Gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Tuesday, killing at least 26 and wounding dozens more near the resort town of Pahalgam.
Police attributed the attack to militants opposing Indian rule, describing it as one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in recent memory. “This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” wrote Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official. Security forces said four militants were involved, and efforts to apprehend them are ongoing.
Indian officials, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, responded swiftly. Shah called for “the harshest consequences” and convened security meetings in Srinagar, while Modi cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia to return to New Delhi.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the government’s claims of regional stability, stating they had failed to prevent the escalation in violence. The meadow where the attack occurred is a popular tourist destination surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
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