On Tuesday, a terrorist attack targeting tourists in Pahalgam resulted in the deaths of 26 people and numerous injuries, representing one of the most serious terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times.
A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrived to assist in the investigation.
Details of the Pahalgam Terror Attack
The assault began around 2:30 PM on Tuesday. Among those killed was a Navy officer who had been married only a week earlier, as well as an Intelligence Bureau official who was shot in front of his wife.
Reports indicate that the victims included two foreign nationals from the UAE and Nepal, alongside two local residents.
A massive manhunt is currently underway to capture the assailants, with the Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir police setting up a blockade in the area.
Military helicopters were quickly deployed to transport the injured, as the region can only be accessed by foot or horseback.
At the time of the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Saudi Arabia. He promptly cut his trip short and returned to India this morning. In a post on X, he stated, “I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. I extend my condolences to those mourning their loved ones. I wish for the rapid recovery of the injured. We are offering all possible assistance to those affected. The perpetrators of this heinous act will face justice… they will not evade it! Their malicious agenda will not succeed. Our resolve to combat terrorism remains firm and will only strengthen.”
Prime Minister Modi is currently leading a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the highest decision-making body in India regarding national security matters.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that multiple terrorists infiltrated Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist spot renowned for its scenic hills and lush orchards, and opened fire. The sound of gunfire caused panic among tourists, who scrambled for safety in an open area with no available cover.
Disturbing footage captured individuals pleading for help for their injured family members. In one video, a woman was seen beside a critically injured man, crying, “Please save my husband. For God’s sake, save him.” Another woman, whose husband was killed in front of her, was allegedly told by the attackers to “go tell Modi.”
Reports suggest that the attack has been claimed by ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF), a splinter group linked to the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror organization, whose operatives are believed to have crossed from Kishtwar in Jammu and accessed Baisaran via Kokernag in southern Kashmir. However, this has not yet been officially confirmed by the government.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was on an official visit to the US and Peru, has also shortened her trip.
In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Delhi Police have increased security measures across the city, particularly in tourist areas and at border checkpoints. Traffic regulations have also been implemented in sensitive locations.
Global leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have condemned the terror attack and expressed their solidarity with India. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also denounced the incident, while European Union President Ursula von der Leyen described it as a “vile terror attack.”
