In one of the most brutal terrorist attacks on civilians in recent years, at least 26 tourists were shot dead and dozens more injured at a resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police confirmed on Tuesday. The bloodshed unfolded in Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist destination near the town of Pahalgam, shocking a region that has largely spared vacationers from its decades-long conflict.
Police officials described the incident as a “terror attack” carried out by militants opposing Indian rule in the region. According to two senior officers, at least four gunmen opened fire at close range on a large group of tourists. Over three dozen people were injured, many of them critically. Most of the victims are believed to be Indian nationals.
“This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” said Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, on social media. The dead were recovered from a meadow roughly five kilometers from Pahalgam, an area renowned for its lush pine forests and snow-capped backdrops.
No group has claimed responsibility for the massacre so far. Search operations are underway as police and soldiers comb the surrounding terrain for the perpetrators.
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, who rushed to Srinagar following the news, condemned the killings and vowed harsh retaliation. “We will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences,” he posted online. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently visiting Saudi Arabia, has been briefed and is monitoring the situation.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a leading religious and political figure in Kashmir, also condemned the attack. “Such violence is unacceptable and against the ethos of Kashmir which welcomes visitors with love and warmth,” he stated online.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, currently visiting India, called the incident a “devastating terrorist attack.” He posted, “Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.” Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, stating that the U.S. “stands strong with India against terrorism.”
Tourists have continued to flock to Kashmir in recent years, drawn by its scenic beauty and the perception of relative calm. While the region remains heavily militarized, with soldiers stationed on roads and security checks at nearly every corner, violence targeting tourists has been rare.
This terrorist attack comes amid simmering tensions since New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019, placing the region under direct federal control and intensifying counterinsurgency operations. The crackdown has included restrictions on civil liberties, media, and political dissent.
While violence in the Kashmir Valley had somewhat quieted recently, insurgent activity has flared in southern and western areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Historically, militant groups in the area have targeted Indian security forces and political leaders. Attacks of this scale on civilians, particularly tourists, represent a deeply troubling shift.
The Kashmir conflict, which began in 1989, has claimed tens of thousands of lives. India maintains the insurgency is driven by Pakistan-backed terrorism, while Pakistan denies involvement and many Kashmiris view the rebellion as a legitimate struggle for self-determination.
As the search for the assailants continues, the shockwaves of this attack are likely to reshape not only security protocols but also the fragile trust that domestic tourists had begun placing in the region’s stability.
