Overview

• Militants from The Resistance Front, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, attacked tourists in Baisaran valley near Pahalgam, killing 26 and injuring over a dozen.
• Eyewitnesses reported that gunmen emerged from the forest and fired at tourists at close range, with survivors describing sectarian targeting of non-Muslims.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack, promised swift justice, and directed Home Minister Amit Shah to oversee the response in Srinagar.
• Security forces, including the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police, have launched a massive operation to track and neutralize the attackers.
• The incident raises serious concerns about security lapses in the region, which has seen a surge in tourism since 2019.