In a shocking tragedy, at least 26 people lost their lives and 17 others were injured during the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Police confirmed the grim news on Wednesday. The assault, one of the worst in almost two decades, targeted tourists at the popular site of Pahalgam, located about 90 kilometers from Srinagar.
The deadly Pahalgam attack happened on Tuesday. It unfolded in an off-road meadow, catching tourists by complete surprise. Among the deceased were 25 Indian nationals and one person from Nepal, according to the police.
The incident came just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US Vice President JD Vance in New Delhi. PM Modi was forced to cut short his two-day trip to Saudi Arabia and return to India early Wednesday morning. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also curtailed her visit to the United States and Peru, stating she needed “to be with our people in this difficult and tragic time.”
A relatively unknown group named “Kashmir Resistance” claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack through a social media post. The group expressed anger over the settlement of over 85,000 “outsiders” in the region, calling it a cause of “demographic change.”
Following the massacre, over a dozen local organizations called for a shutdown across the territory to protest the violence against visitors. Schools suspended classes, and airlines operated additional flights from Srinagar as panic spread among tourists.
Since the revocation of Kashmir’s special status in 2019, tensions have sharply escalated. The move split the former state into two federally administered territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Authorities granted domicile rights to non-locals, allowing them to buy land and apply for government jobs. This change led to worsening relations with Pakistan and sparked further unrest in the volatile region.
Targeted assaults on tourists in IIOJK have been rare. However, in June 2024, a similar tragedy occurred when an attack caused a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to crash into a deep gorge, killing nine and injuring 33.
In response to the Pahalgam attack, PM Modi declared that “their evil agenda will never succeed.” He stressed that India’s commitment to fighting terrorism would only become stronger. He also vowed that those behind the atrocity would be “brought to justice.”
International reactions quickly followed. US President Donald Trump personally called PM Modi, offering America’s “full support” to ensure the perpetrators of the heinous act face justice. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the Pahalgam attack, promising that “Europe will stand with you.”
Chief Minister of IIOJK, Omar Abdullah, stated that the incident was “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.” He called the violence against innocent visitors “an abomination.”
Eyewitnesses shared harrowing details. Survivors told The Indian Express that men in uniform emerged from nearby forests and began firing at tourists gathered in the meadow. Many initially mistook the attackers for police officers. The gunmen, undeterred, roamed the area for at least 20 minutes, firing at close range. “It seemed like an eternity,” one survivor recalled.
Among the victims was an Indian Navy officer. The attackers showed no mercy, shooting many at point-blank range, according to survivors’ accounts.
Pakistan also expressed sorrow over the tragic Pahalgam attack. Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan conveyed condolences and concern over the loss of lives. “We are saddened by the incident and express sympathy with the families of the deceased,” he said. Khan also wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
India maintains around 500,000 soldiers permanently stationed in the disputed territory. In recent years, officials have heavily promoted Kashmir as a prime tourist destination, attracting about 3.5 million visitors in 2024 alone.
The Pahalgam attack now joins a grim list of major incidents, including the 2019 Pulwama bombing that killed 40 security personnel. The latest violence reminds the world that despite efforts to project a peaceful image, tensions in IIOJK remain dangerously high.
