India Vows Strong Response After Kashmir Tourist Attack Kills 26

SRINAGAR – Indian security forces launched a massive manhunt on Wednesday for militants suspected of killing 26 people, including 25 Indians and one Nepalese national, in a shooting attack on tourists in the Pahalgam area of Kashmir. At least 17 others were injured in the assault, which took place on Tuesday in the scenic Baisaran valley.

This marks the deadliest attack on civilians in India in nearly two decades, surpassing the 2008 Mumbai attacks in its severity. The attack has sent shockwaves across the country, with the government pledging a strong response. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to New Delhi, while Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also curtailed her international trip to show solidarity with the nation during this difficult time.

Modi convened a high-level meeting with national security officials and called for a special security cabinet meeting to discuss the incident. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh vowed that those responsible for the attack, as well as those who orchestrated it from behind the scenes, would be brought to justice. “There will be a loud and clear response soon,” he said.

The attack occurred at a time when tourism in Kashmir had been on the rise, helping to boost the local economy. There were around 1,000 tourists and 300 local workers in the valley when the attack unfolded. Security forces swiftly launched a search operation in the area, combing nearby forests and questioning around 100 individuals suspected of being militant sympathizers. Police have also released sketches of three suspects involved in the attack.

A little-known militant group, the “Kashmir Resistance,” claimed responsibility for the attack, stating in a social media post that the tourists targeted were affiliated with Indian security agencies. However, India’s government has not commented on these claims. The group expressed opposition to what it described as a demographic shift in the region due to the settlement of “outsiders.”

Read more: Pakistan Expresses Concern Tourist Killings in Occupied Kashmir Gun Attack

The attack has sparked widespread protests in Kashmir, with local organizations calling for a shutdown in protest. Many schools suspended classes, and protesters took to the streets, chanting slogans condemning the killings and calling for an end to violence. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed sorrow over the attack, stating that “Kashmir is ashamed.”

In the wake of the violence, airlines are operating extra flights to facilitate the departure of tourists, while local authorities have opened the main highway to help evacuate visitors by road. Some tourist operators have reported cancellations, though local officials, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, reassured the public, stating that efforts would continue to support the tourism sector in the region.

The attack has sent ripples of concern through the region, and as India hunts for the perpetrators, the country remains on high alert, vowing to take decisive action in response to this tragic incident.