A surge in terrorist violence plagued Jammu in 2024, claiming 44 lives across 8 districts. This grim reality casts a shadow over the recent Pahalgam attack, prompting scrutiny of authorities’ claims that such incidents in tourist areas were unforeseen.
BY PC Bureau
The recent terror attack in Pahalgam appeared to be an incident waiting to happen, especially considering that Jammu witnessed 44 terror-related deaths in the past year. The authorities’ failure to anticipate the Pahalgam attack suggests a dangerous level of complacency, bordering on criminal apathy, given the persistent signs of unrest throughout Jammu and Kashmir for months. Questions arise as to how tourist destinations like the Baisaran valley could be left vulnerable when Jammu had experienced regular terrorist strikes over the past year, despite government assurances of restored normalcy in the region.
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In 2024, Jammu experienced a significant surge in terrorist activities, with attacks reported in 8 out of its 10 districts. These incidents tragically resulted in the deaths of 44 persons, including 18 security personnel, 13 terrorists, and 14 civilians. The attacks targeted both security forces and civilians, including pilgrims and members of village defense guards.
What a brave lady.
A woman who lost her husband in the Pahalgam told BJP leader C. R. Patil that politician has all securities with our taxpayers money. But, there is no security at tourists' places like Baisaran velly, where huge tourists are present.
pic.twitter.com/VOkyf2v3Wp— Ronak Unadkat (@Ronak_Unadkat) April 24, 2025
A district-wise breakdown of these casualties is as follows:
| District | Total Fatalities | Security Personnel | Civilians | Terrorists |
| Doda | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Kathua | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Reasi | 9 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Kishtwar | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Udhampur | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Jammu | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Rajouri | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Poonch | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 44 | 18 | 14 | 13 |
A particularly devastating event was the attack in Reasi on June 9, 2024, where militants ambushed a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims returning from the Shiv Khori temple, resulting in 9 deaths and 41 injuries. While The Resistance Front initially claimed responsibility and later retracted, authorities suspect the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
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The expansion of attacks into traditionally more peaceful districts like Reasi, Doda, and Kathua indicates a strategic shift by militants aiming to extend their terror beyond the previously affected border areas of Rajouri and Poonch. In response, security forces have intensified counter-terrorism operations, particularly in dense forested areas, to contain the spread of militancy. These developments underscore the evolving security challenges in Jammu, emphasizing the ongoing need for heightened vigilance and adaptable strategies to ensure regional stability.
Following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in 26 deaths in the Kashmir region, government officials admitted to an all-party meeting that they did not anticipate such an attack on tourists in an area with no prior history of such incidents. They described this failure to foresee the deviation from established patterns as a “lapse.” Parliamentary Affairs Minister relayed that intelligence agencies and Home Ministry officials briefed the floor leaders about the incident. Despite this admission, opposition leaders raised concerns about the alleged security lapse. Government officials reiterated that attacks on tourists in Pahalgam and Anantnag were unexpected due to their potential negative impact on local livelihoods. However, the recent surge in violence in Jammu throughout the preceding year casts serious doubt on the assertion that the Pahalgam attack was entirely unforeseen.
