The Psychological Battlefield
Terrorism lives not just in guns and bombs but in fear and confusion.
What happened in Pahalgam wasn’t just a physical attack. It was a direct blow to our minds and hearts. The goal was clear, to scare people, disturb peace, and break the trust between communities. The bullets hit bodies, but the real target was the mind of the nation.
Terrorists want us to cancel our trips, mistrust each other, and stop believing in safety and unity.
This is not just violence , it's mental warfare.
Some Facts to Understand This Better:
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Pahalgam and Amarnath Yatra are important for both tourism and faith. Every year, nearly 4 lakh pilgrims come here. After the attack, many travel bookings were cancelled up to 40% in just 3 days.
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This hurts not only the economy, but also the morale of people especially locals who earn their living through tourism.
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Fear spreads quickly. One small incident in one part of the country creates fear across thousands of kilometers. Let’s look at the data from Jammu & Kashmir (January to June, 2012–2023):
That’s how terrorists work not by fighting big wars, but by creating big fear through small attacks. The data clearly shows that after the removal of Article 370 in J & K, how it's affecting in positive way, increase in number of tourist, decreasing slope of the terror attacks.
What Happens to People?
According to the “Terror Management Theory” (TMT), developed by Greenberg, Pyszczynski & Solomon,"When people are reminded of death, they cling more strongly to their cultural beliefs, symbols, and identities and become more anxious and defensive."
People who survive such attacks often feel: As people have only one medium to connect with the recent activities that is through News Media, Social Media. But these medium decide the impulses of any incidents. Terrorists may fire the first shot but it is the media that often decides how far the fear travels.
Sometimes, over-sensational reporting creates more panic than awareness.
Graphic visuals, unverified news, and emotional manipulation can spread fear faster than facts.
Constant replay of violent scenes can traumatize viewers, especially children and people in conflict zones.
- Scared, even in safe places
- Unable to sleep well
- Always alert, as if danger is everywhere
- Children in Kashmir, especially, grow up hearing gunshots, sirens, and news of violence. This affects their mental health, learning, and emotions as shown in many reports by groups like UNICEF.
- But it’s not just individuals. The whole community feels the pain, even those far away.
Our Spirit
And yet, India does not break. After the Pahalgam attack:
- Thousands of people across cities joined peace marches and candlelight gatherings
- People refused to cancel trips and supported locals
- Even Kashmiri Muslims came forward, condemned the attack, and helped keep peace
Our people may be hurt but they are not broken.
This quiet, calm resistance is our strongest weapon.
A Lesson in Modern War
In today’s world, wars are not always fought with guns.
Sometimes, wars are fought with news, fear, and confusion.
As a defence enthusiast, I believe we must prepare not just our soldiers but our society.
We need:
- More awareness on how fear spreads
- Mental health support after attacks
- Media that reports responsibly
- Unity campaigns that remind us we are one
“The world hangs on a thin thread, and that thread is the psyche of man.”
— Carl Jung
Let’s protect that thread.
Because India’s strength is not just in its army it is in the hearts of its people.
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