Tourist's zip line adventure conceals Kashmir attack's horror
A cheerful recording capturing the enjoyment of a tourist who is happily experiencing a ride on an impressive zip line in the Indian resort of Pahalgam hides a drama. In the recording, gunshots can be heard, but the man is unaware that he is in danger. His video, posted on a Telegram channel, serves as evidence in the investigation into the terrorist attack in Kashmir.
What do you need to know?
- Attack in Kashmir: On 22 April in Pahalgam, a picturesque tourist resort, there was an attack that killed at least 26 people. The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the attack.
- Reaction after the attack: The event intensified the conflict between India and Pakistan. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif suspended an irrigation channel project, and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the pursuit of militants and suspended India's participation in a water-sharing agreement, closing the main land crossing with Pakistan.
- In the case of the attack at the Pahalgam resort, an investigation is underway. An accidental recording made by a tourist using recreational equipment is a bizarre record of dramatic events.
What happened in Kashmir?
Armed attackers targeted tourists in India near the town of Pahalgam on 22 April. The attack occurred in part of the Baisaran Valley, which can only be reached on foot or horseback. After the shooting, 26 people were dead, and 12 were injured. Kashmir police inspector general VK Birdi told CNN that among the victims were a citizen of Nepal and a person of Indian origin working in the Middle East.
What happened to the unsuspecting tourist?
The attack is the deadliest incident of its kind in the region in 25 years. The traveller, who decided to enjoy a local attraction and opted for an aerial ride suspended on a line, was unaware of the events unfolding nearby and the danger he was in. He recorded his adventure with a phone likely held in hand. During the ride, shots were fired, and screams were heard. The man paid no attention to them. He glided on the zip line over the scene of the tragedy.
The video was published by the Kaifarik channel on Telegram. The man captured in it was very lucky, for although he brushed with death, he was unaware of anything.
What is the situation in the region?
Kashmir is under Indian administration. The Resistance Front (TRF), considered a faction of the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan, in response to India's accusations of involvement in the Kashmir attack, announced a series of diplomatic measures. Islamabad demands evidence to support these accusations. The situation is very tense.
For several days, there has been an exchange of fire along the Indian-Pakistani border. It is a 740-kilometre-long line, difficult to control. On Monday, Pakistan's defence minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, told Reuters that an Indian military invasion is imminent, which is why Islamabad is strengthening its forces at the border.
