Srinagar/Jammu: Political parties cutting across party lines on Wednesday paid tributes to the 26 people who were gunned down by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in Pahalgam last year, saying the attack is a wound whose scar will never truly heal.
“The tragic incident not only saddened our hearts, but brought tears to our eyes. It brought grief to every Kashmiri,” ruling National Conference (NC) state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said on the first anniversary of the attack.
He, however, said Kashmiris stood united and condemned the attack.
“A united message came from the people that the entire Kashmir was in grief. People came out everywhere, candlelight marches happened, and this gruesome attack was unanimously condemned by everyone,” he said, adding that the attack had a damaging effect on the Union territory’s economy.
The NC spokesperson expressed hope that such an attack should not happen again and that security agencies augment their defences across the valley, especially at the tourist spots.
J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariiq Hameed Karra, while paying tribute to the victims, said the remembrance of the attack is accompanied by a “continuing sense of anguish”.
“The promise of democracy appears diminished when institutions lack meaningful authority, and when citizens continue to live under the shadow of recurring security concerns. There is a growing perception that governance is becoming reactive rather than anticipatory,” he said.
“At such a juncture, statesmanship demands reflection, course correction, and above all, a willingness to listen, understand, and act in the larger national interest,” he added.
Karra’s party colleague and Congress Legislature Party leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir said terrorism will not be able to break their spirit and reaffirmed “commitment to end violence and build a future where every life in J&K is safe and valued.”
Meanwhile, J&K BJP took out a rally in Anantnag district, in south Kashmir, to commemorate the day as a “black day”.
“Today marks one year of the horrific carnage. We pay our tribute to the martyrs and stand with their families. Modi showed Pakistan that if it does anything, we will strike inside their homes,” BJP leader and former MLC Sofi Yusuf told reporters.
J&K BJP president and MP Sat Sharma said that the entire nation was remembering those who laid down their lives.
“We have gathered along with party workers and the general public to pay tribute to those martyrs who sacrificed their lives for society. India has made it clear that while we do not strike first, we know how to defend ourselves when needed,” he said in Jammu.
People’s Conference chief and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone said the scars of the Pahalgam attack will remain.
“The scars will always remain. How innocent blood was spilled. Let us hope and strive for a peaceful J&K. Let us hope the scourge of terror is eradicated from our lands for all times to come. My humble homage to those who were martyred,” he said.
Sharing similar sentiments, Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari on X said, “Even today, the pain and sense of loss are felt strongly. On this day, as we mark its anniversary, I bow my head in deep respect and offer my heartfelt tribute to every soul we lost.”
Kashmir’s chief preacher Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed solidarity with the families of the Pahalgam attack victims.
“On the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, we remember with deep sorrow those who lost their lives and stand in solidarity with their families, who continue to bear the pain of this tragedy, and unfortunately always will,” Mirwaiz said in a post on X.
He said such incidents reopen the wounds of people of Jammu and Kashmir which has witnessed “similar tragedies”.
“These dates in our calendar every year reopen our wounds to similar tragedies witnessed by us in the last three decades at Gaw Kadal, Zakoora, Hawal, Sopore, Wandhama, Chittisinghpura, to name a few. Thousands of precious human lives lost to the conflict,” he said.
While praying that such incidents are not repeated, he said the faith of people of Jammu and Kashmir in non-violence remains unwavering.
Former J&K DGP S P Vaid said the country stood united in remembering the victims. “Today, we join the nation and Indians across the world to remember those who lost their lives in the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack. India today follows a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism,” he said, praising the response of security forces.
BJP MLA Shagun Parihar, who represents Kishtwar Assembly constituency, also paid homage to the victims and said, “With tear-filled eyes, I remember all those who were martyred. As someone from a martyr’s family, I understand the pain. We hope such incidents never occur again.”
Various organisations and leaders in Jammu also reiterated their commitment to fight terrorism and maintain unity, while remembering the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
“The attack was not just on individuals but on humanity, meant to divide society. We must remain united across all religions,” Traders Federation Warehouse president Deepak Kumar said.
