Terror Attack in Pahalgam Leaves 26 Dead, Including Foreign Nationals from Nepal and UAE

At least 26 people, including two foreign nationals—one from Nepal and another from the United Arab Emirates—were killed and dozens more injured after heavily armed militants opened indiscriminate fire on a group of tourists at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Jammu and Kasmir base online news portal kashmirdotcom.in, foreign victims were identified as Sandip Neupane of Nepal and Udhwani Pradeep Kumar of the UAE.

According to top intelligence sources, the Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack. The assault, which occurred in broad daylight, targeted a mixed group of domestic and international tourists, many of whom were families with women and children.

Eyewitnesses described chaos as the attackers, dressed in military uniforms, stormed the area without warning and began firing randomly. Some accounts suggest the gunmen asked for names and religions before shooting, hinting at possible targeted killings.

Among the victims were Lieutenant Vinay Narwal and his wife Himanshi, Shalinder Kalpiya from Gujarat, and Manjunath Rao, a businessman from Karnataka. Tourists from Maharashtra and other states were also among the dead. At least two locals were killed as well. Sources have indicated that a high-ranking official may be among the deceased, though this remains unconfirmed.

Footage from the scene showed bodies strewn across the ground as survivors frantically searched for family members amid the gunfire and confusion. One woman, who survived the attack, told security personnel that she witnessed the assailants selectively shooting after verifying identities.

TRF, which emerged after the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019, is believed by Indian security agencies to be a rebranded outfit of LeT designed to give the appearance of a homegrown resistance. Its communications typically use encrypted platforms to avoid international scrutiny, especially from watchdogs like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Srinagar for security review meeting and is scheduled to visit Pahalgam on Wednesday to meet with the victims’ families and oversee ongoing investigations.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the massacre, calling it “an abomination” and noting that the scale of the attack is unprecedented in recent years. “This is beyond anything we’ve seen in recent attacks on civilians,” he stated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, expressed his condolences via an official statement following a phone call with Amit Shah. “I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. We will ensure those behind this barbaric act are brought to justice,” the Prime Minister said.

Preliminary intelligence suggests the attackers may have infiltrated from the Kishtwar region and reached Baisaran through Kokernag in south Kashmir. A sweeping counterterrorism operation has been launched, involving drones, sniffer dogs, and additional paramilitary reinforcements.

The attack has drawn widespread condemnation both domestically and internationally, particularly due to the death of foreign nationals. With diplomatic implications likely, calls for enhanced security measures in Kashmir have intensified.

Photo Courtesy: Indian Media Outlet