26 killed in Pahalgam as terrorists open fire on tourists

In a brutal terror strike that has sent shockwaves across the country, heavily armed terrorists opened fire on a crowd of tourists at the scenic Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people and injuring at least 20 others. This is the worst attack on civilians in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

The picturesque grassland—often dubbed "mini Switzerland" and located about six kilometres from the popular hill town of Pahalgam—was bustling with visitors enjoying pony rides, picnics, and the early summer calm when the attack occurred around 3 pm.

Eyewitnesses described chaos and horror as gunfire shattered the peace, with people running for cover and cries for help echoing across the meadow. Bodies lay scattered, many of them tourists who had come to Kashmir for a brief escape from their daily lives. “My husband was shot in the head,” a woman survivor recounted, her voice trembling. “Seven others around us were also injured.”

According to officials, the victims included two foreigners and two locals. The identities of the deceased are yet to be fully confirmed. A high-ranking official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the toll may rise as many of the injured are in critical condition.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the attack “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years” and expressed deep anguish at the scale and nature of the carnage.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack. Intelligence inputs suggest the terrorists may have infiltrated from Kishtwar and reached Baisaran through the Kokernag route in south Kashmir.

The timing of the assault—coinciding with the peak tourist season and the visit of US Vice President J.D. Vance to India—has raised serious questions about the security situation in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, condemned the attack and assured swift justice. “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and will only grow stronger,” he posted on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, after briefing the Prime Minister, immediately left for Srinagar to convene a high-level security meeting with top officials from intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

As night fell over the Valley, security forces launched a massive manhunt to track down the attackers—believed to be five in number—who vanished into the surrounding forests after unleashing bloodshed.

This devastating attack marks a grim chapter in Kashmir’s troubled history, reminding the world once again of the fragile calm that cloaks the Valley—and how quickly it can be shattered.