Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir | April 22, 2025 : In one of the most brutal terror attacks in recent years in Jammu and Kashmir, at least 26 tourists were killed and many others seriously injured on Tuesday when terrorists opened fire in the popular tourist spot of Pahalgam. The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the assault.

The bloodshed unfolded in the Baisaran valley—widely known as ‘mini Switzerland’ for its lush green meadows—around 2:30 PM. According to police sources, terrorists suddenly emerged from the dense pine forest and began shooting at a group of around 40 tourists enjoying pony rides in the meadow.

Eyewitnesses recounted sheer panic and horror as two to three assailants dressed in military-style fatigues began firing indiscriminately from close range. “We were at the stand, and people were enjoying the rides. Around 2:45 pm, chaos erupted. People started running and shouting. Then we heard gunshots,” one local told PTI.

Another tourist who narrowly escaped said, “We had just left the area when we heard continuous gunfire. Everyone around us panicked and ran for their lives. We didn’t stop or look back.”

Terrorists Asked Victims to Recite Kalma Before Shooting-
Multiple survivors alleged that the attackers specifically targeted people based on their religion. Eyewitnesses informed security officials that the terrorists asked some tourists to reveal their faith and forced the men to recite the ‘Kalma’—the Islamic declaration of faith. Those who failed to do so were shot dead on the spot.

One woman recounted a chilling experience: “A terrorist approached us, asked my husband to recite the Kalma. When he couldn’t, they shot him in the head. He was killed just because he wasn’t a Muslim,” she said in a phone interview with PTI.

Another survivor told India Today, “The attackers began by opening fire randomly, then started identifying Hindus and forcing them to chant the Azan. My father and uncle were executed in front of my eyes.” She added that the terrorists claimed their religion was “under threat” due to the presence of Hindus.

Government sources confirmed that the majority of the victims were men, and several were killed after being forced to reveal their religious identity.

Attackers Wore Army-Like Uniforms-
In a chilling resemblance to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, witnesses reported that the terrorists wore uniforms that mimicked those of local police or army personnel, complete with camouflage masks. This initially confused many tourists, delaying their realization that an attack was underway.

“People didn’t suspect anything initially because the gunmen looked like security forces,” said a witness.

The attack comes at a time when Kashmir is experiencing a sharp surge in tourism, and just weeks ahead of the upcoming 38-day Amarnath Yatra. The timing and brutality of this assault have raised serious security concerns across the region.

As security forces continue combing operations in the valley, the nation reels from the shock of a meticulously planned and religiously targeted massacre.