Pahalgam Terrorist Attack: Motive Behind the Deadliest Assault on Tourists in Kashmir
On April 22, 2025, the serene town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir was struck by a devastating terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of at least 28 individuals, including 24 Indian tourists, two locals, and two foreign nationals. This incident marks the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in recent years.
This attack occurred in the picturesque Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination known for its alpine beauty. Militants affiliated with The Resistance Front, a group linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, ambushed a group of tourists with M4 carbines and AK-47s. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers singled out non-Muslim victims, demanding they recite Islamic verses before opening fire. The assailants’ methodical approach and the use of military-style tactics contributed to the high casualty rate.
The Resistance Front claimed responsibility for the attack, citing opposition to the settlement of over 85,000 non-Kashmiris in the region following the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019. The group views these demographic changes as an existential threat to the region’s Muslim-majority identity. The attackers’ focus on non-Muslim tourists underscores their intent to send a message against what they perceive as an encroachment on local demographics.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders and civil society. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as a “dastardly and inhuman act,” vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice. Opposition leaders also expressed outrage, with Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi calling it a “crime against humanity.” International leaders, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with India.
Here is the full list of Pahalgam terrorist attack victims:
- Sushil Nathyal, Indore
2. Syed Adil Hussain Shah, Pahalgam
3. Hemant Suhas Joshi, Mumbai
4. Vinay Narwal, Haryana
5. Atul Srikant Moni, Maharashtra
6. Neeraj Udhawani, Uttarakhand
7. Bitan Adhikari, Kolkata
8. Sudeep Neupane, Nepal
9. Shubham Dwivedi, Kanpur
10. Prashant Kumar Satpathi, Malashwar Odesa
11. Manish Ranjan, Bihar
12. N Ramachandra, Kerala
13 Sanjay Lakshman Lali, Thane
14. Dinesh Agarwal, Chandigarh
15. Sameer Guhar, Kolkata
16. Dileep Dasali, Mumbai
17. J Sachandra Moli, Visakhapatnam
18. Madhusudan Somisetty, Bengaluru
19. Santosh Jaghda, Pune
20. Manju Nath Rao, Karnataka
21. Kastuba Ganvotay, Pune
22. Bharat Bhushan, Bengaluru
23. Sumit Parmar, Gujarat
24. Yatesh Parmar, Gujarat
25. Tagehalying, Arunachal Pradesh
26. Shaileshbhai H Himmatbhai Kalathia, Gujarat
In response to the attack, Indian authorities have launched a nationwide manhunt for the perpetrators. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has initiated an investigation, with initial reports indicating that at least two of the attackers are believed to be foreigners. Security forces have released sketches of the suspects and are conducting extensive operations to apprehend them.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar shortly afterwards. On Wednesday morning, he visited the Police Control Room (PCR) where the bodies had been brought from the Government Medical College (GMC) in Srinagar. Mr Shah laid wreaths and met with families of the victims. Later in the day, he travelled to Pahalgam for a ground-level security assessment.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was on an official visit to the United States, also cut short her trip. Ms Sitharaman is a member of the five-member Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by the Prime Minister.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the dead, Rs 2 lakh for the seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries. An Inspector General-led team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been dispatched to Pahalgam to support local investigations.
