Horrific Attack CAPTURED On Video
A tourist’s zipline selfie video unwittingly captured a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people and has now ignited a diplomatic crisis between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan.
At a Glance
- A tourist named Rishi Bhatt filmed himself on a zipline in Pahalgam, Kashmir, unknowingly capturing footage of a terror attack occurring below that killed 26 civilians
- The Resistance Front, linked to a banned Pakistani terrorist group, claimed responsibility for the April 22 attack on Indian tourists
- The assault targeted Baisaran, a popular tourist area near Pahalgam known as “mini Switzerland” for its scenic beauty
- India responded by downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan and revoking visa services, while Pakistan retaliated by closing airspace to Indian airlines
- World leaders including Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen condemned the attack
Tourist’s Zipline Video Reveals Horror Below
What started as an ordinary vacation activity for Rishi Bhatt turned into a harrowing documentation of one of Kashmir’s deadliest terrorist attacks in recent years. While filming himself enjoying a zipline ride in the picturesque Pahalgam region, Bhatt was completely unaware that terrorists were launching a deadly assault on tourists below in an area known as “mini Switzerland” for its breathtaking Himalayan scenery. The attack on April 22 claimed 26 lives, including 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali citizen, in a region that rarely sees tourists targeted despite decades of insurgency.
Bhatt only realized what was happening after completing his zipline ride, when he suddenly found himself amid chaos, gunfire, and fleeing civilians. “I took my wife and son and started running. We saw people hiding at a spot which was like a pit, so they could not be spotted easily. We hid there too,” Bhatt recounted in the aftermath of the tragedy. The tourist’s video has become crucial evidence of the attack, showing the stark contrast between his carefree recreational activity and the deadly violence unfolding simultaneously.
Terrorist Group Claims Responsibility
The Resistance Front, an organization with known links to a banned Pakistani terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for the attack, which Indian authorities have called one of the largest assaults on civilians in the region in recent years. The targeting of tourists marks a disturbing shift in terrorist tactics in Kashmir, where the long-running insurgency that began in 1989 has typically avoided foreign or domestic tourists. The assault comes at a particularly devastating time as Kashmir had been experiencing a tourism revival, with 3.5 million visitors in 2024.
“When the firing stopped a little after 8-10 minutes, we started running toward the main gate … The firing resumed, and four to five people were shot. Around 15-16 tourists were shot in front of us. When we reached the gate, we saw the local residents had already left.”, said Rishi BhattÂ
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah immediately called an emergency security meeting in Srinagar following the attack, and authorities launched a joint search operation involving the Indian army and police. The area around Baisaran has been cordoned off as security forces hunt for the perpetrators. While tourists have rarely been targeted in the past, this marks the second significant civilian attack in the region in less than a year, following a June 2024 incident that killed nine people.
Diplomatic Crisis Erupts Between Nuclear Neighbors
The attack has triggered a severe diplomatic crisis between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed nations with a long history of conflict over the disputed Kashmir region. In response to the attack, India has downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and revoked visa services for Pakistani nationals. Pakistan retaliated swiftly by closing its airspace to Indian airlines and issuing warnings against any water diversion by India, further escalating tensions between the nations that have fought multiple wars since gaining independence.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, emphasizing India’s resolve against terrorism. The attack has drawn international condemnation, with world leaders including US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen all expressing solidarity with India. While Pakistan’s foreign ministry has issued statements of concern and condolences for the victims, the diplomatic relationship between the two countries has deteriorated to its lowest point in years as accusations and retaliatory measures continue to mount.
