A significant militant attack transpired on April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Four unidentified assailants initiated gunfire against a tourist group, causing at least 28 fatalities—22 Indian nationals, two local Kashmiris, and two foreign nationals (one Israeli and one Italian). More than 30 individuals sustained injuries, many critical.
The incident occurred at approximately 13:00 IST in the Baisaran meadow, a remote location accessible only on foot or horseback, significantly hindering immediate evacuation. Eyewitness accounts describe widespread panic as assailants emerged from the surrounding woodland and engaged in close-range gunfire.
While initial reports did not attribute the attack to any group, the militant organization “Kashmir Resistance” later claimed responsibility. They cited opposition to the influx of over 85,000 non-residents into the region since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019, which they view as an attempt to alter the demographic balance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a strong condemnation of the attack, pledging to hold the perpetrators accountable. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Srinagar to evaluate the situation and direct the security response. International figures, such as former U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, offered India their unwavering support and condemned the violence.
This incident represents one of the deadliest civilian attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, underscoring the region’s persistent security challenges despite a general decrease in militant activity. Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, wrote on social media: “This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.”
Graphic videos shared by locals on social media showed injured tourists lying in pools of blood, while their relatives screamed and pleaded for help. Due to the area’s lack of road access, helicopter services were deployed to evacuate the wounded.
How did the terrorists enter Baisaran?
Reports suggest that officials believe terrorists may have traveled from Kishtwar in Jammu, through Kokernag in South Kashmir, to reach the Baisaran region. Baisaran is approximately six kilometers from the resort town of Pahalgam, a place often called “India’s Switzerland,” known for its beautiful meadows, pine forests, and mountains, attracting visitors from across India and the world.
VICTIMS: Sadly, among those killed on Tuesday, according to The Print, were a Navy official and an Intelligence Bureau official, tragically murdered by terrorists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran. One victim, Manish Ranjan, a section officer from Hyderabad with India’s internal intelligence agency, was on vacation with his family; thankfully, his wife and children survived the attack.
Three Kerala High Court justices—Anil K. Narendran, G. Girish, and P. G. Ajithkumar—and their families narrowly avoided the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack while on vacation in Jammu and Kashmir.
In view of the terrorist attack in Kashmir, PM Modi skipped the official dinner hosted by Saudi Arabia and has decided to cut short his visit. He will leave for India tonight. While he was originally scheduled to return tomorrow night, he will now arrive in India early Wednesday morning.
Security measures have been increased in the nation’s capital following a terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam, according to officials. The Delhi Police have heightened security throughout the city, concentrating on tourist attractions and border checkpoints, with increased checks and surveillance confirmed by officials. Traffic flow has also been adjusted in sensitive areas, they stated. This heightened alert coincides with the current visit of US Vice President J D Vance, as security has already been strengthened in Delhi and other cities.
“PDP(Peoples Democratic Party) leader Mehbooba Mufti stated that the Jammu Chamber and Bar Association has announced a complete shutdown for Wednesday to protest the Tuesday terrorist attack on tourists in Kashmir. She appealed for all Kashmiris to participate in the shutdown to honor the victims of the Pahalgam attack, emphasizing that this assault affects everyone and requires a unified response of grief and condemnation.