Securitization of The 2025 Pahalgam Attack: A Copenhagen School Analysis of India’s Response to Pakistan

Amal Fatima; Muqarrab Akbar; Babur Khalil

doi:10.71317/jgst.2.9.2026.544

Authors

Amal Fatima M.Phil. Scholar, Department of International Relations, Government College University, Faisalabad Author
Dr. Muqarrab Akbar Chairman, Department of Political Science, Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan Author
Babur Khalil MS National Security Management & War Studies, National Defence University, Islamabad Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71317/jgst.2.9.2026.544

Keywords:

Pahalgam attack, Pak-India conflict, Bunyan Marsoos, South Asia, Indus Water Treaty, Copenhagen School Securitization Theory

Abstract

The Pahalgam attack of 22 April 2025 in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir became one of the deadliest civilian attacks in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The attack occurred in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, where armed militants opened fire on tourists, killing 26 civilians and injuring more than 20. India quickly attributed responsibility to Pakistan-linked militant networks, particularly The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Following the incident, India adopted extraordinary political, diplomatic, and military measures including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, visa restrictions, diplomatic expulsions, and military preparedness. This study applies the Copenhagen School’s securitization theory to examine how India transformed the Pahalgam attack from a terrorism incident into an existential national security threat. The research focuses on secondaru sources, academic literature and existing publications, aiming to fill the gap in existing literature regarding a full securitization analysis of India’s response toward Pakistan.