Notably, earlier this year, one of the two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies responsible for patrolling the area was redeployed, significantly reducing the presence of trained personnel at the site
Following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives—including two foreign nationals—and left 17 others injured, initial investigations have revealed critical lapses in security and intelligence coordination. The incident, which occurred at the popular tourist destination of Baisaran meadow in Jammu and Kashmir, has raised serious concerns over preparedness and the effectiveness of current security strategies.
During an all-party meeting in Delhi, the Union Home Minister formally acknowledged shortcomings in security, following pointed questions from the opposition. Reports indicate that the Unified Command—an umbrella body chaired by the Lieutenant Governor and comprising representatives from various security agencies—had declared the Kashmir Valley relatively safe without conducting comprehensive ground-level threat assessments.
“Despite a surge in civilian footfall at the Baisaran meadow, the Unified Command and local police failed to act on actionable intelligence,” said a senior security official familiar with the matter. Sources suggest that the decision to scale down security deployments may have directly contributed to the attackers’ ability to strike undetected.
Notably, earlier this year, one of the two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies responsible for patrolling the area was redeployed, significantly reducing the presence of trained personnel at the site. Furthermore, the nearest Quick Action Team—belonging to CRPF’s 116 battalion—took more than an hour to respond to the incident, giving the perpetrators enough time to execute the attack and flee.
Eyewitnesses have reportedly told investigators that the assailants were communicating in Pashto, pointing to a possible link with terror groups operating in regions near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. This detail has prompted investigators to explore the likelihood of external involvement, supported by local reconnaissance.
In response, authorities have initiated a multi-agency investigation to trace the planning and execution of the attack. Extensive combing operations are currently underway in the surrounding areas of Baisaran valley. A key lead in the probe is the recovery of a Chinese-origin communication device believed to have been used by the attackers to evade digital surveillance. Security experts believe this could signal a shift in tactics, with militant groups adopting more sophisticated tools to bypass conventional monitoring systems.
“The nature of the attack and the technology recovered suggest a higher level of coordination and planning. It is no longer enough to depend on static deployments or temporary reinforcements,” said a senior intelligence officer involved in the investigation. “A permanent, intelligence-led security architecture is essential.”
The incident has reignited the debate over the need for continuous on-ground intelligence gathering and regular threat assessments, especially in tourist-heavy zones. Experts are calling for a move away from reactive measures towards more proactive, data-driven strategies that involve close collaboration between local police, paramilitary units, and central intelligence agencies.
While combing operations and forensic analysis continue, the broader concern remains—how to effectively secure high-traffic areas in a region still vulnerable to insurgency. In the absence of a sustained and agile security framework, experts warn, such attacks could repeat with devastating consequences.
The Pahalgam tragedy has laid bare systemic weaknesses that, if unaddressed, could undermine hard-won stability in Jammu and Kashmir. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the lessons from this incident will be translated into concrete reforms and long-term security enhancements.