Pakistan on Monday expressed deep concern over the tragic loss of lives in a deadly attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which claimed the lives of at least 26 people and injured 17 others.
In response to media queries, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan conveyed Pakistan’s sorrow over the incident and extended heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families.
“We are deeply saddened by the attack in Anantnag district of IIOJK that resulted in the loss of innocent lives,” Khan said. “We offer our sympathies to the bereaved families and wish a swift recovery to those injured.”
The assault, which marks the deadliest attack on civilians in the region in nearly two decades, took place on Tuesday in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination located roughly 90 kilometres from Srinagar. According to police, the shooting occurred in a remote meadow area, and among the deceased were 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese tourist, including an officer from the Indian Navy.
A little-known militant group calling itself the “Kashmir Resistance” claimed responsibility via social media, citing anger over the settlement of more than 85,000 “outsiders” in the region — a move they allege is contributing to demographic shifts.
India’s decision in 2019 to revoke Kashmir’s special constitutional status and split the region into two federally administered territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh — has remained a contentious issue. The revocation enabled the issuance of domicile rights to non-locals, allowing them to purchase land and seek employment in the disputed Himalayan region, further straining relations between India and Pakistan.
While violence in the region has persisted for decades, attacks specifically targeting tourists remain uncommon. The last major incident occurred in June 2024, when at least nine people were killed and over 30 injured after an attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims caused it to veer off the road into a gorge.
