U.S. Vice President JD Vance, visiting India at the time, expressed deep condolences and solidarity, calling the attack “an act of evil that must be met with firm and united resistance.”
In a brutal act of Islamist terrorism, at least 20 Indian tourists were murdered and over 30 injured on Tuesday when jihadi gunmen opened fire on civilians in Pahalgam, a popular resort area in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The massacre took place near the Baisaran meadow, a scenic spot frequented by families and vacationers. Eyewitnesses report that several armed terrorists, believed to have infiltrated from Pakistan, ambushed the group and fired indiscriminately at close range. Many of the wounded remain in critical condition.
Indian authorities have launched a full-scale manhunt for the attackers, who fled into the surrounding forests. No group has been officially named, but a little-known Islamist outfit calling itself “Kashmir Resistance” claimed responsibility. The group is believed to be linked to Pakistan-based jihadi networks that have long fueled violence in the region.