Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday offered an emotional apology to the people of the country following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead. Calling the incident a stain on Kashmiriyat, Mufti said the people of Kashmir were “ashamed” and joined the nation in mourning the tragedy.
“This is not just an attack on tourists; it is an attack on us,” she told reporters after leading a protest march from the PDP headquarters near Sher-e-Kashmir Park to Lal Chowk city centre. The march was attended by party workers and leaders carrying placards with messages such as “This is an attack on all of us”, “Killing innocents is an act of terror”, and “Stop innocent killings”.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday at the Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, is among the deadliest targeting civilians in Kashmir in recent years.
Mufti, a former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, condemned the killings and urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is currently in the region, to ensure those responsible are swiftly brought to justice.
“It was an attack on us, we condemn it, and it will not be tolerated. The home minister is here and he should find out the terrorists involved in that so that punishment is given as soon as possible,” she said.
She emphasised that such attacks were “cowardly” and struck at the very soul of Kashmir, which traditionally prides itself on hospitality and communal harmony.
“Tourists visit Kashmir to have a good time, and the attack on them is the most cowardly thing to do. I want to say to people of the country that we are ashamed, Kashmiris are ashamed. We stand with you in this time of pain,” Mufti said.
She called on the government to apprehend those responsible and deliver “exemplary punishment” to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
When asked if the attack pointed to a security lapse, Mufti refused to be drawn into political accusations, stating that this was a time for mourning, not blame.
“Our hearts are pained, the hearts of the people have been broken, the whole of J-K and the country are in mourning, and we share the grief of those who lost their loved ones. I want to apologise to the people of our country,” she added.
The PDP's demonstration marks one of the strongest condemnations from a mainstream political outfit in the Valley in recent times and reflects the growing concern among local leaders about the damage such attacks inflict not just on lives, but on Kashmir's image and economy.
Follow us
