- “Kashmir Resistance” takes responsibility for the attack.
- Expresses dissatisfaction over the settlement of over 85,000 “outsiders”.
- Trump pledges full support to India; PM Modi vows justice.
SRINAGAR: A tragic shooting in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) resulted in the deaths of at least 26 individuals and left 17 others injured when gunmen targeted tourists. This incident, which occurred on Wednesday, is considered the deadliest attack on civilians in India in nearly two decades.
The shooting took place on Tuesday in Pahalgam, a popular summer destination located approximately 90 kilometers from Srinagar.
This assault comes just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in New Delhi and marks the most severe attack on civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which claimed over 160 lives.
In response to the tragedy, PM Modi truncated his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to New Delhi early Wednesday morning. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is also cutting her trips to the U.S. and Peru short in order to focus on the aftermath of the attack.
The shooting occurred in a secluded area, and among the deceased were 25 Indian nationals and one individual from Nepal, according to police reports.
A relatively unknown group named “Kashmir Resistance” has claimed responsibility for the attack via a social media post, expressing their grievances regarding the settlement of over 85,000 outsiders in the region, which they believe leads to a demographic shift.
On Wednesday, various local organizations called for a general strike across the federal territory to protest against the attack on tourists, who play a significant role in the local economy.
Many schools also suspended classes in solidarity with the protests.
Airlines have stepped up operations, adding extra flights from Srinagar, as visitors hurriedly departed the region, according to officials.
In 2019, India revoked the special status of Kashmir, dividing the state into two federally administered territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. This change allowed local authorities to grant domicile privileges to outsiders, enabling them to obtain jobs and purchase land in this contested Himalayan area, which further strained relations with Pakistan and heightened military tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
Incidents targeting tourists in IIOJK are uncommon. The last significant attack occurred in June 2024, when nine people were killed, and 33 were injured after a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims fell into a gorge following an attack.
Trump Pledges Full Support to India
Reacting to the shooting, PM Modi stated: “Their malicious agenda will never prevail. Our determination to combat terrorism is unwavering and will only strengthen.” He condemned the “abhorrent act” and assured that those responsible for the attack “will be held accountable.”
U.S. President Donald Trump promptly called Modi to offer “full support to India in bringing the perpetrators of this despicable attack to justice.”
Among the international leaders who condemned the attack and expressed solidarity, EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen asserted that “Europe will stand with you.”
IIOJK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah remarked that this attack was unprecedented in its scale against civilians in recent times. “This attack on our tourists is intolerable,” he emphasized.
It’s important to note that there are approximately 500,000 Indian soldiers permanently stationed in the territory. In recent years, the government has been promoting the picturesque region as a holiday destination, both for winter skiing and as an escape from the summer heat experienced elsewhere in India.
Approximately 3.5 million tourists visited Kashmir in 2024, predominantly local visitors.
The most devastating attack in recent memory occurred in Pulwama in February 2019, when attackers collided a vehicle laden with explosives into a police convoy, resulting in 40 deaths and injuring at least 35 others.
During the latest shooting, eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen specifically targeted men, attacking some at close range. One female survivor recounted to The Indian Express that armed individuals in uniform emerged from the nearby forests into a meadow where tourists were enjoying the serene surroundings.
Survivors initially believed the attackers were police officers. “They were present for at least 20 minutes, unopposed, moving around and firing,” one survivor recounted. “It felt like an eternity.”
The victims included an officer from the Indian Navy.
