Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has accepted responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, calling it a “Pakistan-sponsored act to disrupt Kashmir’s economy and incite communal discord”.
While acknowledging that the incident was a security lapse, he highlighted the decline in local militant recruitment and emphasized the government’s commitment to countering terrorism.
Sinha also accepted the setback to tourism activities post-Pahalgam attack, but hoped the ongoing Amarnath Yatra would be a turning point.
In an interview to ‘The Times of India’, Sinha described the attack as a “Pakistan-sponsored act of terror intended to sow communal discord and derail the region’s economic progress”.
“I take full responsibility for the incident, which was undoubtedly a security failure,” Sinha said. He added that while the attack was a deliberate attempt to target India’s unity, it should not be seen as evidence that terrorism is resurgent across the Union Territory.
“The intention of the neighbour (Pakistan) was to create a communal divide and trigger a backlash against people of J&K living in other parts of the country, adding to the feeling of alienation,” he said.
According to Sinha, the timing and location of the assault were aimed at undermining Kashmir’s tourism sector and overall economic revival.
“In the past five years, the J&K economy’s size has doubled. Tourists have been flocking in high numbers. This was a hit by Pakistan at the economic well-being of Kashmir,” he told the newspaper, while also stressing that the widespread condemnation by ordinary Kashmiris was a “befitting reply to Pakistan and terror outfits.”
Sinha also maintained that local recruitment of militants had fallen to record lows.
“There has been just one incident of local recruitment this year compared to 6–7 last year. There was a time when this figure used to be 150–200. But it is also a fact that Pakistan has facilitated the infiltration of a large number of terrorists in both Jammu region and Kashmir region,” he noted.
The Pahalgam attack dealt a temporary blow to tourism, with arrivals plunging in the immediate aftermath. “Tourist arrivals had almost stopped after the incident. We believe that the Amarnath Yatra would be the turning point,” Sinha said.
The LG said that tourist destinations closed after the attack are being gradually reopened. “Many have already opened. Others too will be opened in a phased manner, after finalising a robust security plan for each,” he said.
On the broader security environment, Sinha said the “success of Operation Sindoor had drawn clear red lines for Pakistan”.
“India has made it clear that any terror attack will be considered an act of war. The manner in which our forces carried out precise hits against terror facilities in Pakistan conveyed a stern message. But a country that has made terrorism its declared state policy is not to be trusted,” he said.
Sinha also expressed confidence that the Union Home Ministry, Defence Ministry and intelligence agencies are fully prepared to counter any future threats.
