Mallikarjun Kharge condemns the terror attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam

The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-backed terror group and offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes at a time when US vice-president J.D. Vance is on a visit to the country with his family. Intelligence sources have noted TRF’s history of similar attacks, including one in Ganderbal that killed seven.

Kharge  said the country's national security is paramount and urged the Central government to take corrective measures. "I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The entire nation is united in fighting the scourge of cross-border terrorism.

"These dastardly targeted attacks are a blot on humanity. News reports indicate that precious lives have been lost. On behalf of the Congress party, my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured," the Congress president said in a post on X. "India's National Security is paramount and we urge the GOI to take corrective measures to ensure the same."

Congress general-secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also denounced the attack as a highly condemnable and shameful act, and said the country stands united against terrorism. "Targeting unarmed and innocent civilians is a crime against humanity. This is completely unacceptable. The whole country stands united against terrorism and strongly condemns it," she said in a post on X in Hindi.

"According to reports, many tourists have been killed in this attack. May God grant peace to the departed souls. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," she said.

The BJP-led Union government had claimed that the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution (which granted special status to J&K) would help reduce militancy in the erstwhile state and current Union Territory, since the move would bring J&K directly under Central control.

Pahalgam is a popular destination in the scenic Union Territory, which draws thousands of visitors every summer as militant violence has reduced in recent years.