As grief and outrage continue to sweep across the country, security forces have launched an intense search operation in the hills surrounding Pahalgam, where a group of 4-6 terrorists is believed to be hiding after a deadly attack that killed 26 people. The unprecedented targeting of tourists has sparked nationwide anger and triggered a top-level response from the Indian government.
Sources say intelligence inputs had hinted at possible threats, but the scale and nature of this attack—specifically targeting tourists—were not anticipated. The comparison drawn was with the 2002 Akshardham temple attack, where devotees were targeted in a similarly shocking manner. The government is now considering a complete overhaul of existing security protocols in the Valley.
The terror unfolded on Tuesday afternoon near the scenic Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination. According to officials, 8-10 terrorists are suspected to have been involved in the strike, with 5-7 of them likely to be from Pakistan. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack that left two foreign nationals—one from the UAE and another from Nepal—among the dead.
The group is believed to have infiltrated through Kishtwar and reached Pahalgam via Kokernag in South Kashmir. Eyewitness accounts described a horrifying ambush where gunmen indiscriminately opened fire on tourists, most of whom were from other Indian states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who returned to New Delhi early Wednesday after cutting short his official visit to Saudi Arabia, was briefed on the situation upon arrival. He held a meeting at the Delhi airport with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. A Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting has also been scheduled for 11 AM at his residence.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish, stating, “All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. The injured are in our prayers, and those responsible will be brought to justice.”
As the Valley mourns, several political and civil society groups have called for a bandh to protest the attack. In a region already scarred by decades of conflict, the brutal targeting of civilians in a peaceful setting has revived old fears and drawn widespread condemnation.
