Pahalgam terrorist attack: Tensions rise between India and Pakistan on social media

Home minister Amit Shah meets grieving families of Pahalgam terror attack victims.

The terrorist attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed at least 26 people, on Tuesday has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, and sparked calls on social media for retaliation and sanctions against Islamabad.

The attack stirred tensions and debate over its impact on Indian Muslims. Comic Azeem Banatwalla condemned the terrorists on Instagram, writing: "You are not muslims. You are barely human. Brainwashed cowards who deserve to rot in the deepest darkest corner of whatever hell you believe in."

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A post shared by Azeem Banatwalla (@azeembanatwalla)

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Instagram user and lawyer Kinnori Ghosh highlighted that "terrorism does have a religion". "Many say, terrorism has no religion. While that is utterly bull crap, the victims did have a religion! Why is that we have never seen a hindu open fire so mercilessly and recklessly?" she wrote.

Several social media users also called for cancellation of cricket matches between India and Pakistan and to cut off all ties with Pakistani artistes.

X user Diksha Kandpal (@DikshaKandpal8) wrote, "If India agrees to organise one more India vs Pakistan cricket match after this targeted terrorist attack on innocent tourists, then we have truly failed as a nation and we cannot truly be united against that sick of a sh****** called Pakistan. "

"The costs must be economic as well," added another user, @kangtomai. "They need to ban Western Union, PayPal, Wise, and any other money transfer services that continue money transfer to Pakistan and impose sanctions. Ban anyone investing in Pakistan from investing in India directly or indirectly."

"The world must unite against this senseless terrorism and impose economic sanctions on Pakistan," commented X user Omar Abbas Hyat.

Calls for a befitting answer to Pakistan have also been flooding social media, especially after home minister Amit Shah promised that culprits of the "dastardly attack" would not be spared.

What is stopping india from going full blown war with Pakistan ? How long will it tolerate innocent killings of Hindus ?vikas rana (@VidyutThakur) April 23, 2025

2016 URI army camp struck Response: Surgical strikes in POK2019 Pulwama CRPF convoy struck Response: Balakot airstrikes2024 Pahalgam tourist massacre Response: ...............#Pahalgamterroristattack #Pahalgam #pahalgamattack pic.twitter.com/WnwGK4s4sx Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) April 22, 2025

This is How 'Lahore' should look like !#Pakistan #Pahalgam pic.twitter.com/0N55dkGIsARenu Dixit (@RenuDixit21) April 22, 2025

In his first official reaction, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed that the perpetrators "will not go unpunished," hinting at a possible military or security response. On the other hand, Pakistan has placed its air force on high alert, anticipating a potential retaliatory strike from India.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif has stated that the country had no hand in the attack and called the violence "homegrown". “Pakistan has no connection with this,” he said. “There are revolutions in so-called Indian states, from Nagaland to Kashmir, in Chhattisgarh, Manipur, and the south. These are not acts of foreign interference but local uprisings.”

We have absolutely nothing to do with it. We reject terrorism in all its forms and everywhere, says Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on the #Pahalgam attack.#pahalgamattack pic.twitter.com/qGiTz6uVOnGhulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) April 23, 2025

Asif suggested that India’s treatment of its citizens was leading to armed resistance. “If the army or police are committing atrocities against people denied fundamental rights, blaming Pakistan becomes a convenient excuse," he said, adding, "These are people asking for their rights. Hindutva forces are repressing minorities, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, and people are reacting.”