On April 22, 2025, a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed 26 lives, including 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali citizen at Baisaran meadow.

Indian intelligence agencies had received prior warnings of a possible attack but the information incorrectly identified Srinagar’s surrounding areas as the target linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit on April 19 which canceled.

The attack occurring 90 kilometers away in Pahalgam, exposed a critical intelligence lapse. According to Hindustan Times security forces were on alert but the absence of Pahalgam in the report hindered preventive measures. Local administration faces scrutiny for failing to act decisively.

Intelligence reports indicate four militant groups—two foreign and two local—executed the attack. Local groups reportedly corralled tourists, while foreign operatives opened fire.

Baisaran valley’s single entry point and ticketing system trapped victims, preventing escape. Security officials suspect the attackers are hiding in nearby areas, prompting extensive search operations by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and paramilitary forces.

The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), initially claimed responsibility but later retracted, leaving the perpetrators’ identity unconfirmed.

India accused Pakistan of orchestrating the attack, escalating tensions. PM Modi vowed to pursue the perpetrators “to the ends of the earth,” suspending 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and imposing measures like closing Attari border and expelling Pakistani nationals.

Pakistan’s PM advisor Rana Sanaullah condemned Modi alleging a conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan economically and oppress Kashmiris.

Speaking in Faisalabad, Sanaullah claimed Modi pressured the IMF to cancel Pakistan’s agreements and labeled India’s treaty suspension a violation of international law. Pakistan warned that diverting water resources would be an “act of war.”

Amid the crisis, Russia initiated diplomatic efforts to de-escalate. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke with India’s S. Jaishankar urging dialogue under Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration. Moscow emphasized peaceful resolution to prevent further escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

The attack shattered Modi’s narrative of a terror-free Kashmir post-2019 autonomy revocation. Ceasefire violations along the Line of Control persist, with Pakistan firing for 10 consecutive nights as of May 4, 2025.

India’s Supreme Court condemned the attack, and the National Investigation Agency is probing, with sketches of three suspects—two Pakistani nationals and one local—released. Over 1,500 detentions and demolition of suspected militants’ homes have sparked controversy, raising human rights concerns.

Global leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, condemned the attack, expressing solidarity with India. Protests in Delhi and London highlighted anti-Pakistan sentiment while Kashmiri students faced harassment prompting CM Omar Abdullah to intervene. Attack’s fallout risks further polarizing India’s domestic politics, with calls for military retaliation growing.

Read more: Kashmir Border Residents Build Bunkers Amid War Fears

Pahalgam attack underscores persistent security challenges in Kashmir and the fragility of India-Pakistan relations. Intelligence failures coupled with tit-for-tat diplomatic measures heighten the risk of escalation. Russia’s mediation offers path to dialogue but without concrete evidence and mutual restraint, the region remains on edge.