Delhi Bombing Prompts Indian Security Crackdown, Raises Fears of Escalation and Increased Scrutiny of Kashmiris
New Delhi, India – Following a bomb blast in New Delhi on Monday, the Indian government has declared the incident an “act of terror” and initiated a widespread investigation, sparking concerns about potential escalation with Pakistan and a surge in harassment targeting Kashmiri Muslims across India.The blast, which occurred on [Date not explicitly stated in text, but implied to be around November 15, 2025], has prompted a security response described by observers as “very professional.”
India’s response is elaborate by its recently adopted security doctrine, which frames acts of terror as acts of war. Political analyst and author Sumit Ganguly cautioned this approach represents “a dangerous, slippery slope,” possibly leading to “serious military escalation” between India and pakistan. Ganguly, author of Kashmir at the Crossroads: Inside a 21st-Century Conflict (2021), also noted the doctrine appears aimed at appealing to domestic audiences, a way of demonstrating “muscular strength” under the Modi governance. The book itself is banned in Kashmir.
A controversial element of the Indian government’s response has been the use of the term “white-collar terrorism” to describe potential involvement by Kashmiri professionals. Analysts warn this rhetoric risks conflating Kashmiri Muslims with armed rebels operating in the region. “The term doesn’t make sense to me, but it does put the needle of suspicion on young, educated Muslim professionals,” said Ganguly. He argued that militants in Kashmir originate from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds - “from rural farming families,working-class backgrounds,to educated professionals” – reflecting widespread discontent within the region.
The use of this terminology is also raising concerns about its potential economic impact on Kashmiri Muslims living in India. Editor and journalist Aarti Bhasin stated the government’s posture will likely lead to “adverse economic impact for Kashmiri Muslims and further ghettoisation, where they find it harder to get jobs or a place to rent.”
Reports are emerging of increased harassment and intimidation of Kashmiri Muslims across northern India in the wake of the Delhi blast. Nasir Khuehami, national convener of a Kashmiri student association, reported receiving numerous calls from Kashmiri Muslims facing demands to vacate their homes and experiencing active profiling. “Across northern Indian states, Kashmiris are being asked to vacate their homes, there is active profiling going on, and everyone is so scared,” Khuehami told Al Jazeera.
This pattern of harassment - where attacks in Kashmir or by Kashmiri rebels are followed by abuse of Kashmiri Muslims in India – is not new. Khuehami called for “confidence-building measures” from the government to break “this endless cycle of crises.” He warned that the Modi government’s current approach risks marginalizing Kashmiris in India, potentially playing into the hands of Pakistan, which India accuses of seeking to control Kashmir.
[Image: A supporter of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds a placard during a rally expressing solidarity with the Indian armed forces, in Srinagar, on may 15, 2025, following a ceasefire between Pakistan and India [Tauseef Mustafa/AFP]]
