Attack Details
On April 22, 2025, gunmen opened fire on tourists in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam (Anantnag district) in Jammu and Kashmir. The assailants, reportedly two or three militants, struck mid-day in the scenic “mini Switzerland” valley. Witnesses said visitors initially mistook the shots for firecrackers until bodies fell around them. According to police and security sources, 26 people were killed (25 Indian nationals and 1 Nepali tourist) and about 17 others were injured. Victims were civilians from across India (including Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, etc.) – among them a newlywed Indian Air Force officer on leave, as well as one Nepalese citizen. Reports indicate the gunmen separated victims by religion (forcing them to recite Islamic prayers to prove their faith) before shooting.
Immediately after the attack, locals and pony-handlers rushed to help the wounded, ferrying them out of the meadow. Critically injured tourists were airlifted by military helicopters to Srinagar hospitals. Security forces (army, paramilitary and police) sealed off the area and launched a large manhunt in the nearby Pir Panjal mountains. Emergency helplines and control rooms were set up for victims and their families.
Suspects and Investigation
Indian authorities quickly attributed the massacre to militants linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Resistance Front (TRF) – a shadowy Kashmir offshoot of the Pakistan-based LeT – claimed responsibility on social media, citing outrage at “outsiders” settling in the valley. Delhi’s security agencies say TRF (also called “Kashmir Resistance”) is essentially a front for LeT and allied groups.
Investigators have identified five suspects in the attack: three Pakistani nationals (Asif Fauji “Moosa”, Suleman Shah “Yunus”, and Abu Talha “Asif”) and two local Kashmiri militants (Adil Guri and Ahsan). Sketches of the gunmen have been released and a ₹20 lakh reward announced for information leading to their capture. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has joined the probe. Due to the remote site, police are relying on eyewitness testimony to reconstruct events – for example, survivors recount that terrorists asked victims to recite the Kalima or reveal circumcision marks to identify Hindus before shooting. Security forces are continuing intensive searches in the hills (they believe the attackers fled toward higher slopes of the Pir Panjal range) and combing surrounding villages for any leads.
Indian Response
The attack drew immediate condemnation and a firm response from New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi – who cut short an official trip – chaired a security review and vowed to pursue the perpetrators “to the ends of the earth”. Union Home Minister Amit Shah flew to Kashmir to oversee the security operations. On April 24, an all-party meeting in Delhi (chaired by the Defense Minister) saw opposition leaders uniformly denounce the massacre and pledge cooperation, even as some questioned reported “security lapses”.
In Kashmir, authorities imposed curfews and declared a shutdown in the valley. Protests and shutdowns took place in Srinagar and other Muslim-majority towns, where demonstrators expressed solidarity with the victims and decried the violence. Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, among others, publicly mourned the dead and said Kashmiris were “ashamed” of the attacks. Gurudwaras (Sikh temples) in the region opened their doors to shelter stranded tourists, and extra flights were arranged out of Srinagar to evacuate civilians.
State governments announced relief packages: for example, Assam announced ₹5 lakh compensation for each victim’s family. Philanthropists and companies (e.g. the Policybazaar group) offered jobs and scholarships to support the victims’ families. A memorial service by the Indian diaspora in London, attended by British MPs, reaffirmed solidarity with India.
Diplomatic and Security Measures
The Indian government took unprecedented diplomatic steps against Pakistan. On April 23, it suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (the 1960 water-sharing pact) “until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures support” for cross-border terrorism. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters the attack had clear cross-border links, prompting this response. India also closed the Attari-Wagah land border crossing, allowing only repatriation of Indians by May 1. All Pakistani nationals on special (SAARC) visas were ordered to leave India within 48 hours; new such visas were canceled. India declared Pakistani defense attaches persona non grata and reduced the Pakistani diplomatic staff in Delhi (while downsizing its own mission in Islamabad).
Domestically, the security cabinet raised the terror threat level. Army and police checkpoints were intensified, especially in border districts. In response to political pressure over the attack, the government acknowledged that an early opening of the valley to tourists (Baisaran was opened months ahead of schedule) may have contributed to the security lapse. The Jammu & Kashmir Police announced helpline numbers for victims.
India also moved to soften the blow to ordinary Pakistanis: the External Affairs Ministry clarified that long-term visas held by Hindu Pakistanis (at a time when Pakistan had no policy to issue them) would remain valid, even as other Pakistani visa facilities were suspended.
Meanwhile, security forces in Kashmir have intensified their manhunt. On April 24–26, they surrounded suspected hideouts and demolished the homes of at least five militants believed linked to the Pahalgam attackers (including one in Pulwama district). The Army reported exchanging small-arms fire with Pakistani posts along the Line of Control (on the Kashmir border) – the first such firing in four years, but said there were no casualties.
International Reactions
World leaders and organizations universally condemned the Pahalgam massacre and offered support to India:
United Nations: The UN Security Council “strongly condemned” the attack and urged that perpetrators and their sponsors be brought to justice. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern and appealed to both India and Pakistan to exercise “maximum restraint” to avoid further escalation.
United States: President Donald Trump phoned PM Modi on April 25 to “strongly condemn” the terror attack, offer condolences, and pledge full US support to India in hunting down the culprits. Vice President J.D. Vance also called Modi, extended condolences, and affirmed that “the United States stands with India” in fighting terrorism. FBI Director Kash Patel described the massacre as a reminder of the “constant threat from the evils of terrorism” and assured the FBI’s full support for India.
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Modi and said he was “horrified” by the attack, expressing condolences on behalf of the British people. A Downing Street statement, echoed by India’s Foreign Ministry, said the UK “strongly condemned” the “barbaric” terrorist act and “stands shoulder to shoulder” with India in this hour of tragedy. Parliamentarians from both parties also voiced support: one MP noted that Lashkar-e-Taiba is widely blamed for the attack and urged bringing its backers to justice.
Gulf and Others: UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed telephoned Modi to “strongly condemn” the Pahalgam attack and expressed full solidarity with India. Other international leaders (from Australia, Bahrain, Israel, etc.) likewise sent condolences or messages of support. European Union and several Asian nations also condemned the killings.
Pakistan: The Pakistani government categorically denied any role in the attack. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said it “remains committed to peace and international norms” but would not compromise on sovereignty. Two of the identified suspects were Pakistani, but Islamabad insisted it only gives Kashmiri militants “moral and diplomatic support”. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi offered to cooperate in a “neutral” investigation into the incident. Pakistan’s Prime Minister called a National Security Committee meeting on April 26 to discuss India’s accusations. In the diplomatic tit-for-tat, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights and Pakistan’s defense attaches in India were expelled. Pakistan’s President and Foreign Minister expressed condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Ongoing Situation
The Pahalgam attack – the deadliest attack on civilians in Kashmir in over a decade – has left the region on edge. Security forces continue to hunt the gunmen in difficult mountainous terrain, while checkpoints and patrols remain tightened. Tourism in Kashmir has briefly dipped as visitors exercise caution, though airlines report significant outbound traffic (with extra flights) as people hurry home.
Diplomatically, India and Pakistan have entered a sharp standoff. India’s punitive actions (Indus Treaty suspension, border closures, visa bans) and Pakistan’s reciprocal measures (airspace closure, diplomatic expulsions) have strained ties further. Both countries have exchanged accusations – India blames cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, while Pakistan denies involvement and calls for an impartial inquiry. The United Nations and other international actors are urging calm and dialogue, even as India vows to “not relent in pursuit of those who committed this act”.
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