At least 26 killed in Kashmir attack on tourists: Indian police source

Militants opened fire on tourists in Indian-governed Kashmir, killing at least two dozen and injuring many more in an “inhuman” attack targeting civilians.

At least 26 people were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir when gunmen opened fire on tourists, security sources told AFP, in the insurgency-hit region’s deadliest attack on civilians since 2000.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi decried the “heinous act” in the summer retreat of Pahalgam, pledging the attackers “will be brought to justice”.

The killings come a day after Modi met in New Delhi with US Vice President JD Vance, who is on a four-day tour of India with his wife and children.

Indian soldiers with tourists near Pahalgam after the deadly attack. Picture: AFP

A tour guide in Pahalgam told AFP he reached the scene after hearing gunfire and had transported some of the wounded away on horseback.

Waheed, who gave only one name, said he saw several men lying dead on the ground, while a witness who requested anonymity said the attackers were “clearly sparing women”.

Soldiers inspects a vehicle near Pahalgam, south of Srinagar, following the attack. Picture: AFP

Indian police officers stand guard at a checkpoint near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants opened fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam. Picture: AP

Pahalgam lies 90 kilometres by road from the key city of Srinagar. One security source said that foreign tourists were among those shot, but there was no official confirmation.

Other security sources and some Indian media reported late Tuesday that 26 people had died, an increase from the 24 that a senior local police officer had earlier told AFP.

No group has claimed responsibility, but rebels in the Muslim-majority region have waged an insurgency since 1989.

They are seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan, which controls a smaller part of the Kashmir region and, like India, claims it in full.

Paramedics and police personnel carry an injured tourist at a hospital in Anantnag, south of Srinagar, on April 22, 2025, following an attack. Picture: AFP

Gunmen in Indian-administered Kashmir opened fire on a group of tourists on April 22, with the chief minister saying the "inhuman" attack was one of the worst targeting civilians for years. Picture: AFP

“The militants, I can’t say how many, came out of the forest near an open small meadow and started firing,” said the witness who asked not to be identified.

“They were clearly sparing women and kept shooting at men, sometimes single shot and sometimes many bullets, it was like a storm,” said the man, who cares for horses that are popular with tourists in the area.

The witness said dozens of people fled as the gunmen opened fire. “They all started running around in panic”, he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that “the attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years”, with the death toll still uncertain.

“This attack on our visitors is an abomination,” he added in a statement. “The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman and worthy of contempt.”

An Indian army personnel stands guard near Pahalgam, south of Srinagar, on April 22, 2025, following an attack. At least 24 people were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir when gunmen opened fire on tourists. Picture: AFP

The region’s governor Manoj Sinha - New Delhi’s representative in the area - condemned “the cowardly terror attack on tourists”.

“I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,” he said.

The attack took place in the popular summer retreat of Pahalgam, about 90 kilometres by road from the key city of Srinagar.

India has an estimated 500,000 soldiers permanently deployed in the territory, but fighting decreased since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked Kashmir’s limited autonomy in 2019.

Indian army personnel stand guard near Pahalgam, south of Srinagar, on April 22, 2025, following an attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi decried the "heinous act", pledging the attackers "will be brought to justice". Picture: AFP

‘NORMALCY AND PEACE’: INDIA PROMOTING TOURISM

Since then, the authorities have heavily promoted the mountainous region as a holiday destination, both for skiing during the winter months, and to escape the sweltering heat during the summer elsewhere in India.

Around 3.5 million tourists visited Kashmir in 2024, according to official figures, the majority domestic visitors.

In 2023, India hosted a G20 tourism meeting in Srinagar under tight security in a bid to show that what officials call “normalcy and peace” were returning after a massive crackdown.

Indian security officers patrol in armoured vehicle near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Dar Yasin

A string of resorts are being developed, including some close to the heavily militarised de facto border that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

“These cowardly terrorists have targeted unarmed innocent tourists who had come to visit Kashmir,” Ravinder Raina, from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), told Indian broadcasters.

“Some tourists have been admitted to the local hospital in an injured condition”.

India regularly blames Pakistan for backing gunmen behind the insurgency. Islamabad denies the allegation, saying it only supports Kashmir’s struggle for self-determination.

INDIAN PM CUTS SHORT SAUDI VISIT

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visiting Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, cut short his trip following the deadly shooting attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, foreign ministry officials said.

During the brief visit, Modi met with Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, according to images shared by the official Saudi Press Agency.

The visit, initially planned to last two days, was largely overshadowed by the attack.

“Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice... they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed,” Modi wrote on X.

“Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger.”

Indian foreign ministry officials confirmed late Tuesday that Modi was returning home.

The visit to Saudi Arabia came a day after Modi held high-level talks with US Vice President JD Vance in India, with New Delhi looking to seal a trade deal with Washington and stave off punishing tariffs.

JD VANCE CONDEMNS ‘HORRIFIC’ TERROR ATTACK

US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday shared condolences with the victims of the “horrific attack” on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir which killed at least 26 people.

VP Vance is on a four-day tour of India with his wife Usha and children for US-India trade negotiations.

“Usha and I extend our condolences to the victims of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India,” he posted on X.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack.”

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the killings as a “vile terror attack” but said India’s “spirit is unbreakable”.

“The vile terror attack in Pahalgam today stole so many innocent lives,” she said in a condolence message on X to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Yet I know that India’s spirit is unbreakable. You will stand strong in this ordeal. And Europe will stand with you,” the European Commission president added.

Originally published as At least 26 killed in Kashmir attack on tourists: Indian police source