At least civilians, mostly tourists, were killed in a terror attack at Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April, marking the deadliest civilian-targeted assault in the region since. The attackers opened fire on visitors at the popular "mini Switzerland" destination, leaving dozens injured and sparking nationwide outrage.
The Resistance Front, a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack, though officials have yet to formally confirm this. Witnesses reported attackers specifically targeting non-Muslim tourists, with harrowing videos showing victims pleading for help amid gunfire. Security forces launched immediate anti-terror operations, while Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to Srinagar to oversee the response.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cutting short a Saudi Arabia visit, vowed to bring perpetrators to justice, stating: "Their evil agenda will never succeed." International leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, condemned the attack.
The incident occurred as Kashmir experiences a tourism revival, with the upcoming Amarnath pilgrimage set to begin in July. Authorities deployed helicopters to evacuate the wounded from the remote meadow, accessible only by foot or ponies. J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha warned attackers would "pay a heavy price," as security remains heightened across the region.
