In India, militants open fire on group of tourists, Ukraine condemns horrific attack
Photo: Soldiers of the central reserve police force of India (crpf.gov.in/index)
In the Indian province of Kashmir, militants attacked tourists in a mountainous region, killing at least twenty people. Officials in Kyiv responded to the tragedy and condemned the violence, according to Reuters and the Twitter (X) account of Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha.
Attack in India
A group of armed individuals launched an attack on foreign tourists in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in the picturesque mountainous region of India (the Himalayan region), on Tuesday, April 22.
The militants opened fire on the tourists in the Jammu and Kashmir territory.
What is known about victims
According to sources from India's security service, speaking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, the number of victims ranged from 20 to 26.
"The firing happened in front of us," one witness told broadcaster India Today, without giving his name. "We thought someone was setting off firecrackers, but when we heard other people (screaming), we quickly got out of there ... saved our lives and ran."
The Indian Express, citing an unnamed high-ranking police officer, reported that the attack took place on a meadow off the roads and involved two or three militants.
At least 26 people have been killed and dozens others injured in Indian-administered Kashmir when assailants opened fire on tourists, authorities say. The attack coincided with US Vice President Vance's visit to India. pic.twitter.com/dbDIFvjIWQ
— DW News (@dwnews) April 22, 2025
"The death toll is still being ascertained so I don’t want to get into those details," Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a post on X. "Needless to say, this attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years."
It is also noted that the nationality of the victims is currently unknown.
At least 24 people were killed in #Indian-administered #Kashmir on Tuesday when gunmen opened fire on tourists, in what authorities called the worst attack on civilians in years.
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) April 22, 2025
https://t.co/7i9FzKmGxe
REUTERS/Stringer pic.twitter.com/FhHpluufC5
Attack likely carried out by 'Kashmir Resistance' militants
Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the little-known militant group "Kashmir Resistance." In a social media post, representatives of this group expressed dissatisfaction with the settlement of over 85,000 "outsiders" in the region, which they claimed was spurring a "demographic change".
"Consequently, violence will be directed toward those attempting to settle illegally," it said.
According to the latest data from the regional government of Jammu and Kashmir, where Pahalgam is located, almost 84,000 non-local residents of India have been granted the right to reside in this area over the past two years.
Ukraine’s response
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reacted to the tragic events in India. In his social media post, he stated that Ukraine "strongly condemns the heinous attack in Pahalgam, Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, which took many lives."
"When innocent people are killed, it causes unbearable pain. Such violence has no justification. On this grim day, Ukraine stands in solidarity with India," the minister wrote on X.
In 2013, in the neighboring country of Pakistan, eleven foreign tourists were shot dead, including five Ukrainians. At that time, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Pakistan to thoroughly investigate the murders of the tourists and to justly punish the perpetrators.
