New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Jeddah earlier today, has decided to cut short his visit following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which has left at least 26 people feared dead, according to government sources. PM Modi will now depart for India tonight, skipping the official dinner hosted by Saudi Arabia. The Prime Minister is expected to arrive around 5 am on Wednesday morning.
The attack took place on Tuesday afternoon near a popular meadow close to Pahalgam town in Kashmir, leaving at least 26 people dead, most of them tourists. A senior official confirmed that among the victims were two foreign nationals and two locals. He also warned that the death toll could rise as several of the injured remain in critical condition. This has been described as the deadliest attack in Kashmir Valley since the Pulwama terror strike in 2019.
A Cabinet Committee on Security Meeting is also expected on the Pahalgam terror attack. A dedicated 24/7 help desk has been established at the Police Control Room Anantnag to assist tourists requiring assistance or information. Contact numbers for the help desk are 9596777669, 01932225870; Whatsapp 9419051940.
Gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing at least 26 people, according to Indian police, in one of the deadliest attacks there in recent times. Police said multiple tourists received gunshot wounds in the "terror attack" on Tuesday while they were visiting Baisaran meadow, some 5km (3 miles) from the disputed region’s resort town of Pahalgam.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, expressed grave concern over the attack, stating, "This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years." Indian police confirmed that at least three dozen others were injured, many in serious condition.
Divashi Shorba, an Indian tourist, shared his experience with Al Jazeera: "I’m traveling from Kolkata, and we are just 10 kilometres away from Pahalgam. It’s been four hours since we were stopped, and no one has any clear information." He added that conflicting reports from authorities left tourists anxious and confused.
Prime Minister Modi condemned the "heinous act" and pledged that the attackers "will be brought to justice." He expressed condolences to the victims' families and assured that all possible assistance is being provided to those affected. U.S. President Donald Trump also pledged support for India, stating, "Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against terrorism."
India’s Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, is heading to Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where he stated he would review the situation. "We will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences," Shah wrote on social media.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key separatist leader in Kashmir, condemned what he described as a "cowardly attack on tourists." He stated, "Such violence is unacceptable and against the ethos of Kashmir which welcomes visitors with love and warmth. Condemn it strongly."
Kashmir has been under an intensified military crackdown since its semi-autonomous status was revoked by the Indian government about six years ago. The attack follows violence earlier this month between security forces and suspected rebels, which resulted in six deaths, including four officers.
Attacks targeting tourists in Kashmir have been rare in recent years. The last significant incident occurred in June 2024, when fighters attacked a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims, plunging it into a deep gorge and killing at least nine people. The region has seen a decline in violence since the Modi government revoked Kashmir's limited autonomy in 2019, but tensions remain high.
In a broader context, Kashmir is a region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, with both countries administering parts of it. Many in the Muslim-majority region support the rebels’ goal of uniting the territory with Pakistan or creating an independent country. India insists that the Kashmir uprising is Pakistan-sponsored, a charge Islamabad denies, asserting that it only supports Kashmir's struggle for self-determination.
The worst attack in recent years took place in Pulwama in February 2019, when insurgents rammed a car packed with explosives into a police convoy, killing 40 and wounding at least 35 others. The deadliest recent attack on civilians occurred in March 2000, when 36 Indian civilians were killed.
The United Arab Emirates has also condemned the terrorist attack targeting tourists in Pahalgam, calling it a criminal act. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the UAE’s firm stance against all forms of terrorism and violence, extending condolences to the government and people of India and wishing a swift recovery to those injured.
As the situation unfolds, the Indian government faces pressure to ensure the safety of tourists and residents alike in the region, highlighting the ongoing challenges of governance and security in Kashmir amidst a backdrop of historical conflict.
