The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the brutal killing of 26 innocent tourists, is a grim reminder of the cruelty that terrorists are capable of. Reports suggest that the attackers asked each tourist to identify their religion and then shot those identified as Hindus. This horrifying act reflects the extreme brutality and deeply disturbing mindset of the perpetrators.

The Pahalgam attack has sent shockwaves across India and around the world, with global leaders strongly condemning the incident. Yet, the unfortunate reality is that such acts of terror are not new. The world has witnessed numerous terrorist attacks over the years — the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019, and several others across Europe and beyond. These repeated incidents highlight the sobering truth: the global fight against terrorism has not been effective, and terrorists continue to strike with impunity.

Investigations into such attacks often reveal that many terrorists claim allegiance to Islam. This is deeply unfortunate, as the Holy Quran — the cornerstone of the Islamic faith — advocates love, compassion, charity, and a life of righteousness aimed at spiritual fulfillment. It does not endorse violence or militancy.

A small section of people who identify as Muslims appear to have misunderstood or misinterpreted the core tenets of Islam, believing that the faith must be spread by any means necessary, even through violence. As a result of their actions, the term “Islamic terrorism” has found widespread, albeit problematic, usage in global discourse.

Confronting global terrorism

This raises a crucial question: how should the world confront terrorism and eliminate it from the global landscape?

Recently, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the Hamas militant group to hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority. Speaking at a meeting in Ramallah, he criticized the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, stating that it gave Israel a pretext to decimate Gaza. This important stance — effectively a denunciation of terrorism — should resonate globally, especially among those who continue to justify or support extremist actions.

Following the Hamas attack, Israel launched a massive counter-offensive, devastating large parts of Gaza and killing thousands of civilians in the process. While Israel continues its military campaign, much of the international community has remained relatively muted in its criticism, seemingly viewing Israel’s actions as a legitimate fight against terrorism.

This leads to another uncomfortable question: is military retaliation the only way to combat terrorism, even if it results in civilian casualties? Responding to the Pahalgam attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to hunt down and destroy the terrorists wherever they may be. While such decisive action may be necessary, is it the only path forward? Current global sentiment suggests that many believe it is.

Terrorists and safe havens

A closer look at the roots of terrorism reveals that extremist groups often operate with bases in specific countries — sometimes with the tacit support of governments. These states may harbor terrorists in an attempt to settle geopolitical scores, but they must recognize that fostering terrorism ultimately endangers their own national security. Terrorists enjoying safe havens today can easily turn against their hosts tomorrow.

This article does not seek to name any particular country. However, those providing sanctuary to terrorists must introspect, heed international condemnation, and reconsider their policies.

Finally, as many of these terrorists claim to act in the name of Islam, peace-loving and devout Muslims around the world must take a more active role in combating this narrative. Islam is a great religion, and its followers have a responsibility to ensure that extremists do not continue to tarnish its image. While the global community must persist in its fight against terrorism, the voice of the Muslim community carries special weight in this context. It is imperative that Muslims around the world help reclaim their faith from those who misuse it to justify violence.

(The author is the founder-director of Nandini Consultancy Centre, Chennai, and a commentator on current affairs. Views are personal. He can be contacted at nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com)