“One year of Pahalgam attack: Pakistan Army’s jihadi DNA remains intact”, First Post, April 22, 2026
“The 22 April 2025 Pahalgam massacre was an Islamist terrorist attack on Indian tourists in which 26 civilians were killed. The terrorists identified, isolated and killed non-Muslim tourists. This incident was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The Pakistan Army directly controls the country; it is highly Islamised, and has tell-tale links to terror attacks in India.
Self-appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir, chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief, is the son of a school principal and religious scholar. Just a few days before the Pahalgam attack, Munir spewed venom against India. He stirred global controversy by invoking the two-nation theory — the ideological basis of Pakistan’s formation — urging citizens to instil in their children a sense of distinction from Hindus. He further intensified rhetoric by describing Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein”.
Islam Central to Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army heavily integrates Islam into its core identity, training, and strategic culture, often describing itself as the guardian of an ideological Islamic state. The military, with a motto of “Iman (belief, conviction), Taqwa (fear of Allah), Jihad (struggle or fight against the enemies of Islam), Fi Sabilillah (in the cause of Allah),” utilises Islamic ideology to bolster national cohesion. Leadership’s recent emphasis on religious identity has prompted international scrutiny. Albeit, US President Donald Trump has ignored it when appointing a religious bigot, Pakistan’s Munir, as an interlocutor between the US and Iran……..”
Read full article at firstpost.com
