Attack on Tourists Kills 26 in Indian-Administered Kashmir

At least 26 people were killed and 17 others injured after a group of armed men opened fire on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, marking one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the region in recent years. The attack occurred at Baisaran meadow, near the resort town of Pahalgam.

Local authorities described it as a “terrorist act,” with the victims caught by surprise while sightseeing. According to Indian police, four attackers fired at close range. Most of the deceased were Indian nationals. A relatively obscure group, Kashmir Resistance, claimed responsibility, citing grievances over demographic shifts due to the settlement of outsiders in the region. Indian officials believe this group is a proxy for Pakistan-based militant outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, both of which oppose Indian rule in Kashmir.

Security forces launched an immediate manhunt, while eyewitnesses described scenes of horror and chaos. One guide helped evacuate the wounded on horseback, and witnesses noted that women appeared to have been deliberately spared by the attackers.

This incident has drawn international condemnation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who canceled part of a visit abroad, vowed that justice would be served. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed solidarity with India, denouncing the attack, and the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the violence, reiterating that assaults on civilians are never justifiable.

In a separate clash, Indian forces reportedly killed two gunmen in an attempted infiltration from Pakistan. Indian Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah traveled to Kashmir to assess the situation, promising severe consequences for those responsible.

Kashmir, claimed by both India and Pakistan, remains a flashpoint of tension. Since the Indian government revoked the region’s autonomous status in 2019, armed conflict and civilian unrest have intensified. Human rights organizations have repeatedly called for international scrutiny into the ongoing crisis.