Gunmen killed at the least 26 folks and injured a dozen others in a suspected terror assault within the disputed Himalayan area of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, a uncommon assault on vacationers in an space fraught by many years of insurgency and opposition to India’s rule.
The devastating bloodbath focused sightseers in a well-liked vacationer vacation spot in Pahalgam, within the mountainous Anantnag district, and is the area’s worst assault on civilians in years. A gaggle of vacationers had been fired on by suspected militants, authorities stated. Many of the 26 folks killed are understood to be vacationers.
Among the many victims was a Nepali nationwide, and one other particular person of “Indian origin who works within the Center East,” V Ok Birdi, inspector common of police in Kashmir, advised CNN.
He added that the assault occurred in part of the Baisaran Valley – which is barely accessible by foot or on horseback. The lethal assault unfolded in a meadow, with mountainous ridges close by, that stretched a number of miles with none automotive roads, he stated.
Survivors described horror because the assault unfolded and a scene of devastation wrought by the gunmen.
One eyewitness advised the information company Press Belief of India that unidentified gunmen opened fireplace on the vacationers from shut vary.
“My husband was shot within the head whereas seven others had been additionally injured within the assault,” one lady survivor stated, in response to PTI.
One other survivor, Asavari Jagdale, advised PTI the gunmen got here into the tent the place her household was hiding. The attackers accused the household – hailing from India’s western Pune metropolis – of supporting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier than capturing Jagdale’s male family, together with her father, she stated.
Native resident Abdul Waheed advised CNN he jumped on his pony to assist transport the injured again to areas the place they might be pushed to the hospital, and enlisted others in his native pony affiliation to assist. For many who had been too injured, they used makeshift cots to hold them down the valley.
“I noticed folks crying, screaming, simply mendacity within the aftermath of the assault. There have been youngsters, ladies, males, everybody,” he stated. “It was a large trauma. I didn’t sleep all night time.”
‘Cease terrorism’
A little bit-known militant group known as The Resistance Entrance claimed duty for the assault on social media, voicing discontent at “outsiders” who had settled within the area and brought about a “demographic change.” It didn’t present proof, and CNN can’t independently confirm its declare.
Birdi advised CNN authorities had been conscious the group had claimed duty, however stated they had been nonetheless investigating the matter. As of Wednesday, authorities at the moment are finishing up medical examinations on the victims, and arranging planes to move the our bodies and their households.
The picturesque Himalayan area, administered partially by each India and Pakistan although nonetheless disputed by each side, is usually rife with violence – however assaults on vacationers are uncommon.
In a press release on X, Modi condemned the assault and despatched his condolences to those that had been affected. “These behind this heinous act shall be delivered to justice… they won’t be spared! Their evil agenda won’t ever succeed,” he stated.
By Tuesday night time, outraged residents had gathered within the area to protest. Movies of the protest present a crowd chanting slogans, holding candles and indicators that learn: “Cease terrorism.” Different indicators known as for the resignation of Indian Dwelling Affairs Minister Amit Shah.
Following the assault, Modi lower quick his two-day go to to Saudi Arabia after assembly with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The Indian Military corps liable for army operations within the space of the assault stated a search operation was underway to convey “the attackers to justice.”
Shah, the house minister, arrived within the area on Tuesday and chaired a high-level safety assembly, his workplace stated.
India has lengthy accused Pakistan of harboring Islamist militant teams that focus on Kashmir, one thing Islamabad denies. Assaults by militants have previously led to a pointy escalation of tensions between the 2 nuclear armed neighbors, each of whom have rival claims to the Himalayan area. India performed air strikes inside Pakistan in 2019 following an rebel assault on Indian troopers.
A spokesperson from Pakistan’s Ministry of International Affairs prolonged condolences to the victims, including: “We’re involved on the lack of vacationers’ lives in an assault in Anantnag district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”
The assault got here a day after US Vice President JD Vance arrived in India for a go to together with his household. On Tuesday, he shared condolences on X, writing: “Over the previous few days, we now have been overcome with the fantastic thing about this nation and its folks. Our ideas and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific assault.”
US President Donald Trump additionally condemned the assault, expressing US solidarity with India towards terrorism and calling Modi to convey his condolences, in response to Indian authorities.
Different leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, France, Italy and the UAE additionally expressed condemnation.
A restive area
Claimed in its entirety by each India and Pakistan, the mountainous Kashmir area has been on the epicenter of an often-violent territorial battle between the nuclear-armed neighbors for greater than 70 years. The area is among the world’s most harmful flashpoints, and a de facto border known as the Line of Management divides the areas overseen by New Delhi and Islamabad.
All through the previous 20 years, a number of home militant teams, demanding both independence for Kashmir or for the world to grow to be a part of Pakistan, have fought Indian safety forces, with tens of hundreds of individuals killed within the violence.
Violence surged in 2018, and the Indian authorities took larger management of the area in 2019 amid a heavy army presence and a monthslong communications blackout.
Whereas the Indian authorities has stated that militancy has since been decreased, assaults proceed to plague the area.
An ambulance drives on a street close to the Pahalgam assault on Tuesday. – Stringer/Reuters
On Tuesday, a regional spokesperson from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) accused Pakistan of fueling terrorism within the area, and known as the assault an “final result of Pakistan’s frustration.”
“Pakistan and its proxies are unable to digest the return of peace and tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. They need to stifle progress and plunge the area again into concern. However we gained’t permit that to occur,” Altaf Thakur stated.
Pakistan’s protection minister Khawaja Asif denied any hyperlink to the assault.
“We’ve got nothing to do with this, and we don’t assist terrorism wherever,” he stated in a TV interview with a Pakistani information outlet.
Pahalgam lies on a significant pilgrimage route, generally known as the Amarnath Yatra, which takes place yearly and has been uncovered to earlier assaults.
1000’s of vacationers flock to Kashmir throughout its peak season annually, which runs from March to August.
The final main assault on vacationers within the area occurred in June. Not less than 9 folks had been killed and 33 others injured when a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims plunged right into a gorge, after suspected militants fired on the automobile.
This story has been up to date with further info.
Mukhtar Ahmad reported from Kashmir, Esha Mitra reported from New Delhi, Sophia Saifi reported from Islamabad and Kara Fox wrote from London.
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