Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have launched a large-scale security operation following one of the deadliest attacks in recent years, which left at least 26 people dead, the majority of them tourists.
The assault, which occurred near the popular resort town of Pahalgam on Tuesday, has prompted widespread security deployments and a political response at the highest levels of government.
According to local officials, gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists visiting the scenic Baisaran meadow, located approximately five kilometres from Pahalgam in the Anantnag district. The victims included 24 Indian nationals, one Nepalese citizen, and a local tourist guide. Seventeen others sustained injuries.
In the wake of the killings, Indian security forces have intensified operations across the Kashmir Valley. Tens of thousands of police and soldiers have been mobilised, with additional checkpoints established and aerial reconnaissance conducted over forested regions. Former militants have reportedly been summoned for questioning in various areas, while much of the local economy came to a standstill as shops and businesses closed in protest.
Police have classified the incident as a “terror attack” and have attributed responsibility to militants opposing Indian rule in the region. A previously unknown group identifying itself as “Kashmir Resistance” claimed responsibility via social media. The group asserted that the victims were not mere tourists but were affiliated with Indian security agencies, citing alleged settlement activities involving over 85,000 individuals from outside the region. These claims have not been independently verified.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh vowed to identify both the attackers and any co-conspirators involved in the planning of the assault. “We will trace not only those who perpetrated the attack but also those who conspired to commit this nefarious act on our soil,” he stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who curtailed a diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, returned to New Delhi on Wednesday and convened a special session of the national security cabinet. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah visited the attack site and a police control room in Srinagar, where floral tributes were paid to the victims. He pledged severe reprisals against those responsible.
The killings have prompted renewed fears among visitors and locals alike. Many tourists have begun departing the region. “We are tourists, and we should think about what safety we have here for us,” said Monojit Debnath, who was visiting from Kolkata and spoke to the Press Trust of India while leaving Srinagar with his family.
Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, commented on the incident via social media: “It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after yesterday’s tragic terror attack. But at the same time, we totally understand why people would want to leave.”
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing concern over the incident and extending condolences to the families of the victims. “We are concerned at the loss of tourists’ lives,” the statement read, adding wishes for a swift recovery for the injured.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, the Indian Army reported that its troops killed two suspected militants attempting to cross into Indian-controlled territory from Pakistan-administered Kashmir near Baramulla, along the Line of Control. The army has not provided further details, and the report could not be independently confirmed.
The latest violence comes amid a broader shift in the security landscape of the region since 2019, when the Indian government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status and brought it under direct federal control. Since then, authorities have encouraged tourism as a symbol of normalcy, despite persistent security concerns and restrictions on civil liberties.
Militants in the region have waged a separatist insurgency against Indian rule since 1989. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training these groups, an allegation Islamabad denies. While violence in the Kashmir Valley had diminished in recent years, Indian security forces have faced increasing attacks in the southern Jammu region, including Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua districts.
The Pahalgam attack has drawn comparisons to previous high-casualty incidents. In 2000, 35 civilians were killed in Chattisinghpora during a visit by then-U.S. President Bill Clinton. In 2019, a suicide bombing in Pulwama killed 40 paramilitary personnel and nearly provoked armed conflict between India and Pakistan.
As of Wednesday, security operations remain ongoing, with no confirmed arrests in connection with the Pahalgam shootings. The region remains tense, and further developments are expected as the investigation progresses.
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