Pahalgam Terror Attack: 26 Killed, Anti-Pakistan Protests Erupt in Australia, London, Nepal
Overview of the Attack
The Pahalgam incident occurred on the 22nd of April 2025 in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, targeted at males who were not Muslims. It caused 26 deaths, which included 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national, as well as the injury of more than 20 others. A group called the Resistance Front (TRF), affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed the blame, citing its opposition to changes in demographics in Kashmir.
Protests in Australia, London, and Nepal
- Australia In Melbourne, hundreds of members of the Indian community protested in Federation Square, chanting “We Want Justice” and “Stop Terrorism.” They held Indian flags and banners.
- London The Indian diaspora protested outside the Pakistan High Commission in London, chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Pakistan Murdabad,” demanding justice and condemning Pakistan.
- Nepal protests at the Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu expressed sadness, in particular about the Nepali victim’s murder, calling for the end of terror.
The protests are a symbol of the global solidarity in protest against the terrorist attack, but the details of the exact numbers of participants differ by source.
International Context
The incident has heightened tensions between Pakistan and India in the region, with India suspending its Indus Waters Treaty and closing the border crossings, whereas Pakistan claimed that it was not involved. The UN demanded restraint due to the complex geopolitical situation.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Pahalgam Attack and Global Protests
This article provides a thorough review of the Pahalgam attack on the 22nd of April 2025 and the subsequent protests against Pakistan across Australia, London, and Nepal and aims to provide an in-depth understanding to readers interested in international relations as well as security concerns. The report is based on information from reliable sources, which ensures accuracy and relevance at 5:26 PM PKT on the evening of Saturday 26th April 2025.
Background and Context of the Pahalgam Attack
On the 22nd of April 2025 an attack by terrorists took place within the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Anantnag district, in Jammu and Kashmir, targeting tourists who were enjoying a beautiful meadow that is accessible only on horses or on foot. This attack was carried out by five or six militants that emerged from the surrounding pine forests and started firing on tourists, ponies, and people who were eating at the food stalls. The attack was planned and involved attackers asking names, religious affiliations and making some victims repeat the kalima or checking for circumcision before killing them in close proximity.
The victims included 26 deaths, including 23 Indian citizens hailing from states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal; one local from Jammu and Kashmir; and two internationals (one from Nepal, the other from India, and one from the UAE). In addition, more than 20 people were wounded, including reports of execution-style shootings and an attacker of 15 years old. The accounts of survivors noted attackers not allowing a woman a chance to “narrate horrors” to Prime Minister Modi, and a Hindu was spared following a recitation of the kalima, which highlighted the particular nature of the attack.
The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the group based out of Pakistan (Lashkar-e-Taiba) and a designated terrorist organization, claimed responsibility for the incident, saying that it was intended to thwart changes in the population due to the non-Kashmiri settlements after the 2019 Article 370 revocation. The suspects were Asif Fauji (Moosa), Suleman Shah (Yunus), Abu Talha (Asif), and the mastermind Saifullah Kasuri (alias Khalid), as well as at least two of them being Pakistani citizens who were linked to earlier militancy within Poonch.
The immediate aftermath witnessed locals, including pony driver Syed Adil Hussain Shah, helping heroically, and some victims being killed while helping tourists. Emergency services airlifted seriously injured victims to Srinagar, and a helpline was set up. In response, the Indian Army deployed helicopters, and a cordon-and-search operation began. One soldier was killed and two others were wounded in a gunfight that broke out in Udhampur after the operation was over.
Anti-Pakistan Protests in Australia, London, and Nepal
The attack caused worldwide outrage, resulting in protests from Indian diaspora communities living in Australia, London, and Nepal and condemning Pakistan for alleged ties to terror. Here is a full description of the incident:
| Location | Details | Date | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne, Australia | A large number of protesters gathered at Federation Square, holding Indian flags, banners and placards and singing “We Want Justice” and “Stop Terrorism.” | Saturday, April 26, 2025 | The status is not stated post-April 22. |
| Kathmandu, Nepal | Not stated post-April 22. | Not stated Post-April 22. | CNBC TV18: Kathmandu Protest |
| London, UK | The status is not stated post-April 22. | Friday, April 25, 2025 | India Today: London Protest |
In Melbourne the protests were an important demonstration of solidarity, participants grieving deeply and calling for the government to take action against terror. In Kathmandu, the main focus of the protest was the Nepali victim’s death, which reflected the solidarity of the region. In London, protesters accused Pakistan of being the development of a “terror factory,” with the Indo-Jewish protester drawing attention to their shared concerns with radical Islamist terror in a way that drew parallels with the events of the 2023 Hamas terror attack.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Fallout
The attack has dramatically heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, and both countries have taken diplomatic steps. India has accused Pakistan of assisting in the spread of terrorism across borders and suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting at the Attari Integrated Check Post, restricting Pakistani visas, and removing Pakistani military advisors. Prime Minister Modi has cut short the duration of a Saudi visit and presided over the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting along with Home Minister Amit Shah, reviewing what was happening in Srinagar.
Pakistan denied its involvement but expressed its condolences and expressed concern, threatening retaliation, restricting trade, denying airspace for Indian aircraft, and expelling Indian diplomatic personnel. The UN, as well as countries such as Iran, Israel, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, UK, US, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, and Sri Lanka, and the EU have condemned the incident and called for caution.
Historical Context: The Kashmir Conflict
Kashmir has been a source of conflict since 1947, resulting in three wars fought for the area, which was contested in full by India and Pakistan, separated between them by the Line of Control. The 2019 denial of Article 370, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the bifurcation of the territory into union territory, has sparked protests and increased militancy, being viewed as the motive behind an attack like the Pahalgam attacks. Tourism, boosted post-2019, is booming, but attacks like the one in Pahalgam are a sign of the instability that continues to plague the region.
Analysis and Implications
It is believed that the Pahalgam attack, which is the most fatal since the 2008 attack in Mumbai, is raising concerns of an escalated military similar to the 2019 Balakot conflict following the Pulwama attack that killed 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers. The attack, according to analysts, targeted tourists in order to disrupt the demographic shifts and might aggravate relations between Pakistan and India as water disputes add complications. The call of the international community for restraint could lead to an end to the violence, but lasting peace will require addressing Kashmir’s concerns.
Conclusion
The Pahalgam attack and the global protests have highlighted the tense relationship between India and Pakistan, as well as, in particular, the Kashmir conflict. Protests across Australia, London, and Nepal demonstrate the diaspora’s solidarity as diplomatic initiatives are a sign of the increasing tensions. On April 26, 2025 the tensions remain high, and the possibility of further conflicts or dialogues, which requires international assistance to ensure peace, is still present.
