Top Lashkar commander planned Pahalgam carnage that left 26 dead: Sources
The Pahalgam attack, the biggest terror strike on civilians since the 26/11 attacks, occurred when terrorists dressed in fatigues opened fire on tourists in Baisaran meadow. Following the attack, PM Modi returned to Delhi to take stock of the situation.
Moments after his arrival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an emergency briefing at the airport with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Intelligence agencies identified Saifullah Kasuri alias Khalid, a top LeT commander, and two POK-based operatives as the masterminds of the massacre.
The attack triggered nationwide outrage, and prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cut short his diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia. He returned to Delhi early on Wednesday to chair an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.
At least 26 people, including two foreign nationals, were killed in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times.
The attackers, believed to be members of The Resistance Front—an offshoot of proscribed terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—opened fire on tourists at the popular Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, sparking panic in the remote mountainous region.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with tourists running in every direction in the open terrain, desperate for cover. After the barrage of bullets, bodies lay scattered on the ground, women were seen wailing, and locals rushed to help survivors.
Intelligence sources suspect the involvement of five to six terrorists, including those who had recently crossed the border and infiltrated the Valley. The attack was reportedly planned under the direction of Saifullah Kasuri, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and aide to wanted terrorist Hafiz Saeed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X, "Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice... they will not be spared." Home Minister Amit Shah is in Srinagar, after being directed by the PM to oversee the situation.
Pahalgam, usually bustling with tourists, went into a lockdown following the attack. Political and civil society groups called a bandh on Wednesday. The Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) announced a closure of all private schools across the region as a mark of respect.
To support affected travellers, Air India and IndiGo announced four additional flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai, while waiving fees for cancellations and rescheduling.
Security forces launched a manhunt in the area, cordoning off the surrounding forests and meadows. Officials say reconnaissance of the site was carried out by the terrorists days before the ambush.
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