The killing of 26 Hindu civilians in a meadow near Pahalgam last week has once again ripped apart Kashmir’s fragile illusion of peace. Eyewitness accounts reveal the horrific truth: victims were chosen based on religion and gunned down at close range, while some locals risked their lives to shield tourists from the attackers.

Whether the assault was led by foreign militants or local extremists is of little comfort to grieving families. It also demolishes the image of “normalcy” long marketed by the state, built on a booming tourist industry and silenced dissent.

For nearly 40 years, the region has been caught in a repeating nightmare—lulls in violence followed by bloodshed, propaganda of peace followed by devastation. The 2019 abrogation of Article 370 was sold as a reset, but that illusion didn’t last. After the Pulwama attack in 2019, the nations edged toward war once again.

Since then, Kashmir has been governed from Delhi with minimal local representation. Dissent is throttled through arrests, surveillance, and a subdued press. New land and domicile laws deepen the alienation. Beneath the surface calm is a smothering sense of loss and dispossession.

Pakistan, grappling with internal instability, continues to use Kashmir to justify military dominance. With tensions surging, retaliation looms large—but another round of violence will only compound the tragedy.

Peace won’t come from bombs or border fire. It begins with honest dialogue—with Kashmiris, not just about them.