Srinagar, April 23 -- This is no time to mince words: this was a barbaric, premeditated act of terror designed to spill blood and instill fear: the kind of twisted, performative violence that seeks to erase humanity. To attack unarmed civilians, families, children, people whose only "offense" was stepping foot in Kashmir, is an act of pure evil. It is terrorism. Period.

This is the deadliest attack on civilians in the Valley in years. And it is meant to tear apart the peace that has prevailed in the region over the past several years. It is this peace that has made it possible for tourism to thrive. The attempt is clearly to kill tourism and drag Kashmir back to violence and chaos from which it has emerged with difficulty, supported by t...