In the wake of a devastating terrorist assault that claimed the lives of 26 individuals, predominantly Hindu tourists near Pahalgam, Kashmir, India's Muslim population is increasingly apprehensive about the repercussions they face. Many activists warn that Hindu nationalist factions are capitalizing on this tragedy to intensify a campaign of discrimination against Muslims, the country’s largest minority group.
The Indian government has asserted that Pakistan bears responsibility for the attack, a claim the Pakistani authorities reject. As tensions escalate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to take military action against the perpetrators and to dismantle their support networks. A statement from a Pakistani official indicated that they anticipate a possible Indian military response.
Instead of pursuing diplomacy, the Indian government has adopted aggressive punitive measures, including threats to regulate the flow of cross-border rivers, in retaliation against Pakistan. Concurrently, officials and right-wing groups are intensifying their focus on the Muslim community, justifying organized harassment and detentions under the guise of targeting illegal immigration.
In several regions led by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, local authorities are narrowing in on individuals they label as “illegal Bangladeshis” and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Such terminology colloquially extends to all Muslims, further stoking fears of discrimination and persecution among India's Muslim citizens amidst a backdrop of heightened political and social tension.
The Indian government has asserted that Pakistan bears responsibility for the attack, a claim the Pakistani authorities reject. As tensions escalate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to take military action against the perpetrators and to dismantle their support networks. A statement from a Pakistani official indicated that they anticipate a possible Indian military response.
Instead of pursuing diplomacy, the Indian government has adopted aggressive punitive measures, including threats to regulate the flow of cross-border rivers, in retaliation against Pakistan. Concurrently, officials and right-wing groups are intensifying their focus on the Muslim community, justifying organized harassment and detentions under the guise of targeting illegal immigration.
In several regions led by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, local authorities are narrowing in on individuals they label as “illegal Bangladeshis” and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Such terminology colloquially extends to all Muslims, further stoking fears of discrimination and persecution among India's Muslim citizens amidst a backdrop of heightened political and social tension.
