The serenity shattered
Pahalgam, the postcard‑perfect resort town in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, woke on 22 April 2025 to spring blossoms, snow‑dusted peaks—and gunfire. Around noon, two militants sprayed assault‑rifle rounds into holidaymakers strolling the Baisaran meadow. Within minutes, 26 people lay dead and at least three dozen were bleeding on the emerald grass.
The location was no coincidence. Pahalgam symbolises Kashmir’s fragile economic revival; hotel bookings had leapt 40 % over last year as international travel pieces touted the valley’s “return to normalcy.” The attackers chose civilians, not soldiers, to maximise fear and sabotage that fragile hope.
Immediate aftermath: chaos and courage
Nearby pony‑wallahs used their carts as stretchers, ferrying victims to the lone sub‑district hospital until army medics arrived. Videos show tourists shielding children behind pine trunks while locals shouted directions in a swirl of dust and disbelief. By 1 p.m., the Indian Army’s elite 19 Rashtriya Rifles cordoned off a three‑kilometre radius; drones buzzed overhead, searching for heat signatures in the dense forest.
Doctors at Anantnag District Hospital performed 12 surgeries in the first four hours. “Most injuries were close‑range chest wounds—deliberate, lethal,” said Dr. Sameer Wani, still in blood‑spattered scrubs. Among the dead were two Maharashtrian honeymooners, a Bengaluru tech‑couple, and a father‑daughter duo from France whose vacation Instagram Stories ended abruptly.
New Delhi’s swift response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “cowardly massacre” and vowed the masterminds “will face justice on their own soil.” Home Minister Amit Shah flew to Srinagar by evening, chairing an emergency security review before visiting survivors. He authorised the deployment of 25 additional companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to tourist corridors from Gulmarg to the Mughal Road.
Mobile data in South Kashmir was temporarily throttled—a controversial but increasingly routine measure—to prevent militant handlers from coordinating escapes or amplifying propaganda. Opposition leaders criticised the blackout, arguing that families outside the valley were frantic for updates.
Tourism ambitions under threat
Last year Kashmir crossed 2.1 million tourist arrivals—its highest since armed insurgency erupted in 1989. Houseboat owners refurbished shikaras; adventure firms advertised white‑water rafting on the Lidder River. Tuesday’s carnage freezes that momentum. Travel portals reported a 60 % spike in Pahalgam booking cancellations within six hours of the attack.
The local economy, 70 % of which depends on tourism, now faces a grim déjà vu. “Each attack pushes us back five years,” lamented Farooq Khan, who runs a riverside café that survived two pandemic lockdowns only to face terror’s arbitrary closure.
Who might be behind the assault?
No group has claimed responsibility. Intelligence officers point to The Resistance Front (TRF) or Lashkar‑e‑Taiba offshoots, citing intercepted chatter days earlier about hitting a “soft target before summer rush.” Indian agencies say Pakistan‑based operatives provided arms via Rajouri’s Pir Panjal passes—accusations Islamabad calls “baseless.”
Analysts warn of a strategic shift: militants striking economic lifelines rather than security convoys. “When attacks target tourists, the goal is psychological warfare—robbing Kashmiris of livelihoods and India of its success narrative,” notes defence scholar Lt‑Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain.
Voices of resilience
Yet, even amid grief, stories of solidarity emerged. Sikh gurdwaras in Srinagar offered free langar meals for stranded tourists. Muslim clerics condemned the violence during the evening azaan, urging calm and unity. Social‑media campaigns under #VisitKashmirLater, not #BoycottKashmir, urged travellers to postpone—not cancel—future trips, highlighting how livelihoods hinge on visitor confidence.
The path ahead: security and healing
Enhanced perimeter security
Smart surveillance: Thirty new AI‑enabled cameras will monitor entry roads to Pahalgam, feeding live analytics to a joint command centre.
Tourist escort programme: Similar to the successful Amarnath Yatra model, mixed patrols of CRPF and Jammu‑Kashmir Police will accompany tourist buses along vulnerable stretches.
Community engagement
Authorities plan “peace walks” led by local traders, hoteliers, and clerics to reclaim public spaces and signal defiance against terror intimidation.
Long‑term strategy
Experts argue that only integrating Kashmiri youth into the mainstream—through jobs, dialogue, and political participation—can undercut militant recruitment. Economic packages announced after the 2019 constitutional revamp need faster ground execution; otherwise, sporadic violence will keep puncturing progress.
