At least 24 people have been killed in Indian-administered Kashmir after attackers shot at a group of local tourists. The attack happened in Pahalgam, a beautiful town in the Himalayas often called the “Switzerland of India.”
The region’s leader, Omar Abdullah, said this was a very big attack on civilians. Many people were hurt, some seriously.
World leaders like US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the attack was wrong. Trump wrote that the US stands with India against terrorism. Von der Leyen called it a “vile terrorist attack.”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said those responsible would be punished. He cut short a trip to Saudi Arabia because of the attack.
Pakistan’s government said it was worried about the loss of life and wished the injured a fast recovery.
No group has said it carried out the attack. For over 30 years, there has been fighting in the Muslim-majority region, but tourists have rarely been targeted like this.
The shooting happened in a meadow called Baisaran, about 5 kilometers from Pahalgam. Cars cannot reach the area.
One tourist said there was panic after the attack, with everyone running, crying, and shouting. Videos shared by Indian media show soldiers running toward the scene. Some videos claim the attackers targeted non-Muslims, but this has not been confirmed.
Police said many tourists with gunshot wounds were taken to hospital. The area is closed off, and the army and police are searching for the attackers.
Protests are planned for Wednesday.
Since the 1990s, the fighting in Kashmir has killed tens of thousands of people. India and Pakistan both claim the whole region.
The last major attack on civilians in Kashmir was in June 2024, when nine people were killed.
Pahalgam is a very popular place for tourists. In 2024, about 3.5 million people visited Kashmir.
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