Maldives’ leader expresses deep sadness over loss of lives in Kashmir attack

Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu expressed deep sadness and shock on Wednesday, after a terror attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, left dozens of people dead.

At least 26 people died on Tuesday after gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists while they were visiting Baisaran meadow, about 5 kilometers from the disputed region’s resort town of Pahalgam.

In a post on X on Wednesday afternoon, President Muizzu said he was deeply saddened and shocked by the attack.

“Deeply saddened and shocked by the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, which has claimed innocent lives and left many injured,” he said.

He said that the Maldivian government remains steadfast in its commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time,” he added.

Deeply saddened and shocked by the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, which has claimed innocent lives and left many injured. The Government of Maldives remains steadfast in its commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Our thoughts are with the…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) April 23, 2025

The attack marks the deadliest such incident in a quarter century in Indian-administered Kashmir, raising fears of an escalation in India-Pakistan tensions.

It came amid the peak tourist season as hundreds of thousands of tourists are holidaying in the region, which has been racked by a three-decade armed rebellion.

Soon after the attack, teams of police and paramilitary troops rushed to the spot to evacuate the wounded tourists and launch a manhunt for the attackers. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, along with the country’s top security brass, rushed to Kashmir, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia to return to New Delhi, where he held a meeting on Wednesday morning to craft India’s response.

The attack also unfolded as India is hosting US Vice President JD Vance, who arrived on Monday and is scheduled to leave on Thursday.

The 26 people – all men - killed in the attack were almost all civilians, and an Indian Navy officer from the northern state of Haryana on his honeymoon. One foreign national, from Nepal, was also among those killed.

A statement issued in the name of the Resistance Front (TRF), which is believed to be an offshoot of Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The statement linked the attacks to the thousands of residency permits being handed over to Indian citizens, permitting them to live and work in Kashmir.

The Indian government had stripped Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in 2019, asserting more federal control and splitting the former state into two union territories. The move escalated political tensions in the region and paved the way for the Indian government to issue residence permits to non-Kashmiris, which had previously been banned.