In one of the most lethal civilian attacks in recent years, gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing at least 26 people, Indian police confirmed on Tuesday. The shooting took place in Baisaran meadow, roughly 5 kilometers from the popular resort town of Pahalgam.
According to police, multiple tourists suffered gunshot wounds in the ambush. Security forces quickly launched a search operation, while the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for emergency care.
“This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” said Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, on social media.
Although no group has claimed responsibility so far, police blamed armed factions opposing Indian rule in the disputed region. Two senior officers told the Associated Press that at least four gunmen fired on the tourists at close range, leaving over three dozen people injured, many in critical condition.
Most of the victims were Indian nationals, the officers added, speaking anonymously in line with department protocol.
Eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture. A local tour guide named Waheed, who spoke to AFP, said he rushed to the scene after hearing gunfire. He helped evacuate some of the injured on horseback. “I saw several men lying dead on the ground,” he said. Another witness reported that the attackers seemed to spare women during the assault.
Tourist Divashi Shorba, who traveled from Kolkata, described the chaos that followed. “We’re just 10 kilometers from Pahalgam. It’s been four hours, and we still don’t know what’s going on,” he told Al Jazeera. “Authorities are saying different things—some promise we’ll move soon, others talk about meetings or ongoing operations. No one really knows.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, condemned the “heinous act” and vowed that the attackers “will be brought to justice.”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for India. “Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir,” he wrote on social media. “The United States stands strong with India against terrorism.” According to Indian officials, Trump later called Modi to offer his condolences.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also denounced the violence. His spokesperson stated that Guterres “strongly condemned” the attack and emphasized that “attacks against civilians are unacceptable under any circumstances.”
In response, India’s Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, traveled to Srinagar to assess the situation firsthand. “We will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences,” he posted on X.
Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq joined others in condemning the assault. “Such violence is unacceptable and against the ethos of Kashmir, which welcomes visitors with love and warmth,” he wrote on X. “I condemn it strongly.”
The region remains under heavy military presence, especially since the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status nearly six years ago.
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