Criticism mounts as India names suspects hours after Pahalgam killings

• Gujarat victim's widow questions state response.
• Experts highlight intelligence and security failures.
• Photos, names emerged suspiciously early after attack.
  

The deadly attack in Pahalgam has triggered a wave of criticism and questions within India, especially concerning how the names of the alleged attackers were revealed just hours after the incident.

Among those killed in the assault was Shailesh Bhai Kalathiya from Gujarat. His widow harshly criticised Bharatiya Janata Party leader CR Patil, saying: "You have plenty of VIP cars, but there were no soldiers or even medical teams at the scene."

Veteran journalist and Kashmir affairs expert Anuradha Bhasin questioned the credibility of the official version. "This incident took place in one of the most militarised zones in the world. It raises serious concerns," she said.

Bhasin further pointed out that while it took security forces time to respond, the names and even photos of the alleged attackers were released within hours, casting doubt on the reliability of the investigation.

Security analyst Amitabh Mattoo also weighed in, calling the incident a clear intelligence failure. "No matter how you look at it, this reflects a major lapse in security," he remarked.

The incident and the handling of information by Indian authorities have led to growing public and media scrutiny, with many questioning whether due process and transparency are being upheld in such sensitive matters.

The remarks come days after a deadly attack at Pahalgam, a tourist destination in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), killed 26 tourists, marking the worst attack on civilians in nearly two decades, shattering the relative calm in the region.

Following the attack, New Delhi took swift measures against Islamabad and pledged a strong response.

In its response to India, Pakistan dismissed the blame as "baseless", with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar describing the claims as part of India's politically motivated and provocative actions threatening regional peace and stability.

During a press briefing alongside Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Wednesday, Dar warned New Delhi against any misadventure, stating that while Pakistan will not initiate any escalatory move, it will respond decisively to any provocation.