Gunman attack in Kashmir kills over 20 tourists

More than 20 tourists are feared dead following a deadly gunman attack in Pahalgam, a popular resort town in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The assault, described by officials as the deadliest targeting visitors in the region in decades, has shaken claims of peace and stability in the territory under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

The attack took place on Tuesday in the Baisaran Valley, often called “mini-Switzerland” for its scenic beauty, where gunmen reportedly opened fire on Indian tourists enjoying pony rides and picnics. Local media shared footage of security forces in camouflage aiding injured civilians at the scene.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the toll was expected to rise.

“We’ve never had any attack against tourists with this number of casualties in the 36 years of violence in J&K,” he told the Financial Times. “We’re still extracting the injured and bringing down the dead from the site.”

The attack is a severe blow to Modi’s narrative of restored peace in Kashmir, which has remained under direct federal control since India revoked the region’s special autonomous status in 2019.

In a strongly worded statement, Modi condemned the attack:

“Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice. They will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed.”

Home Minister Amit Shah echoed the prime minister’s stance, vowing the “harshest consequences” for the perpetrators.

The Himalayan territory, claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, has long been a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed nations. Pakistan has historically supported separatist movements in the region, while India has blamed cross-border militancy for repeated violence.

Since the outbreak of a separatist insurgency in 1989, Kashmir has seen intermittent conflict. However, attacks targeting tourists have remained relatively rare in recent years, making Tuesday’s massacre particularly alarming.