Twenty-six people were killed and 17 were injured when suspected militants opened fire on tourists in India's Jammu and Kashmir territory, police said on Wednesday. The Kashmir militant attack 2025, which occurred in the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam, marks the deadliest assault on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Indian security forces in Kashmir carried out a major manhunt on Wednesday.

The attack took place on Tuesday in an off-the-road meadow in Pahalgam, a scenic town that has seen a revival in tourism in recent years due to a decline in insurgent violence. Among the dead were 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen, according to local police. This Pahalgam shooting has prompted immediate concern for the safety of tourists in the region.

Kashmir Resistance group claims responsibility

A group identifying itself as the Kashmir Resistance claimed responsibility for the attack via social media, according to Reuters. The group expressed opposition to what it described as a demographic shift in the region, citing the settlement of over 85,000 "outsiders" since India revoked Kashmir’s special status in 2019. The group stated this policy change was the motive behind their violent actions.

Simultaneously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to New Delhi on Wednesday morning in response to the incident.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also shortened her trip to the United States and Peru, stating she wanted "to be with our people in this difficult and tragic time."

The India Jammu and Kashmir violence has led to widespread condemnation. Over a dozen local organisations called for a shutdown in protest, while many schools suspended classes.

Impact on Kashmir tourism and local economy

The surge in Kashmir tourism in recent years has been a significant boost to the local economy. However, this attack has instilled fear among visitors, with airlines operating extra flights from Srinagar as tourists rushed to leave the area.

Militant violence has plagued the Himalayan region, claimed by both India and Pakistan, since an insurgency began in 1989. While tens of thousands have died in the conflict, recent years have seen a decline in such attacks.

The last major attack on tourists occurred in June 2024 when nine people were killed and 33 were injured after militants caused a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to crash into a gorge.