The recent attack in Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, where a doctor and six construction workers were killed, is a grim reminder of the region’s continuing struggle with terrorism. The assailants targeted a construction camp housing labourers working on a tunnel for the strategic Srinagar-Leh national highway, underscoring the vulnerability of civilians in conflict zones. This incident, the deadliest since the bus attack in Reasi in June which killed nine pilgrims, once again casts a shadow over the fragile stability in Kashmir, particularly in the wake of its new administrative setup following the abrogation of Article 370.
But while political leaders, from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to opposition figures like Mehbooba Mufti, rush to condemn the act, their statements highlight a persistent challenge: despite numerous security efforts, militants continue to strike soft civilian targets with chilling precision.
The attack came at a time when the government had hoped that the new administrative order in Kashmir, coupled with heavy investments in infrastructure projects like the Srinagar-Leh tunnel, would mark the beginning of a new chapter for the region. Instead, the death of the workers, many of whom had come from other states in search of better livelihoods, reflects a disturbing trend. Civilians —particularly non-locals — have increasingly become pawns in the militant groups’ strategy to create fear and disrupt efforts to normalise life in the region. This year alone has seen four major attacks specifically targeting migrant workers, making it clear that these groups intend to stir communal divisions and deter economic development.
The motives behind such attacks are manifold. First, there is a clear frustration on the part of the militants. The security forces, despite being stretched across the dense forests of Ganderbal and other difficult terrains, have made significant inroads, reducing the capacity of these groups to strike at hardened military targets. Attacking unarmed civilians, then, becomes their grim fallback option. Targeting construction workers also strikes at the heart of Kashmir’s development agenda, disrupting projects that promise to enhance connectivity, spur economic growth and draw Kashmir closer to the rest of India.
With the political environment still fragile, each such attack threatens to set back efforts to bring stability to the region. In the end, what is most tragic is the human cost. A doctor and six non-local workers who came to earn a living lost their lives in a conflict not of their making.
The perpetrators of such attacks may aim to destabilise the region, but their actions only strengthen the resolve of those who seek peace and progress. The challenge for the newly formed government now is to convert that resolve into action, ensuring that such attacks do not deter the march toward a more peaceful and prosperous Jammu & Kashmir. The government also needs to send out a strong message that innocent lives cannot be continued to be used as ‘collateral damage’ in a battle for the soul of Kashmir.
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