The filing of a detailed chargesheet on the Pahalgam massacre marks more than a procedural milestone in India’s counter-terrorism effort; it is a statement about how the state now intends to frame violence in Kashmir. By formally naming Pakistan-based militant outfits and tracing the conspiracy beyond India’s borders, the investigation shifts the episode from a tragic security failure to a test of accountability, deterrence, and political resolve. The attack itself carried grim symbolism.

Tourists were deliberately singled out, religious identity was weaponised, and a space marketed as safe and pastoral was turned into a killing ground. That choice of target was not incidental. It was designed to rupture India’s claim of normalcy in Kashmir, damage the local economy, and provoke a reaction that could internationalise the crisis. The chargesheet’s emphasis on planning, handlers and cross-border coordination suggests the state wants to underline precisely this strategic intent. From New........

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