In one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, at least 28 people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Baisaran Valley, a scenic location near Pahalgam often dubbed the ‘mini Switzerland’ of India.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the region, leaving the entire Kashmir Valley in mourning.
The assault occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday when around 40 tourists were enjoying pony rides and admiring the snow-capped peaks of the remote valley, accessible only by foot or horseback. According to eyewitnesses, six assailants—believed to be foreign militants—emerged from the surrounding pine forests dressed in Army fatigues, making them indistinguishable from legitimate military personnel.
Eyewitness accounts described a horrifying scene. The terrorists reportedly asked victims for their names and forced them to recite Islamic verses before opening fire at close range. “My husband was shot in the head… he was shot for not being a Muslim,” one woman survivor recounted in a chilling statement.
Sajad Ahmad Bhat, a local shawl hawker who was present during the attack, played a heroic role in rescuing an injured tourist. Expressing his grief and anger, he said: “This is a murder of humanity, and the entire Kashmir. It would’ve been better had they (terrorists) killed us, the Kashmiris. This was a cowardly act. This is the first time I have seen such an incident. The entire Kashmir is in shock.”
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He added, “The whole Kashmir and every house of Kashmir is mourning. All the shops are closed here.”
The attack has not only claimed dozens of lives but also deeply scarred the soul of a region that has long struggled with conflict. The deliberate targeting of civilians, especially tourists, represents a disturbing escalation in tactics. Locals and authorities alike have condemned the incident as a barbaric act against both humanity and the spirit of Kashmir.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a massive manhunt for the perpetrators. The government is yet to confirm the identity of the attackers, though preliminary reports suggest they were foreign nationals.
This attack is the deadliest since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and marks a grim chapter in the Valley’s ongoing struggle for peace. As Kashmir reels from this tragic event, the pain is palpable in every corner of the region—where solidarity and sorrow have brought everyday life to a standstill.