The Pahalgam Massacre & the Whitewashing of Terror
The recent Pahalgam terror attack hit like a punch to the gut—a cowardly slaughter of innocent Hindus, a macabre betrayal that spits in the face of justice and peace. Once again, we’re left broken, enraged, watching the same horrors unfold.
This wasn’t just an attack; it was a reminder of the hatred that festers, targeting people simply for being Hindu. It could’ve been any of us—any family torn apart, any child watching a loved one bleed out. For what?
In this age of social media, you’d think the truth would shine through. But instead, we’re drowning in a sea of misinformation. Terrorism sponsors, enablers, and even parts of the Western media are already whitewashing this massacre, spinning narratives to paint perpetrators as victims or “misunderstood.” People with political motives jump in, crying crocodile tears while pushing their agendas. It’s sickening how quickly they dilute the blood on the ground into a “complex issue.”
Now, imagine how much worse this whitewashing would’ve been in 1990, when the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus happened. No social media, no way for voices of millions like mine—someone who lived through that exodus—to cut through the lies. Back then, a handful of outlets controlled the story, and the world barely blinked as families were driven from their homes, lives shattered, and an entire community erased from the valley.
The 1990 genocide was a wound that never healed, and the Pahalgam massacre, like many other such horrid incidents before, is salt rubbed in it. We were fools to believe Kashmir was “safe,” pouring money into tourism while unknowingly fueling forces that plot our destruction. Article 370’s repeal was sold as a turning point, yet the hatred persists, festering in the shadows.
Processions will march—not for the victims, but for terrorists hailed as heroes. Even “candle marches” turn into hollow spectacles, with smirking faces using tragedy as a photo-op. A self-respecting nation would’ve crushed this menace long ago. Instead, we distract ourselves—cricket, web series, even music from a terrorist state that fuels our suffering. Speak out, and you’re vilified. The silence is complicity; the inaction, betrayal.
The perpetrators and their enablers must face merciless justice—but will they? History mocks our demands. Look at 1990: the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus was swept under the rug, with barely a whisper of accountability. If there was no social media then, imagine the lies that would’ve buried Pahalgam today. Without platforms to amplify our voices, the narrative would be whatever the powerful decided—probably blaming the victims, as they always do.
Even now, with social media and other platforms, we’re fighting an uphill battle against those who’d rather obfuscate than confront the truth. Look at the number of articles already pushed in that won't mention that the victims were killed upon confirming they're Hindus.
BBC's headline ("Pakistan suspends visas for Indians after deadly terrorist attack") makes me want to throw up. Too many such examples to name. It's been nights I haven't slept more than a couple of hours every night. Been so disturbed and upset.
This isn’t just about politics for me—it’s personal. The genocide that led to the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus isn’t a talking point; it’s my lived experience, a scar carried by my family and countless others. How much more blood must spill before we stop swallowing the spin?
We can’t keep scrolling past the truth, numbing ourselves with entertainment while the same horrors repeat. It’s time to wake up and accept the truth. Question the narratives, seek out the facts, and demand justice—not just for Pahalgam, but for every life stolen by this hatred. Let’s honor the victims by refusing to let their stories be whitewashed. Are we angry enough to act, or will we let history repeat itself again?
Editor's Note: This article has been published in its original, unedited form to preserve the authentic voice and perspective of its author, who is a survivor of the 1990 Kashmiri Hindu genocide.
