By Rajveer Sekhawat 
In what is being called the deadliest terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir after the 2019 Pulwama bombing, the Pahalgam terror attack killed a minimum of 26 civilians—the majority of whom were tourists—in a savage attack at Baisaran in Anantnag district on Tuesday morning.
National and Global Condemnation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately aborted his Saudi Arabia visit and convened an emergency meeting at Delhi Airport with NSA Ajit Doval and EAM S. Jaishankar. In a firm statement, PM Modi declared:
“Those responsible for this barbaric act will be brought to justice and will not be spared.”
Global leaders such as US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, UK PM Keir Starmer, EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese condemned the attack severely and showed their solidarity with India. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called the attack “unacceptable under any circumstances.”
Victims and Emotional Testimonies
Among the dead was Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, a 26-year-old Navy official from Haryana, who had got married only five days prior to the attack. Survivors, such as a woman named Pallavi, whose husband was killed in the attack, narrated the terror of the ambush, issuing a despairing plea: “Go, tell Modi.”
Security Response and Political Reactions
Security personnel conducted massive search operations to identify the attackers. Political leaders on both sides of the aisle have demanded a concerted and stern response. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, in turn, talked to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and demanded justice for the victims. Some, such as Congress leader Shama Mohammed, demanded a stern retaliatory approach, calling for diplomatic and cultural disengagement from Pakistan.
Travel & Helicopter Information
In response to the disaster, Air India Express declared free rescheduling and complete refunds for Srinagar flights till April 30.
Helpline Numbers:
– Emergency Control Room (Srinagar): 0194-2457543, 0194-2483651 | ADC Srinagar (Adil Fareed): 7006058623
– 24/7 Tourist Help Desk (Anantnag): 9596777669 | 01932-225870 | **WhatsApp:** 9419051940
– J&K Tourism Dept: 8899931010 | 8899941010 | 9906663868 (Nissar) | 9906906115 (Mudassir)
The Road Ahead
This tragic incident yet again brings into focus the delicate security scenario of the Valley and questions the safety of tourists within the region. It also puts focus on the ongoing threat posed by cross-border terrorism and the necessity of international and domestic solidarity to counter these threats.
India and its supporters are likely to intensify diplomatic pressure and security efforts in the days ahead.
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