At least 26 people were killed and 17 others wounded when gunmen opened fire on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir, the worst assault in years targeting civilians in a restive region that has seen an anti-India rebellion for more than three decades.
The attack Tuesday took place in the picturesque town of Pahalgam in the Himalayan mountains, popular with Indian visitors. The town is in the Baisaran valley, accessible only on foot or horseback and prized for its sweeping alpine vistas and trekking routes.
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Pigeons fly in the city centre during a shut down after tourists were killed, in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian security officers patrol a shopping area in Pahalgam a day after militants indiscriminately opened fire on tourists near the town, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Indian soldiers guard in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
An Indian policeman guards in the city centre during a shut down after tourists were killed, in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian security officers inspect the site in Pahalgam where militants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists on Tuesday, Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo)
A snow-clad mountain peak rises behind an army helicopter patrolling above the valley the morning after militants indiscriminately opened fire on tourists near Pahalgam in Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Indian security officers stand guard near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists in Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
An Indian security officer stands guard in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists in Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Activists of Rashtriya Bajrang Dal burn tiers shout slogans against Pakistan during protest against the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu, India, Wednesday, April 23, 2025.(AP Photo/Channi Anand)
People burn a Pakistani flag in protest against the killing of tourists by militants a day after militants indiscriminately opened fire on tourists near Pahalgam in Indian controlled Kashmir, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People protest against the killing of tourists by militants a day after militants indiscriminately opened fire on tourists near Pahalgam in Indian controlled Kashmir, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Indian youth gathered and protest against Pakistan during protest against the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu, India, Wednesday, April.23, 2025.(AP Photo/Channi Anand)
People shout slogans against Pakistan during a protest against the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu, India, Wednesday, April 23, 2025.(AP Photo/Channi Anand)
Members of Indian youth congress party hold candles and their party flags during a candlelight protest in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, a day after an attack killed at least 26 people, most of them tourists. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian police officers stand guard near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Indian tourists who were stuck on the road heading to Pahalgam leave after police ordered them to vacate the area, following an incident where assailants indiscriminately opened fire on tourists visiting Pahalgam in Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Indian police officers stands guard at a check point near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Paramedics carry a wounded tourist on a stretcher at a hospital in Anantnag after assailants indiscriminately fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Police guard as ambulances carry bodies of tourists, in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian security officers patrol in armored vehicles near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists in Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Women and children watch the funeral procession of Adil Hussain Shah, a daily-wage worker, who died when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Relatives console the brother, in brown cloak, of Adil Hussain Shah, a daily-wage worker, who died when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
A relative wails during the funeral procession of Adil Hussain Shah, a daily-wage worker, who died when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, prays with the congregation at the funeral of Adil Hussain Shah, a daily-wage worker, who died when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
The wife of Atul Mone, who was victim in a deadly attack on tourists in the Pahalgam region of Indian-administered Kashmir, mourns as she stands near her husband's body at Dombivali near Mumbai, India, Wednesday, April. 23, 2025.(AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
The body of Adil Hussain Shah, a daily-wage worker, who was killed when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, is carried for burial at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
The father of Adil Hussain Shah, center right, wails next to his son's body, who was killed when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Indian soldiers searched Wednesday for the assailants in a massive manhunt.
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Pigeons fly in the city centre during a shut down after tourists were killed, in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian security officers patrol a shopping area in Pahalgam a day after militants indiscriminately opened fire on tourists near the town, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Indian soldiers guard in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
An Indian policeman guards in the city centre during a shut down after tourists were killed, in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian security officers inspect the site in Pahalgam where militants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists on Tuesday, Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo)
A snow-clad mountain peak rises behind an army helicopter patrolling above the valley the morning after militants indiscriminately opened fire on tourists near Pahalgam in Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Indian security officers stand guard near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists in Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
An Indian security officer stands guard in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists in Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Activists of Rashtriya Bajrang Dal burn tiers shout slogans against Pakistan during protest against the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu, India, Wednesday, April 23, 2025.(AP Photo/Channi Anand)
People burn a Pakistani flag in protest against the killing of tourists by militants a day after militants indiscriminately opened fire on tourists near Pahalgam in Indian controlled Kashmir, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People protest against the killing of tourists by militants a day after militants indiscriminately opened fire on tourists near Pahalgam in Indian controlled Kashmir, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Indian youth gathered and protest against Pakistan during protest against the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu, India, Wednesday, April.23, 2025.(AP Photo/Channi Anand)
People shout slogans against Pakistan during a protest against the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu, India, Wednesday, April 23, 2025.(AP Photo/Channi Anand)
Members of Indian youth congress party hold candles and their party flags during a candlelight protest in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, a day after an attack killed at least 26 people, most of them tourists. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian police officers stand guard near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Indian tourists who were stuck on the road heading to Pahalgam leave after police ordered them to vacate the area, following an incident where assailants indiscriminately opened fire on tourists visiting Pahalgam in Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Indian police officers stands guard at a check point near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Paramedics carry a wounded tourist on a stretcher at a hospital in Anantnag after assailants indiscriminately fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Police guard as ambulances carry bodies of tourists, in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Indian security officers patrol in armored vehicles near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists in Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Women and children watch the funeral procession of Adil Hussain Shah, a daily-wage worker, who died when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Relatives console the brother, in brown cloak, of Adil Hussain Shah, a daily-wage worker, who died when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
A relative wails during the funeral procession of Adil Hussain Shah, a daily-wage worker, who died when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, prays with the congregation at the funeral of Adil Hussain Shah, a daily-wage worker, who died when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
The wife of Atul Mone, who was victim in a deadly attack on tourists in the Pahalgam region of Indian-administered Kashmir, mourns as she stands near her husband's body at Dombivali near Mumbai, India, Wednesday, April. 23, 2025.(AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
The body of Adil Hussain Shah, a daily-wage worker, who was killed when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, is carried for burial at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
The father of Adil Hussain Shah, center right, wails next to his son's body, who was killed when militants indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of mainly tourists on Tuesday, at his village Hapatnar, about 20 km (13 miles) from Pahalgam where the incident took place, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
