‘All eyes on Pahalgam’: The story behind the viral phase Indians are sharing after terror attack

As India reels from the heartbreaking terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed at least 26 lives, a powerful message has begun echoing across social media: “All Eyes on Pahalgam.”

On Tuesday, the tranquil Baisaran Valley was turned into a scene of horror when terrorists opened fire on a group of civilians without warning. Most of those targeted were tourists—families with children, visiting from across the country. The attack is now being described as one of the worst acts of terror in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

The nation is in mourning, and social media has become a space of collective heartbreak. What began as a hashtag has evolved into a digital movement, calling for global attention and justice.

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So, what does the “All Eyes on Pahalgam” trend mean? Who has followed it? And where does the viral phrase come from? Here’s a closer look.

What is the ‘All Eyes on Pahalgam’ trend?

In the aftermath of the horrifying attacks, several images of the incident were being shared online. But one particular photograph became the face of the massacre.

The image showed a devastated woman sitting beside the lifeless body of her husband. Soon, the heart-wrenching picture began circulating on social media with the now-viral phrase: “All Eyes On PAHALGAM.”

The couple in the image has been identified as 26-year-old Indian Naval Officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal and his wife, Himanshi Narwal. The two had tied the knot just days before and were on their honeymoon when the unimaginable unfolded.

Adding to the horror, a chilling video of Himanshi has also been shared widely online. In it, she pleads for help, saying, “I was eating bhel puri with my husband. A person came and asked if he [Narwal] was Muslim. When he denied, the man shot him dead. Please save my husband!”

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The image of Himanshi, shattered and sitting beside her husband, has become one of the most powerful and heartbreaking visuals to emerge from the Pahalgam attack.

Also read: The tragic story of Navy officer’s wife, who has become the face of the Pahalgam massacre

Who has shared the ‘All eyes on Pahalgam’ AI-generated image?

Within hours, the graphic went viral, crossing over a million shares on Instagram. It struck a deep emotional chord with netizens and public figures alike, prompting a wave of support.

Several Bollywood actors, including Ram Charan, Randeep Hooda, and Vijay Varma, took to Instagram Stories to share the graphic, expressing their grief and denouncing the brutal attack.

The outrage wasn’t limited to the film industry. Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami also shared the “All Eyes on Pahalgam” post, joining the call for justice.

Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, in particular, posted a strong message on X, urging for strict punishment and calling out the horror of the attack.

“Just read about the horrific and shocking terrorist attack in Pahalgam. To target and kill innocent civilians in the name of religion is pure evil… No cause, no belief, no ideology can ever justify such a monstrous act,” he wrote.

“Yeh kaisi ladai hai. Jahaan insaan ki jaan ki koi keemat hi nahin (What kind of fight is this, where a human life holds no value?),” Siraj added.

Where does the ‘All eyes’ trend come from?

The origins of the “All Eyes on” trend can be traced back to last year, when it first gained global attention in response to the humanitarian crisis in Rafah, Gaza.

As Israel’s war on Gaza escalated, airstrikes began in the north of the territory and gradually moved south. This forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes, many of them taking shelter in Rafah.

By February, nearly half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents had crowded into Rafah, hoping it would remain a safe zone. However, Israel announced a ground invasion targeting the city, claiming that four Hamas brigades were operating there.

The assault led to a devastating airstrike on al-Mawasi in western Rafah, killing at least 45 civilians and injuring hundreds more.

In the days that followed, the phrase “All Eyes on Rafah” appeared across social media and protest banners around the world. It quickly became a digital call to action, demanding that the world pay attention to the suffering of civilians caught in conflict zones.

The phrase struck a deep chord. In less than 24 hours, “All Eyes on Rafah” was shared more than 29 million times on Instagram, making it one of the most viral activist messages in recent memory.

Celebrities from around the globe joined the outcry. Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo, singer Dua Lipa, and supermodel Bella Hadid were among the many who amplified the message. Bollywood stars, including Varun Dhawan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, and Kareena Kapoor Khan also shared the AI-generated image.

Experts have noted that the “All Eyes on Rafah” graphic was likely one of the first viral pieces of activist art created entirely by artificial intelligence.

With input from agencies