Pakistan Involvement in Pahalgam Terror Attack, Unveiling the Truth and Global Implications

Pakistan Involvement in Pahalgam Terror Attack, Unveiling the Truth and Global Implications

Introduction

The security dynamics of South Asia remain fragile, primarily due to Pakistan’s persistent use of proxy terror as a foreign policy tool. A recent report released by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee Monitoring Team has unequivocally confirmed Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April 2024, marking a significant moment in the geopolitical and security narrative surrounding cross-border terrorism. The attack resulted in the deaths of 26 innocent civilians, highlighting once again the human cost of terrorism and the international community’s ongoing struggle to contain state-sponsored violence.

For years, Pakistan has operated with plausible deniability, using terror outfits such as The Resistance Front (TRF) as proxies to destabilize Indian regions, especially Jammu and Kashmir. The latest UN report not only exposes this strategy but also strengthens India’s longstanding claims regarding Pakistan’s deep involvement in regional terrorism.

This article critically examines the Pahalgam incident, the unfolding evidence of Pakistan’s role, India’s response, and the implications for regional security and international diplomacy.

The Pahalgam Attack: A Timeline of Terror

On 22 April 2024, heavily armed terrorists launched a brutal assault on a tourist spot in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attackers, associated with TRF, gunned down 26 civilians, many of whom were domestic tourists visiting the scenic valley. Shockingly, this attack occurred on the same day that TRF publicly released images from the incident, a clear indicator of the organization’s involvement and a chilling reminder of their intent to spread fear.

A follow-up attack was attempted on 26 April, but due to increased security, it was thwarted. This second attempt, and TRF’s sudden retraction of their statement after the first attack, hinted at a deeper and more orchestrated cover-up effort likely influenced by external handlers—primarily from across the border.

The UN report cited in the article quotes intelligence sources confirming that Pakistan-based actors were directly involved in planning, executing, and funding the attack. Importantly, the report highlights how the incident could not have occurred without logistical and tactical support from across the Line of Control.

TRF and the Pakistan Connection

The TRF, while claiming to be a “local resistance group,” is now widely acknowledged as a proxy arm of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—a globally designated terrorist organization. Despite Pakistan’s repeated claims to the contrary, the monitoring team’s report dismantles these denials, exposing Pakistan’s complicity in nurturing, arming, and directing TRF operatives.

In fact, this is not the first time TRF has come under international scrutiny. On 17 July 2024, the UN formally designated TRF as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization and Shell Entity of Lashkar-e-Taiba”. Initially, Pakistan opposed this classification, arguing a lack of evidence. However, damning proof and consistent links between LeT and TRF—including funding trails, communication logs, and captured operatives—made denial untenable.

Further amplifying Pakistan’s exposure was the reaction of its UN representative, Munir Akram, who opposed even mentioning TRF in the UNSC resolutions. The Pakistani envoy was quoted saying, “We opposed the mention of TRF in the UNSC statement. I got calls from global capitals, but Pakistan will not accept.” This passionate defense of TRF suggests deeper entanglements than Islamabad is willing to admit.

The Tactical Evidence: Forensics and Communication

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence confirming Pakistan’s involvement came through forensic and technical investigations by Indian agencies. The Indian Army, in conjunction with central intelligence agencies, used advanced tracking systems to trace the movement of terrorists across the Pir Panjal range. Though terrain and forest cover delayed their detection, these efforts eventually exposed their links to handlers operating from Pakistan.

The terrorists used Chinese-manufactured ultra-high-frequency wireless communication devices, a choice typically adopted by well-funded terrorist groups due to their encryption capabilities and difficulty in interception. According to security sources, these devices have been routinely supplied to LeT operatives and are rarely used by domestic insurgent groups—another indicator of the external origin of this attack.

When the Indian forces eventually engaged the attackers near Sonamarg on April 24, the ensuing gunfight left several terrorists dead. Weapons recovered were matched with forensic ballistics to shells found at the Pahalgam attack site. Six separate shell casing matches removed all doubt about the identity and origin of the attackers.

Moreover, two of the slain terrorists were found carrying Pakistani voter ID cards—an irrefutable link to their nationality. DNA testing on remains matched samples obtained from Pakistan’s own voter registry, again confirming their citizenship and undermining Pakistan’s official stance.

Reactions from Indian Leadership and Strategic Analysts

Following the attack and the revelations in the UN report, the Indian government has launched diplomatic offensives at multiple international fora. Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, in a statement to Parliament, expressed unequivocal condemnation of Pakistan’s actions, stating, “We will not allow Pakistan to normalize the use of terror as an instrument of policy.”

Former Army officers, strategic experts, and think tanks have also weighed in. Harsha Kakar, the retired Major General and the article’s author, argues that Pakistan’s policy of using terrorism as a “cost-effective, deniable warfare strategy” has now reached its limits. He emphasizes the need for more stringent sanctions on Pakistan and greater accountability mechanisms within global bodies like the UN and FATF.

International Response and Diplomatic Implications

The global community’s response has been cautiously supportive of India’s stance. The United States, France, Germany, and Japan have condemned the attack and expressed concerns about Pakistan’s failure to act against proscribed terror outfits operating from its soil.

However, as Harsha Kakar notes, while condemnations are welcome, they must now translate into actionable outcomes. The UN and other international stakeholders must push Pakistan to:

1. Dismantle terror infrastructure operating from within its borders.

2. Freeze assets and funding lines to TRF, LeT, and other related entities.

3. Ensure accountability of ISI officials allegedly involved in enabling these groups.

4. Permit independent international inspections of suspected training camps.

If not, any calls for peace and dialogue will be meaningless in the shadow of state-enabled violence.

Pakistan’s Denial and International Perception

As expected, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry categorically rejected the UN report. It labeled the evidence “fabricated” and accused India of attempting to divert attention from internal political and human rights issues in Kashmir. Islamabad’s National Security Advisor also claimed the attackers were “non-state actors” with no ties to the Pakistani military or intelligence agencies.

However, international skepticism regarding Pakistan’s denials has increased. Western diplomats now speak more openly about the duplicity of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism policy, wherein it combats some terrorists domestically while sponsoring others for regional strategic goals.

In 1999 during the Kargil conflict, Pakistan refused to accept even its own soldiers’ bodies. In 2024, it is repeating history by refusing to acknowledge terrorists killed during the Pahalgam gunfight. This refusal to accept accountability reflects a dangerous diplomatic posture that weakens regional peace initiatives.

Way Forward: From Tactical Responses to Strategic Shifts

India has a crucial window of opportunity to convert this incident into a strategic turning point in counter-terrorism policy. Key recommendations include:

• Internationalizing the issue more aggressively, including at the G20, SCO, and UNGA forums.

• Increasing surveillance along the LoC using drone-based AI platforms to detect infiltrations in real time.

• Enhancing intelligence sharing with allies, especially the Five Eyes nations, to track terror funding.

• Strengthening internal security mechanisms by deploying multi-agency coordination units across vulnerable border districts.

• Pushing for Pakistan’s re-inclusion in the FATF grey list, given its failure to act meaningfully on UN-designated terror groups.

Conclusion: The Pahalgam Attack—A Wake-Up Call for the World

The April 2024 Pahalgam terror attack, now conclusively linked to Pakistan through UN and Indian investigations, underscores a disturbing truth: state-sponsored terrorism remains one of the most insidious threats to global peace. India has long suffered under the shadow of proxy war, and this attack is a continuation of that strategy.

However, with conclusive international evidence and growing global awareness, the tide may finally be turning. The burden now lies not just on India, but on the global community, to isolate and penalize those who use terrorism as statecraft. Only then can we ensure that attacks like Pahalgam become a relic of the past—and not a precedent for the future.