Let not the blood of innocents feed the fire of hate,
For grief knows no religion, and bombs know no faith.
We all cry the same tears, feel the same fears,
Then why let terror divide us into lines it never drew?

Politics Over People: A Disturbing Pattern

For many years, the peaceful and scenic land of Jammu and Kashmir has been suffering from repeated terror attacks. Each time, the country sees shock, sadness, and loud media debates, but rarely do we get real answers or see anyone held responsible.

Consider this timeline:

• November 2016 – Nagrota Army Base Attack
• July 2017 -Amarnath Yatra Attack

• February 2018 – Sunjuwan Army Camp Attack
• February 2019 – Pulwama Attack
•  January 2023 – The Poonch Rajouri Attack
• April 2025 -Pahalgam Attack

These attacks, instead of leading to serious reforms in national security and intelligence, are often politicized. They become opportunities to stir emotions, grab headlines, and shift public focus away from real issues. Whenever a terror attack happens, the questions that truly matter often go unasked. Instead of asking Why were vulnerable areas left without adequate security? What failed in our intelligence gathering? Why does violence continue to erupt in sensitive regions like Kashmir? the public is steered toward less meaningful debates. The focus shifts to who looks more patriotic, which community should be blamed, or how this incident might boost political mileage. This redirection is no accident it’s a deliberate tactic to shape the public narrative. By framing the issue as a divide between ‘us’ and ‘them’, political forces avoid facing uncomfortable questions about security lapses, poor planning, and inaction. In the fog of blame and emotion, the truth quietly disappears.

Terror Has No Religion, Only an Agenda

Let’s be clear terrorism has no religion. It is not born from faith but from hate, and it certainly does not represent Islam. Time and again, Indian Muslims have strongly condemned acts of terror, standing firmly with the nation in moments of grief and crisis. The teachings of Islam, like those in many faiths, value human life deeply. The Qur’an itself says, “Whoever kills an innocent person, it is as if he has killed all of humanity” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:32). This verse makes it clear: true religion does not justify violence it denounces it.

Using Terror as a Tool for Electoral Gain

A study titled “Electoral Expediency: A Case Study of the Pulwama Incident and its Impact on Indian General Elections 2019” shows how this tragedy was used to align military actions with political messaging, helping to boost the ruling party’s image. Instead of asking why the intelligence failed, the narrative quickly turned to who was questioning the government and those who did were branded as anti-national.

Conclusion: A Choice to Make

But who gains from this cycle of fear and division? Not the families who bury their loved ones. Not the citizens who yearn for safety. Not the democracy that thrives on truth and accountability. The real winner is neither the people nor the nation; it is the politics of polarization. When tragedy strikes, our response should not be to turn on each other, but to turn toward the truth. We must ask the hard questions, demand accountability, and reject the narratives that seek to pit us against one another. Because the real enemy is not a religion, not a community it is terrorism itself, along with the hatred and opportunism that allow it to thrive.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors. Shodheco does not endorse or take responsibility for any of the views presented.