The Pahalgam terror attack

The deadliest civilian attack in Kashmir in a quarter-century.

Dear all,

At least 26 tourists were killed and ten injured in a deadly terror attack at the popular local tourist destination Pahalgam in Kashmir last week. Most of the victims were Indian, although two foreign nationals were also reportedly among the dead. Scroll down for more on this.

We’re looking forward to welcoming the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, the autonomous district council administering the Tribal-dominated areas of the state of Tripura, to Ideas for India on Fri 30 May. If you are coming to the Black-tie Dinner, you’ll see a special performance of traditional Tripura dance forms, for the first time in the UK.

We will be announcing more details in the coming days. Scroll down for more info and to book your tickets. Members attend for free, so make sure you become a Member today here.

Congratulations to SOAS for hosting the first London Anti-Caste Film Festival, with screenings of DR BR Ambedkar (biopic, 2000), Jai Bhim Comrade (2011), Court (2014), Fandy (2013) and Kaala (2018) over the last three days.

We’re delighted to be Partners for the Khushwant Singh Literature Festival, taking place on Saturday 31 May. Tickets are free to book and hosted at SOAS in London.

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Member news

Welcome to our newest Member Mayank Pandya. Mayank brings over a decade of experience in outsourcing, offshoring, and consulting, combined with 15 years in accounts, audit, taxation, and finance, including a significant tenure at PwC India and now as CEO of Pinnacle Global. With a deep expertise in client acquisition, business development, and expansion, he has successfully built and managed teams of 250+ for global businesses.

Anuj Radia is hosting a Q&A with Aditya Rawal, son of iconic Indian actors Paresh Rawal and Swaroop Sampat next week in London. Scroll down for more info.

Bilay Want will be hosting a panel discussion and yoga session at the Mystic Mela (11am-8pm, Sun 4 May, Beck Theatre), part of the UK-Asian Film Festival. The event will be screening a documentary made by Eric Ollerenshaw on his experiences of attending the Kumbh Mela this year, alongside a Q&A with him. There will be yoga and breathwork workshops, food stalls, traditional stalls, kite flying and storytelling workshops and more.

Junaid Syed, founder of BLAM Pictures, started seven years ago to make cinematic, Hollywood-grade VFX accessible to filmmakers who value craft, storytelling, and smart production. Check out his showreel here.

In the first episode of new podcast Legacy Makers, the podcast that makes climate conversations easy and engaging, co-hosts Sangeeta Waldron and former MD of Al JAzeera English Giles Trendle speak with Ingmar Rentzhog, CEO and Founder of We Don’t Have Time, which describes itself as the world's largest media platform for climate action. Ingmar unveils his bold new campaign, Make Science Great Again - which is championing science and taking a stand against disinformation in the fight to communicate the urgent truths of climate change.

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Upcoming events

The Filme Shilmy Show with actor-writer Aditya Rawal (3pm, Tues 5 May, Close-up Cinema | Book here)

The third edition of The Filme Shilmy Show, hosted by entertainment journalist and Bridge India Member Anuj Radia, is with Aditya Rawal, actor-writer known for his work in Faraaz (Netflix), Bambai Meri Jaan (Prime Video), and Bamfaad (ZEE5). Son of iconic Indian actors Paresh Rawal and Swaroop Sampat, Aditya will share insights into his journey across cinema, theatre, and storytelling on an international stage.

When: 3-5pm, Tues 6 May

Where: Close-Up Cinema, 97 Sclater Street, London, E1 6HR

Tickets: £8.30 from Eventbrite here

Book launch - An Economic History of India: Growth, Income and Inequalities from the Mughals to the 21st Century (5:45pm | Wed 4 June | British Academy)

In a new book published by Cambridge University Press, Bishnupriya Gupta (Professor of Economics at the University of Warwick and CAGE Research Director) offers a major new economic history of India, spanning from the reign of Akbar in the sixteenth century to India’s post-independence transformation in the twenty-first century.

When: Wednesday 4 June 2025, 17:45

Where: British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH (closest tube stations: Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross)

RSVP: Click here

Ideas for India conference (30 May | Royal Lancaster London | Book here)

Bridge India’s annual Ideas for India conference is back, on Friday 30 May. It is the leading forum to engage in high level discussions on the New India. Ideas for India is part of the wider India Week®.

When: All day, Fri 30 May

Where: Royal Lancaster London, Lancaster Terrace, London W2 2T

Tickets: Free for Members, £200 or £500 for Non-Members | Book here

Khushwant Singh Literature Festival (31 May, London | 3 June, Oxford | Book here)

The KSLF honours Khushwant Singh’s legacy by promoting democracy, tolerance, and compassion, creating a space for discussions on gender equality, free expression, and environmental conservation. This year’s theme Humanity Across Borders explores global conflicts, displacement, and climate change, highlighting resilience amid war, the refugee crisis, and equality struggles.

Day 1: 11am - 6pm, Sat 31 May | SOAS, London | Day 2: 4-7pm, Somerville College, University of Oxford

Tickets: Free | Book here

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The Pahalgam terror attack

The terrorist massacre of 26 men in Pahalgam was the deadliest civilian attack in Kashmir in a quarter-century. The attack happened while US Vice President JD Vance was visiting India.

The outpouring of anger across India has been widespread, especially as the victims came from all over India - from at least 15 different states.

Days after the attack, Indian army officials said that its army had a brief exchange of fire with Pakistani soldiers along the LoC. The officials claimed Pakistan soldiers used small arms to fire at Indian positions in Kashmir late on 24 April, to which Indian soldiers retaliated. No casualties were reported.

Protests outside the Pakistani High Commission in London

The tensions have spilled over to London, with Times of India journalist Naomi Canton documenting Indian protests and Pakistani counter-protests outside the Pakistani High Commission. She said both sides hurled abuse at each other and the the Met Police are investigating a throat-slitting gesture by a Pakistani diplomat against Indian protestors.

Terrorist activity in recent years

Since the abrogation of Article 370, the police under the purview of the Lieutenant Governor, who is appointed by the central government. An ensuing security clampdown has reduced terrorist activity, and tourism has surged: a record 3.5 million people visited the Kashmir Valley in 2024.

According to The Tribune, in 2015, 41 security forces personnel were killed in terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. Thereafter, it was 88 (2016), 83 (2017), 91 (2018), 80 (2019, including the 40 Pulwama jawans), 41 (2021), 32 (2022).

The terrorist activity in recent years has moved away from Srinagar to the Pir Pangal Range, near Poonch and Rajouri. Terror attacks have hit eight of ten Jammu districts in 2024, with 13 terrorists amongst 44 people killed. The terror strike on a bus carrying pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on in May 2024 and the Machedi attack on the 22 Garhwal convoy in July 2024 indicated the shift to the Reasi and Jammu sector.

What happens next

The Indian government has issued an advisory cited the provisions of Rule 6(1)(p) of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, which states that no TV programme should feature live coverage of anti-terrorist operations, such as defence operations or movement of security forces.

India announced a number of punitive measures against Pakistan, including revoking visas issued to Pakistan nationals, expelling military advisers, closing a border crossing and suspending a crucial water-sharing treaty known as the Indus Water Treaty.

In retaliation, Pakistan has closed its airspace for all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines, and suspended all trade with India, including to and from any third country.

The Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said, without providing any evidence, it was a false-flag operation. He also warned that the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty would be considered an act of war.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated that the terrorists “will be served the harshest response.”

Opposition MP Shashi Tharoor wrote on NDTV.com yesterday “There is no doubt that military retribution will follow,” as well as an enhancement in covert operations. He goes on to say:

“Any Indian response to Pahalgam will therefore involve a mix of measures targeting Pakistan, the international community, and domestic public opinion … One problem is that the relationship between the two countries is already so bad that there is not much more that India can do of a non-military nature to convey its disapproval of Pakistan.”

The United Nations has urged both sides "to exercise maximum restraint and to ensure that the situation and the developments we've seen do not deteriorate any further."

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The Bridge India Team

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