The assault happened around 3:00PM local time Tuesday in the picturesque Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam — an area often referred to as the “Switzerland of India”, The Guardian reports.
The shooters, described by authorities as anti-India militants, emerged from dense forest and sprayed bullets at close range into a group of tourists.
According to local police, the assailants appeared to descend from nearby mountainous terrain before unleashing chaos on foot.
The carnage unfolded as U.S. Vice President JD Vance was visiting the region on a four-day family trip.
“I’m shocked beyond belief,” wrote Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, on social media, per the New York Post. “This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman & worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough. I send my sympathies to the families of the deceased.”
Authorities recovered 24 bodies from the Baisaran meadows — located roughly three miles from Pahalgam town — while two others died en route to the hospital. Most of the victims were Indian nationals, although two foreign tourists were also reportedly killed.
Graphic footage shared by locals on social media showed victims lying in pools of blood, while relatives screamed for help. Because of limited road access, helicopters had to be deployed to evacuate the injured.
An Indian Army official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the attack as the most lethal assault on civilians in the region in recent years. Abdullah echoed that sentiment, writing: “The death toll is still being assessed, while noting the fatal attack is ‘much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.’”
The Indian government responded swiftly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia to return home, condemned the assault in no uncertain terms. “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared!” he posted on X. “Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, expressing solidarity via Truth Social: “Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism. We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies. Our hearts are with you all!”
Vice President Vance, meanwhile, issued his own statement. “Usha and I extend our condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India,” he wrote. “Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack.”
As soldiers and police continue to hunt for the suspects, security across the region has been ramped up. The site of the massacre has been cordoned off, and all entry points into Pahalgam are now heavily guarded.
According to India Today, at least two or three militants opened indiscriminate fire before vanishing into the surrounding forest. One witness said: “The shooting occurred right in front of us. At first we thought it was just firecrackers, but when we heard others screaming we rushed out of there to save ourselves.” Another added: “We didn’t stop running for 4km … I’m still trembling.”
Later on Tuesday, protests broke out across parts of Indian-administered Kashmir, with some demonstrators blaming Pakistan for the bloodshed. A militant outfit calling itself the “Kashmir Resistance” reportedly claimed responsibility in a now-deleted social media post, citing anger over Indian settlement policies they allege are creating a “demographic change” in the region.
The broader Kashmir conflict has long been a flashpoint between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan, both of whom claim the region in full. India revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in 2019, splitting it into federally administered territories—a move that has triggered waves of unrest and militant activity.
Despite the violence, Kashmir — especially Baisaran Valley — has continued to draw millions of tourists annually. Described as a paradise of snow-capped peaks and lush meadows, the region is typically one of the most heavily patrolled parts of the territory.
But Tuesday’s attack has shattered the illusion of safety. As hospitals in Anantnag filled with the wounded, the grim reality of Kashmir’s fragility once again made itself violently clear.
Our thoughts go out to every person impacted by this tragedy.
