Experts fear LOC escalation as Indian media, Hindu nationalists accuse Pakistan of Pahalgam attack

In what is being described as a major security lapse, Indian media and Hindu nationalist parties are intensifying anti-Pakistan sentiment following the deadly attack in Pahalgam, a town in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where 26 tourists were killed on Tuesday by unidentified gunmen, reportedly with no security presence in the area at the time.

Indian news outlets have been running aggressive coverage, placing blame on Kashmiri Muslims and the Pakistan Army, while Hindu nationalist parties are fuelling communal hatred and openly calling for retaliatory action against Pakistan.

Pakistan has strongly denied any involvement in the attack. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in a media statement, attributed such incidents to the ongoing insurgencies in Indian states like Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, and Manipur, and to the systemic oppression of minorities.

He described the attack as a symptom of growing internal rebellion against state-imposed injustice.

Meanwhile, IIOJK Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleged that attempts to destabilise peace in India are being carried out “on the instructions of Pakistan.”

“If there are people among us who shelter such individuals and then claim they are being oppressed, it cannot be justified,” he added, in a veiled reference to Kashmiri .resistance groups fighting against Indian occupation.

Read: Pakistan denies involvement in Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists in IIOJK

Controversial TV anchor Arnab Goswami also stoked tensions, calling for armed action in Kashmir and criticising the Supreme Court of India for allowing elections in the region.

The Press Trust of India (PTI) interviewed Rashtriya Bajrang Dal leader Rakesh Bajrangi, who directly blamed Pakistan for the attack, alleging that the gunmen were trained across the border to carry out violence in IIOJK.

“Our soldiers and paramilitary forces are conducting a search operation. The Amarnath Yatra is about to begin, and this attack was clearly intended to disrupt peace,” he said.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police, SP Vaid, claimed in an interview with PTI that “these were Pakistan SSG commandos dressed as terrorists.”

Congress Member of Parliament Kapil Sibal also labelled the incident a “Pakistan-sponsored attack” during a session in the Rajya Sabha.

Amid rising tensions, political analysts have expressed concern over potential escalation along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between IIOJK and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Senior journalist Nusrat Javed said, “Line of Control has been quiet since 2021; seriously wonder if it would stay the same after Pahalgam. As an ordinary citizen I would still insist that knee-jerk reactions must be avoided. Why not to first focus on fact finding to locate the real culprits.”

“There was always a sense, from the day it was finalized more than 4 years ago, that the latest India-Pakistan LoC truce could only do so much to shield the relationship from another eventual crisis, or conflict. After today’s tragedy, it faces its most serious test in 6 years,” Political anaylst on South ASian affairs Michael Kugleman said. 

“The Modi government is building some serious tension around the Pahalgam incident. The direction of Indian media narratives, the hyper activity generated by government ministers, the PM's dash back home, and Intl reactions are all setting the tone for a major event. Pakistan remains alert, eyes wide open, weapon-ready, and all hands on deck, Journalist Syed Talat Hussain said . 

Journalist Murtaza Solangi dismissed Indian media claims of Pakistani involvement in the Pahalgam incident, suggesting the BJP government would exploit the attack to undermine Omar Abdullah's administration in IIOJK.

“Very concerning situation following an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. PM Modi has cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia, and the US is signaling full support for India as VP Vance visits. The risk of an India-Pakistan crisis is as high as it's been since 2019,” former US diplomat Elizabeth Threlkeld said on X.