Over 20 people, mostly tourists were killed after unknown men opened fire in Pahalgam, Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The attack is one of biggest security lapses in Kashmir in recent history and took place while US Vice President JD Vance is visiting the country.

The attack took place in an ‘an off-the-road meadow’ according to Reuters, and up to three attackers were involved in the attack, security officials said. Some sources have claimed that the attack toll might be as high as 26, with foreigners among the dead.

“The death toll is still being ascertained so I don’t want to get into those details,” Omar Abdullah, chief minister of IOJK said in a post on X. However, he admitted that the attack was ‘much larger’ than anything recently aimed at civilians.

“Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice … They will not be spared!” Indian Prime Minister Modi said in a statement. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that he will hold a security meeting in Kashmir.

While the Indian government is yet to announce official casualty figures or the beginning of an investigation, Indian media has begun pointing fingers at Pakistan for the attack, in a similar fashion to the Pulwama attack in 2019.

Some Indian new outlets, such as India Today cited ‘experts’ to say that the attack was planned in Pakistan. Others, such as Hindustan Times, have connected the attack to a recent speech by Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir.

The incident has also led a to a massive online campaign by Indian-affiliated social media accounts against Pakistan, adding to the noise by Indian media.

Speaking to Khabar Kada, a security expert said that the situation is a instigating a war frenzy.

“The India media’s Pakistan’s obsession may not serve any purpose for the India as has been witnessed in the past. Rationality demands a proper investigation,” the expert added.

Security experts are also cautioning about the hidden motives and political objectives by the Indian govenment, exploiting such incidents as have been witnessed in the past.

According to Reuters, a group named ‘Kashmir Resistance’ has claimed responsibility for the attack, citing the state legislature’s decision to change the demography of the area by allowing 84,000 people from India to receive domicile rights. However, the veracity of the claim has not been verified.

The attack took place while United States Vice President is in India on a four-day visit. Meanwhile, PM Modi is on a visit to Saudi Arabia.