Pahalgam Attack Aftermath: What Happened and What’s Next (2025)

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On April 22, 2025, a brutal terrorist attack shook Pahalgam, a scenic tourist spot in Jammu and Kashmir, India, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, and injuring over 20 others. The attack, one of the deadliest in the region since 2000, has sparked outrage, grief, and a major escalation in India-Pakistan tensions. This guide breaks down the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack in simple English, covering the response, investigations, and impact on locals and tourists. It’s tailored for Pakistani readers curious about the fallout, with info drawn from trusted news sources and local platforms like propakistani.pk for context on regional sentiment.

What Happened in Pahalgam?

Five militants, armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, stormed the Baisaran Valley meadow, a picturesque spot 7 km from Pahalgam town in Anantnag district. The area, surrounded by pine forests and accessible only by foot or horseback, was packed with tourists during peak season. The attackers, dressed in military-style uniforms, targeted victims based on religion, asking for names, forcing men to recite Islamic verses, or checking for circumcision before shooting them at close range. The attack left 26 dead, including 23 Indian tourists from states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, one local, and two foreigners from Nepal and the UAE. Videos showed panic, with bodies strewn across the meadow and survivors pleading for help.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility, citing “demographic changes” from non-Kashmiri settlements as their motive. Later, TRF denied involvement, calling it a “false campaign” to malign them. India points fingers at Pakistan for supporting cross-border terrorism, while Pakistan denies any role, with its Defence Minister suggesting it was a “false flag operation” by India.

Immediate Response and Rescue Efforts

Emergency services kicked into action fast:

• Medical Aid: Two critically injured victims were rushed to Anantnag’s district hospital by 4:30 PM, while others went to nearby clinics. The worst cases were airlifted to a military hospital in Srinagar.
• Local Heroes: Pony handlers in Pahalgam rescued 11 injured tourists using ponies and makeshift stretchers. Gurudwaras opened doors to shelter fleeing visitors.
• Helpline: A dedicated help desk was set up at Anantnag’s Police Control Room to assist tourists.
• Security Crackdown: The Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint search operation. A temporary lockdown hit Pahalgam, and Army helicopters scoured the Pir Panjal range for the militants, who fled after the attack. One Indian soldier died, and two were injured in a related gunfight in Udhampur.

Investigations and Suspect Details

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) began probing the attack on April 23, visiting the Baisaran site. Jammu and Kashmir Police released sketches of three suspects—Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha (code names Moosa, Yunus, and Asif)—all linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba. At least two are foreigners, with past ties to militancy in Poonch. Police offered rewards for info on them. Houses of two suspected Lashkar terrorists, Adil Hussain Thokar and Asif Sheikh, were demolished in Pulwama and Anantnag using controlled explosions, a common tactic to deter militancy.

Security lapses raised eyebrows. The Baisaran meadow wasn’t scheduled to open until June, so no police or paramilitary present. However, locals and tour operators said the meadow stays open year-round, and no police permission has usually needed, pointing to a major intelligence failure.

India’s Retaliatory Measures

India’s government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, responded with a five-pronged strategy, escalating tensions with Pakistan:

1. Indus Waters Treaty Suspended: India put the 1960 water-sharing pact “in abeyance” on April 23, a move Pakistan called an “act of war.” This treaty governs rivers critical to Pakistan’s irrigation.
2. Wagah-Attari Border Closed: The main border crossing shut immediately, with a May 1 deadline for valid travelers to return.
3. Visa Restrictions: India revoked all Pakistani visas (except long-term, diplomatic, and official ones) effective April 27. Medical visas are valid only until April 29. Pakistani nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme got 48 hours to leave.
4. Diplomatic Downsizing: India expelled Pakistani military advisers from Delhi and cut Pakistan’s diplomatic staff from 55 to 30 by May 1.
5. Airspace and Trade: Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights, forcing Air India and IndiGo to reroute international flights, adding costs and time. Over 450 Indians, including PSL 2025 broadcast crew, left Pakistan via Wagah.

Modi vowed to “pursue terrorists to the ends of the earth,” while Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited Srinagar to review security. An all-party meeting on April 24, attended by leaders like Rahul Gandhi, condemned the attack and backed the government’s actions. Protests erupted across India, with markets in Delhi, Amritsar, and Punjab shutting down and candlelight marches honoring victims.

Pakistan’s Response

Pakistan’s National Security Committee, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, hit back:

• Rejected India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that diverting water would trigger a “full-force” response.
• Suspended all bilateral agreements with India.
• Closed the Wagah border and revoked Indian visas under the SAARC scheme.
• Called for a “neutral” international probe into the attack, denying any involvement.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister claimed the attack might be a “false flag” by India, while Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s fiery remarks about the Indus River drew sharp criticism from India’s Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Impact on Tourism and Locals

The attack gutted Pahalgam’s tourism, a lifeline for Kashmir’s economy:

• Tourist Exodus: Thousands fled the valley, with Air India offering free rescheduling and refunds until April 30. Special flights brought back tourists, like 232 from Maharashtra on April 25. Airfares spiked, and airlines added extra flights to Srinagar.
• Local Fears: Kashmiris worry tourism will tank, hurting businesses like pony rides and hotels. Markets, schools, and shops in Srinagar, Pulwama, and Anantnag closed in protest and mourning.
• Backlash Against Kashmiris: Across India, Kashmiri students and workers faced harassment and Islamophobic slurs in cities like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Landlords evicted Kashmiri tenants, and some students slept at airports to return home. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reached out to state governments to curb this.

Global Reactions

World leaders condemned the attack:

• UN: Urged India and Pakistan to show “maximum restraint” to avoid escalation.
• UK: Former PM Rishi Sunak expressed solidarity, saying, “Terror will never win.”
• US: President Donald Trump called the India-Pakistan conflict a “1,000-year fight” but stayed neutral.
• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent condolences to Modi.
• Indian protests outside Pakistan’s High Commission in London demanded justice, while the All India Muslim Personal Law Board paused Waqf law protests for three days in solidarity.

What’s Next?

The Pahalgam attack has pushed India-Pakistan relations to a boiling point. Analysts warn of possible military escalation if India opts for strikes, as it did in 2019 after a similar attack. The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty raises fears of “water terrorism,” with Pakistan vowing retaliation. In Kashmir, security is tighter, with over 100 overground workers detained and safe havens raided. The NIA’s probe and India’s manhunt for the militants continue, but the attack’s scars—grieving families, a shaken tourism industry, and rising communal tensions—will linger.

For Pakistanis, this is a tense moment. The attack’s fallout, from border closures to visa bans, affects families and trade. Stay updated via trusted news or local platforms like Peopakistani.pk for community sentiment. If you’re a student or freelancer in Pakistan, focus on safe online gigs (like Fiverr) to stay productive amid the uncertainty. Let’s hope for peace and justice for the victims.

Disclaimer: This guide uses info from news sources like The Hindu, BBC, and Al Jazeera, cross-checked for accuracy as of April 27, 2025. Always verify updates through official channels.