Multiple casualties are feared following a shooting attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials have confirmed. The incident occurred on Tuesday at Baisaran meadow, a popular destination situated approximately five kilometres from the resort town of Pahalgam in the Kashmir Valley.

Police sources have labelled the event a “terror attack”, attributing responsibility to militant groups opposing Indian governance in the disputed region. Early reports indicated that the assailants fired indiscriminately at mostly Indian tourists visiting the meadow, which is known for its scenic beauty, including snow-capped mountains and pine forests. Injured individuals were swiftly evacuated to local hospitals receiving treatment for gunshot wounds.

Omar Abdullah, the region’s senior elected official, characterised the incident as the most severe attack on civilians in recent years. Speaking on social media, he stated, “This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” while noting that the exact death toll had yet to be confirmed.

Authorities have sealed off the area and launched security operations aimed at locating and apprehending the perpetrators. In response to the attack, India’s Home Minister Amit Shah is en route to Srinagar, the main city of Indian-controlled Kashmir, to assess the situation firsthand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on an official trip to Saudi Arabia, has been apprised of the developments. On social media platform X, Shah vowed decisive action, declaring, “We will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences.”

The attack was also condemned by regional leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, an influential Kashmiri resistance figure, who described it as a “cowardly attack on tourists” and stated, “Such violence is unacceptable and against the ethos of Kashmir which welcomes visitors with love and warmth. Condemn it strongly.”

This violent episode has taken place amidst a visit to India by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who is undertaking a primarily personal four-day trip to the country.

Kashmir has long been a flashpoint between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, both of which administer parts of the territory but claim it in full. Notably, tourist areas in Kashmir have been largely spared from the ongoing conflict, which has seen targeted attacks predominantly aimed at non-Muslim residents and immigrant workers from other Indian states since New Delhi revoked the region’s semi-autonomy status in 2019. This revocation also involved tightening restrictions on dissent, civil liberties, and media freedoms.

Since then, tensions have remained high due to India’s intensified counterinsurgency measures. Although the Kashmir Valley, the central area of anti-Indian insurgency, has seen a relative decrease in violence, clashes continue to occur in the more remote Jammu region, including districts such as Rajouri, Poonch, and Kathua, where Indian forces have experienced fatal encounters with militants.

Militancy in Indian-controlled Kashmir traces back to 1989, with many Muslim Kashmiris supporting rebel factions seeking unification with Pakistan or independence. While India maintains that the insurgency is fuelled by Pakistan-backed terrorism, Pakistan denies such claims. The conflict over the decades has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths among civilians, militants, and security personnel.

The Independent is reporting on the unfolding situation in Kashmir, highlighting the complexity and lasting impact of the conflict, particularly as it pertains to security and tourism in the region.

Source: Noah Wire Services