Statement on the Recent Terrorist Attack in Jammu and Kashmir

May 3, 2025

The Lemkin Institute For Genocide Prevention and Human Security unequivocally condemns the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which has resulted in tragic loss of at least 26 lives and left many more injured. We at the Lemkin Institute extend our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and wish a swift recovery to those who were injured.

Jammu and Kashmir holds immense geopolitical significance, situated at the strategic intersection of India, Pakistan, and China—three key regional powers. As a longstanding flashpoint between nuclear-armed states, the region plays a pivotal role in South Asia’s security architecture, regional connectivity, and access to vital natural resources. Its stability is essential for regional peace.

The Resistance Front (TRF), which has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, cites opposition to India’s military occupation and the ongoing oppression of Kashmiris as their motive. We firmly denounce terrorism in all its forms as an abhorrent assault on human dignity and security. We stress the urgent need to ensure that all perpetrators, planners, and sponsors are swiftly brought to justice, in full accordance with international law, and without delay or impunity. At the same time, it is essential to acknowledge that such acts of violence do not occur in a vacuum. They are deeply rooted in the systemic injustices and structural violence faced by the Kashmiri people under prolonged Indian domination.

Jammu and Kashmir remains one of the most militarized zones in the world, where the local population lives under constant surveillance, repression, and fear—what many have rightly termed an open-air prison. Since the unilateral revocation of Article 370 in 2019, the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK) has worsened dramatically, marked by mass detentions, communication blackouts, suppression of press freedoms, and severe curtailment of movement. Article 370 of the Indian Constitution granted special autonomous status to Jammu & Kashmir, allowing it to have its own constitution, flag, and limited central government jurisdiction.

India has hastily blamed the Pakistani government for the attack without providing credible evidence. This pattern of scapegoating external actors, rather than addressing internal grievances and failures, only serves to inflame regional tensions.

Furthermore, rising allegations suggest that the Modi government may be leveraging this crisis to stoke nationalist fervor ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections—risking regional war to serve domestic political interests. Such reckless maneuvers imperil millions and push South Asia closer to large-scale conflict.

The recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and threats to block water access to Pakistan mark a dangerous escalation, especially given that the warning came directly from India's Water Resources Minister, Chandrakant Raghunath Paatil. Weaponizing water—a fundamental human right—sets a deeply troubling precedent and threatens the lives and livelihoods of countless civilians downstream. These actions raise serious humanitarian and legal concerns under international law and could amount to crimes against humanity and genocide.

We urge both India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and prioritize dialogue over escalation. Retaliatory actions and inflammatory rhetoric risk spiraling into broader conflict, with devastating humanitarian consequences.

In this critical moment, we take note of Pakistan’s offer for a neutral, international investigation into the attack. Transparency is essential to ensuring justice and preventing future violence. India must cooperate with credible, neutral mechanisms — justice cannot be served through unilateral actions or politicized narratives.

As an organization committed to genocide prevention, we warn against the dangers of unchecked hostility, which can exacerbate communal violence and put civilian lives at risk. The government of India must not use this attack as an excuse to enact genocidal violence against Muslim communities in Kashmir, other parts of India, or Pakistan. Both nations must return to diplomatic channels, uphold their obligations under international law, and work toward a peaceful resolution.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir have endured decades of conflict. It is time to break this cycle. We stand with all victims of violence and urge global stakeholders to support de-escalation, impartial investigations, and meaningful dialogue between India and Pakistan.