Pakistan has expressed deep concern at the loss of lives during an attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The Pahalgam area of Anantnag district saw at least 26 individuals, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen, perish while more than 30 others were injured, Geo News reports.
Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan expressed Pakistan’s condolences to the families of those killed and offered our best wishes for speedy healing for those injured in Anantnag, Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, according to The Express Tribune. He expressed grave concern at losing tourists’ lives during an attack, reported by The Express Tribune.
The attack, which took place Tuesday near Pahalgam in Baisaran meadows, involved unidentified gunmen opening fire on a group of tourists before fleeing. Security forces began searching for their attackers immediately afterwards; both The Express Tribune and Samaa TV provided updates.
Indian authorities have classified this incident as a terror attack, although no group had publicly taken responsibility as of Wednesday evening. Witnesses describe it as one of the deadliest civilian attacks ever in IIOJK region in recent times and raised serious security concerns in IIOJK.
Samaa TV
+1 The incident has drawn international condemnation, with numerous countries offering their solidarity to victims and their families. Furthermore, this attack threatens efforts made in recent years to promote tourism in the region.
Pakistan has voiced its alarm at increasing tensions in the region, with Islamabad demanding a thorough investigation of the incident and cautioning against any actions which might exacerbate it further. Furthermore, the Foreign Office stressed the significance of addressing root causes of conflict within IIOJK so as to avoid future tragedies of this sort.