Pahalgam Attack: What Happened in the Run-Up to India's Uri and Pulwama Counter-Strikes

In the last decade, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed some of the most devastating terrorist attacks that have reshaped India’s security doctrine and foreign policy approach. Among the significant events leading up to India’s high-profile counter-strikes in Uri (2016) and Pulwama (2019), the Pahalgam attack played a notable, though often less-discussed, role in setting the stage for India’s hardened military response.

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Table of Contents

Understanding the Pahalgam Attack

Pahalgam, a serene town in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, known for its scenic beauty and religious significance (being a starting point for the Amarnath Yatra), came under assault from militants at various points during the volatile years leading to 2016 and 2019. Particularly, attacks targeting security forces, pilgrims, and tourists signaled a sharp escalation in the nature of terrorism: it was no longer confined to military targets but extended to civilians and religious congregations.

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Although Pahalgam itself witnessed sporadic smaller attacks compared to Uri and Pulwama, a significant escalation around 2016 involved the targeting of police convoys and sporadic attacks during the Amarnath Yatra. These incidents sent a chilling message — that no area, no matter how symbolic or populated, was off-limits for militants.

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The July 2017 attack on Amarnath pilgrims near Pahalgam, which killed eight civilians, was particularly gruesome. Though technically outside Pahalgam proper (near Botengo, Anantnag), it was part of the broader security crisis in South Kashmir. Intelligence later traced the attack to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, exposing the deep cross-border links to local terror networks.

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This backdrop of growing audacity among terror groups created an environment of sustained provocation.

The Build-Up to Uri and Pulwama

Before Uri (2016):
- Increased Militancy: Between 2014 and 2016, Kashmir saw a dramatic spike in militant activities, particularly in South Kashmir regions including Anantnag, Shopian, and Pulwama.
  
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- Public Unrest: The death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July 2016 sparked months of unrest. South Kashmir, including areas near Pahalgam, became a hotbed of protests and local recruitment into militancy.
  
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- Softening Targets: Attacks became less “surgical” and more chaotic, often involving indiscriminate firing on civilian areas, including Pahalgam-linked zones.
  
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- Uri Attack: In September 2016, heavily armed militants attacked an Indian Army base near Uri, killing 19 soldiers — the deadliest assault on Indian security forces in nearly two decades.
  
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India’s Response: In the wake of Uri, India launched a well-publicized surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC), targeting terror launch pads. It was a shift towards proactive, preemptive action rather than reactive defense.

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Before Pulwama (2019):
- Deepened Radicalization: By 2018, South Kashmir’s radicalization had reached alarming levels. Groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had shifted focus towards large, media-grabbing attacks.
  
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- Security Forces Under Fire: Increased attacks on security convoys in Anantnag and Pulwama districts meant that moving troops became riskier — an operational problem highlighted multiple times before Pulwama.
  
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- Pulwama Attack: On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, killing 40 personnel — the deadliest terror attack on Indian forces in Kashmir.
  
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India’s Response: In retaliation, India conducted an airstrike deep inside Pakistan at Balakot, targeting a JeM training facility — a massive escalation over the previous surgical strikes.

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Pahalgam’s Symbolic Importance

While Pahalgam was not the site of the Uri or Pulwama attacks, the escalating violence in and around this tourist hub mirrored the larger breakdown of Kashmir’s security framework:

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- Civilian spaces became militarized.
- Terror groups gained operational confidence.
- Cross-border infiltration intensified.
- Security gaps were increasingly exploited.
Each violent incident, including attacks near Pahalgam, contributed cumulatively to a national mood demanding tougher action. The broader targeting of civilians, such as during the 2017 Amarnath Yatra attack, reinforced India’s case internationally for labeling Pakistan-based groups as global terror threats.

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Conclusion

The Pahalgam attack episodes were critical in the slow burn that led to India’s decisive counter-strikes post-Uri and Pulwama. They exemplified how terror had become deeply embedded in Kashmir’s landscape, impacting not just soldiers but pilgrims, tourists, and everyday citizens. Understanding Pahalgam’s place in this narrative helps contextualize India’s evolving security posture — from strategic restraint to calibrated military retaliation.

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As tensions simmer, Pahalgam remains a potent reminder: even the valleys of peace are vulnerable when terrorism is allowed to fester unchecked.

Pahalgam Attack: What Happened in the Run-Up to India’s Uri and Pulwama Counter-Strikes

Understanding the Pahalgam Attack

The Build-Up to Uri and Pulwama

Pahalgam’s Symbolic Importance

Conclusion

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