Calls for “Israel-Style” Retaliation in Kashmir Spark Fears of State Impunity and Rising Islamophobia

A recent deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir has ignited a wave of calls across India for an “Israel-style” crackdown, raising alarm among human rights experts and activists. The attack, which killed at least 26 Indian tourists near Pahalgam, has been followed by intense social media rhetoric and high-profile media calls for retaliation—many drawing parallels between India’s Kashmir policy and Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

While a little-known group, initially linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, denied responsibility for the shootings, Kashmiri locals were seen helping victims in the immediate aftermath. Despite this, commentators such as Arnab Goswami and columnist Sanjay Dixit have pushed inflammatory narratives, likening the Kashmir incident to Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.

Experts, including Professor Mohamad Junaid of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, warn that adopting the “Israel playbook” risks justifying increased state violence and deepening anti-Muslim sentiment. US-based advocacy groups like the Stop Hindu Hate Advocacy Network have also echoed extreme views, calling for the “flattening of Kashmir.”

Observers fear this rhetoric could escalate tensions, promote collective punishment, and erode accountability for state actions in the region.