At least 24 people were killed on April 22, 2025, in what is being described as the deadliest attack on civilians in Indian-occupied Kashmir in recent years. Gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam, a popular resort town in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, turning a peaceful visit into a horrifying tragedy.
The victims, believed to be tourists, were caught in the ambush while exploring an off-road meadow area. Though official figures have not been confirmed, multiple security sources estimated the death toll between 20 and 26. At least seven others were injured and rushed to local hospitals, with paramedics confirming gunshot wounds, including a critical neck injury.
Eyewitnesses described chaos and panic as bullets rang out without warning. “We thought it was fireworks,” one survivor told local media, “but when we heard screaming, we ran without stopping for four kilometers.” A tour guide who arrived shortly after the shooting helped transport the wounded on horseback and recounted seeing lifeless bodies scattered on the ground.
The attack sent shockwaves through the region and beyond. A little-known group calling itself the “Kashmir Resistance” claimed responsibility, alleging opposition to the demographic changes brought by the Indian government’s granting of domicile rights to more than 85,000 non-local residents over the past two years. The group threatened future violence against what it called “illegal settlers.”
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act,” while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed swift justice, declaring on social media: “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable.”
Home Minister Amit Shah announced an emergency trip to the region to oversee a high-level security meeting, promising the “harshest consequences” for the perpetrators. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called the killings “heartbreaking” and demanded accountability from the federal government.
The incident took place just one day after U.S. Vice President JD Vance began a private visit to India. Former President Donald Trump expressed full support for India, writing, “The United States stands strong with India against terrorism,” and offered prayers for the victims.
Though militant violence in Kashmir has declined in recent years, attacks on tourists remain a stark reminder of the region’s volatility. The last major attack on visitors occurred in June 2024, when nine Hindu pilgrims were killed and over 30 injured in a bus attack. In 2023, India hosted a G20 tourism meeting in Srinagar to showcase what it described as “normalcy” in the region.
However, critics argue that the situation on the ground remains tense, particularly since the Indian government revoked the region’s special status in 2019. With 500,000 troops stationed in Kashmir and increased settlement activity near sensitive borders, the region continues to teeter between stability and flare-ups of deadly violence.
Despite government efforts to promote Kashmir as a serene tourist destination—drawing 3.5 million visitors in 2024—the Pahalgam attack underscores the fragile peace and lingering unrest that still grips the valley.