On April 22, 2025, there was a fatal militant attack along the road near Baisaran meadow, near the resort town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. Gunmen had fired at a party of Indian tourists, killing and injuring several people. Although definitive numbers are still being ascertained, at least five tourists are reported to be feared dead and eight others wounded.

The attack has been labeled by police as a "terrorist act," with militants fighting Indian control in the region being blamed. The wounded tourists were taken to hospitals for treatment. A security sweep is under way to capture the attackers.

This is a big escalation of violence since tourists rarely become victims in recent years despite the prevailing unrest. The attack took place while American Vice President JD Vance was in India, underscoring the sustained security issues in the area.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah is going to the area to gauge the situation, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been informed. Shah has promised that the culprits will be given the "harshest consequences."

Senior local leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq denounced the attack, highlighting that it goes against Kashmir's hospitality tradition. He added, "Such brutality is unacceptable and goes against the spirit of Kashmir where guests are greeted with love and affection."

The region has long been beset by insurgency and conflict since 1989, and tensions have mounted after the Indian government's 2019 withdrawal of its semi-autonomy. Though a short lull of relative quiet and boosted tourism had recently existed, this attack works to emphasize the continuing volatility in the area.

The police are still investigating the beating, and more information will be given once things become clear.