In one of the deadliest assaults in recent years, a brutal terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India claimed the lives of at least 28 people and left more than 20 others injured. The victims included 24 Indian tourists, two local residents, and two foreign nationals from Nepal and the UAE.

The coordinated attack was launched by four to six heavily armed militants from The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. At approximately 2:50 PM, the assailants emerged from nearby forested terrain and indiscriminately opened fire on tourists. Witnesses reported that the militants, clad in military-style uniforms, targeted non-Muslims by forcing them to recite Islamic verses and verifying religious identity through physical checks. One survivor recounted that her Hindu husband was killed on the spot after identifying his faith, with the attackers telling her to "go tell Modi."

The TRF later claimed responsibility for the carnage, calling it retaliation against India's 2019 revocation of Article 370 and the subsequent settlement of thousands of non-locals in the region—moves they allege are altering Kashmir’s demographic balance.

In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short an official visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to India. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the site, honoring victims and promising uncompromising action against those behind the attack. Security forces have intensified their presence across the valley, with the National Investigation Agency releasing sketches of three suspected attackers, at least two of whom are believed to be foreign nationals.

International condemnation poured in swiftly. Former U.S. President Donald Trump called the attack “deeply disturbing,” reaffirming U.S. support for India. Leaders from the UK, China, Russia, and several other countries echoed similar sentiments.

The violence has deeply shaken the region, stalling a recent upswing in tourism. Amid the horror, however, local residents showed remarkable courage—pony operators carried the wounded to safety, and one cab driver provided shelter to frightened tourists in his home.

This attack, the worst of its kind since the 2008 Mumbai tragedy, underscores the persistent threats to peace and stability in Kashmir.