Key Points Summary: Kashmir Tourist attack

• Kashmir tourist attack leaves 26 dead in Pahalgam resort – deadliest in 25 years
• Victims include honeymooners, families, and a Nepali national caught in the carnage
• The Resistance Front (TRF) claims responsibility amid peak tourism season chaos
• PM Modi cuts Saudi trip short as India weighs retaliation options
• Survivors describe scenes of panic as gunmen opened fire in “mini-Switzerland” meadow
• Attack threatens Kashmir’s fragile tourism economy post-2019 autonomy revocation
• Global leaders including Trump, Putin condemn the “brutal crime”

Bloodbath in the Meadow

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – Terror struck paradise Tuesday when militants massacred 26 tourists in Pahalgam’s idyllic Baisaran meadow. The ambush turned Kashmir’s “mini-Switzerland” into a killing field as gunmen emerged from nearby forests during peak tourist hours.

Witnesses described sheer pandemonium as visitors scrambled for cover. “I was taking God’s name and running,” said survivor Simran Chandani, who narrowly escaped the hail of bullets. The attackers specifically targeted men enjoying afternoon tea and Maggi noodles at the scenic spot only accessible by pony rides.

Tourism Under Fire

The timing couldn’t be worse. Over 300,000 tourists currently flood Kashmir’s valleys – the lifeblood of its economy. This attack marks the worst violence against visitors since 2000, shattering the region’s carefully rebuilt image of stability.

Victims included a navy officer on his honeymoon, a retired banker from Andhra Pradesh, and a Gulf-returnee from Kerala. Their bodies now line hospital morgues as frantic relatives identify loved ones. Local hoteliers, horrified by the bloodshed, immediately offered free rooms to stranded tourists.

Who Pulled the Trigger?

The Resistance Front (TRF) – linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba – claims it attacked over India’s controversial residency permits for non-Kashmiris. Intelligence sources reveal four attackers participated: two Pakistanis and two locals.

The brutality mirrors Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s recent anti-India rhetoric. “This is an act of war,” warns security expert Tara Kartha, noting Pakistan has 48 hours to condemn the attack or face consequences.

Modi’s Security Crisis

A furious PM Modi rushed back from Saudi Arabia, vowing justice. But opposition leader Rahul Gandhi blasted his government’s “hollow claims” about Kashmir’s stability since revoking its autonomy in 2019.

The attack exposes gaping security lapses in heavily patrolled Pahalgam. “How could this happen in Baisaran?” asked shocked politician Iltija Mufti. With US VP JD Vance visiting India during the carnage, the global spotlight now burns on New Delhi’s next move.

Economic Fallout

Tourism contributes 7% to Kashmir’s GDP – an industry already struggling post-2019 crackdowns. Hotelier Abdul Wahid Malik voiced the local anguish: “What hurts most isn’t business losses, but the human tragedy.”

As landslides block escape routes and airlines hike prices, terrified tourists remain trapped. Meanwhile, Kashmir’s residents staged shutdowns Wednesday, mourning what one called “an attack on our hospitality and peace.”

World Reacts

Global condemnation poured in overnight:

• Donald Trump: “Deeply disturbing…America stands with India”
• Vladimir Putin: “Brutal crime without justification”
• UK’s Keir Starmer: “Utterly devastating”

With India-Pakistan tensions at boiling point, this attack could spark a dangerous new chapter in Kashmir’s decades-long conflict. One question haunts the Himalayan valley today: Will tourists ever feel safe here again?