Overview
- The attack occurred at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, a scenic tourist destination known as 'mini Switzerland,' killing 26 people and injuring over a dozen.
- The Resistance Front, a proxy group of Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack, marking one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the region in recent years.
- Eyewitnesses described chaos as gunmen emerged from the forest and fired indiscriminately at tourists, with some survivors alleging religious targeting by the attackers.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and directed Home Minister Amit Shah to visit the site, while security forces launched a full-scale anti-terror operation to apprehend the assailants.
- The incident has raised concerns about security lapses and its potential impact on Kashmir's recovering tourism sector, with officials calling for thorough investigations and enhanced safety measures.