News Desk, Qaseem Shah:
Pahalgam, Kashmir — A deadly attack in Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination in the Pahalgam region of Indian-administered Kashmir, has left more than 20 people dead and at least 24 injured. While authorities label it a terror incident, political analysts and social media users are raising critical questions about its timing and narrative.
The massacre occurred just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting Saudi Arabia for key diplomatic and economic talks. His swift condemnation from abroad, paired with Home Minister Amit Shah’s immediate deployment to the valley, has triggered a wave of scepticism, not just about the perpetrators, but about the possible political choreography behind the tragedy.
This isn’t the first time a major security incident has coincided with Modi’s overseas engagements or the lead-up to an election cycle. Many are drawing parallels with the 2019 Pulwama attack, which dramatically reshaped India’s political discourse ahead of national polls.
False Flag Allegations Resurface
Critics claim the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack follows a familiar playbook: a horrific incident, rapid accusations against Pakistan, blanket media coverage filled with emotion and outrage, and a hard pivot to nationalist rhetoric. All of it, they argue, serves to distract, unify, and consolidate political power at home.
“This feels manufactured,” said a political observer. “The pattern is textbook: tragedy strikes, Pakistan is blamed without thorough investigation, and the media fuels hysteria — all while top leadership is conveniently abroad.”
The narrative has taken over Indian media channels, with hashtags like #PahalgamAttack and #KashmirTerror trending. Yet, beneath the surface, alternate voices are asking a deeper question: is this an organic act of terror, or state-sponsored theater meant to serve a strategic script?
A Pattern of Distraction?
On social media, independent journalists and civil society members are voicing concern over what they describe as a “repeat performance.” One Kashmiri journalist posted, “What happened in Baisaran is heartbreaking. But is it spontaneous violence — or politically timed chaos?”
The attack’s timing, the geopolitical blame game, and the emotional media framing are leading many to suggest that the tragedy in Pahalgam may be more than what meets the eye.
With investigations still underway and the region on high alert, many are beginning to shift their focus from “Who carried out the attack?” to “Who benefits from it?”
