On Tuesday, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, primarily tourists. Militants disguised as Army personnel opened fire on individuals at close range; The Resistance Front, associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, has taken responsibility for the attack.
A tragic terrorist incident occurred in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, April 22, resulting in the loss of at least 26 civilian lives, predominantly tourists, and leaving numerous others injured. This attack, characterized by experts as a Hamas-style assault, was executed by Pakistani infiltrators in the meadows of the Kashmir valley. The attackers indiscriminately targeted innocent individuals after crossing the border. In reaction to this atrocity, a bandh was declared in Kashmir, as the nation anticipates a robust response to this heinous act. The Resistance Front, an organization associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, has taken responsibility for the attack. Survivors recounted that six terrorists, clad in Indian Army uniforms, demanded tourists identify themselves and recite Islamic verses before executing them at close range. Concurrently, the Army thwarted an infiltration attempt near the Line of Control in the Uri sector of Baramulla, where 2–3 unidentified terrorists attempted to breach Indian territory on April 23. Alert soldiers engaged them, resulting in an ongoing gunfight. The Chinar Corps reported this incident on social media. The Pahalgam attack has drawn parallels to the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel, where militants entered Israeli territory from Gaza and indiscriminately killed civilians. In the Pahalgam case, the infiltrators reportedly inquired about the tourists’ religion, checked their identification, and demanded they recite Islamic verses, executing those who failed to comply at point-blank range. The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel is noted as one of the most catastrophic days in the nation’s history.
The assault involved a barrage of rockets launched from Gaza alongside ground incursions by militants, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and over 200 hostages taken. Former Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Shesh Paul Vaid characterized the Pahalgam attack as a ‘Pulwama 2.0 moment,’ drawing parallels to the Hamas assault on October 7. He emphasized the necessity for India to respond decisively, akin to Israel’s reaction. ‘This was a Hamas-style attack reminiscent of the events on October 7 in Israel. It is not coincidental that Asim Munir, the Pakistan Army chief, made inflammatory remarks just two days before this incident, which involved tourists being questioned about their religion,’ Vaid stated. ‘Our response should be fitting, similar to that of Israel,’ he added. In Srinagar, the remains of the 26 tourists who lost their lives were transported today. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived shortly after the attack, honored the victims by laying wreaths on their coffins at the Police Control Room. Prime Minister Narendra Modi abbreviated his visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to Delhi on Wednesday to convene an emergency meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), led by an Inspector General, has been dispatched to Pahalgam to aid local law enforcement in the investigation. Security forces have initiated an extensive search operation to locate the terrorists responsible for the attack. ‘The operation is ongoing, and all measures are being taken to ensure the attackers are brought to justice,’ stated the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps in a late-night announcement. In reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack, various political parties in Jammu and Kashmir endorsed a shutdown (bandh) on Wednesday to denounce the violence and express solidarity with the families of the victims.
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) has called upon the public to participate in the bandh and to vehemently condemn the recent attack. The party stated on X, ‘We urge the citizens of J&K to support the bandh initiated by religious and social leaders.’ Additionally, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti expressed her support for the shutdown, characterizing the incident as an assault on the entire community. She remarked, ‘This is not merely an attack on a select few; it is an assault on all of us.’ Furthermore, the Jammu Chamber and Bar Association has also advocated for a total shutdown in protest of the attack. In the wake of the tragic terror incident in Pahalgam on Tuesday, a significant number of tourists have started to vacate Kashmir. Authorities are making efforts to facilitate their safe return to their respective states. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the tourists’ departure as ‘heartbreaking.’ He stated, ‘It is disheartening to witness the exodus of our guests from the Valley following yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam; however, we completely understand their desire to leave. While the DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are coordinating additional flights, NH-44 between Srinagar and Jammu has been reopened for one-way traffic,’ Abdullah posted on X.
