Pahalgam Terror Attack: A Detailed Account
On April 22, 2025, a horrific terrorist attack took place in the serene Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, often referred to as “Mini Switzerland” for its picturesque meadows and slopes fringed by pine trees. One of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, the attack targeted unsuspecting tourists, leaving behind an atmosphere of devastation and misery. This article provides a detailed account of the incident, including how it unfolded, the number of casualties, the identities of the victims, and the wider implications, drawn from multiple reliable sources.
How the Attack Unfolded in Pahalgam
The attack took place at 2:50 pm on April 22, 2025, at the Baisaran meadow, a remote tourist spot about 7 km from the main resort town of Pahalgam, accessible only on foot or on horseback. A group of four to six militants belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), descended from the surrounding mountains and opened indiscriminate fire on tourists who were picnicking, posing for photographs or enjoying pony rides in the scenic valley.
According to witnesses, the attackers, some of whom wore military uniforms, were methodical and ruthless. Survivors reported that the terrorists checked their victims’ identities, targeting non-Muslims, especially Hindus, asking for names, checking identity cards, or forcing people to recite Islamic verses and then shooting them at close range. “They suddenly appeared and started firing indiscriminately. They targeted Hindu tourists and shot them,” a survivor from Pune reported. Another witness, Pallavi from Shivamogga, Karnataka, described the horrifying moment when her husband was killed in front of her: “I told them – kill me too, you have already killed my husband. One of them said, ‘I will not kill you.’
Initial investigations revealed that the terrorists chose Baisaran because there was a shortage of security forces there, which delayed the rescue operation. Some of the attackers reportedly had cameras installed on helmets, which were recording the attack, possibly for propaganda purposes. Sources reveal that the masterminds included top LeT commander Saifullah Kasuri (alias Khalid) and two terrorists living in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The attackers were armed with AK-47 rifles and were constantly firing, with two of them speaking in Pashtun language, which suggests they were Pakistani nationals, while Adil and Asif, local residents of Bijbhera and Tral, were also involved.
The remote location complicated the immediate response efforts. Security forces, including the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), rushed to the spot, cordoned off the area and launched a massive search operation. Helicopters, including the ALH Dhruv chopper, were deployed for aerial survey and evacuation of the injured, while locals assisted by carrying the victims on ponies. Advanced technologies like foliage penetrating radar were used to locate the terrorists hiding in the dense forests.
Casualties and Injuries
At least 28 people were killed in the Pahalgam attack, with sources putting the death toll between 26 and 28 as the number of casualties is still being ascertained. More than 20 people have been injured, some of them critically. The victims include 24 Indian tourists from different states, two local residents of Jammu and Kashmir and two foreign nationals from Nepal and the United Arab Emirates. The deceased include 26-year-old Indian Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal and an Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Manish Ranjan.
The injured were rushed to the Government Medical College and Associated Hospital in Anantnag and hospitals in Srinagar. A doctor at the Pahalgam hospital said 12 injured tourists were admitted and all of them were stable. Later, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and forensic teams arrived to collect evidence, including bullet shells, while post-mortems were conducted in Srinagar.
Victims’ Names and Details
Authorities released the names of 26 victims, though the list may not be exhaustive due to discrepancies in reported tolls. Below are the confirmed names and available details, primarily from Maharashtra and other regions, as reported by credible sources:
- Maharashtra (6 victims):
- Santosh Jagdale (Pune): A tourist sightseeing with his family. His daughter, Asawari Jagdale, reported that he sustained bullet injuries during indiscriminate firing. His wife was also injured.
- Kaustubh Ganbote (Pune): Santosh Jagdale’s uncle, killed alongside him during the attack.
- Dilip Disle (Panvel): A tourist traveling with family.
- Atul Mone (Kalyan-Dombivli): Part of a family group from Dombivli, aged 45–50, killed with two relatives.
- Hemant Joshi (Kalyan-Dombivli): From Navpada, Dombivli East, succumbed to bullet injuries.
- Sanjay Lele (Kalyan-Dombivli): From Navpada Chowk, Dombivli, part of the same family group.
- Karnataka (1 victim):
- Manjunath Rao (Shivamogga): A tourist vacationing with his wife, Pallavi, and son. Killed in front of his family, reportedly targeted for being Hindu. His son had recently scored 98% in exams, prompting the family trip.
- West Bengal (1 victim):
- Bitan Adhikari (Kolkata): An engineer, killed during the attack. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee coordinated efforts to support his family.
- Jammu and Kashmir (2 locals):
- Syed Hussain Shah (Anantnag): A local resident who went to Pahalgam for work. His family reported his phone being unreachable after the attack.
- Unnamed local: Details not specified in available sources.
- Foreign Nationals (2 victims):
- Unnamed Nepali national: Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli confirmed a Nepali victim and pledged assistance.
- Unnamed UAE national: Confirmed by UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which condemned the attack.
- Other Indian States:
- Victims from Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra (additional unnamed victims). Specific names not provided in sources.
- Lieutenant Vinay Narwal (Haryana): A 26-year-old Indian Navy officer posted in Kochi, recently married on April 16, 2025. Killed while on leave. His grandfather, Hawa Singh, urged the government to eradicate terrorism.
- Manish Ranjan (Bihar, posted in Hyderabad): An Intelligence Bureau officer, shot in front of his wife and children.
- Gujarat (2 victims):
- Yatish Parmar (Bhavnagar): A hotel businessman, killed alongside his son.
- Smit Parmar (Bhavnagar): Yatish’s son, also in the hotel business.
The bodies of the victims underwent postmortem examinations in Srinagar, and arrangements were made to transport them to their native places. Families, supported by state governments, mourned the losses, with officials like Karnataka Minister Madhu Bangarappa and West Bengal Minister Aroop Biswas visiting affected households.
Response and Condemnations
The attack prompted swift responses from Indian authorities and international leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia visit, returning to Delhi on April 23, 2025, to chair a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He condemned the attack, vowing, “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared!”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Srinagar, paid tributes to the victims and met injured tourists and families. He assured that security forces would relentlessly pursue the perpetrators. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the attack as “far bigger than any attack on civilians in recent years”, calling the perpetrators “animals” and expressing surprise at the targeting of tourists. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha promised that the attackers would be punished.
Opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, condemned the attack and demanded justice. Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti urged a thorough probe into the possible security lapse. The government planned to brief opposition leaders and considered an all-party meeting.
Internationally, leaders expressed solidarity:
- US President Donald Trump called PM Modi, pledging full support and stating, “The United States stands strong with India against terrorism.”
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, emphasising that attacks on civilians are unacceptable.
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese expressed condolences and denounced the violence.
- UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected all forms of terrorism, offering condolences for their national.
- Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern and condolences, though Indian officials, including BJP leader Ravinder Raina, blamed Pakistani terrorists.
Aftermath and Regional Impact
The attack triggered widespread grief and protests in Jammu and Kashmir. On April 23, 2025, the Kashmir Valley observed a complete shutdown, the first since the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, with markets in Handwara, Kupwara, and Srinagar deserted. Leading Kashmiri newspapers, including Greater Kashmir and Rising Kashmir, printed black front pages with headlines like “Gruesome: Kashmir Gutted, Kashmiris Grieving,” symbolising collective sorrow. Political parties, including the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), supported the bandh, calling it an “attack on all of us.”
Security has been beefed up across the region, with concertina wires installed and tight security at tourist spots. A fresh infiltration bid was foiled in Baramulla district on April 23, killing two militants, indicating a rise in militant activity. The attack disrupted Pahalgam’s bustling tourism industry, with tourists leaving the area and the resort town empty. In 2024, Kashmir received 3.5 million tourists, and the attack has raised concerns about the recovery of the region’s tourism sector.
Motive and Context
The Resistance Front claimed responsibility, citing anger over alleged “demographic changes” in the Kashmir Valley caused by the settlement of more than 85,000 “outsiders” following the revocation of Article 370 in 2019. The attack marked a shift in militant tactics, as tourists have rarely been targeted on such a scale in the region’s three-decade-long insurgency. The attack, timed to coincide with US Vice President JD Vance’s visit to India, signals an intent to draw global attention to the Kashmir conflict.
Kashmir is a heavily militarised region disputed between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming it in full but controlling parts of it. While militant violence has decreased in recent years, leading to a revival in tourism, the attack underscored the persistent security challenges.
Conclusion
The Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, 2025, was a tragic assault on civilians, shattering the peace of a beloved tourist destination and claiming at least 28 lives, including tourists, locals, and officials. The targeted killing of Hindus, the involvement of foreign and local militants, and the use of advanced tactics like body cameras highlighted the calculated nature of the attack. As India mourns, the government’s resolve to combat terrorism has been reaffirmed, with ongoing operations to bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the fragile security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting renewed calls for peace and vigilance to protect civilians and preserve the region’s tourism-driven economy.