New Delhi, India – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Wednesday, abruptly ending his official visit to Saudi Arabia following a brutal terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead and over 20 injured. The assault is among the deadliest on civilians in the region in recent years.
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According to official footage, Modi convened an emergency high-level briefing at the airport immediately upon landing in the Indian capital. He was joined by Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to assess the situation and coordinate the government’s response.
The Attack in Pahalgam
The massacre occurred Tuesday in the Pahalgam region of Anantnag district, a popular tourist destination. According to survivors cited in Indian media, armed militants opened fire at close range in a grassland area, reportedly targeting individuals based on their religious identity.
Authorities suspect four insurgents were involved, though no arrests have been reported yet. A large-scale search operation is underway in the Baisaran area, involving both the Indian Army and Kashmir Police.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to take over the probe. A senior official from the Kashmir divisional commissioner’s office confirmed that an NIA team would arrive in Pahalgam shortly.
A Dark History of Violence
This latest atrocity marks a serious escalation in a region long marred by conflict. The deadliest attack in recent memory was a 2019 suicide bombing that killed over 40 Indian paramilitary officers. Another notable civilian massacre occurred in March 2000, when 36 villagers were killed in a southern Kashmiri village.
The Kashmir dispute has remained unresolved since the partition of British India in 1947, with India and Pakistan claiming the region in full but controlling separate parts. Since 1989, an armed insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir has claimed tens of thousands of lives. India accuses Pakistan of backing militants, a charge Islamabad denies.
Nationwide and International Condemnation
The Pahalgam attack has drawn widespread condemnation from Indian leaders and the international community. Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah both denounced the violence. Global leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, also condemned the killings and expressed solidarity with India.
Kashmir on High Alert
On Wednesday, the Kashmir Valley was placed under intensified security. Hundreds of police and military personnel patrolled the streets of Srinagar and nearby towns, including Pahalgam, where sirens echoed throughout the day. A complete shutdown was observed, with shops, businesses, and educational institutions closed. University exams scheduled for the day were postponed.
The entire region remains on edge as security forces continue their search for the perpetrators, and the nation mourns one of the most horrific civilian tragedies in recent memory.
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