People’s Confidence Will Defeat Terrorism, Not Collective Blame
Mohd Abass Rather
SOME words become heavy with meaning. For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the word "terrorism" is one of them. When used carelessly, it stops being just a word for a violent act and becomes a label for an entire community. It becomes a lens that distorts how people see them, making their hopes seem suspicious and their pain seem less important.
The recent heinous terrorist acts in Pahalgam and Delhi cannot be but condemned by all shades of opinions. It reminds us of a deep and painful process of tragic events in Kashmir since 1990. The loss of precious innocent lives is a tragedy. Those responsible for these terrible and shameful acts must be brought to book and punished under law.
But after such events, another kind of harm often happens - a harm done with words. Using terms like "white-collar terrorism" to describe everyday professionals like doctors, teachers, and business people is utterly wrong and leads to unwarranted consequences. It builds a wall of suspicion around a whole community.
Unseen Pain: When Helpers Are Harmed
To understand why this labelling hurts so much, we must remember the stories that often get forgotten.
Who was Farooq Ashai, and who killed him? He was a doctor, a man who had promised to save lives. His hands were meant to heal, not to cause harm. His clinic was a place of care, not a place of conspiracy. His death was a deep loss for his community. Who was AA Guroo who was shot? He was brilliant and dedicated to serving the people. Who was Jalal-ud-Din who was brutally killed for reasons not yet known? He was an eminent cardiologist and former Director of SKIMS, Soura. They were all professionals who were serving ailing and sick people. These and such other innumerable acts of terror have only deepened the pain of the common Kashmiris. Now, when every doctor is brought under the lens of suspicion, it is a major concern for all of those who have lost their dear ones in the whole process of violence.
Weight of Doubt: The Artisan and The Student
This culture of suspicion affects everyone. Think of the shawl seller. His world is about beautiful fabrics and skilled craft. His shop is a place of art and history. But when viewed with suspicion, his work seems like a possible secret operation. His simple acts of making a living are seen as hiding something else. This amounts to depriving him of his livelihood and an insult to his dignity.
Or think of the student, focused on studies. In a fearful atmosphere, his/her studies get disrupted by acts for which he or she is not responsible. The university, which should be a place for open minds, becomes a place where students learn to be silent instead of learning to think.
This constant, low-level worry is a real burden. To be stopped often, to have your identity questioned, to feel the wary eyes of others, this creates a daily stress that is hard to bear. It makes you feel that your loyalty is always in question.
Promise of The Constitution
India’s Constitution is a beautiful promise. It promises every citizen the right to life, freedom, and dignity. It promises equality for everyone. For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, these promises are like guiding lights. To make these promises real is not a special favour; it is a duty. This is the true way to win "hearts and minds."
Winning hearts is not about building more roads or buildings. It is about justice. It is about making sure that if a doctor is killed, the system works fairly for him. It is about a student from Kashmir being able to study anywhere in India without fear. It is about a trader being able to do business without being seen as a threat. When the state protects all its citizens equally, it builds a strong bond of trust. The system should not be seen as divisive, which leads to hatred and cynicism. Our real strength is in the unity and trust of all our people.
Plea for a New Perspective
Our constant focus on security has made us forget the simple humanity of Kashmir. We have forgotten to see Kashmiris as persons - who loves their land, enjoys their poetry and music, and worry about their family's future. People who, like anyone else, want a peaceful life.
This is not to ignore the political issues. It is to remember the human being at the centre of it all. For every story of conflict, there are thousands of stories of kindness, art, learning, and courage. We need to listen to these stories, too.
We are not asking that real dangers be ignored. We are asking for wisdom. We ask our leaders, our media, and ourselves to separate the criminal from the community. We must punish the guilty with the full force of the law, but we must welcome the innocent—the doctor, the teacher, the artisan—as our own.
The future of Jammu and Kashmir, and of India, depends on this change. We must replace the lens of suspicion with a clear view of empathy and fairness. We must see the Kashmiri not as a problem to be solved, but as a partner in building a better future.
Using harsh methods against the whole society will not end terror. History shows us this. It is the people, not just security forces alone, who can truly end violence. The decision to remove the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, taking away political and land rights, is an example of an approach that causes more hurt than healing.
We have seen enough pain. Let us now choose understanding. The time has come to win people with compassion, not push them away with suspicion. Bringing back a sense of political belonging for the people can help. We must build trust with gentle words, not create distance by harsh actions.
The present dispensation has been creating hatred campaigns which sow the seeds of skepticism and mistrust among the communities. Every policy pursued in Jammu and Kashmir is based on suspicion which leads to massive alienation. To isolate those who are against the unity of the country and people, it is important to demand restoration of democratic and civil liberties of the people in Kashmir. It is fundamentally true that the acts of violence and terror cannot be tackled effectively without confidence of the people.
The world-wide experience shows that terrorism is best countered when the public feels protected, not targeted. Isolating inimical elements becomes possible only when ordinary citizens feel respected and secure. A country as pluralistic and democratic as India cannot afford to let anger turn into collective blame. Protecting both justice and dignity must be the guiding principle. The fight against terrorism is not strengthened by suspicion. It is strengthened by fairness, law, and the trust of the people. Kashmiris have repeatedly shown that they stand for peace. It is time the rest of the country stands with them.
In the end, this is not just about land. It is about the idea of India—an idea that is big enough, kind enough, and wise enough to include all its people in a peaceful embrace. To fail in Kashmir would be to lose a part of our own soul.
