AIMIM Chief Owaisi’s Fiery Rebuke of Pakistan After Pahalgam Massacre Sparks Widespread Praise

Hyderabad, April 24, 2025 — All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi unleashed a blistering tirade against cross-border terrorists and their Pakistani patrons, days after the deadly Pahalgam attack claimed 26 lives and left over 20 injured in Jammu and Kashmir. A video of his unfiltered press interaction, peppered with expletives, has since gone viral on social media, earning him acclaim from netizens who say he voiced truths “other secular leaders refused to admit.”

Background: Deadliest Tourist Attack Since 2008

On April 22, gunmen in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, a picturesque hamlet in Anantnag district, targeted male Hindu tourists, firing indiscriminately after demanding their religion. The assault, claimed by The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, killed 26 people and injured more than 20 others, making it the deadliest attack on tourists in Kashmir since the 2008 Mumbai massacres. In response, New Delhi downgraded diplomatic ties with Islamabad and suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, while Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights.

Addressing reporters in Hyderabad, Owaisi did not mince words:

“These k*e** terrorists asked people their religion before shooting them, such atrocities demand accountability. And make no mistake, they came from Pakistan, backed by the ISI and that country’s establishment.”

He went on to declare that the “scoundrels” must be punished and questioned how militants crossed the heavily guarded border to carry out the carnage. “If they reached Pahalgam, they could have struck Srinagar,” he warned, urging agencies to fix responsibility before justice can prevail.

Watch the video below:

पहलगाम के आतंकी हमले के सिलसिले में मेरी अपील: कल जब आप नमाज़-ए-जुम्मा पढ़ने जायेंगे तो आपने बांह पर काली पट्टी बांधकर जाएँ। इस से हम यह पैग़ाम भेजेंगे की हम भारतीय विदेशी ताक़तों को भारत के अमन और इत्तेहाद को को कमजोर करने नहीं देंगे। इस हमले की वजह से शर-परस्तों को हमारे… pic.twitter.com/r6uYdzQiOf

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 24, 2025

Rejecting Communal Narratives

While condemning the terrorists in the strongest terms, Owaisi also cautioned against communal polarization:

“Terror has no religion. By branding every Muslim a suspect, we only play into the hands of those shaitans sitting in Pakistan, cheering as we divide ourselves.”

He reminded audiences that the worst victims of violence in Kashmir are local Muslims, and that conflating religion with terrorism undermines India’s plural fabric.

Call for Solidarity: Black Armbands at Jumma Prayers

In a video posted later on his social media channels, Owaisi appealed to Indian Muslims to wear black bands on their right arms during Friday’s congregational prayers:

“Let this silent gesture send a message: foreign foes will not fracture India’s peace and unity. We stand with our Kashmiri brothers; we will not be baited into hatred.”

Social Media Verdict

Owaisi’s unapologetic tone has struck a chord online. Supporters lauded him as “a far more courageous voice” than other opposition figures, praising his blend of stern accountability and communal harmony. Critics from saffron ranks, however, have accused him of grandstanding ahead of elections.

What Lies Ahead?

As investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Jammu & Kashmir Police progress, questions remain: Who facilitated the militants’ cross-LoC ingress, and how will New Delhi calibrate its response to avoid full-blown hostilities with Pakistan? For many Indians, Owaisi’s words have crystallized a demand for both firm retaliation against external sponsors of terrorism and steadfast unity at home.

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