Suspected Militants Kill Around 20 Tourists in Indian-Occupied Kashmir

Today, 28 tourists were killed after suspected militants opened fire at a popular tourist destination called Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. The attack coincided with the visit of U.S. Vice President JD Vance to the country.

The attack occurred around 3 p.m. local time in the Baisaran Valley, which is situated near the town of Pahalgam. A group of gunmen emerged from the mountains and opened fire on a group of tourists in the valley, resulting in the tragic deaths of 28 individuals and leaving 30 others injured. Many Indian officials have described this assault as one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the region in recent years, highlighting the severity of the violence.

Furthermore, the deceased tourists include two foreign nationals, as well as Indians from various provinces such as Karnataka, Odisha, and Gujarat. However, the death toll is expected to rise, as not all of the victims have been retrieved from the scene as of yet. Authorities are continuing to search the area.

The attack took place in the Indian-occupied portion of Kashmir, with many blaming the violence on pro-independence fighters or Pakistani-backed insurgents. Pakistani sources, on the other hand, seem to claim that the attack was a false flag event carried out by India, in order to justify possible military action against Pakistan-controlled Kashmir or the Pakistani border region.

India has been violently oppressing Muslims in the Kashmir region for decades, amid rising tensions with its neighbour Pakistan, which also controls a significant part of the region.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with numerous other leaders, has condemned the attack and expressed heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families.