A tranquil spring afternoon in Kashmir’s Pahalgam valley turned into a bloodbath on Tuesday when gunmen opened fire on a crowd of over 1,200 tourists, killing at least 26 people and injuring 17 in one of the worst attacks on civilians in the region in decades.
The incident took place in Baisaran, a scenic spot popularly known as “mini Switzerland”, nestled among snow-draped peaks and pine forests. Witnesses said the attackers, dressed in military-style clothing, appeared suddenly from the nearby forest and began shooting indiscriminately. The attack, which lasted 15–20 minutes, left victims sprawled across the meadow as others ran frantically for cover.
“It was like a storm,” a local pony service operator told AFP. “Sometimes a single shot, sometimes many bullets.”
Targeted and Ruthless
Survivors described the horror of watching friends and loved ones fall before their eyes. One woman said a gunman asked her husband if he was Muslim. When he said no, he was shot dead. Graphic images and videos showed bodies on the ground, women screaming, and locals trying to help the wounded—some of whom were transported to hospitals on horseback before military helicopters arrived.
A widely circulated photo shows the grieving wife sitting beside her husband’s lifeless body in shock.
Lapses in Security?
The attack has raised serious concerns over security arrangements in Pahalgam, a prominent tourist destination. Critics are questioning how such a brazen assault could happen in a region where the government has aggressively promoted tourism to demonstrate stability since the revocation of Kashmir’s special status in 2019.
Home minister Amit Shah rushed to Srinagar for emergency meetings. Prime minister Narendra Modi, who cut short a trip to Saudi Arabia, condemned the “heinous” act and vowed the perpetrators would be punished.
International Condemnation
Global leaders, including UN secretary general António Guterres, US vice president JD Vance, and Russian president Vladimir Putin, condemned the attack. The Resistance Front, linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, reportedly claimed responsibility.
While gunfights with militants are not uncommon in Kashmir, attacks targeting tourists are rare. In recent years, over 20 million tourists visited the region annually. This tragedy could deal a severe blow to the perception of normalcy the government has tried to project.
As families mourn, the nation grapples with renewed fears and mounting pressure for accountability and decisive action.
