Kashmiri Hindus urge global action post Pahalgam attack

Kashmiri Hindus in the US are demanding greater accountability and global awareness following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.

The diaspora members said the attack on April 22, which occurred during the visit of US Vice President JD Vance to India, has raised serious concerns about lapses in security preparedness and persistent threats to minority communities in Kashmir.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Dr. Vijay Sazawal, international coordinator of the Indo-American Kashmir Forum (IAKF), claimed that the attack was a preventable tragedy.

“Thousands of tourists use this route daily, yet there was no visible security presence on the day of the attack. Despite a high-profile diplomatic visit, basic risk assessments were clearly ignored,” he claimed.

“While attention often centers on cross-border terrorism, there are also internal support structures — overground workers — that quietly sustain militant activity," Sazawal said, claiming that the "progress against them has been hindered by judicial delays and administrative inefficiencies”.

Dr Subhash Kak, a Padma Shri awardee and an academic based in Oklahoma, said the Pahalgam attack underscores the fact that severing diplomatic ties or curbing trade with Pakistan is not enough.

Amit Raina, a Kashmiri Pandit based in Houston, said, “For many, this was a shocking event. For us, it is a recurring nightmare. The same pattern — Amarnath, Wandhama, Nadimarg — keeps repeating. We’re still waiting for justice.” Meanwhile, the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) and HinduACTion, led by Utsav Chakraborty, are hosting a congressional briefing titled 'Pakistan’s Proxy War Against Hindus: Global Implications' on May 5 in Washington, D.C.

Utsav Chakraborty, executive director of HinduACTion, said the attack reflects a larger transnational threat.

“This isn’t just another terror incident. This is part of a sustained ideological campaign. The US and its allies must take seriously Pakistan’s use of jihadist groups as geopolitical tools,” he said.

The Pahalgam attack drew swift and widespread condemnation from global leaders, who expressed solidarity with India and denounced terrorism.

Memorial vigils and community prayer meetings condemning the attack are being held in more than 50 cities across the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia to honor the victims.