Twenty-six people killed in terrorist attack in Kashmir

Twenty-six people were killed and several others were injured as terrorists opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam yesterday, in the worst terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times. An officer from the Navy and another from the Intelligence Bureau were also killed in the attack. The attack was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), which is believed by officials to be an offshoot of the Pakistan-based proscribed militant outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.

A senior police official said that the attack took place at around 2:50 pm on Tuesday (22 April) in the Baisaran meadow, a popular offbeat destination at the end of a rugged, seven kilometre-long trail from the Pahalgam bus stand. The meadow, which is not serviced by road and can be reached by hike, on horseback or by chopper, was buzzing with tourists as the weather had improved on Tuesday after many days of rains and thunderstorms that wreaked havoc across Kashmir.

The gunmen, believed to be two to three in number according to police, hiked down from a range of mountains in Baisaran that are covered with lush pine trees and opened fire at the visitors.

Terming the attack an “abomination”, Omar Abdullah said he was “shocked beyond belief”. “The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman & worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough. I send my sympathies to the families of the deceased,” he posted on X. “Needless to say, this attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” he added.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attack on tourists and said, “Such violence is unacceptable and must be denounced”.

“Historically, Kashmir has welcomed tourists warmly, making this rare incident deeply concerning. A thorough investigation is needed to bring the perpetrators to justice and examine potential security lapses. Ensuring visitor safety is paramount, and steps must be taken to prevent future attacks,” she added.

The Pahalgam attack took place at a time when US Vice President J.D. Vance is on a four-day tour of India. Many have drawn a parallel to the Chittisinghpura massacre in which at least 35 Sikh villagers were gunned down on March 20, 2000 in the Chittisinghpura village of Anantnag district on the eve of then-US president Bill Clinton’s state visit to India.

The attack comes during the peak tourist season in the Valley and also when registration for this year’s Amarnath Yatra is going on across the country. The 38-day pilgrimage is set to begin from July 3, from two routes – the 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the other 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, which is shorter but steeper.

In Kashmir, tourism is their lifeline. Until now, tourists were rarely been attacked in Kashmir. Those who committed this dastardly act did so with the specific intention to destroy Kashmir’s economy and sustenance of life.