Pahalgam, Kashmir — At least two dozen people have been killed after gunmen opened fire on a group of domestic tourists visiting a well-known beauty spot in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials confirmed to the BBC.
The attack occurred in Baisaran, a mountain meadow located approximately three miles (5km) from the popular hill town of Pahalgam, often referred to as the “Switzerland of India” for its scenic Himalayan vistas.
The region’s Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, described the incident as “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.” Authorities report a significant number of injuries, with several victims in critical condition.
International leaders swiftly condemned the attack. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, stating: “Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against terrorism.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denounced the incident as a “vile terrorist attack,” while Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his “sincere condolences” over what he called a “brutal crime.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia in response to the attack, vowed that those responsible would be “brought to justice.”
“Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakeable and it will get even stronger,” Modi stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the loss of life, offering condolences to the victims and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
The assault is highly unusual in the context of the region’s decades-long conflict, as tourists have rarely been targeted — and never on this scale.
Home Minister Amit Shah traveled to Srinagar, Kashmir’s largest city, on Tuesday to convene an emergency security meeting. The region’s Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, confirmed that both army and police forces had been deployed to the scene.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The region, which has a Muslim-majority population, has seen a separatist insurgency against Indian rule since 1989, though violence had declined in recent years.
Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Vidi Kumar Birdi, told BBC Hindi that vehicles cannot access the location of the shooting, complicating rescue operations.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture. A tourist from Gujarat, who was among those attacked, described the scene as chaotic, with people running, crying, and shouting in panic following the gunfire.
Videos circulating on social media, though not independently verified by the BBC, appear to show bodies lying on the grass while others cry out for help. Other footage aired by Indian media shows troops rushing toward the site of the assault. Some injured victims allege that the gunmen deliberately targeted non-Muslims.
Police confirmed that multiple tourists had sustained gunshot wounds and were hospitalized. The area has been cordoned off, with checkpoints manned by soldiers as a joint search operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police is underway.
Indian media report that several protests have been scheduled for Wednesday in response to the attack.
Since the 1990s, an armed separatist movement has claimed tens of thousands of lives, including those of civilians and security personnel. The region has been a point of contention since India and Pakistan gained independence from Britain in 1947 and subsequently partitioned. Both nuclear-armed nations claim Kashmir in full and have fought two wars and a limited conflict over the territory.
Approximately 500,000 Indian troops are permanently stationed in Kashmir. The Indian government has asserted that security has improved since the 2019 revocation of the region’s partial autonomy, although sporadic violence continues.
The last major civilian attack occurred in June 2024, when militants opened fire on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims, killing nine and injuring 33. In 2019, a suicide bombing claimed the lives of at least 46 Indian soldiers, prompting retaliatory airstrikes on Pakistani territory.
Pahalgam remains a key tourist destination, drawing both domestic and international visitors. In 2024, the region welcomed approximately 3.5 million tourists, according to official statistics, amid a government campaign to boost tourism.
