India Unites in Grief as Pahalgam Terror Attack Claims 28 Lives
In a powerful and emotional response to one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in recent memory, leading newspapers across Jammu and Kashmir printed black front pages on Wednesday, mourning the lives lost in the Pahalgam attack and voicing collective condemnation.
The terror attack in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam on Tuesday left 28 people dead, most of them tourists, which has sent shockwaves across the region and the country. Heavily armed terrorists, disguised in Indian Army fatigues, ambushed civilians in a calculated and brutal assault in what is typically a peaceful and scenic tourist destination.
In a rare and symbolic gesture of unity and grief, prominent English and Urdu dailies such as Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir, Kashmir Uzma, Aftab, and Taameel Irshad printed stark black covers today. Replacing their usual headlines and images, these newspapers carried minimal text—white or red against the black background—marking a day of mourning and outrage.
In Srinagar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the families of the victims, offering condolences and floral tributes in a solemn ceremony. Accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, security personnel, and representatives of the J&K administration, Shah paid his respects to those who lost their lives in the attack. “The nation grieves with the families. Their pain is our pain,” he said.
Meanwhile, security operations have intensified in northern Kashmir. In the Baramulla district earlier today, security forces foiled an infiltration attempt, killing two terrorists in an exchange of gunfire. The Indian Army reported recovering a significant cache of weapons and ammunition, suggesting that more attacks may have been in the planning stages.
In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level emergency security briefing shortly after arriving from Saudi Arabia, where he cut short an official diplomatic visit following news of the attack. At the airport itself, he met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra to assess the rapidly evolving situation.
Sources confirmed that Modi was immediately briefed on intelligence updates, ongoing counter-insurgency efforts, and India’s diplomatic positioning. He also chose to skip the official dinner hosted in his honor by the Saudi government, highlighting the gravity of the situation back home.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, currently on a visit to the United States, issued a statement expressing shock and sorrow. He confirmed that he had spoken directly with Home Minister Amit Shah, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and State Congress President Tariq Karra for updates. “This is a national tragedy. I stand with the victims, and we must unite against terror,” Gandhi said.
The Pahalgam attack, which targeted tourists at one of Kashmir’s most picturesque sites, has raised serious concerns over security in the region, particularly as the tourist season begins to peak. Investigations are ongoing, and the government has vowed to bring the perpetrators and their handlers to justice.
