A Year On: Assessing India's Tactical Triumph Over Pahalgam Attack

One year after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, defense expert Hemant Mahajan has emphasized India's rapid military response as a significant success. According to Mahajan, India executed a multi-domain offensive that targeted crucial terrorist infrastructure across the border, resulting in the devastation of several camps and substantial militant casualties.

He highlighted that Pakistan's efforts to maintain these camps were thwarted, and their retaliatory strikes on Indian airfields were effectively neutralized. Mahajan pointed out that India's calculated strikes on Pakistani airbases inflicted considerable damage. He praised India's decision to conclude operations once objectives were met, demonstrating strategic clarity in contrast to prolonged conflicts elsewhere.

However, Mahajan expressed concerns over the lack of substantial international pressure on Pakistan, labeling global reactions as largely symbolic. He noted that cross-border terrorism remains a preferred strategy for Pakistan due to its low-cost yet high-impact effectiveness, despite strong Indian countermeasures. Mahajan urged for a comprehensive strategy engaging military, economic, and covert tactics to tackle Pakistan's backing of terrorism, while acknowledging the limits of diplomacy in this context.