Former NSG and R&AW officer Dipanjan Chakraborty offers a different perspective on the Pahalgam terror attack. He believes the perpetrators have revealed a new form of jihad, where the intent was not just terrorism, but a targeted communal assault. “I have over 30 years of experience handling jihad in various capacities. Stripping men to determine their religious identity and then shooting them at gunpoint marks a disturbing new development.” Former Ex-NSG & R&AW Officer Dipanjan Chakraborty said.
Not A Terror Attack
“This was not a terror attack, but a communal one. Killing people in open spaces is not new when it comes to terrorist activities. But stripping them in public to determine their religion and then shooting them is a new and disturbing form of jihad. This is unprecedented in India. Asking for someone’s identity and choosing them for execution has a deeply negative impact across all religious communities in the country. Even globally, such incidents are extremely rare.”
Religious Polarisation In India
According to the former NSG officer, the perpetrators are well aware of the political polarisation currently happening in India. They aim to create fear and distrust toward the government. By carrying out this new form of jihad, they are deliberately fueling division and discrimination between Hindus and Muslims.
Abrogation Of Article 370 In Kashmir And Waqf (Amendment) Bill
“I don’t believe the abrogation of Article 370 or the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is connected to this incident. Additionally, if the Waqf Bill had truly caused any negative impact, states like Assam and West Bengal, which have a significant Muslim population, would likely have seen a backlash.” He also suggested that West Bengal served as a testing ground for ‘Ghazwatul Hind’- a concept used by extremist groups to describe a future battle aimed at establishing Islamic rule in India. The group is widely seen as promoting religious extremism, spreading misinformation, and intensifying communal tensions across South Asia.
Will India Retaliate?
Former RAW officer Dipanjan Chakraborty said that he believes India will respond soon to those responsible for the Pahalgam massacre. “I believe India will respond soon. The perpetrators also know that India will react strongly. The extent of the response is something only the government is aware of. It will be much like a Balakot-style surgical strike.”
Pahalgam Attack
In one of the worst terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, 26 people- including two foreigners- were killed when gunmen believed to be terrorists shot at a group of tourists in the beautiful Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon.
Intelligence reports say that a senior leader of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), named Saifullah Kasuri (also known as Khalid), is the main person behind this deadly attack. Reports suggest that he is believed to be operating from Gujranwala, a city in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation has arranged four additional flights from Kashmir – two each to Delhi and Mumbai – on Wednesday for the safe transfer of tourists.
