At least 26 people in Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) were killed on Tuesday, and 17 others injured, after gunmen affiliated with the Resistance Front group opened fire on tourists, in the disputed region’s deadliest attack on civilians since 2000.
Shortly after the attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short an ongoing visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to Delhi. In a statement, he condemned the “heinous act” in Pahalgam and vowed the attackers would “be brought to justice.” He maintained that the attack would serve to strengthen India’s resolve to fight terrorism.
The killings came a day after Modi met U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Delhi. In a social media post, Vance offered his condolences. President Donald Trump, in a separate social media post, said “the United States stands strong with India against terrorism.”
An eyewitness told the AFP news agency the attackers appeared to specifically target men while sparing women. It also cited a security source as claiming several foreign tourists were among the deceased.
IIOJK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah issued a statement describing the attack as “much larger” than anything seen directed at civilians in the recent past. “This attack on our visitors is an abomination,” he said. “The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman and worthy of contempt,” he added.
The attack targeted the route of the annual Amarnath Yatra, a Hindu pilgrimage to a cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is one of the most protected regions of IIOJK. Indian media has reported that Home Minister Amit Shah has reached Srinagar to hold an urgent security review meeting with all relevant agencies.
Immediately after the attack, Indian media outlets and social media accounts sought to blame the attack on Pakistan though there is no evidence to substantiate the claim. Officially, Delhi has not implicated Pakistan.
The Resistance Front that has claimed responsibility for the attack, in a statement, linked it to the settling of over 85,000 “outsiders” in the region following India’s abrogation of Kashmir’s special constitutional status in 2019. The decision allowed local authorities to issue domicile rights to outsiders, allowing them to get jobs and buy land in the disputed territory.
Condemnations
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office expressed concern over the loss of lives in the attack and extended condolences to the “dear ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery.”
All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned the attack. “Deeply disturbing news from Pahalgam of a cowardly attack on tourists that has resulted in tragic loss of life,” he said in a statement. “Such violence is unacceptable and against the ethos of Kashmir which welcomes visitors with love and warmth. Condemn it strongly. Thoughts and prayers with the families of victims and wishing speedy recovery to the injured,” he added.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is also Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, called the attack “extremely condemnable and heartbreaking.” He called on the government to move beyond “hollow claims” of peace in held-Jammu and Kashmir. “The whole country is united against terrorism,” he said.
Various foreign countries, including China and Russia, also condemned the attack. E.U. chief Ursula von der Leyen pledged to India that “Europe will stand with you.”