**تاریخ انتشار: ۲۲/۰۴/۲۰۲۵ – ۲۳:۴۷ GMT+2 • بهروزرسانی: ۲۳/۰۴/۲۰۲۵ – ۰۶:۴۶ GMT+2**
Navigating the complex narrative of recent events in Kashmir, two senior police officials from India have reported that at least four attackers, described as “rebels,” have opened fire at close range on a group of tourists. According to the reports, at least 36 other individuals have been injured in this shooting, with many of them in critical condition.
The police have announced the discovery of the bodies of at least 20 tourists in the grasslands of Baisar near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam. Security officials have labeled this incident as a “terrorist attack” and have blamed anti-government rebels for it.
It appears that this incident marks a significant turning point in the Kashmir conflict, as tourists have largely remained unharmed in recent years. Omar Abdullah, a prominent Kashmiri political figure, expressed on social media: “This attack is one of the largest against civilians in recent years.”
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, and security forces are actively searching for the perpetrators. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a visit to Saudi Arabia, cut his trip short and returned to India. In a social media post, he stated: “We will punish the perpetrators of this attack with the strongest possible response.”
Prominent Kashmiri opposition leader Mirwaiz Omar Farooq condemned the attack as “despicable” and highlighted that such actions are “unacceptable and contrary to the hospitality of Kashmiri people.”
This attack coincides with a four-day visit by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to India. In response to the incident, she wrote on social media: “In recent days, we have been captivated by the beauty of the people and nature of this country, and we stand in solidarity with them in mourning this tragedy.”
The meadows of Pahalgam, nestled among snow-capped mountains and dense pine forests, are a popular tourist destination attracting hundreds of visitors daily. Kashmir is a disputed region between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming full sovereignty over it, though each controls only a part.
Since the Indian government revoked the semi-autonomous status of Kashmir in 2019 and imposed widespread restrictions on civil liberties, protests, and media, a wave of targeted killings, particularly against Hindus and migrant workers from other Indian states, has increased in the region.
With the intensification of anti-insurgency operations, the security situation in the region has become increasingly volatile. Despite its breathtaking landscapes of the Himalayas, colorful houseboats, and pristine meadows, the peace in Kashmir is more of an imposed silence, maintained by the presence of checkpoints, armored vehicles, and security forces.
In recent years, conflicts in the Kashmir Valley, the epicenter of protests against the Indian government, have diminished, with the battles now more prevalent in remote areas of Rajouri, Poonch, and Kathua. These regions have seen deadly attacks on Indian forces in recent months.
Rebels have been fighting against Delhi’s rule in the Indian-administered parts of Kashmir since 1989. Many Kashmiri Muslims support the rebels’ goal of unifying the region under Pakistani control or as an independent state.
However, India views this movement as “terrorism supported by Pakistan.” Pakistan denies these allegations, and many Kashmiris see it as a legitimate freedom struggle.
Throughout these conflicts, thousands of civilians, government forces, and rebels have lost their lives.