A significant militant attack in the Kashmir region has resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly Indian tourists along with one Nepalese national, marking the worst such incident in nearly two decades. At least 17 others were injured in the shooting at a popular tourist destination.

Indian security forces have launched a large-scale operation to apprehend the militants responsible. The government has pledged a strong and clear response, vowing to pursue not only the attackers but also those who orchestrated the incident. High-level security meetings were convened, and top officials cut short international trips to return to the country.

A little-known militant group claimed responsibility, initially stating the attack was in response to the settlement of “outsiders” in the region. They later claimed the victims were not ordinary tourists but were linked to Indian security agencies, vowing to escalate their activities. The Indian government has not commented on these claims.

In protest against the attack, local organizations called for a shutdown in the region, which saw widespread participation. Airlines have added flights from Srinagar as tourists flee the area. Local tourism operators expressed concern about cancellations, while others condemned the violence and vowed to continue promoting travel to the region.