“Unacceptable”: UN Chief Antonio Guterres Condemns Pahalgam Attack That Killed 26 Tourists

By R Anil Kumar

• UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the “armed attack” in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, stresses that attacks against civilians are unacceptable under any circumstances

• The 26 victims of the attack included two foreigners – from UAE and Nepal – and two locals. The toll is still being ascertained

United Nations. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the “armed attack” in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that attacks against civilians are unacceptable under any circumstances.

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the armed attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April, in which at least 28 people were killed,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, said.

Guterres offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the victims. “The Secretary-General stresses attacks against civilians are unacceptable under any circumstances,” Dujarric said.

Terrorists opened fire at a famed meadow near Kashmir’s Pahalgam town on Tuesday, April 22, afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.

The 26 victims of the attack included two foreigners – from UAE and Nepal – and two locals. The toll is still being ascertained, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said while describing the terror attack as “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years”.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy for the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

This is one of the deadliest civilian attacks in Kashmir in recent years and has triggered widespread national and international condemnation.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned early from his scheduled diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia and held an emergency meeting at the Delhi airport with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to assess the situation.

“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” PM Modi said in a statement.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah flew to Srinagar on Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, he laid wreaths on the bodies of the dead at the Police Control Room in Srinagar.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced financial compensation for the victims. Families of the victims will receive Rs 10 lakh each. Those seriously injured will receive Rs 2 lakh, while individuals with minor injuries will receive Rs 1 lakh.

Security agencies have launched a multi-tiered investigation and counterterrorism operation in the aftermath of the attack. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has deployed a high-level team led by an Inspector General to Pahalgam to assist local police.

Search operations have been intensified across Anantnag district and adjoining forested areas. The Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police have sealed off large areas and launched a coordinated manhunt.

Helicopters were used to evacuate the injured from the high-altitude meadow. Local residents, many of whom work as pony handlers and guides, aided in the evacuation by transporting victims down the rugged terrain on horseback.