Indian security forces have launched a massive manhunt for the perpetrators of a militant attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, that killed at least 26 people.
Tens of thousands of armed police and troops headed to the region, setting up checkpoints and searching vehicles, while many businesses remained closed after a call by religious and political figures.
The Indian army said in a statement, “The search operation is currently in progress, with all efforts focused on bringing the attackers to justice.”
A little-known militant group, the Kashmir Resistance, claimed responsibility for the attack made on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Posting on social media, it expressed discontent that more than 85,000 “outsiders” had been settled in the region, spurring a “demographic change.”
The attack, reportedly involving four gunmen, took place in a meadow in the Pahalgam area of the scenic Himalayan federal territory. The dead people included 25 Indians and one Nepalese national, the worst attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai shootings.
In a fresh statement on Wednesday, the Kashmir Resistance said that those attacked on Tuesday “were not ordinary tourists; instead, they were linked to and affiliated with Indian security agencies.”
The attack has prompted anger across India as it came amid the peak tourist season, as hundreds of thousands of tourists are holidaying in the region, which has been racked by a three-decade armed rebellion.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, cut short a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to New Delhi on Wednesday morning.
Modi held a meeting with his national security adviser, the foreign minister and other senior officials at the airport, and a special security cabinet meeting was called for later on Wednesday.
The attack occurred during a four-day visit to India by the US Vice President, JD Vance, who called it a “devastating terrorist attack.”
Donald Trump also expressed solidarity, writing on social media, “The United States stands strong with India against terrorism.”
Other global leaders, including Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, condemned the attack.
UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, also said that attacks against civilians are unacceptable under any circumstances.
Tuesday’s attack is being viewed as a major escalation in the regional conflict, in which attacks targeting tourists have been rare.
The last deadly incident took place in June 2024 when at least nine people were killed and 33 injured after militants caused a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to plunge into a deep gorge.
Immediate Exodus Of Tourists
The attack prompted an immediate exodus of tourists from the region, with airlines operating extra flights from Srinagar, the summer capital of the territory.
Local television showed tourists carrying their bags to taxis and filing out of a hotel in Srinagar.
Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Indian-administered Kashmir, posted on social media, “It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the [Kashmir] valley after yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam.” “But at the same time, we totally understand why people would want to leave,” he added.
He added that his administration had been directed to facilitate the smooth departure of tourists.
He noted that while a major highway between the cities of Srinagar and Jammu has been reopened for “single-direction” traffic, movement will remain controlled due to unstable road conditions. “We will not be able to permit completely free movement of vehicles at the moment, and we hope that everyone will cooperate with us,” he said.
Abdullah recently stated in the regional assembly that 23 million tourists visited the region in 2024.
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