In a rare admission, the Indian government has acknowledged a complete failure of its intelligence and security apparatus in preventing the recent deadly attack in the occupied Kashmir region, where unidentified gunmen opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam, killing 26 and injuring 12 others.
The admission came during an all-parties conference chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday. Under mounting pressure, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah conceded that the Pahalgam incident was a clear case of intelligence and security failure—raising serious questions about India’s claims of stability and normalcy in the disputed region.
The attack has further exposed the deteriorating security situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir despite New Delhi’s repeated assertions of peace. Opposition parties in India strongly criticised the Modi government for its mishandling of the region, demanding accountability and a transparent investigation. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the absence of adequate security in a high-profile tourist zone, terming the incident a direct consequence of government negligence.
Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), also present at the meeting, questioned the government’s provocative stance on the Indus Waters Treaty. “If India intends to divert river waters, where does it plan to store them?” he asked, exposing the impracticality of New Delhi’s aggressive posturing against Pakistan. The government’s vague response—that ‘arrangements will be made’—underscored the hollowness of its threats.
Meanwhile, the Congress party directly held Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration responsible for the security lapse, stating that such incidents reflect not only intelligence failure but also a dangerous mismanagement of the Kashmir issue. “A comprehensive review is necessary in the interest of public safety and transparency,” a party statement said.
The attack, which took place on Tuesday in the scenic region of Pahalgam, resulted in the deaths of two foreign nationals—one from Italy and one from Israel—as well as an officer of the Indian Navy. The fact that such a high-casualty attack could occur in a heavily militarized area raises further doubts about India’s narrative and control over the region.
Pakistan has long warned the international community about human rights violations and growing instability in Indian-occupied Kashmir. The recent attack and India’s own acknowledgment of its failure only reinforce Islamabad’s concerns.
