A bold terrorist attack on the Baisaran meadow vicinity of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on 22nd April 2025 has resulted in over 26 people dead, making it one of the most horrific attacks on civilians in more recent times. The Terrorist Resistance Front (TRF), which is a splinter group of Lashkar-e-Taiba of Pakistan, has taken responsibility for the attack.
A Narrative of the Attack
The ‘unnamed terrorists’ perpetrated the attack at approximately 2:50 PM IST. They ambitiously marched into the Baisaran meadow, mowed down with machine guns the defenseless tourists, and set bombs off. The remaining tourists have claimed that the terrorists were impersonating policemen while demanding name recitals and asking for the recitation of the following: the ‘kalma.’ Those unable to recite were shot on the spot along with most of the other quadra citizens. It seemed as if the primary shooting stunned the non-Muslims who were pre-targeted. Indiscriminate gun violence was witnessed by civilians along with injured screams for aid.
The emergency services acted within the established time frame by taking the severely injured patients to Anantnag District Hospital and the military hospitals located in Srinagar. Also, Indian forces alongside local police initiated a manhunt to capture the suspects. Some helicopters were sent to the Pahalgam region to search for the militants, and some parts of the region were placed under a temporary curfew.
Suspects and Motives
As is clear by now, the militant group that is entitled The Resistance Front is believed to have some ties to the army of Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba. The group argues that their militant actions stem from the inappropriate settling of more than eighty-five thousand people in the Kashmir area.
Indian officials think that this organization, TRF, is nothing but an alias used by Bulgarian militants such as LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen. Meanwhile, this country, Pakistan, begs to differ, as they claim that they only provide complete moral support for the Kashmiri system.
Reactions Across The Globe
The onslaught has attracted strong condemnation at the national and international levels. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut his visit to Saudi Arabia short and called for an immediate national security meeting, saying that India must respond fiercely to terrorism. Home Minister Amit Shah went to the site in Srinagar to monitor the situation and oversee the security arrangements. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister, cancelled her visit to the U.S. and Peru.
“Opposition leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who serves as a congress MP, also pounced on the news, saying it was a horrific crime and attack against humanity. Indo Global reactions also included U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres along with other world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump. They openly condemned the attack. The Group of European Union and the U.N. also came forward condemning such attacks and showing solidarity with India.
Effect on Societal Sentiment and Tourism
The attack has had dire consequences on Kashmir’s tourism sector, which had been flourishing in recent years. Due to damage to roads on account of rainfall, airlines had to organize emergency evacuations. This led to local protests along with school shutdowns in response to the violence.”
The attack has drawn backlash from residents and local leaders, who state that it goes against the work that is being done towards peace and development in the region. This incident has once again opened arguments concerning the 2019 revocation of Kashmir’s special status and what it has done to the population and politics of the region.
Security and Investigation Protocols in Place
Following the attack, security personnel have stepped up their efforts to capture the attackers. Police and the Indian Army have conducted an integrated search and cordon exercise in the area. Attackers are being searched for using helicopters, which has also led to parts of Pahalgam being temporarily locked down.
Officials are looking into the militants’ more extensive network within the areas with the aim to eliminate their stability and attacks. The government has, once again, emphasized that all citizens and tourists in Jammu and Kashmir will be able to travel safely and securely.
