On Wednesday, many major newspapers in Jammu and Kashmir printed their front pages completely black. This step was taken to protest the terrible terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed, most of them tourists.

The black pages were a symbol of sadness and protest. It was the media’s way of showing that people in Kashmir are hurting and grieving over the tragedy.

Which newspapers took part?

Both English and Urdu newspapers in Kashmir joined in. Some of them were:

Greater Kashmir
Rising Kashmir
Kashmir Uzma
Aftab
Taimeel Irshad

Each of them used white or red headlines over black backgrounds to express sorrow.

The English newspaper Greater Kashmir used the headline:
 “Gruesome: Kashmir Gutted, Kashmiris Grieving” in white, with a red subheadline:
 “26 killed in deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.”

The newspaper also wrote a front-page editorial with the headline:
 “The massacre in the meadow – Protect Kashmir’s soul.”

It said that the attack was not only a loss of lives but also an attack on Kashmir’s identity, hospitality, and peace. The paper wrote:

“This heinous act is not merely an assault on innocent lives but a deliberate blow to Kashmir’s identity and values — its hospitality, its economy, and its fragile peace. Kashmir’s soul stands in unequivocal condemnation of this brutality and offers heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families, who sought beauty but found tragedy.”

The editorial also pointed out that the attack happened in a place where many tourists go, which can only be reached by walking or riding ponies. This raises questions about how safe such areas really are. The newspaper said there needs to be:

Better intelligence sharing
Stronger coordination between agencies
More efforts to stop terrorism

It urged the government and local communities to work together to keep such events from happening again.

 

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