India, July 23 -- The establishment's response to the July 22 killing of a policeman in Jammu & Kashmir by a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was to detain 1200 suspects and demolish two houses associated with LeT terrorists in the Union territory's Anantnag district. The action comes after the first terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir after the massacre of tourists in Baisaran, Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. The attack and response prompt two interconnected questions. First, are authorities anticipating another spate of Pakistan-backed violence in the valley? And should this attack be seen as a desperate bid by LeT, a Pakistan-based terror outfit?

On July 8, a special court issued a non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed, the co-founder...