India, May 14 -- In the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir stands once again at a critical inflection point. This act of brutal violence, followed by Operation Sindoor, India's swift and precise counter-terror response, underscores both the volatility of the security environment and the resilience of India's institutions. The grief is profound, the outrage justified, and the strategic questions pressing. This was not merely a barbaric act of terrorism, or a breach of security. It was an assault on the very idea of a peaceful, plural, and open Kashmir.

Yet what is equally important - and encouraging - is the response of ordinary Kashmiris: unequivocal, compassionate, and resolute in their rejection of violence. Unlike in ...