At least 26 people killed as gunman massacre tourists in Kashmir beauty spot

At least 26 people were killed and more than a dozen injured when gunmen opened fire on tourists in the scenic Pahalgam area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday. The deadly attack, one of the worst in years targeting civilians in the region, took place in the Baisaran Valley, a remote area only accessible by foot or horseback.

The victims were mostly tourists, including a Nepali national and an Indian-origin individual working in the Middle East, according to Kashmir police official V. K. Birdi. Survivors described a scene of horror as gunmen fired at close range, with one woman stating her husband was shot in the head. Another survivor, Asavari Jagdale from Pune, recounted that the attackers entered their tent, accused them of supporting Prime Minister Modi, and shot her male family members.

Locals rushed to help the injured, using ponies and makeshift stretchers to bring them to safer areas. Abdul Waheed, a resident, said the trauma was immense, with children, women, and men caught in the chaos.

A group calling itself The Resistance Front claimed responsibility on social media, citing opposition to demographic changes in the region. However, authorities are still investigating the claim and have not confirmed its authenticity. Medical examinations and arrangements to transport victims‍‍` bodies and families are underway.

The Indian government condemned the attack, with Prime Minister Modi vowing justice and asserting that the perpetrators would not succeed in their “evil agenda.” Protests erupted in the region, with demonstrators chanting against terrorism and calling for Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation.

Security forces have launched a search operation in the area. Modi also cut short his Saudi Arabia visit following the incident. Pakistan‍‍`s foreign ministry expressed condolences but denied involvement. However, Indian officials, including BJP spokespersons, accused Pakistan of fueling terrorism, pointing to rising peace and tourism in the region as a possible motive for the attack.

The attack has triggered widespread international condemnation. Leaders from the US, Russia, France, Israel, Iran, and the UAE expressed solidarity with India. US Vice President JD Vance, who was visiting India, and former President Donald Trump also conveyed condolences.

The region of Kashmir, long disputed by India and Pakistan, has seen decades of conflict. Though violence had decreased in recent years, this latest attack has raised fears of renewed instability. Kashmiri activists voiced concern over rising anti-Kashmiri sentiment and called for unity against terror, stressing that ordinary Kashmiris, too, are victims of the ongoing strife.