SRINAGAR: Twelve holidaymakers sustained injuries and several are feared to have lost their lives following a brazen terrorist attack in Baisaran, near the hill town of Pahalgam, on Tuesday afternoon.
According to early accounts, the assailants—believed to be dressed in army-style gear—launched what appears to be a calculated strike. The scenic region, surrounded by dense woods, glacial streams, and wide green expanses, is among Kashmir’s most visited destinations.
The violent incident has cast a shadow over the peak travel season in the Valley. It coincides with preparations for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, scheduled to begin on July 3. Pilgrims take either the longer 48-km trail from Pahalgam in Anantnag district or the shorter 14-km route from Baltal in Ganderbal.
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Just days earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in Jammu and Kashmir, where he presided over a top-level meeting to assess the region’s security. He reportedly instructed agencies to intensify operations against terrorism particularly in Jammu, and to maintain zero tolerance for cross-border infiltration.
Sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah over phone regarding the terror attack in Pahalgam. The Prime Minister directed that all necessary steps be taken and urged the Home Minister to visit the location of the incident.
J&K People’s Conference President, MLA and Former Minister Sajad Gani Lone in a post on X said “ Condemn strongly the dastardly and cowardly attack in Pahalgam. For decades we have been identified with being great hosts. We have a history of hospitality. And some cowardly terrorists want to destroy it all.
Condemn strongly the dastardly and cowardly attack in Pahalgam. For decades we have been identified with being great hosts. We have a history of hospitality. And some cowardly terrorists want to destroy it all.
Tourism industry has suffered. And people involved in tourism have…
— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) April 22, 2025
Tourism industry has suffered. And people involved in tourism have after a long time begun to restart their lives. They had begun to dream. And here are the ugly villians to shatter it all.
Make no mistake. These terror attacks are aimed at yet again disempowering us economically.
Those who do this are the worst enemies of Kashmiris. They defile our history of hospitality, smearing our glorious past. And they are a curse on our present. They are enemies of our children of our young generation.
We have to unitedly send a message that there is no tolerance for terror. Let us live our lives in peace and economic dignity. Please get out of our lives. These tourists are our revered guests.”
Reacting to the incident, LG Manoj Sinha wrote on X “ I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam. I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. Spoke to the DGP & Security officials. Army and J&K Police teams have rushed to the area and launched search operations.”
He wrote “ Directed the district administration and the health officials to provide immediate medical attention to those admitted at Pahalgam. An injured tourist has been evacuated to GMC Anantnag. I pray for the speedy recovery of all the injured.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the assault “monstrous” and said he was “deeply shaken.” In a post on social media, he described the attackers as “depraved and devoid of humanity,” and extended condolences to the families affected.
Echoing similar sentiments, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the targeting of tourists. “Such brutality cannot be tolerated and deserves the strongest rejection,” she stated. She also stressed the importance of a full investigation into possible security lapses and reaffirmed Kashmir’s legacy of warm hospitality, calling the incident a disturbing exception.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. A search operation is underway as security forces try to locate those behind the attack.
