English Reading Comprehension 26 April 2025.

Reading Comprehension

On Jammu and Kashmir post Pahalgam terror attack

New Delhi must act in concert with Srinagar to isolate terrorists

In the aftermath (आफ्टरमैथ – परिणाम) of the gruesome (ग्रूसम – भयानक) terror incident in Pahalgam, India must hear clearly the message emanating (एमनेटिंग – निकलने वाला) from those who committed the heinous (हेनस – जघन्य) crimes.

By targeting tourists by religion and killing them in cold blood, the terrorists have sought to undermine (अंडरमाइन – कमजोर करना) India's plurality (प्लूरैलिटी – बहुलता) and what the country stands for.

By killing a local Kashmiri who tried to help the hapless (हैप्लेस – असहाय) tourists, and by targeting people in a popular location that benefits the Kashmiri economy, the attackers have grievously (ग्रीवसली – गंभीर रूप से) harmed the livelihoods of thousands of Kashmiris dependent on tourism.

By choosing to attack unarmed tourists at a time when the U.S. Vice-President was visiting India, they have also sought to undermine the perception (परसेप्शन – धारणा) that economic activities had returned to normalcy (नॉर्मलसी – सामान्य स्थिति) after the tumultuous (ट्युमल्चुअस – उथल-पुथल वाला) period following the abrogation (एब्रोगेशन – समाप्ति) of special status for Jammu and Kashmir.

The tragic by-product of the killings is now fear of the possibility that such attacks on tourists may recur (रिकर – फिर से होना), and of the economic pain that this would cause ordinary Kashmiris.

New Delhi's and Srinagar's responses must keep these in mind and work towards the mitigation (मिटिगेशन – शमन) of fear and send a clear message — the people of India, including Kashmiris, are united against terror.

Following the attacks, New Delhi has sought to use strong diplomatic (डिप्लोमैटिक – कूटनीतिक) measures available in its arsenal (आर्सनल – शस्त्रागार) against Pakistan, as it is well known that such terror attacks are almost always carried out by radicalised (रैडिकलाइज़्ड – कट्टरपंथी बनाए गए) elements who are trained by Islamabad's covert (कोवर्ट – गुप्त) agencies.

As it turns out, the mere absence of spectacular (स्पेक्टैकुलर – भव्य) violence cannot be termed normalcy. Normalcy is a relative term and it is better experienced than announced.

While the large-scale violence and militancy (मिलिटेंसी – उग्रवाद) that was seen in the 1990s never happened despite the unpopularity of these decisions, the uneasy calm was reflected in the sporadic (स्पोरैडिक – छिटपुट) incidents of terrorism targeting Kashmiri Pandits, migrants, and security forces in new areas that were hitherto (हिथरटो – अब तक) bereft (बेरफ्त – विहीन) of militancy.

With significant curbs (कर्ब्स – प्रतिबंध) on political activity, there was little outlet even for demands related to governance for the citizenry (सिटिजनरी – नागरिक वर्ग).

The conduct of Lok Sabha elections and the Supreme Court-mandated Assembly election process allowed for some expression of voices in the Valley, but it is a stretch (स्ट्रेच – अतिशयोक्ति) to say that this was "normalcy".

The Union government must work in concert with the Jammu and Kashmir government, empower (एमपावर – सशक्त बनाना) Jammu and Kashmir by restoring Statehood, and assert (असर्ट – दृढ़ता से स्थापित करना) this cohesion (कोहीज़न – एकजुटता) to isolate radical and violent elements threatening the livelihoods of Kashmiris and the lives of tourists visiting the serene (सरीन – शांतिपूर्ण) valley.

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