In one of the deadliest terror attacks in recent years, at least 26 tourists were killed on April 22 in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir when gunmen opened fire at close range in the scenic town of Pahalgam. The attack has shaken the nation and drawn widespread international condemnation. The Resistance Front (TRF), a group widely believed to be a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the massacre.

According to police reports, the attackers methodically checked identity cards and inquired about the victims’ religion before executing them. Four gunmen are believed to have carried out the coordinated assault during Kashmir’s peak tourist season, targeting a group of unarmed civilians. Several victims remain in critical condition at local hospitals.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the atrocity, calling the perpetrators “inhuman and worthy of contempt.” “This attack on our visitors is an abomination,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “No words of condemnation are enough.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia at the time, vowed swift retribution. “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared,” he wrote. “Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will only get stronger.” Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that Modi would cut his trip short and return to India.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed condolences, describing the victims as “peaceful people – citizens of various countries.” In a message published on the Kremlin website, Putin extended sympathies to the families........

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