In yet another horrifying reminder of Pakistan’s relentless support for terrorism, a brutal attack unfolded at a popular tourist resort in Pahalgam, on Tuesday. Around a dozen tourists were injured, and at least 26 innocent lives were lost—including two foreign nationals and two locals—when terrorists backed by the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), carried out one of the most heinous terror attacks in the region since Pulwama in 2019.
The peaceful meadows of Baisaran Valley—often referred to as ‘mini Switzerland’—were turned into a graveyard as terrorists disguised in police-like uniforms descended from nearby hills and opened fire indiscriminately on unarmed tourists. The attack, which lasted for 3 to 5 minutes, targeted men after the attackers interrogated them about their religion and political leanings. This act of calculated savagery shows yet again how Pakistan-sponsored terrorists weaponize religion and politics to execute their bloody agenda.
Among the 26 dead was Pune-based businessman Santosh Jagdale, who was traveling with his family. His daughter Asavari recounted the terrifying ordeal. As shots rang out, the family ran and hid inside a tent with other tourists, believing a clash was happening between terrorists and security forces. But soon, their worst fears were confirmed. Asavari described how her father was dragged out of the tent after being called out by name: “Chaudhary, tu bahar aa jaa.”
The attackers accused the Jagdales of supporting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They demanded that Mr. Jagdale recite an Islamic verse. When he failed, they executed him with three bullets: one to the head, one behind the ear, and one to the back. They then shot her uncle repeatedly. It took security forces 20 minutes to arrive at the scene, by which time the damage was already done.
Mr. Jagdale was one of six people from Maharashtra who died in the attack. Others included Thane residents Atul Mane, Sanjay Lele, and Hemant Joshi, Pune’s Kaustubh Ganbote, and Navi Mumbai’s Dilip Dosale. Mane, 45, a senior section engineer with Central Railways, had gone on this trip with friends. Dosale was part of a 39-member tourist group from Navi Mumbai.
Another victim was 40-year-old TCS techie Bitan Adhikary from West Bengal, who lived in Florida with his wife and three-year-old son. He had returned to Kolkata on April 8 to spend time with his family and had planned a trip to Kashmir. His wife and child survived the attack, but Bitan was shot dead.
The attack left families shattered. Bitan’s elderly father, crushed by the news, said, “He wanted to take all of us along. But I told him to go with my daughter-in-law.” His brother added, “He told me we’d go on a holiday when he returned. We didn’t know it would be the last time we spoke.”
A couple from Nagpur barely escaped the carnage. They had just left the valley when they heard the shots. As panicked tourists rushed to escape through a narrow 4-foot-wide gate, his wife fell and fractured her leg. Others weren’t as lucky—trapped in the open, with no shelter to hide behind.
Choppers were later deployed to evacuate the wounded from the inaccessible meadow, aided by locals who carried victims on ponies. Authorities fear that the number of injured may rise, with search operations still underway.
This cowardly act, executed with clinical cruelty, once again lays bare Pakistan’s continued export of terror to Indian soil. TRF—a puppet of Pakistan’s ISI-controlled LeT—has claimed responsibility, demonstrating yet again Islamabad’s willingness to massacre civilians in pursuit of its twisted geopolitical goals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a two day Saudi Arabia visit at the time, immediately cut short his trip and returned to India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah flew to Srinagar and held emergency meetings with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Security forces have since intensified search operations in the area, determined to track down the perpetrators and their handlers.
Also Read: Asked to show IDs, remove pants: Horrid details emerge from Pahalgam terror attack
Let there be no doubt: this was not just an attack on tourists, but an attack on humanity. It was a cold-blooded massacre aimed at derailing peace, destabilizing the region, and striking fear into the hearts of civilians with imprints of Pakistan’s terror factory written all over it.
India mourns the loss of its sons and daughters, but it also stands united in fury. The cowardice of hiding behind religion and guns, targeting unarmed civilians, and trying to divide the country will never succeed. The blood spilled in Pahalgam will not be forgotten, and justice will be delivered.
Pakistan’s mask of plausible deniability has long worn thin. The international community must now recognize the undeniable truth: until the roots of terror in Pakistan are eradicated, the world will continue to pay the price.
