PTC Web Desk: In a deeply emotional and powerful address in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri. Expressing grief and anger, Omar Abdullah emphaised that the entire nation, from north to south, and east to west — felt the devastating impact of the heinous crime. While calling for unity, he said the tragedy might mark the "beginning of the end of terror" in the Kashmir Valley.

In a rare display of solidarity, the Opposition, led by BJP’s Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma, lauded Omar Abdullah’s swift and sensitive response following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Sunil Sharma also commended Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather for convening a special Assembly session to address the tragedy.

Reading out the names and home states of all 26 victims, Omar Abdullah said, "From Arunachal to Gujarat, Jammu to Kashmir to Kerala, the whole country has been shaken by this attack." He shared the widespread sense of loss and the feeling that the Valley, which had started believing such horrors were behind it, was again plunged into uncertainty.

"Sadly, the Baisaran incident has brought back the fear—where will the next strike happen?" he added. The CM recalled standing alongside Sharma in the police control room, struggling to find words to offer the grieving families. "How could I explain to those children who saw their fathers lying lifeless, or to a young Navy officer’s widow who was recently married?" he said.

Highlighting the systemic challenges, Omar Abdullah noted that security in Jammu and Kashmir remained outside the elected government's purview. However, as Chief Minister and as Tourism Minister, he said, he felt a deep personal responsibility for the safety of every visitor. "I welcomed them to Kashmir but could not ensure their safe return," he admitted with visible pain.

Targeting the terrorists, Omar Abdullah delivered a firm message: "Those who carried out this carnage claim to act in our name. But did we ever authorise such bloodshed? None of us stands with this attack—it has hollowed us from within."

Striking a note of hope, Abdullah emphasised that despite the tragedy, a new spirit of resistance against terror had emerged. For the first time in two decades, people across Jammu and Kashmir spontaneously protested against the attack. "From Kathua to Kupwara, every town and village raised their voice saying, 'Not in my name.' This is spontaneous and powerful," he added.

He called on the administration to tread carefully, urging against any heavy-handed measures that could alienate the people. "Militancy can be controlled with guns, but it will only end when the people are firmly with us," he said. "Today, it seems that possibility is within reach."

The Chief Minister also honoured the heroism of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a pony ride operator who sacrificed his life trying to save tourists during the attack. "He could have run, but instead, he chose to confront danger. His courage speaks volumes about the spirit of Kashmir," Omar Abdullah said.

He also praised the locals who risked their own lives to assist the wounded, including shikarawallahs who offered free food and cab operators who provided free rides to stranded tourists. "This is the true spirit of Kashmiri hospitality," he declared.