Overview

• A terror attack at a pilgrimage site in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed 26 lives, including two tourists from Karnataka.
• Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara condemned the attack as a severe intelligence and security lapse by the central government.
• State officials, including Labour Minister Santosh Lad, have been dispatched to Jammu and Kashmir to aid stranded tourists and repatriate victims' remains.
• Reports suggest Hindu pilgrims were targeted, raising concerns about the attackers' motives and potential internal collusion.
• The attack, described as the largest since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, has reignited debates over national security and intelligence preparedness.