Gunmen kill at least 26 in Indian-Administered Kashmir
In a devastating attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, at least 26 people were killed after gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists, according to local police. The assault took place on Tuesday at Baisaran meadow, located roughly five kilometers from the well-known tourist town of Pahalgam.
Authorities labeled the incident a “terror attack” and stated that several other individuals sustained gunshot injuries. It is considered one of the deadliest assaults in the region in recent years.
"The medical response was immediate, with teams dispatched quickly to aid the wounded," the Indian Army said in a statement. A joint operation with local police was launched to pursue the attackers, with security forces vowing to hold those responsible accountable.
The majority of those killed were Indian nationals from different parts of the country, though officials have not yet provided full details about the victims.
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah traveled to Srinagar after informing Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the incident. Shah met with security personnel to assess the situation and coordinate a response.
The Kashmir region, claimed by both India and Pakistan, has experienced decades of conflict since an armed insurgency began in 1989. While violence is not uncommon, assaults targeting tourists are relatively rare.
A similar tragedy occurred in June of last year, when a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims was attacked and pushed into a gorge, resulting in at least nine fatalities.
In 2019, the Indian government revoked the region's semi-autonomous status, reorganizing it into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
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