26 Tourists Killed in Kashmir Valley Attack Amid U.S. VP Visit
Gunmen emerge from the forest, opening fire on unsuspecting tourists in a brutal daytime ambush
- 26 tourists killed and at least 10 injured in a militant attack in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley
- Gunmen opened fire on a group of visitors during U.S. VP JD Vance’s diplomatic trip to India
- Militant group "Kashmir Resistance" claimed responsibility
At least 26 tourists were killed and ten others injured in a brutal assault by suspected militants in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley, a scenic destination near Pahalgam, during a four-day diplomatic visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Most victims were Indian nationals, with two foreign tourists also among the dead.
The attack, described by officials as the deadliest in the region in years, unfolded around 3 p.m. when gunmen reportedly emerged from a nearby pine forest and opened fire on visitors exploring the lush valley. The site, accessible only by foot or horseback, quickly descended into chaos. Shocking videos posted by locals showed injured people lying in blood-soaked grass while desperate cries for help echoed in the background.
Emergency services, hampered by the remote location, were forced to use helicopters to evacuate the wounded. One local tour guide told AFP he used his horse to transport some of the injured, arriving on the scene after hearing gunfire.
“My husband was shot in the head,” recounted one survivor to PTI, highlighting the horror as seven others near her were also injured.
Omar Abdullah, the region’s top official, called the incident the worst attack on civilians in recent years. Victims were from several Indian states, including Karnataka, Odisha, and Gujarat, alongside two foreign nationals. At least six people remain critically injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack as a “heinous act” and promised justice, cutting short his diplomatic trip to Saudi Arabia. He reiterated India’s unwavering commitment to combating terrorism, a sentiment echoed in a call with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who offered his full support.
Police have launched a manhunt for the assailants, believed to be a group of two to three gunmen who fired indiscriminately before fleeing. Eyewitnesses described the chaos—some initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks before realizing the deadly reality.
A little-known militant outfit, calling itself “Kashmir Resistance,” claimed responsibility, citing opposition to what they described as India’s demographic transformation of the region through mass resettlement policies.
The mountainous region of Kashmir, long disputed between India and Pakistan, has endured waves of violence since the 1989 insurgency. While recent years had seen a decline in attacks, this incident underscores the fragile nature of peace in the region since India revoked Kashmir’s autonomous status in 2019.
Public outrage erupted across parts of Indian-administered Kashmir following the attack, with protests and rallies—some blaming neighboring Pakistan—further fueling tensions in the already volatile territory.
