Eyewitness accounts describe gunmen in camouflage approaching tourists and asking them to identify their religion before opening fire. Survivors recounted the assailants targeting those who identified as Hindus. The attack has raised serious concerns about the security situation in Kashmir, a region that has seen a significant uptick in tourist arrivals after years of militancy.
India has attributed the attack to Pakistan-backed militants, a claim Islamabad denies. In response, India has suspended a water-sharing treaty, closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft, and ordered Pakistani citizens to leave the country. Pakistan has reciprocated by closing its airspace and intensifying border security. Skirmishes along the Line of Control have increased, with both sides accusing each other of initiating fire.
The United States has urged both nations to de-escalate tensions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate conversations with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing U.S. support for India in countering extremism and calling on Pakistan to assist in the investigation. Rubio emphasized the need for both countries to restore direct communication and seek a responsible resolution.
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that those responsible for the attack would receive a strong response. He emphasized India's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and assured that the perpetrators and their conspirators would be brought to justice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia following the attack, condemned the incident and vowed that those behind the heinous act would not be spared.
The National Investigation Agency has taken over the investigation from the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The agency is conducting a thorough assessment of the attack site, collecting forensic evidence, and working to identify those responsible. Intelligence agencies have identified Saifullah Kasuri, also known as Khalid, a senior commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, as the mastermind behind the massacre.
The attack has led to heightened security measures in the region, with aerial surveillance and ground operations underway to track down the perpetrators. Authorities have released sketches of three terrorists involved in the attack, identified as Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha. These individuals are believed to have been involved in earlier attacks in the region.