Pahalgam terror attack: Security lapse occurred, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor takes responsibility

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has admitted that there was a security lapse in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. In an interview with a national media outlet, Sinha described the attack as a tragic incident in which innocent people were brutally killed.

“I take full responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack. It was undoubtedly a security lapse. There is a general belief that terrorists do not target tourists. The attack took place in an open meadow where there are no facilities or space for a regular security presence. The Pahalgam attack was a Pakistan-sponsored act of terror. Arrests made by the NIA confirm local involvement in the incident," Sinha said.

However, he refuted claims that the overall security environment in Jammu and Kashmir has collapsed. “This attack was a deliberate attempt to weaken the soul of the nation,” he added.

Sinha also claimed that Pakistan’s intention was to stir communal tension. “Pakistan does not want peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Over the past five years, the region has witnessed a major economic turnaround, with a surge in tourism. The attack was meant to strike at the heart of Kashmir’s growing economy. But since Operation Sindoor, there has not been a single attack in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Lieutenant Governor said.