspecified “technical intelligence,” Indian officials admitted their investigation remains ongoing.
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The evidentiary vacuum hasn’t prevented escalatory measures, including intermittent cross-border firing reported over four consecutive nights as well as mass arrests in Indian Occupied Kashmir during search operations. Furthermore, India has not stepped back from revocation of water-sharing agreements and rather expelled all Pakistani diplomats and visitors. Meanwhile, Kashmiri students across India face growing harassment, forcing many to abandon their studies.
NYT also reported stark differences from the 2019 Pulwama attack, where responsibility was clearly claimed. This time, a little-known group called the Resistance Front made unverified social media claims, which it not categorically denies, while Indian officials privately allege – without evidence – it’s a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba.
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The American newspaper also quoted Shiv Shankar Menon, a former national security adviser in India, who said that Modi had little choice but to take military action after responding with strikes against Pakistan both in 2019 and in 2016, after another terrorist attack in Kashmir: “The Indian government is under pressure to respond to a major security lapse in a troubled area that it was projecting as transformed in recent years and where it has been encouraging tourism. But Mr. Menon said the tit-for-tat between the two adversaries was unlikely to get out of hand. “I’m not hugely worried,” he said, “because they’re both quite happy in a state of managed hostility.”
With global powers distracted by other crises, India appears emboldened to pursue unilateral action. While the US and EU have called for restraint, their limited engagement suggests muted international oversight of the escalating situation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.