Kashmir terrorist attack: What we know so far
A terrorist attack in India's Jammu and Kashmir region has resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people and injuries to 20 others.
The attack took place in the Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist destination approximately 6km from the town of Pahalgam. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers, armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, opened fire from close range on tourists engaged in activities such as picnicking and pony rides.
Among the 25 fatalities reported so far, there were 24 Indian tourists from various states. A citizen of Nepal was also among the confirmed fatalities. The injured include individuals from Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. The last major attack on visitors in Kashmir was in June 2024, when a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims was targeted by terrorists, resulting in the bus falling into a gorge, and causing the deaths of nine people and injuring 33 others.
The Resistance Front, a militant group affiliated with the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the Kashmir attack.
A complete shutdown is being observed in Jammu and Kashmir in protest. It marks the first such protest in the Kashmir Valley against a terror attack in 35 years.
J&K Lockdown: Crowds of Travellers Were Held at Pahalgam Checkpoint on Tuesday as Security Forces Responded to TerrorFootage shows armed soldiers guarding roads & patrolling the surrounding areas in armoured vehicles, while medics rushed victims to a hospital in Anantnag. https://t.co/5JGiJDPYT8pic.twitter.com/UBHJYuAaBYFollowing the incident, a police team, along with Army and paramilitary forces, swiftly reached the site to evacuate tourists and launch a search operation to track down the militants responsible.
This is the first attack on tourists in the region this year. The last such incident occurred in May last year, also in Pahalgam, when two tourists were injured in a militant strike.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other officials have condemned the attack. ЭThose behind this heinous act will be brought to justice... they will not be spared,' Modi said on X. 'Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger.'
I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought…
Speaking in New Delhi on Wednesday, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Sing said: 'I want to assure the countrymen that the government will take every necessary step. We will not only reach the perpetrators of this act but also the actors behind the scenes... The accused will soon see a loud and clear response, I want to assure the country.'
❗️Home Minister Amit Shah Honours The Victims Of The #PahalgamTerrorAttack In Srinagar, J&K #PahalgamTerroristattack#pahalgamattack#Pahalgam 📹 @DDIndialivepic.twitter.com/DIqWpk9YJQ
Pallavi Rao, a resident of Shivamogga, was vacationing in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir with her husband, Manjunath Rao, and their son Abhijaya, when gunmen ambushed a group of tourists, local media reported.
Manjunath was gunned down in front of Pallavi, who was spared to deliver a message to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'I begged them to shoot me too,' she said, according to UNI news agency. 'But one of them looked at me and said, 'No. You stay alive. Tell Modi what happened here.''
22/04: #PahalgamTerrorAttack - What Is Known So Far: 🔹 The devastating attack occurred in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 individuals and injuring over 20 others.🔹 The attack took place in the Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist… pic.twitter.com/TGJjXhHMxu
The Jagdale family was on vacation near Pahalgam at spot called 'mini Switzerland' when gunshots began from 'people who wore clothes similar to those of local police' descending from the nearby hill, Asavari Jagdale was quoted as telling PTI new agency in a telephone interview. She, her mother, and another female relative were spared. However, her father and uncle were shot. The terrorists are said to have accused them of supporting Modi.
A newly married Indian navy officer, Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, 26, was also killed in the attack. In a video, his wife Himanshi said, 'I was eating bhel puri [a snack] with my husband. A person came and asked if he [Narwal] was a Muslim. When he denied, the man shot him dead.'
#WATCH | Delhi | Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal's wife bids an emotional farewell to her husband, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attackThe couple got married on April 16. pic.twitter.com/KJpLEeyxfJ
Shubham Dwivedi, a 31-year-old businessman from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, was part of an 11-member family group visiting the region when he was killed. 'It is being said that they asked for names before firing… and he was shot in the head,' his cousin told ANI.
The family of Sushil Nathaniel, a 58-year-old from the state of Madhya Pradesh, was at an Easter gathering at a tourist hotspot in Kashmir, which became a horrific ordeal as they were caught in the midst of screams and gunfire. In the chaos, Nathaniel's family last saw him on his knees being shot by a gunman, according to a report by the Indian Express. Nathaniel's daughter, Akanksha, 30, suffered a gunshot wound to her leg, while his wife, Jennifer, 54, and son, Austin, 21, managed to survive the attack, the report said.
Bharat Bhushan, a techie from Bengaluru, was shot dead in front of his wife and their three-year-old son, NDTV reported. The wife said, 'They didn't shoot women and children, but shot the men in the head. They kept shooting till they fell down.' She added, 'My daughter is a doctor, she realized he was dead. She then took the mobile and the purse and ran. We spoke to her at 2:45pm,' the report said.
World leaders have denounced the attack that targeted civilians. Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump were among the global leaders to condemn the attack, expressing solidarity with India.'Please accept my deepest condolences on the tragic consequences of the terrorist attack near the city of Pahalgam, the victims of which were peaceful people – citizens of various countries,' Putin wrote in his message, published on the Kremlin website.
US President Donald Trump called Modi to express deep condolences over the attack. 'Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism. We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies. Our hearts are with you all!,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.
Israel also extended its support to India. The Chinese ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, also condemned the attack. 'Oppose terrorism of all forms,' Xu wrote in a post on X.
Shocked by the attack in Pahalgam and condemn. Deep condolences for the victims and sincere sympathies to the injured and the bereaved families. Oppose terrorism of all forms.
India's neighbors, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, have strongly denounced the terrorist attack and extended support for the victims.
Pakistan, with which India has had strained relations since 1947, also issued a message of condolence on Wednesday. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, 'We are concerned at the loss of tourists' lives in an attack in Anantnag district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. We extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery.'
The incident marks one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing that killed 40 Indian troops. In response, New Delhi conducted a 'surgical strike' against the terrorist group in Pakistan's Balakot. Later in 2019, Islamabad downgraded its relations with New Delhi after the Modi-led federal government revoked the special status of the region.
The attack on tourists near Pahalgam has also drawn parallels with the Chittisinghpura massacre that occurred 25 years ago.
Some experts and security analysts have questioned the timing of the attack, which coincided with US Vice President J.D. Vance's ongoing visit to India and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Saudi Arabia.
The timing of the #Pahalgam terror attack was extremely significant. It comes just days after the Pakistani army chief made a hate speech against Hindus in which he said "Kashmir is our jugular vein". And it was launched when the US vice president was visiting India (remember the…
Both incidents took place during high-profile visits by US dignitaries, with the latest attack happening amid US Vice President J.D. Vance's trip to India, and the 1998 Chittisinghpura massacre occurring during a visit by then-US President Bill Clinton.
Similarly, in November 2010, Indian troops killed at least six people who they suspected of planning violence days before then-US President Barack Obama's trip to the country, reports said.
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