"I was standing by the Lidder River when I first heard the gunshots."

At first, I thought it was firecrackers — maybe a wedding, or children playing somewhere in the lush green fields.

But deep inside, my heart knew.

In Kashmir, joy rarely arrives without fear trailing close behind.

By the time I rushed toward the main road in Pahalgam, it was already too late.

Sirens were wailing. People were screaming.

The air, once fresh with the scent of pine and water, was now thick with smoke and terror.

A Place Meant for Peace

Pahalgam is supposed to be different.

It’s where lovers come to dream.

Where pilgrims come to pray.

Where children come to play by the riverbanks.

But today, the blood spilt onto the cobblestone paths told a different story.

Today, Pahalgam has become another battlefield.

The Attack That Shook Us All

On [insert date], a group of heavily armed militants ambushed security forces, targeting both soldiers and civilians.

The attack was swift, brutal, and cold-blooded.

There was no mercy. No hesitation.

Just a calculated effort to remind us — peace here is a fragile lie.

The Ghosts Across the Border

As I stood by the shattered remains of a tea stall, listening to the whispers around me, the same bitter questions floated in the air:

• Why now?
• Who still feeds this fire?
• When will it end?

India points to Pakistan — a charge that feels almost ritual now after every attack.

Pakistan denies it, just as quickly.

And somewhere between those two familiar lines, innocent people keep dying.

The truth?

Terror does not grow from nowhere.

It needs soil, and sun, and shelter.

And somewhere, someone is still providing all three.

Whispers of Fear

I spoke to a local shopkeeper, Bashir uncle, who has lived in Pahalgam his entire life.

His eyes, heavy with sorrow, said more than his words ever could:

"Beta, we are tired.

We want to live.

We want our children to live.

But the guns… they never stop."

We Cannot Go Back

We cannot let attacks like Pahalgam be just another entry in a news cycle.

We cannot let violence be normal.

We cannot let the dreams of peace drown in blood again.

If we do, then Kashmir will not just be a disputed territory —

It will become a graveyard of hope itself.

What We Need

Not just stronger borders.

Not just fiercer speeches.

But stronger wills for peace.

The world must demand honest answers from Pakistan.

India must rebuild trust within Kashmir, not just fortify its bunkers.

And we, the people, must never let the dream of peace die —

No matter how many times the valley is forced to bleed.

For Pahalgam, For Peace, For Tomorrow

May the river run clear again.

May the mountains only echo laughter.

May Kashmir finally wake up to a day without gunfire.

By Dr. Payal Arya Sah

Published: 28 April 2025