Pahalgam terror attack updates: Indian security agencies have released sketches of three suspected terrorists, believed to be behind the attack carried out in Baisaran Valley, a scenic tourist hotspot in the Pahalgam region. The assault is being described as a pre-planned massacre orchestrated by the Pakistan-backed Resistance Front (TRF) — a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy.
Initial inputs indicate that the attackers infiltrated from Kishtwar and reached Baisaran via Kokernag in South Kashmir.
Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by the Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group believed to be funded and armed by the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
“It was a planned massacre. These weren’t rogue actors but trained operatives,” said a senior J&K intelligence official.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aircraft bypassed Pakistan’s airspace on his return from Saudi Arabia following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that left 26 civilians dead, including tourists, defence personnel, and children.
Baisaran Massacre: Eyewitnesses Describe a Nightmare
The Pahalgam attack, carried out around 2:30 PM on Tuesday, has left the country shaken. Eyewitnesses in Baisaran Valley, known for its lush meadows and panoramic views, described how heavily armed terrorists in camouflage emerged from nearby forest cover and opened indiscriminate fire on horseback-riding tourists and local guides.
Disturbing visuals have since surfaced, including a woman weeping beside her fatally wounded husband, while others screamed for help amid chaos.
ALSO READ: ‘We were just eating Bhelpuri… then he shot my husband’: Pahalgam terror attack survivor’s account
In a chilling moment, one attacker reportedly spared a woman, telling her: “Go and tell this to Modi.”
Upon his return, PM Modi held an emergency security meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Taking to social media, he said:
“Those behind this heinous act will not be spared… Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakeable.”
Amit Shah Visits Attack Site, Assures Swift Action
Following Modi’s directive, Union Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to Pahalgam late Tuesday night. Before departure, Shah chaired a high-level video conference with NSA Doval, J&K LG Manoj Sinha, CM Omar Abdullah, Army brass, and IB officials.
“We will come down heavily on the perpetrators of this massacre,” Shah declared from the scene, promising “uncompromising retaliation.”
ALSO READ: ‘Go and tell this to Modi’: Pahalgam terrorist told woman after killing her husband
Security experts warn that the Pahalgam massacre could be part of a renewed campaign to target civilians — echoing last year’s attacks in Ganderbal and Shopian that had prompted the formation of a new unpredictable-response grid across sensitive zones in Kashmir.
“This isn’t just about Kashmir — it’s about sending a message before the Amarnath Yatra,” said a former Indian Army officer.
The Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin on July 3, is now under intense review, with additional forces deployed across both Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
Emergency Helpline Numbers for Families and Tourists
To aid victims and their families, the following helplines have been activated:
Srinagar Emergency Control Room
0194-2457543 | 0194-2483651
Adil Fareed (ADC Srinagar): 7006058623
24/7 Tourist Help Desk – Anantnag
9596777669 | 01932-225870
WhatsApp: 9419051940
Tourism Department Assistance
8899931010 | 8899941010
Nissar (Asst Director): 9906663868
Mudassir (Tourist Officer): 9906906115
With national outrage peaking, Indian forces are conducting a massive combing operation in south Kashmir, with drone surveillance and air patrols intensifying along infiltration-prone zones.
The Centre is also expected to ramp up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan, seeking international condemnation of the TRF and LeT-backed ecosystem.
