SRINAGAR: At least 26 people were killed and dozens injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a popular tourist destination in Pahalgam in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, according to Kashmir Media Service.
The assailants reportedly targeted tourists at Baisaran Meadows, a scenic spot often frequented by visitors, before fleeing the scene.
Initially, five deaths were reported with over 20 people seriously wounded, but the death toll rose to 26 due to delayed medical response and inadequate emergency arrangements on-site.
The Chief Minister of the occupied region, Omar Abdullah, described the incident as one of the most tragic attacks in recent years and expressed deep regret over the targeting of tourists.
Despite previously heightened security due to increased tourist activity in the area, the attack exposed significant lapses in safety protocols.
In the wake of the tragedy, Indian media outlets and pro-government social media accounts, including those linked to intelligence agency RAW, quickly turned their focus on Pakistan, accusing it of orchestrating the attack — a recurring pattern seen in past incidents.
Furthermore, some Indian platforms alleged that non-Muslim tourists were deliberately targeted, a claim seen by many analysts as an attempt to sow communal discord and distract from internal security failures.
The situation remains tense as authorities continue their search for the attackers. Meanwhile, the international community has begun calling for a transparent investigation into the incident and an end to politicizing such tragic events.
