The2025 Pahalgam attack, also referred to as the2025 Pahalgam massacre, was anIslamist terrorist attack on tourists by at least three armed terrorists nearPahalgam in India'sJammu and Kashmir in which 26 civilians were killed on 22 April 2025. The militants targeted Hindu tourists, though a Christian tourist and a local Muslim pony ride operator were also killed.[7][8][9] The attackers, armed withM4 carbines andAK-47s, entered the Baisaran Valley, a famous tourist spot, through the surrounding forests.[10] This incident is considered the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the2008 Mumbai attacks.[11][12]
The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-basedIslamist UN-designated terrorist groupLashkar-e-Taiba (LeT),[13][14][15][16][5][17][18] initially claimed responsibility for the attack twice, on both the day of the attack and the next day.[19][20][21][22][23] TRF released a statement that the attack was in opposition to non-local settlement in the region resulting from theabolition of the special status of Kashmir.[19] After a few days, TRF denied its involvement in the attack.[24] Previously, TRF has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir targeting religious minorities.[25]
The militants singled out the men and asked for their religion before shooting the Hindu and Christian tourists.[26][27] The attackers also asked some tourists to recite theIslamickalima, a Muslim declaration of faith, to identify non-Muslims.[8][27] Of the 26 people killed, 25 were tourists, and one was a local Muslim pony ride operator who tried to wrestle a gun from the attackers.[28][29] The tourists included several newlywed couples, and the men were shot point-blank in front of their wives.[9][30][31]
The attack intensifiedtensions between India and Pakistan as India accused Pakistan of supportingcross-border terrorism and suspended theIndus Waters Treaty, expelled Pakistani diplomats and closedborders. Pakistan rejected these claims and retaliated by suspending theSimla Agreement, restricting trade, and closing airspace. A standoff between both countries led to amilitary conflict on 7 May 2025 when India launched airstrikes targeting alleged terror camps in Pakistan.[32] India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire on 10 May 2025.[33]
In retaliation, Indian forces launched Operation Mahadev to identify and neutralise the terrorists.[34][35][36] On 28 July 2025, three perpetrators were killed.[37][38] The exact number of terrorists could not be ascertained.[39][40][41]
TheJammu and Kashmir insurgency began in the late 1980s, as part of the wider Kashmir conflict. Pakistan's role in launching the insurgency[42] as well as in turning it into an Islamist militancy[43] are well-documented in the scholarly literature.[44][45] The rise of militancy in the region has led to anexodus ofKashmiri Hindus.[46][47] Instances of massacres of Hindu civilians by militants became frequent across Jammu and Kashmir in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Pakistan-based groups were more active in the insurgency.[48]
In 2019, the Indian governmentrevoked the special status previously granted to Jammu and Kashmir, and extended theConstitution of India to the state in full, enabling non-locals to purchase property and settle down in Jammu and Kashmir.[49] Also related is the issuance ofdomicile status to residents who did not qualify earlier as 'state-subjects', qualifying them for jobs and college seats.[50] While fears have been expressed that these changes would result in a change indemographics in Kashmir, with non-locals settling in the area,[51][52] critics of the earlier arrangement noted that it had created a legal asymmetry: people from Jammu and Kashmir had always been free to settle anywhere in India, but in Jammu and Kashmir people from elsewhere were barred from permanent residency, property ownership, and government jobs. This disparity was cited as discriminatory by proponents of the constitutional changes, who also noted that the previous laws discriminated against women from within the region by revoking their property rights if they married a non-permanent resident.[53][54][55][56][57]
Prior to 2025, the largest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in preceding years were the2016 Uri attack and2019 Pulwama attack. India blamed Pakistan-based militants for both of them and conducted retaliatory strikes.[64][65] In the weeks preceding the Pahalgam attack, India acquired the extradition of former Pakistan Army officerTahawwur Rana, who was linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and convicted (in the US) for supporting the2008 Mumbai attacks.[66][67] Pakistan Army chiefAsim Munir gave a speech describing Kashmir as "ourjugular vein" and branding Hindus as being different from Muslims in every way via an appeal to thetwo-nation theory that lead to thepartition of India.[73]
The Indian government and media have long alleged that Pakistan supports militant groups such as TRF. Pakistan denies any support for militants including those involved in Jammu and Kashmir, officially maintaining only "diplomatic and moral support" for theKashmiri people.[74][75][21]
The meadow is surrounded by a 7 feet high chain link fence.[96][97][98][99] There are two gates for entry and exit.[100] The attack started with shots being fired near the exit gate.[100] This resulted in the herding of tourists towards the entrance gate where they were met by more terrorists.[100] During the attack some tourists found gaps in the fence to escape.[96][101] However some tourists were killed outside the boundary.[102] Some tourists were not able to scale the fence and were helped by others.[103] Other tourists ran in different directions trying to find a place to hide such as behind the mobile toilets.[96][97] To escape the attack, a local photographer and videographer climbed a tree; he continued to film the attack.[104][105] Anarmy officer on holiday helped to direct 35-40 tourists to safety.[97] During the attack he managed to place calls to the local army unit and Army Headquarters in Srinagar.[97]
The attack was inadvertently filmed by a tourist fromAhmedabad, who wasziplining during the attack.[106] The video footage showed scenes of panic with injured victims pleading for help and bodies strewn across the ground.[107] Another video of the attack was inadvertently captured by a tourist fromKozhikode who was waiting for a zipline ride; the time the video was taken was recorded as 2:25pm.[108] Once realising the situation, he escaped by climbing over the fence and ran downhill.[108] A local Muslim pony operator, Syed Adil Hussain Shah reportedly tried to protect the tourists and wrestle the gun from one of the attackers before being shot and killed.[29][109][110] Following the killings the terrorists fired shots in the air, supposedly eitherwarning shots orcelebratory in nature.[111][112]
Targeted attack on Hindu tourists
The militants asked for the names and religions of the tourists,[26] and specifically targeted those who were Hindus.[9][2] The attackers killed the Hindu men after separating them from the Muslim men.[113] Some tourists were asked to recite theIslamic verse ofkalima, so that the militants could segregate them by religion.[b][27][115] Some Hindu men were forced to remove their trousers to check for a lack ofcircumcision before being shot at close range.[107][116] Out of the 26 dead, the trousers of around 20 were found to be unzipped or pulled down.[117] The militants told some Hindu women that they were spared so that they could narrate the horrors of their men's killing to the IndianPrime Minister,Narendra Modi.[118][31]
The first tourist to be shot was newly married Shubham Dwivedi fromKanpur, who was visiting Kashmir with his wife.[30] The militants approached the couple and asked, "Are you a Hindu or a Muslim?" and Dwivedi responded that "We are Hindus" and was shot point-blank in the head.[9][30] Another newlywed victim wasIndian Navylieutenant, Vinay Narwal fromHaryana, who went to Pahalgam six days after his wedding with his wife.[119] In a viral video of the attack, his wife is heard saying "a man suddenly came and said he's not Muslim... then shot him."[120] The militants shot three bullets into Narwal's neck, chest and thighs "after realizing he was a Hindu".[9]
The daughter of a Hindu tourist fromPune recounted that militants asked her father to recite an Islamic verse, and "when he failed to do so, they pumped three bullets into him, one on the head, one behind the ear and another in the back”.[121] The wife of another victim fromAndhra Pradesh told the state'sdeputy chief ministerPawan Kalyan that she and her husband lay on the ground, and the terrorists asked twice, "Hindu hai, muslim hai?" (lit.'Are (you) Hindu? Are (you) Muslim?'), and when they did not respond, her husband was shot dead.[122] A Bengali Hindu professor fromAssam, who hid his identity by reciting the Islamic kalima escaped the killing,[123] while a Christian man fromMadhya Pradesh was shot dead after being unable to recite the kalima.[124] His wife said the attackers took selfies with the dead bodies.[125] According to his son, there were 15-year-olds among the terrorists.[126] Some of the terrorists also asked for ID cards to be shown.[127]
At least 26 people were killed in the attack, including 25 tourists and one local person, while 20 others were injured.[128][28] Initially a list of the victims, which was verified by local officials in Kashmir, showed that 25 of the 26 killed were Hindus,[7] while one was a local Muslim pony operator.[29] Subsequently, one of the killed tourists was identified as a Christian.[129] The full list of 26 victims with their names and state of residence was published by Indian newspapers.[130]
In the aftermath, locals assisted in the rescue effort and offered shelter to victims.[133][134] Members of the local pony-handlers association rescued 11 injured tourists on ponies and improvised stretchers.[135]Gurudwaras in Kashmir opened their doors to shelter tourists fleeing the valley in fear, as many sought safety closer to cities and airports to return to their home states.[136][137] Emergency services arrived at the scene after news of the attack reached district headquarters.[138] Two critically injured victims were taken to thedistrict hospital at Anantnag at around 16:30, while others were transported to nearby medical centres.[138] The critically injured were airlifted to a military hospital inSrinagar by helicopter for further treatment.[138] A helpline was established to assist affected tourists.[139]
Nazakat Ahmad Ali Shah, a Kashmiri woollen clothes trader and tourist guide, helped to rescue several of the victims.[140][141][142][143] He saved eleven people in a group, including the daughter of a BJP leader, by first taking two children to the nearby town ofPahalgam and then escorting the rest to safety.[134][144][145] Nazakat Ahmad Ali Shah is the cousin of Syed Adil Hussain Shah,[146][147] who died while saving the lives of many tourists in the attack.[148][149][150][151]
The nearestCRPF base is around 4-5 kilometers from the Baisaran meadows.[152] The trek is through a muddy and rocky track and takes 40–45 minutes.[153] The CRPF commanding officer was informed about the attack by pony operators.[153] 25 CRPF personnel reached Baisaran Valley at around 2:30 p.m. as first responders.[153] They were followed by a police team after which efforts were coordinated.[152][154] The first phone call to the police control room was later at 2:45 p.m.[155]
The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the attack, linking it toIndian government policy that allows non-Kashmiris to live and work in Kashmir, resulting in non-local settlement in Kashmir.[21][159][160] In a statement on the social media platformTelegram, TRF opposed the granting ofdomicile certificates to "outsiders", and voiced discontent at resulting alleged demographic changes in the region. It claimed, "These non-locals arrive posing as tourists, obtain domiciles, and then begin to act as if they own the land. Consequently, violence will be directed toward those attempting to settle illegally."[21][75][161] A UN Security Council report on 29 July 2025 stated that TRF took responsibility on both 22 and 23 April.[162] TRF also published a photo of the attack site.[163] No other group claimed responsibility.[162]
TRF has a history of targeting non-Kashmiris on such grounds. In June 2020, it released a statement saying, "any Indian who comes with an intention to settle in Kashmir will be treated as an agent ofRSS and not as civilian and will be dealt with appropriately."[164] In December 2020, it shot and killed a 70-year-old goldsmith, who had lived in Kashmir close to 50 years, branding him part of the "settler" project.[165] In February 2021, it killed a Punjabi restaurateur's son, even though Punjabis are a well-established part ofSrinagar's retail business, having arrived there well before 1947.[164] In October of the same year, seven civilians were killed in the span of a week, including two school teachers, a pharmacist and poor economic migrants.[166] According to political analyst and journalist Luv Puri, such killings of civilians are not condoned by the populace but the atmosphere of "mass-scale hysteria" in the Valley on potential demographic changes allows TRF to get away with them.[164]
On 26 April, TRF retracted responsibility for the attack, claiming that their initial claim of responsibility was a communications breach. TRF accused Indian intelligence operatives of having a part in the attack, and stated that they were conducting their own investigation into the perpetrators.[167] Political-science professor and recognized expert on terrorismMax Abrahms wrote that the attack was indeed carried out by the TRF, noting his prior research revealing that terrorist groups commonly attempt false denials of responsibility for attacks that kill civilian targets, subsequently "backfire" in public opinion, and/or appear likely to trigger a robust military response.[5][168] The United States designated the TRF as a terrorist organisation on 17 July.[162]
On 7 May 2025, the foreign secretary of IndiaVikram Misri stated in a press conference that the objective of the attack was to inflamecommunal violence in India and negatively impact the economy by attacking tourism in the union territory.[169]
Investigations and operations
Indian investigations
Based on eyewitness testimonies and details given by the survivors of the attack theJammu and Kashmir police revealed the identities and sketches of four of the terrorists.[170][171][172] Out of these four, two are infiltrators from Pakistan, and two are local Kashmir residents who allegedly aided them. These four terrorists have been identified by the Jammu and Kashmir police as Ali Bhai alias Talha (Pakistani), Asif Fauji (Pakistani), Adil Hussain Thoker (a resident of Anantnag) and Ahsan (a resident of Pulwama).[80] The police stated that all of them were linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and at least two are foreigners.[172] Police confirmed that all of them have been linked to previous militancy-related incidents in thePoonch region. Following the attack, hundreds of formeroverground workers and ex-militants were interrogated in Kashmir.[173] On 24 April, the J&K Police announced a bounty of₹2,000,000 (US$30,000) for information leading to the identification, arrest, or elimination of each of the individuals responsible for the Pahalgam attack, promising to protect the informant's identity.[174] TheNational Investigative Agency (NIA) later released that the initial sketches of the militants were wrong.[175][176][177][178][179]
Indian authorities linked the Pahalgam attack to Pakistan, with digital traces leading tosafe houses inMuzaffarabad andKarachi. They concluded that forensic evidence and intelligence intercepts suggest potential support from operatives based in Pakistan.[185][186] Authorities conducted extensive searches in Indian-administered Kashmir, questioning more than 2,800 people and taking more than 150 into custody.[187] They alsodemolished the houses of the families of at least 10 suspected militants.[188][189][190][191] In a preliminary report, the NIA concluded that the attack was committed under directives issued by senior operatives of Pakistan's intelligence agency, theInter-Services Intelligence (ISI).[192][187] At least 15 locals were identified who helped facilitate the attack.[193][194] Indian officials later said that the attackers belong to a TRF unit known as the "Falcon Squad".[94]
According to government official, the three terrorists, Suleman alias Faizal Jatt, Hamza Afghani, and Zibran spoke with their associates, and their helpers in Pakistan using ultra-high frequency wireless set. The wireless sets require a distinct frequency and a clear line of sight. The range is between 20–25 kilometres (12–16 mi). In 2023, the threeLeT terrorists made their way into India. They were divided into two factions in 2024, one headed by Suleman and the other by Hashim Moosa, a Pakistani terrorist. In 2024, newly infiltrated LeT cadres joined Suleman and began conducting terror attacks in theKashmir Valley. Suleman participated in the October 20, 2024, attack on a construction site in Gagangir, in theGanderbal area of central Kashmir. The incident claimed the lives of seven persons.[195]
TheMinister of Home AffairsAmit Shah explained in the Parliament that theIntelligence Bureau and the security forces in the region tracked the terrorists for over two months using a number of methods.[196] Sajid Saifullah Jatt, the South Kashmir chief of operations for LeT in Lahore, was identified as the primary handler of the terrorists by the Indian intelligence and security services after they mapped the infiltration, movement, and command structure behind the Pahalgam attack.[197]
Treatment of potential witnesses
According to formerchief minister of Jammu and KashmirMehbooba Mufti, locals were "rounded up by security agencies and kept in custody for hours and sometimes the entire day without food" in what she saw as a form ofcollective punishment. Mufti stated that the locals "unanimously came out against this gruesome attack and unequivocally condemned it" and that "the blanket criminalization of locals not only alienates our people but also sows seeds of resentment and mistrust".[198]
Masterminds behind the attack
Security agencies have identified three terrorists behind the Pahalgam terror attack. Two of them — Lashkar-e-Taiba chiefHafeez Saeed and his deputySaifullah Khalid Kasuri — are in Pakistan, while the third, Hashim Moosa alias Suleiman Shah, is believed to be hiding in the forests of south Kashmir. An extensive operation is underway to capture him, with concerns that he may attempt to flee to Pakistan.[199] Hashim Moosa, a former para-commando in Pakistan'sSpecial Service Group, joined Lashkar-e-Taiba and has been involved in several terror attacks since infiltrating India in 2023. Authorities aim to capture him alive to confirm Pakistan's involvement in the attack. He was involved in a deadly October attack inGanderbal that killed seven and another inBaramulla where four security personnel died. In total, he has been linked to at least six terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.[199][200][201][202]
The head of TRF, Sajad Ahmad Sheikh alias Sajad Gul, has also been named as a mastermind.[203][204] He resides in Pakistan.[205] The NIA designated Gul a terrorist in April 2022.[206] Property in Kashmir belonging to Sajad Gul was attached following the Pahalgam attack.[206]
Detainees and arrests
Two local Kashmiris, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, were detained by theNational Investigation Agency on 22 June 2025, for allegedly harboring the terrorists at a hut around 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from theBaisaranmeadow on 21 April 2025.[207][208][209][210] The duo were produced before a special NIA court on 23 June 2025.[211] During questioning, Parvaiz and Bashir disclosed details about the terrorists.[176] NIA collected DNA samples with the aim of finding a match with the articles confiscated from the killed terrorists.[212] Shafat Maqbool Wani was taken into custody by the NIA in July 2025 under theUnlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in Handwara. It is believed that he received money from TRF to support terrorism.[213]
LeT associates Ab Majid Gojri, a resident of SK Bala, and Ab Hamid Dar, a resident of Vijpara, were apprehended by J&K Police and the Indian Army on 17 August 2025, in possession of two Chinesegrenades, twoUBGL grenades, and ten rounds ofAKs. NIA raided their homes on 20 August 2025, discovering records of foreign funding.[214] NIA has recovered information from mobile data, social media chats,bank transactions, andcall logs during raids in Srinagar and Handwara about TRF receiving approximately₹9lakh in funding through Malaysian resident Yasir Hayat, who has connections to Sajid Mir's network, a LeT most wanted terrorist who is suspected of planning the 2008 Mumbai attacks.[215][216] 463 phone calls connected to anti-India groups andextremist followers regarding the financing of TRF from Pakistan,Malaysia, andArab states of the Persian Gulf were revealed by NIA on 3 September 2025.[217]
On 24 September, Srinagar Police arrested a key LeT operative from South Kashmir'sKulgam district for providing logistical support to terrorists killed in the Operation Mahadev. The accused has been identified as 26-year-old Mohammad Yousuf Kataria, a seasonal teacher and resident of Kulgam. According to police, Yousuf was actively associated with LeT/TRF and had supplied equipment and other logistical support to terrorists operating in Pahalgam.[218] Forensic examination of a phone charger proved vital to his arrest.[219] Kataria revealed that he met with the terrorists at least four times in the Zabarwan hills.[220]
Indian operations
Operation Mahadev
Operation Mahadev was launched on the day of the Pahalgam attack.[35] The security forces were given instructions to not let the terrorists escape to Pakistan.[221][222] Baisaran Valley is at least 220 km from theLine of Control.[223] It was aHuaweisatellite phone (IMEI 86761204-XXXXXX) that had been monitored since 22 April 2025pinging theInmarsat-4 F1, that helped track down the terrorists to a 4 km2 section of Harwan forest. Red flags were raised in the security grid on July 26 when this device made an unusual call.[224][225][226][227] On 28 July 2025, in a joint operation under Operation Mahadev, security forces includingCRPF,J&K Police, and thearmy, killed three terrorists, namely Suleman Shah alias Faizal Jatt, Abu Hamza and Yasir in the Harwan jungles close to Mahadev Ridge inDachigam.[222][35] At 8 a.m. a drone was used to gather visuals of the terrorists.[228]Rashtriya Rifles andPara Special Forces personnel ascended Mahadev hill and took up positions. Three hours later and following visual identification, shots were fired at the terrorists.[228] By 12:45 p.m. pictures were taken of the bodies and the area underwent a cleansing operation.[228] The security forces found twoKalashnikov series rifles, oneM4 carbine, and a significant amount of ammunition and warlike supplies.[229] Three mobile phones and two communication sets were retrieved; additionally, aGoProbody camera harness, a 28-watt solar charger, three mobile chargers, aSwiss military power bank, needles and threads, medicines,stove, dry food, tea and twoAadhaar cards belonging to two local residents ofGanderbal andSrinagar were also recovered.[230]
The Pakistani identity of the three terrorists was alleged by the IndianHome MinisterAmit Shah in theParliament. The three slain attackers that carried the alias—Suleiman, Hamza Afghani, and Jibran—were identified by detained individuals who had previously supplied them with food. Further confirmation came from the recovery of Pakistani voter identity cards and Pakistan-manufactured chocolates Candyland and Chocomax found in their possession.[231][232][233]
The batch numbers were traced to a May 2024 consignment shipped toMuzaffarabad.[234] On the bodies of Suleman Shah and Abu Hamza, two laminated voter ID slips from theElection Commission of Pakistan had serial numbers connected to theLahore (NA-125) andGujranwalaelectoral rolls (NA-79). Biometric information from Pakistan'sNational Database and Registration Authority was found on amicro-SD card that was recovered from a broken satellite phone. Facial templates,fingerprints,family tree, registered addresses in Koiyan village, andChanga Manga, were recovered.[235][236] The allegations of attackers being of Pakistan-origin were denied by theMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan as [sic] 'replete with fabrications',[237] as Pakistan does not issue voter-ID cards and instead requires voters to carryCNICs to participate in any given election.[238][239][240]The Wire questioned the presence of Pakistani chocolates considering that an official had stated that the terrorists had entered India from Pakistan three years ago.[177]
The purported-CNIC issued claimed that Tahir Habib alias Hamza Afghani/Habib Afghani/Habib Khan/Abu Hamza, supposedly a native of Koiyan, close toKhai Gala inPakistan-administered Kashmir, was one of the attackers. The second attacker was identified as Bilal Afzal alias Suleman Shah, with 2019 issued CNICunique identifier code 35401, asLahore resident whose father's name is Muhammad Afzal. According to Indian intelligence, the terrorists were working under seniorLeT operator Sajid Saifullah Jatt, who was identified by voice samples taken from the satellite phone retrieved during Operation Mahadev.[241][236][242] Suleiman Shah was labelled as the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack.[225][243]
By 3 August the Indian Army,Central Reserve Police Force,Border Security Force, and J&K Police killed 21 terrorists (9 local recruits and 12 Pakistani nationals) in six different confrontations in Jammu and Kashmir as a result of their jointcounterterrorism efforts since the Pahalgam attack.[244]
Independent investigation
Following India's allegations of Pakistani involvement in the attack, Pakistan proposed the establishment of a neutral, independent, third-party investigation, to be conducted by an impartial body, while condemning the attack as a tragedy. Simultaneously, it accused India of exacerbating regional tensions.[191][245][246] Pakistan's call for an unbiased inquiry received backing fromTurkey,[247] China,[248] Malaysia'sAnwar Ibrahim,[249] Switzerland and Greece.[250] However, India categorically rejected the proposal, dismissing the notion of an independent investigation.[251] Meanwhile, aPublic Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in India which sought a judicial investigation. TheSupreme Court justiceSurya Kant rejected the calls, stating that the court's role was to decide disputes, not to conduct investigations.[252][253][254] Independently, investigative journalists fromThePrint found that the demand for the high-resolution satellite imagery of Pahalgam area surged atMaxar two months before the Pahalgam attack. The period of the surge coincided with the joining of a Pakistani geospatial firm, Business Systems International (BSI), as a 'partner' with Maxar. The firm's owner Obaidullah Syed was previously convicted for illegally exporting computer equipment and software to Pakistani government agencies.[255][256][257]
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to India to chair a meeting with theCabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on the issue.[258] After this meeting, the Indianforeign secretary,Vikram Misri, briefed senior diplomats around the world regarding five major decisions made by the Indian government.[259] He announced India would immediately suspend theIndus Waters Treaty with Pakistan until Pakistan ceases its support for cross-border terrorism.[260] He further announced the closure of the main border crossing between the two countries, a travel ban of all Pakistani nationals to India under theSAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, and a cancellation of all previously issued visas.[261] Pakistani military advisers at theHigh Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi were expelled, and their Indian counterparts inIslamabad were withdrawn.[262][263]
Union home ministerAmit Shah travelled toSrinagar to assess the situation and coordinate the security response, and later travelled to the site of the attack.[264] The government later admitted a security lapse revealing that Baisaran Valley had been opened to tourists two months ahead of schedule without notifying security forces, a factor which facilitated the attack. There were no security personnel present on the day of the attack at the site. On 24 April, the central government convened an all-party meeting to brief opposition parties in the wake of the attack. Opposition leaders criticised the oversight and Modi's absence from the briefing.[265][266] On the same day India briefed envoys fromG20 countries and strategic partners.[267]
Pakistan also warned India of a comprehensive retaliation in response to the actions announced by the Indian government in the aftermath of the incident.[268] On 24 April, Pakistan suspended visas issued to Indian nationals and closed its airspace to Indian aircraft.[269] On the night between 24 and 25 April, Pakistani and Indian troops skirmished and exchanged small arms fire at multiple positions along theline of control.[270][271] Small arms fire continued for the next few days.[272][273][274] In an escalation, small arms fire was reported across the international border as well on 30 April.[275]
India launchedOperation Sindoor on 7 May, striking nine targets in Pakistan andPakistan-administered Kashmir.[276] India said it delivered precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure while Pakistan said that the operation resulted in civilian casualties on the Pakistani side.[277][278] In response, Pakistan launched drone and missiles strikes around Indian-administered Kashmir.[279] Residents of Indian-administered Kashmir stated that civilians had been killed in shelling from the Pakistani side of the border.[280]
By 30 April the Ministry of External Affairs of India had briefed envoys of 45 nations on the attack.[281] India also organized seven all-party delegations consisting of 51 members-of-parliament and former diplomats to visit 33 capitals across the world to convey India's stance on terrorism and the counter-terror operation Sindoor.[282][283][284]
The lower and upper houses of the Parliament of India held a debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor on 28 and 29 July respectively.[285][286] 16 hours was allocated for debate for each house.[287][288] The first news of the terrorists being killed on 28 July was made public by the Home Minister in theLok Sabha on 29 July.[289][290]
Reactions
Domestic reactions
Tourism
Following the attack, an increase in the number of visitors leaving Jammu and Kashmir was recorded, promptingAir India to operate additional flights to the region.[291] Furthermore, numerous tourist destinations in the region were closed.[292][293] Months after the attack several tourist sites remained closed.[294][295][296] As compared to the same period in 2024 tourist numbers dropped by just over 50% in 2025.[297] In the recent past, tourism has been an indicator of 'normalcy' in the region for the government.[41]
Kashmir
Protests were held across Muslim-majority regions of Kashmir, includingSrinagar,Pulwama,Shopian, Pahalgam,Anantnag,Baramulla, and other towns. Demonstrators expressed grief and anger, calling the attack a blow toKashmiriyat and condemning the violence. Shops and businesses shut down in solidarity.[298] On 24 April an all-party meet in Srinagar was held where the attack was condemned.[299] On 25 April,Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in his Friday sermon at Srinagar'sJamia Masjid, said that Kashmiris "stand shoulder to shoulder with the victims." A minute of silence was observed before prayers in memory of those killed.[300] On 28 April, a special session of theJammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was held; a three-page resolution with regard to the attack was passed and two minutes of silence was observed.[301][302] The assembly endorsed the diplomatic measures taken following the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.[299]
Rest of India
Protests and demonstrations were held in many parts of India condemning the attack.[303][304] Numerous celebrities also denounced the attack.[305][306] Various Indian cities, such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, among others, witnessedcandlelight vigils and silent marches to honour the victims.[307][308][309] Prominent Muslim organisations, such asJamiat Ulema-e-Hind, denounced the attack, stating that it contradicted Islam's promotion of peace.[310] The All India Imam Organisation stated that they would be instructing the imams of over 5.5 lakh mosques to pray for the victims and strongly condemn terrorism duringFriday prayers.[310]
The attack also prompted a surge inIslamophobic and anti-Kashmiri sentiments across the country. TheAssociation for Protection of Civil Rights, a civil rights advocacy group, has recorded multiple incidents of Islamophobic hate speech, intimidation, and violence, since the attack.[311] Particularly, Kashmiri women and students have faced incidents of threats, harassment, heckling, and assaults fromfar-rightHindutva groups. In states such asUttarakhand,Punjab, andUttar Pradesh, Kashmiri tenants faced eviction from their rented accommodations, and shopkeepers refused to trade with them. Several Kashmiri students were forced to seek refuge in airports while attempting to return home.[312][313][314] InDehradun, the leader of the Hindu Raksha Dal, a far-right Hindutva organisation, issued a threat, warning that Kashmiri Muslims must leave or face unspecified consequences. He also announced plans to mobilise workers to act against them.[315][316] The state government ofHaryana, led by theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP), issued directives to ensure the safety of Kashmiri students.[317] However, several BJP members and leaders have also been linked to the rise in hate speech and violence following the attack, including public calls for economic boycotts, inflammatory mosque protests, and assaults on Muslim vendors. Affiliates like theBajrang Dal and theVishva Hindu Parishad have also staged protests featuring similar rhetoric.[311][318][319] Furthermore, calls were raised to deport illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh.[304]
On 1 May 2025, Himanshi Narwal, the widow of one of the victims, called for unity and the promotion of communal harmony;[320][321] she was subsequently met with widespread online harassment and trolling, which was condemned by India'sNational Commission for Women.[322][323][324][325] Sikh volunteers have assisted Kashmiri Muslims by providing safe spaces, food, and transportation, who have faced hostility in various parts of India following the terror attack.[326][327] TheSupreme Court of India condemned the attack and held two minutes of silence.[328] The attack also brought to question the narrative of "normalcy" in Indian-administered Kashmir.[329][223]
Political leaders
"Militancy and terrorism will end when people will support us. This is the beginning of that... We should not say or show anything which harms this movement that has arisen... We can control militancy using guns, it will end only when people support us. And now it seems people are reaching that point."[330]
—Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (in the Special session of J&K Assembly convened shortly after Pahalgam attack)
The attack drew immediate widespread condemnation from political leaders. Indian presidentDroupadi Murmu called it a "dastardly and inhuman act."[331] Vice-presidentJagdeep Dhankhar called the act "reprehensible" and condemned it.[331] Modi termed the attack as "shocking and painful" and said that those responsible would be brought to justice.[332]
Chief minister of Jammu and KashmirOmar Abdullah described the incident as "much larger than anything we've seen directed at civilians in recent years."[333] Defence ministerRajnath Singh labelled it an "act of cowardice."[331] The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha,Rahul Gandhi, criticised the Indian government's policy on Kashmir in light of the attack but also extended support to the government to deal with the threat.[334][21] President of theAIMIM,Asaduddin Owaisi, criticised Pakistan for its purported involvement in the terror attack at Pahalgam, accusing the country of being the successor ofISIS.[335] External Affairs MinisterS. Jaishankar called the religious violence an act ofeconomic warfare targeting tourism.[336]
International reactions
The attack drew condemnations and statements of condolences from several countries including: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Estonia, Egypt, France, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Moldova, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and India's neighbours including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.[337][338][339][340][341][342][343] This included calls from at least 16 foreign leaders.[344] TheUnited Nations, theUN Security Council,G7 and theEuropean Union issued similar statements.[345][346][347][348] TheLiberian parliament held a moment of silence in memory of the attack.[349] On 29 April, in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, in response to an urgent question on Pahalgam and the increasing tensions in Kashmir several members of Parliament presented statements and condemned the attack.[350][351][352] Iran offered to mediate.[353][354]
TheUnited States Commission on International Religious Freedom condemned the Pahalgam attack and its Commissioner stated that "We are deeply concerned by the explicit targeting of Hindus and other non-Muslims".[355] TheUnited States House Committee on Foreign Affairs criticised aNew York Times headline for using the word 'militant' instead of 'terrorist'.[356] There has also been wider criticism with other international publications as well regarding the use of terms such as 'gunmen' and 'militants' as compared to 'terrorists'.[356][357] On 25 April, PresidentTrump said that Pakistan and India will sort out the tension by themselves.[358]Tulsi Gabbard, American politician anddirector of national intelligence, called the attack Islamist terrorism and said that US stands with India as the terrorists are hunted down.[359] At least 100 United States' lawmakers have reacted to the attacks including United States National Security AdvisorMike Waltz, Secretary of StateMarco Rubio and director of the FBIKash Patel.[344]
On 3 May, theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a statement regarding the repercussions of the Pahalgam attack on Muslims in India. India rejected the remarks.[360][361][362] On 17 June, theFinancial Action Task Force, which observes the global money laundering and terror financing activities, issued a statement condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack, noting that such attacks cannot occur "without money and the means to move funds between terrorist supporters".[363][364] Expressing "grave concern" over the incident, the organization noted that such incidents show that terrorists continue to "kill, maim and inspire fear around the world."[363][364] On 2 July 2025, The foreign ministers ofQUAD released a joint statement condeming the attack and called for justice without delay.[365] On 6 July 2025,BRICS strongly condemned the attack during the17th BRICS summit.[366] On 1 September 2025, the leaders of theShanghai Cooperation Organisation strongly condemned the terror attack and "further stated that perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of such attacks must be brought to justice".[367] At theIBSA Dialogue Forum the ministers of the three countries condemned the attack.[368]
Pakistan
Pakistani defence ministerKhawaja Asif dismissed the allegations of his country's involvement in the attack, stating it was a homegrown insurgent attack and also said that the attacks may have been orchestrated by India or were afalse flag operation, claiming that The Resistance Front could not be considered as perpetrators because they would allegedly no longer exist.[369][370] Post Pahalgam attack the hashtags #IndianFalseFlag and #PahalgamDramaExposed trended briefly on the social media platformX with a majority ofposts originating from Pakistan.[371] In an interview withSky News, the defence minister acknowledged that thePakistani state has a history of funding, training, and supporting terrorist organisations, noting that Pakistan has "done the dirty work for the United States for about three decades. And West, including Britain."[372]
Pakistan deputy prime minister and foreign ministerIshaq Dar said the perpetrators may have been "freedom fighters".[373] With regard to TRF initially taking responsibility for the attack, Ishaq Dar stated in the Parliament of Pakistan, "We don't consider TRF illegal. Show us proof they carried out the Pahalgam attack. Show ownership by TRF. We won't accept the allegation."[374] Pakistan also successfully opposed mention of TRF in a UNSC release.[374][375] On 26 April, theSenate of Pakistan passed a resolution describing the attack as an "orchestrated campaign to malign Pakistan".[376] It also referred to theIndus Water Treaty and India's action regarding it as water terrorism and an act of war.[376]
^Panda, Jagannath; Pankaj, Eerishika (16 May 2025)."Proxy Wars and Silent Partners: The Pahalgam Attack a Stress Test for India–China Stability"(PDF).Institute for Security and Development Policy.Kashmir has long served as a crucible of India Pakistan hostility, but the Pahalgam attack— attributed to the Pakistan-backed group The Resistance Front (TRF), which is a front for the UN-proscribed Pakistani terrorist group, Lashkar-e-Taiba—has unfolded in a regional context far more complex than previous crises.
^abc"The Resistance Front (TRF) - Jammu & Kashmir".Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium -US. Retrieved27 April 2025.In 2020, it is believed that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) established The Resistance Front (TRF) as a proxy organization. The group was one of five organizations to appear in Jammu and Kashmir that year ...
^"Transcript of Special briefing on Operation Sindoor (May 08, 2025)".Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. 8 May 2025. Retrieved14 August 2025....TRF claimed responsibility for this attack, not once but twice -within a few hours after the incident on the 22nd of April, and then again on the morning of 23rd April.
^Sirrs (2016), (p. 157) "Under the proposed deal, ISI would provide money, trainers and camps in return for [Jamaat-e-Islami] recruits, intelligence assets, propaganda, fundraising and other political support."; (p. 158) "Yet these differences were set aside, and in 1986 an agreement was finally reached between ISI and the JKLF.".
^Kiessling (2016), p. 193: "[JKLF] was replaced by the Hizbul Mujahideen (Party of the Holy Fighters), created in Pakistan in 1989. This became the militant arm of the Pakistani Jamaat-e-Islami (JI, Islamic Party), which vehemently demanded the annexation of Kashmir to Pakistan.".
^Fair (2014), Chapter 1: "Because Pakistan relies upon a menagerie of Islamist militant groups—for example, Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Taiba (also known as Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Filah-i-Insaniat Foundation), and Jaish-e-Mohammad—as instruments of foreign policy toward India and Afghanistan, the United States has periodically considered declaring Pakistan to be a state sponsor of terrorism.".
^Snedden (2013), p. 195: "Brian Cloughley, an expert on the Pakistan Army, is unequivocal: 'Pakistan, never loath to capitalise on India's discomfort or difficulties, took the opportunity, through the army, to foster various groupings that were intent on creating mayhem on the Indian side of the Line of Control. Their efforts grew, year by year, and there was no doubt they had official backing from within Pakistan'.".
^Byman, Daniel (2005),Deadly Connections: States that Sponsor Terrorism,Cambridge University Press, p. 167,ISBN978-0-521-83973-0,Human Rights Watch also reports that militants used violence to drive Hindus out of the state of [Jammu and] Kashmir. They massacred Hindu villagers, assassinated Hindu leaders, destroyed Hindu temples, and otherwise threatened Hindus with violence. Thousands of Hindus fled the Valley or were displaced within Kashmir.
^Bose, Sumantra (2021),Kashmir at the Crossroads: Inside a 21st-Century Conflict,Yale University Press, p. 126,ISBN978-0-300-26271-1,The large-scale killings of Hindu civilians [in 2002] escalated a trend visible since the late 1990s. Before then, such attacks were rare. ... But such massacres [of Hindu civilians] became more frequent from the late 1990s, when the Pakistani zealot groups took on a major role in the insurgency.
^"12.5 lakh domicile certificates issued so far in J&K: Govt".The Hindu. 2 September 2020.[A government spokesman] said 11,398 West Pakistan refugees, 415 Valmiki community members, 10 Gorkha community members and 12,340 registered migrants have been issued the certificates so far.
^Luv Puri,Brutal interruption, The Telegraph (India), 2 November 2021.ProQuest2590738085 "After the changes brought about by the abrogation of Article 370, mass-scale hysteria about the possibility of a demographic change has swept the Valley."
^"Kashmir special status: What Article 370 means and why it matters".BBC News. 5 August 2019.Outsiders were barred from permanently settling, buying land, or holding local government jobs. However, Kashmiris enjoyed full rights to live and work elsewhere in India—a legal asymmetry that critics called discriminatory.
^"What India's Kashmir Moves Mean for Its Democracy". Council on Foreign Relations. 9 August 2019.Kashmiris themselves faced no such restrictions elsewhere in India—a disparity that fueled accusations of constitutional exceptionalism.
^Kashmir's New Status: How the Region Fits Into India's Constitutional Framework (Report). Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 4 February 2020.Kashmiris could migrate, work, and own property across India, but non-Kashmiris were denied reciprocal rights in Jammu and Kashmir. This imbalance institutionalized discrimination.
^"Kashmir special status explained: What are Articles 370 and 35A".Al Jazeera. 5 August 2019.The controversial Article 35A bars female residents of Jammu and Kashmir from property rights in the event that they marry a person from outside the state... Critics of Article 35A say the provision... discriminates against women.
^Farhat Javed,Pakistan army chief's Kashmir remarks cause anger in India, BBC News, 30 April 2025. ' "It felt like his arrival moment. A declaration that he's now firmly in control, that Pakistan's direction is once again in the army's hands," [Mr Basit] adds.'
^"بھارت کا پہلگام حملے میں ایک بار پھر پاکستان پر بے بنیاد الزام، امیت شاہ کا جھوٹا بیانیہ بے نقاب" [India's persistent baseless accusation on Pakistan in the Pahalgam attack, Amit Shah's false narrative refuted].Samaa (in Urdu). 9 November 2025. Retrieved9 November 2025. [This statement of Amit Shah Shah has revealed India's self-made narrative. In Pakistan, the system of a Voter ID Card does not exist, rather the National Identity Card is used for identification [in the election]. In such a case, the claim of presence of voter ID is ridiculous and unrealistic.]
Pankaj, Eerishika; Bhole, Omkar (7 May 2025),China's Thinking on Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor: Impact on its Regional Credibility, Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA)
India
Nepal
