So I had this most awkward conversation with someone on the horrific targeted terrorist attack against Hindu tourists in Pahalgam. 

Him: Did you see what your people did?

Me: (Confused) Which people and who did what?

Him: No. Your people in Kashmir.

Me: (Again confused) My people in Kashmir?

Him:  Yes.

Me: I don’t have any people in Kashmir. Nor do I have any relatives in Kashmir.

Him: (Persisting) No, your people who attacked tourists in Kashmir.

Me: How are they my people? Tell me how. (Understanding where this conversation is leading)

Him: They were Muslims.

Me: So what if they were Muslims. There are Muslims all around the world. Kashmir is a Muslim majority state. Moreover, from what I know the terrorists who attacked were Pakistani. How do they have anything to do with me? 

If I were Kashmiri offcourse you could ask me that, but that would wholly be another discussion.

Him: (Persisting again): But you are a Muslim and the terrorists were Muslims.

Me: Yes, I am a Muslim, but how does that make me responsible for the actions of Pakistani terrorists or Kashmiri militants? Not to forget that even Kashmiris have raised their voices against this terrorist attack which directly affects their livelihood. I have been to Pahalgam last year and I have seen how dependent they are on tourism for income like the rest of Kashmir. If anything this is a cruel blow to the stomach of Kashmiris whose sole livelihood depends on tourist income.

Him:  But aren’t you responsible?

Me: For what? In that case as a Hindu, shouldn’t you be responsible for all the lynchings, hate crimes, violent crimes targeted against minorities including dalits? 

Should I remind you of the Gujarat Pogrom where Muslims were selectively targeted and over 2000 killed. How they were forced to chant Jai Shree Ram before being burned alive. How Muslim men were made to remove their pants to reveal their religious identity—a horrific act that repeated as recently as in 2020 during the Delhi violence. It is no different from what these terrorists did in Pahalgam to identify their religion.

Shouldn’t you be responsible for the gang rapes of women, including pregnant women which are documented cases. By men who were chanting Jai Shree Ram. Men who tore out a fetus from a pregnant Muslim woman and burned her family alive? You’ve surely heard of Bilkis Bano and Kausar bi? Have you held candle light vigils for them? Do you know the number of violent attacks against Muslims and minorities this year alone? At least 18 violent attacks in January 2025 alone.

Have you spoken about ex- MP Ehhsaan Jafri who was chopped into pieces by a Hindu mob. Even as Chief Minister Modi refused to take his call while the mob broke down his door.

Shouldn’t you be ashamed of electing people who proudly claim to have masterminded and directed violence and bombings. Pragya Singh Thakur. These are all internationally documented cases. 

Now tell me will you take responsibility for the actions of fellow Hindus who committed these heinous crimes?

Him: (Speaks up) Yes.  

Even if you do accept responsibility for their actions, I will remind you that us Muslims don’t celebrate terrorism, we do not garland rapists, we do not glorify brutality. 

It is sad that you force us into these conversations especially at a time when you should take a moment to respect the grief of the friends and family who have lost their loved ones rather than making this an opportunity to politicise this which is what Modi did to win state elections after the pogrom.

When I look back on this conversation, I feel however awkward it may have been, it was necessary.

It need not be reiterated that as Muslims we strongly condemn the brutal and cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The selective targeting of Hindu tourists by terrorists is a despicable act that has no place in any civilized society.