The Resistance Front, has backpedalled on its claims of responsibility for the terrorist attack on tourists at Pahalgam. Believed to be a facade for Pakistan-based “Lashkar-E-Taiba” terrorist organisation, The Resistance Front initially took shape virtually, through Telegram groups and other virtual platforms, after crackdown by Bharat on terrorism in Jammu-Kashmir after repealing article 370. However, after the Modi administration took forceful and decisive measures against Pakistan for abetting the terrorists responsible, the group has since backpedaled, now laughably claiming its account was hacked by Indian cybersecurity.
While not credible, the act of backpedalling signals how the attack has backfired on the perpertrators. Such terror attacks have under past governments gone unanswered or had no major consequences for either Pakistan or terrorists.
This time things have changed. Bharat immediately suspended the Indus Water Treaty, cutting off most of the water to Pakistan. During the first Indo-Pakistan war, when Pakistan sent tribal militia into Kashmir, India engineers closed the dams controlling the Indus river, causing Pakistan to lose almost all access to water. Consequently the Indus Water Treaty was brokered by the World Bank, which gives Pakistan control over 70% of the water from the Indus river. This is the first time Bharat has suspended this treaty and it has directly laid responsibility for the attacks at the door of Pakistan. Bharat has also suspended all bilateral relations with Pakistan, expelled all Pakistanis living under the SAARC visa and closed the Attari-Wagah border, through which billions of rupees of trade pass.
This has firmly put the pressure on Pakistani government, both in political terms and in real terms. Hence the subsequent denial of responsibility by The Resistance Front, a direct consequence of Pakistani pressure.
The English name of the group was believed by intelligence and security experts to be an effort to gain a “Nationalistic” following from residents of the Kashmir valley.
Immediately after the terror attack, a Telegram account of the organisation triumphantly claimed responsibility for the attacks. The reason given was that government of Bharat has allowed non-kashmiris to buy land and emigrate to the Kashmir region.
However, the claim and the attack have badly backfired on The Resistance Front, Laskar-E-Taiba and the Pakistani Government since the attack. Pakistani government is believed to support the Lashkar-E-Taiba group which itself is believed to use The Resistance Front as a facade.
Sordid details are coming out about the planning and organising of the attacks, which have blatantly exposed the hatred and bigotry of the Terrorists. Firstly, the terrorists asked the victims their religion before shooting them. They even pulled down the trousers of some victims to ascertain they were not muslims. The only reason for them being shot was for being Hindu.
The perception within Kashmir itself has been that of bigot, backward troublemakers causing significant harm. Tourists, who have visited Kashmir in millions in the recent past, have cancelled bookings and are scrambling to leave causing panic among Kashmiri tour operators. With a tangible loss of livelihood and facing poverty again, even the Kashmiris are turning against the terrorists. Kashmiris do not want to be ruled by Pakistan, they want the peace and prosperity of the Modi governed Bharat.
Meanwhile international opinion has mobilised in support of Bharat and the victims. In Mauritius, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh(HSS), Overseas Friends of BJP(OFBJP), Human Service Trust(HST) and several Hindu organisations have already organised, or are organising sympathetic events. Shraddhanjali Samaroh and Candle-Light events are happening throughout the Indian diaspora.
This is sending a clear message, terrorism in Kashmir is not welcome by the international community, and even less so within Kashmir itself. There is resistance towards The Resistance Front.
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