Kashmiris Face Rising Violence and Fear after Deadly Attack

Tue Oct 28 2025 03:58:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the wake of a tragic attack in Kashmir, growing xenophobia is making life perilous for Kashmiris across India.

As tensions rise following a deadly militant attack that claimed 26 lives in Kashmir, many Kashmiri vendors and students are experiencing increasing violence and harassment based on their identity. Shabir Ahmad Dar, a pashmina shawl seller in Mussoorie, faced a violent assault by right-wing extremists who mistakenly held him accountable for the attack. With the safety of Kashmiris now in jeopardy, individuals who believed they were safe in Indian cities find themselves targeted, while the fear of communal backlash continues to escalate. With security forces cracking down indiscriminately, many civilians feel trapped, fearing their once peaceful existence has crumbled.

As the search continues for those responsible for last week's violence, the lives of many Kashmiris like Dar and nursing student Ummat Shabir are now defined by fear, forcing them to return home where safety is also uncertain. The wider implications of ongoing military actions and social tensions further add to the pain and suffering of a community caught in the crossfire.

In a struggle for peace, the hope remains that the cycle of violence can be broken, allowing Kashmiris to reclaim their sense of security and identity.

Kashmir has long been a site of conflict, with both India and Pakistan claiming the territory and years of insurgency impacting civilian lives. Recent developments have only heightened feelings of isolation for many Kashmiris, as the burden of blame for violence falls heavily on their shoulders, prompting calls from activists to end the cycle of blame and violence against innocent lives.

It’s a situation requiring urgent attention as the narrative surrounding Kashmir and its people continues to evolve amidst ongoing hostilities and geopolitical conflicts.