The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025
Grok ai.:: The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a militant group operating as a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and linked to Hizbul Mujahideen. The attack, which killed at least 26 people, mostly tourists, in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, was one of the deadliest in the region in recent years. According to reports, TRF stated the attack was in retaliation for the issuance of over 85,000 domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris, which they claimed was driving a “demographic change” in the region.
Intelligence sources indicate that the attack was orchestrated by Saifullah Kasuri (alias Khalid), a top LeT commander, along with two operatives based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The attackers, numbering four to seven, included both Pakistani and local Kashmiri militants. Posts on X and reports suggest that two Pakistanis and two Kashmiris were involved, with the terrorists wearing body cameras to record the assault. They used advanced military weapons, including M4 carbines and AK-47s, and reportedly received external support from trained Pakistani operatives.
Indian authorities have pointed to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as backing TRF, with allegations of cross-border linkages to the attack. The timing of the attack, coinciding with high-profile visits like that of U.S. Vice President JD Vance to India, was seen as an attempt to disrupt peace and draw global attention to Kashmir. However, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif denied any involvement, dismissing the allegations as “home-grown” issues within India.
Sketches of three terrorists involved have been released, and a massive manhunt is underway, with a ₹20 lakh reward offered for credible information. Indian officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, have vowed to bring the perpetrators and their sponsors to justice, with India announcing retaliatory measures like suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and closing the Attari border.
While TRF and its LeT connections are confirmed as the primary perpetrators, the full extent of individual identities and the exact chain of command remain under investigation, with security forces actively pursuing leads.
