EP-288 | Pahalgam Terror Attack: How Pak-Backed Terrorists Planned it & Will India Respond

India has faced its worst terrorist attack on civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. In Kashmir's Pahalgam, 27 innocent lives were lost and 15 others were injured in an attack backed by Pakistan. Terrorists opened fire at point-blank range, targeting innocent tourists. Four terrorists stormed the popular tourist location, creating chaos for 20 minutes. Will India respond to this attack? What will be New Delhi’s reaction?

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Lieutenant General Devendra Pratap Pandey (Retd), former Commander of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps. He explains why terrorists chose Pahalgam to attack civilians, what message Pakistan intends to send to India and Kashmir, and whether the terrorists had local support.

Pandey also discusses whether there could be more attacks like the one in Pahalgam and blames Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for orchestrating these attacks, calling him the "Kingpin" behind them.

00:00 – Introduction

01:00 – Intel failure behind the attack

03:33 – Pakistan’s message to Kashmiris

05:20 – 'Asim Munir behind the attack'

08:11 – Why only tourists were targeted

13:54 – Gulmarg fashion show controversy

15:20 – Who tipped the terrorists off

17:55 – Why women and children were spared

21:20 – Rising tourism in Kashmir

24:55 – What Kashmiris think of the terror attack

28:22 – India vs Pakistan: Leadership compared

30:40 – India’s response to the attack

33:17 – Casualties in the war

34:57 – ISI’s propaganda

36:30 – Consequences of war

38:42 – 'Pakistan wants a war'

43:16 – Civilian, military, and intel coordination

46:33 – Why the terrorist said “Tell Modi”

50:32 – NC & PDP’s stance on the attack

53:56 – A message for Indians