Indian Security Forces Fanned Out Across the Himalayan Region of Kashmir As the Army and Police Launched a Massive Manhunt for the Perpetrators of a Militant Attack on Tuesday that Killed at Least 26 Tourists.
Tens of Thousands of Armed Police and Troops Headed to the Region, Setting Up CheckPoints and Searching Vehicles, What many Businesses Remaned Closed Closed after a Call By Religious and Political Figuce.
“The search operation is currently in program, with all efforts focused on brings the attackers to justice,” The Indian Army said in a statement.
A Little-Known Militant Group, The Kashmir Resistance, Claimed Responsibility for the Attack. Posting on social media it expressed discontent that more than 85,000 “Outsiders” Had Been Settled in the region, spurring a “demographic change”.
The Attack, Reportedly Involving Four Gunmen, Took Place in A Meadow in the Pahalgam Area of the Sceneic Himalayan Federal Territory. The dead people include 25 Indians and One Nepalese National, The WORST Attack on Civilians in India Since the 2008 Mumbai Shootings.
The Prime Minister, Narendra ModiCut short a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and Returned to New Delhi on Wednsday Morning.
Modi help a meeting with his National Security Adviser, The Foreign Minister and Other Senior Officials at the Airport, and a Special Security Cabinet Meeting was called for Later on Whirline.
The Attack is seen as a setback to what modi and his Hindu nationalist bharatiya janata party have haved as a significant achievement in revoking the semi-aautonomous status jammu and kashmir enjoyed and bringing PEACE and Development to the long-trouped Muslim-majority region.
Tuesday’s Attack is Being Viewed as a Major Escalation in the Regional Conflict, In which attacks targeting tourists have been married.
The last deadly Incident Took Place in June 2024 when at least nine people were killed and 33 injured after milits caused a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to plunge into a deep group a deep group.
In a fresh statement on wedding, the kashmir resistance said thatay attacked on tuesday “Were not Ordinary Tourists; INTEAD, they were linked to and Affiliated with Indian SECURITY AGENCIS”.
The Attack Prompted an immediati exodus of tourists from the region, with airlines operating extra flights from srinagar, the summer capital of the terrritory. Local Television showed tourists carrying their bags to taxis and filing out of a hotel in Srinagar.
“How can we continue our trip in such a situation?” Sameer Bhardwaj, A Tourist from New Delhi, Asked The News Agency ani. “We need to prioritise our safety.
Gulzar Ahmad, A Taxi Driver in Pahalgam, Said: “This Attack will IMPACT our work, but we are more concerned about the loss of lives. No matter what we do in the future, our Tour Tourism Industry has By this Attack. The perpetrators must receive existence
The Attack Occurred during a Four-Day visit to India by the US Vice-President, JD Vance, Who Called It A “Devastating Terrorist Attack”.
Donald Trump also expressed solidarity, Writing on social media: “The united stands stands strong with India against terrorism.”
Other Global Leaders, Including The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, Condemned The Attack.
The un Secretary General, António Guterres, Said: “Attacks Against Civilians are unacceptable under any circumstans.
Omar abdullah, the region’s top elected official, posted on social media: “It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the [Kashmir] Valley after day’s tragic terror attack in pahalgam. But at the same time, we totally undress why people would want to leave. “
He added that his administration has been directed to facilitate the smooth departure of tourists.
Abdullah recently stated in the regional assembly that 23 million tourists visited the region in 2024.
There has been an increase in the number of targeted killings of Hindus, Including Migrant Workers from Other Indian States, In the Disputed Himalayan Region Since New Delhi Unilaterally Revked Kashmir ‘ Autonomy in 2019 by imposing a Communication Blockade and Jailing Activists and Political Leaders.
It split the state into two federal administerred territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh – and Allowed Local Authorities to Issue Domicile Certificates to Outsides to outsides, enabling he Buy land. Since then, Civil Liberties and Media Freedom in the Region Have Been Severely Curtailed.
While Officials Indicated Thei Believed that Pakistani Militant Groups may be Behind the Attack they did not official Confirm the Identities of the perpetrators of the perpetrators and theSE Killed.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spekesperson, Shafqat Khan, Issued a Statement Saying Pakistan was “Concerned about the loss of tourists’ lives in the attack”, and extended condolences to the victims.
