Pahalgam Islamic Terrorist Attack on Tourists-Apr 2025 and its Fallout

Pahalgam Islamic Terrorist Attack on Tourists-Apr 2025 and its Fallout
Date	Apr 22, 2025
Location	Pahalgam, Kashmir, India
Goals	To attack Hindus, effect jihad and spread terror; to disrupt tourism in J&K; to disrupt the progress ushered in by the Indian Government after its successful abrogation of Article 370, conduct of state elections and policies that led to a resurgence of the economy
Status	Event Aftermath Ongoing
Lead figures
2 Pakistani Terrorists, 2 Indian Terrorists-Adil Thoker and Asif Sheik of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its spin-off, The Resistance Front (TRF). 3 other terrorists are still to be identified.
Casualties
Death(s)	26

On Apr 22, in the Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam, Kashmir, 26 unarmed tourists, predominantly Hindus, were gunned down and more than 18 others were injured in a carnage carried out by Islamic militants. The assailants separated the male tourists based on religious identity. Men were reportedly forced to recite Islamic kalma, scriptural verse, and subjected to invasive checks, including stripping them for verification of if they were circumcised, before being executed for being non-Muslim, as women and children watched in horror.

Preliminary reports suggested that the attack was carried out by a group of seven terrorists, including Pakistani nationals. The attackers used body cameras to record the massacre and took selfies with the victim they had shot. The Resistance Front (TRF), a spin-off of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Pakistan based terrorist group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

It came to light that the tourist area in Pahalgam was reopened on Apr 20 by local authorities and tour operators without appropriate security clearance, just two days prior to the incident.

Less than a week earlier, on Apr 16, the Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir had made a frenzied speech from Islamabad stoking hate for Hindus, suggesting that Pakistan's stability hinged on perpetuating a narrative of hostility towards the followers of the Vedic religion and India.

Video Content Alert: Contains disturbing images of violence

Timeline of the Fallout

Summary

In the fallout of the Pahalgam terror attack, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with Pakistan, which had governed India’s allocation of river water from Indus, Chenab and Jhelum to a downstream Pakistan signalling a major shift in relationship between the two countries.

India also suspended SVES visas for Pakistani nationals giving a strict 48-hour deadline to leave the country. Those who remained in India beyond the deadline would face up to a three-year jail term, a hefty fine of ₹3 lakh, or both. Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, "India will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.” Separately Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted to training, supporting, and funding terrorist groups for over three decades on a public TV interview. "We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, and (for the) West, including Britain." he said. Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir demolished the houses of at least ten terrorists including two of terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the Indian armed forces complete freedom on the mode, target and timing of the response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Before-and-after images of Chenab riverbed showed that the riverbed was dry at Sialkot as India had stopped the river waterflow after suspending the Indus Water Treaty 1960. As many as 786 Pakistani nationals had left India through the Attari-Wagah border crossing in the first six days.

Apr 23, 2025

Over 1,500 suspects are detained across Kashmir; interrogations underway.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, chairs a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the site of the attack and declared the terrorists will not be spared.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirms Israel will support India in case of a war with Pakistan.

US Foreign Affairs House Committee slams the New York Times for trying to pass off a terrorist attack as militant attack in its headline. Left media plays up stray bullet victim, a local horseman to obfuscate attack on Hindus.

Anger wells up in India against Supreme Court of India, for its undue haste in ordering election in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Republic TV Editor in Chief, Arnab Goswami asks, 'Where is the accountability?'

Apr 24, 2025

India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with Pakistan, which had governed India’s allocation of river water from Indus, Chenab and Jhelum to a downstream Pakistan. India’s Water Resources Ministry sends Pakistan letter informing them about the suspension of the Treaty citing terror as the reason for the cessation. This signaled a major shift in relationship between the two countries.

After a meeting, the Pakistan Security Council responded stating that Pakistan will consider a revocation of the Indus Water Treaty as an act of war. The suspension comes at a time when civil society in Sindh had been organising sit-ins and highway-blockades for a week, over Pakistan government's plan to create six new canals from the Indus river to divert water to Punjab, away from Sindh.

India also shut the Attari-Wagah Border check post, the only operational land transit point for cross-border movement of people and goods to Pakistan. Individuals who had already crossed over were to be allowed to return by 01 May 2025.

India suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals. All SVES visas were deemed cancelled. Pakistani nationals who were in India were given a strict 48-hour deadline to leave the country.

A reciprocal reduction of defence advisors was effected. Pakistani Military, Naval, and Air advisors stationed at the Pakistani High Commission were declared persona non grata and asked to leave within a week. India will also withdraw its own military advisors from Islamabad.

India will also cut the diplomatic personnel at Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi to 30 from its current 55. A reciprocal reduction at the Indian mission in Islamabad would also be effected.

Islamabad announced the suspension of all bilateral agreements with New Delhi, including the historic Simla Agreement, in a tit-for-tat response.

J&K police released images of three suspect terrorists and set a cash rewards ₹20 lacs for information on any one of them - Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai, two Pakistani Let terrorists and Adil Thoker a local one.

Pakistan shut its airspace for Indian civilian and military aircrafts.

India deployed its INS Vikrant aircraft carrier strike group to the Arabian Sea, closer to Pakistan's maritime frontier. Separately, India also successfully carried out a precision strike of a sea-skimming missile using its newly commissioned indigenous destroyer, INS Surat.

Tourism plummeted in Kashmir as vacationers fled.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, "India will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.". Union Home Minister Amit Shah called up state chief ministers and asked them to ensure that no Pakistani stays in India beyond the deadline set for leaving the country.

Pakistan stock exchange falls 2,500 points, about 2.2% after the Pahalgam terror attack and India's retaliatory measures.

Apr 25, 2025

All three wings of the Indian Armed Forces—Army, Navy, and Air Force—are now on high alert post Pahalgam attack. The Indian Air Force has conducted "Exercise Aakraman" (Attack) over a large area in the central sector involving its mainstream fighter aircraft fleets led by the Rafale combat aircraft. In a show of strength and vigilance, not just fighter jets but transport aircraft were also active throughout the night on the 24th. These jets reportedly flew extremely close to the border areas. Meanwhile, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)-equipped aircraft maintained sharp surveillance on enemy movements. Pakistani Air Force jets were also seen flying across the border.

The homes of Adil Thoker and Asif Sheikh, two of the local Lashkar-backed terrorists were demolished. During the government’s action against terrorists, explosives stored at the suspects’ houses triggered the blasts, causing heavy damages to the structures. On the same day a top Lashkar commander Altaf Lalli was eliminated in Bandipora in an encounter.

An Indian Army statement reported, 'On the night of 25th-26th of April 2025, unprovoked Small Firing was carried out by multiple Pakistan Army post all across the Line of Control in Kashmir. Indian troops responded appropriately with small arms. No casualties reported".

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted to training, supporting, and funding terrorist groups for over three decades on a public TV interview. "We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, and (for the) West, including Britain." he said.

Apr 26, 2025

Intelligence agencies have identified 14 local terrorists actively operating in J&K, aiding terrorists from Pakistan by providing logistical and ground-level support. Three of these terrorists are associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, eight with LeT, and three with JeM.

Apr 27, 2025

NIA takes over Pahalgam terror attack case; Home Ministry issues notification.

Amid on-going India-Pakistan tensions, the Indian government has announced strict penalties for Pakistani nationals who fail to leave the country by the stipulated deadline. Those who remain beyond the timeframe will face up to a three-year jail term, a hefty fine of ₹3 lakh, or both.

Apr 28, 2025

Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have demolished the houses of at least 10 terrorists and detained more people for questioning.

India and France are set to sign ₹63,000 crore deal for 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft, boosting India's naval capabilities and strengthening defence ties. Indian Air Force already operates a fleet of 36 Rafale aircraft acquired under a separate deal signed in 2016.

The Centre has raised objection over the BBC coverage of Pakistan-sponsored Pahalgam terror attack. It flagged the use of the word "militants" to refer to "terrorists" in the article. operates a fleet of 36 Rafale aircraft acquired under a separate deal signed in 2016.

Apr 29, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the Indian armed forces complete freedom on the mode, target and timing of the response to the Pahalgam terror attack in a high level meeting which Union Minister for Defence, Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff, Anil Chauhan and the Chiefs of the three armed forces attended.

India has deployed high-frequency Electronic Warfare Systems to disrupt Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, including GPS, GLONASS, and NavIC along the LoC. This military tactic aims to degrade Pakistan’s situational awareness, navigation, and precision-guided munitions, which rely on satellite signals for targeted attacks.

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has relocated half of its 52-strong fleet of F-16 fighter jets to the Pasni airfield near Gwadar on the northern Arabian Sea coast to evade detection by India’s S-400 air defence radar coverage.

Security agencies have identified one of the terrorists involved in the attack as Hashim Musa, a Pakistani national and former para commando in the Pakistan Army.

Jaishankar appreciates call from the UN chief Guterres on Tweet. Says he appreciates the UN’s condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and reiterates the stance that the backers of terror will be brought to book. The tweet omits any reference to Guterres’ concern at rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

Gujarat Police identifies around 450 Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in the state after detaining nearly 6,500 suspected undocumented immigrants during large-scale search operations.

Amid the India-Pakistan tension, anti-armour weapons have been delivered to India from Sweden. The delivery of AT-4, an advanced version of the Carl-Gustaf rocket launcher that was used to destroy terrorist launch-pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) in 2016, has begun to the army.

Apr 30, 2025

Pakistan claims they have ‘credible evidence of Indian military strike in next 24-36 hours’. Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Tarar announced late the previous night.

Before-and-after images of Chenab riverbed show the riverbed is dry at Sialkot as India has stopped the river waterflow after suspending the Indus Water Treaty 1960.

As many as 786 Pakistani nationals, including 55 diplomats, their dependents and support staff, besides eight Indians with Pakistani visa, have left India through the Attari-Wagah border crossing in the last six days. Deportation of Pakistanis following Pahalgam attack reveals that many of them were living in India for decades. Many of the Pakistanis being deported are women who came to India after marrying Indians, and were granted long term visas by the Indian government.

NIA sources have identified Farooq Ahmed, a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, as the mastermind behind the Pahalgam attack. Hiding in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Farooq established a network of overground workers aiding Pakistani terrorists.

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