At least 26 people have been killed after gunmen opened fire on tourists visiting Pahalgam, a town in the Himalayas.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi labelled the killings a terrorist attack.
The region’s top official told the BBC it is the largest attack on civilians in years.
Pahalgam is part of the Kashmir region, which is divided between Pakistani and Indian control.
Background
The region of Kashmir borders India, Pakistan, and China.
When Britain relinquished control of the Indian peninsula in 1947, it split the region into two countries — India and Pakistan.
Kashmir became a flashpoint of conflict between the new nations, with both fighting for control. After the UN intervened, the area was officially split into Pakistani control in the north and Indian control in the south.
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More conflicts have followed, driven by religious tensions between the Muslim majority in Pakistan and the Hindu majority in India.
Militant groups opposed to Indian rule also operate in the region. India has accused Pakistan of supporting these groups.
In 2019, Modi imposed a military crackdown on its section of Kashmir, and began to govern it directly.
The Indian Government says violence has since decreased and tourism has increased.
Attack
The attack was carried out at a popular meadow lookout outside of Pahalgam, only accessible on foot or by horse.
The official death toll is yet to be released, but according to local media reports, at least 26 people have been killed and many more injured.
In response, Modi ended an official visit to Saudi Arabia early, and vowed to bring “those behind this heinous act… to justice.”
