The 2025 Pahalgam attack was a deadly militant assault on tourists near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025. Five armed terrorists targeted a group of tourists in the Baisaran Valley, killing 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, along with a Christian tourist and a local Muslim pony ride operator who tried to intervene. The militants asked victims to identify their religion and shot those who were non-Muslims, including several newlywed couples
. The attackers were armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s and came from the dense pine forests surrounding the meadow. The incident is considered the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks
. The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), initially claimed responsibility but later denied involvement, blaming Indian cyber-intelligence for false reports. Indian investigations linked the attack to Lashkar-e-Taiba militants with support from Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI. Indian authorities identified four terrorists involved, including two Pakistani infiltrators and two local Kashmiris who aided them. The masterminds behind the attack include LeT chief Hafeez Saeed and his deputy Saifullah Kasuri in Pakistan, and a local militant Hashim Moosa, who is still at large
. The attack significantly escalated tensions between India and Pakistan. India accused Pakistan of backing cross-border terrorism, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, expelled Pakistani diplomats, and closed borders. Pakistan denied involvement and retaliated by suspending the Simla Agreement and restricting trade. This led to a military conflict on May 7, 2025, when India launched airstrikes on Pakistani targets
. In the aftermath, India conducted extensive investigations, arrested hundreds of suspects, demolished homes of alleged militants, and placed bounties on the attackers. The attack also triggered incidents of harassment against Kashmiris across India and heightened fear and uncertainty in the Kashmir region
. In summary, the Pahalgam attack was a brutal terrorist assault on tourists that deepened the long-standing conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, causing significant civilian casualties and geopolitical fallout
