Jammu & kashmir : terrorist attack on civilian

Jammu & kashmir : terrorist attack on civilian.

 At least 28 people were killed and more than 20 injured in a vicious terrorist attack that rocked Jammu and Kashmir's tranquil Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. This is the deadliest attack on civilians in the area in a long time.

The Attack

Around 2:50 PM, four to six militants dressed in military-style uniforms emerged from the surrounding forests and opened fire on a group of tourists enjoying the scenic meadow. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants used M4 carbines and AK-47 rifles, firing indiscriminately into the crowd. Survivors recounted that the attackers demanded victims recite religious verses and checked for circumcision to identify and spare Muslims, indicating a targeted attack against non-Muslims  

Casualties

Twenty-four Indian tourists from Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Haryana, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh were among the victims. Among the dead were two locals and two foreigners from the United Arab Emirates and Nepal. Notably, the attack claimed the lives of an Intelligence Bureau official and a 26-year-old Indian Navy officer. At least 20 other people were hurt.

Perpetrators and Motive

The massacre was claimed by the Resistance Front (TRF), a branch of the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba, both of which are based in Pakistan. The group claimed that their motivation was opposition to the alleged demographic shifts in Kashmir, specifically the influx of more than 85,000 non-locals. Many people believe that TRF is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, particularly in light of the heightened international scrutiny of Pakistan's terrorist connections.

Government Response

After learning of the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called an emergency security meeting and canceled his trip to Saudi Arabia. Rajnath Singh, the minister of defense, called the act cowardly and promised a "very loud response" against those responsible as well as those who supported them. Amit Shah, the home minister, visited Srinagar to personally assess the security situation.

Impact on Tourism and Regional Stability

The region's tourism industry, which had been on the rise, has been badly damaged by the attack. Airlines added emergency flights to meet the sudden demand after the incident caused a mass exodus of tourists. Workers and local companies that depend on tourism are currently facing severe financial difficulties. Concerns regarding regional stability have also been raised by the attack, particularly in view of the Indian government's initiatives to boost tourism after the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy status in 2019

International Condemnation

The attack has been widely denounced by the international community. While in India at the time, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance offered his condolences and support to the Indian people. Along with other world leaders, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the violence and emphasized the importance of working together to combat terrorism.

In conclusion

The Pahalgam attack highlights the difficulties in maintaining peace and stability in the area as well as the ongoing threat of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The country laments the loss of innocent lives and is united against those who would disturb its peace as investigations continue and security forces step up their operations.