India and Pakistan have engaged in continuous exchanges of small arms fire along the contested Kashmir border for a fourth consecutive night, following a deadly militant attack that claimed 26 lives in the region. The latest violence underscores the escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and marks a significant deterioration in the security situation along the Line of Control (LoC), the 740-kilometre frontier dividing Indian-administered and Pakistani-administered parts of Kashmir.
According to the Indian Army, the exchange of fire resumed late on Sunday, with Indian forces responding to what they described as “unprovoked” shooting originating from multiple Pakistani positions along the LoC. No casualties have been reported in these recent skirmishes. The Pakistani military has not issued any comment regarding the exchanges.
The renewed hostilities come in the aftermath of a militant attack in the meadows of Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, including two dozen Indian holidaymakers and one Kashmiri guide. Indian authorities have identified three of the four alleged gunmen involved in the attack, naming two Pakistani nationals and a Kashmiri man, and have accused Pakistan of harbouring and supporting terror groups that operate in the region. Islamabad has denied these allegations and called for an independent investigation into the incident.
This attack and the subsequent cross-border exchanges have heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan. India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a vital 1960 agreement governing river water sharing between the two countries. In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian commercial flights. Additionally, both nations have expelled each other’s diplomats and suspended visa arrangements.
On the ground in Kashmir, India has launched a significant security crackdown. Nearly 500 individuals have been detained, and searches have been conducted in over 1,000 homes and wooded areas. Indian police officials reported demolishing at least nine houses suspected of sheltering militants. The Indian military has also carried out drills across the country in recent days, with some exercises specifically reflecting an increased state of preparedness, according to a defence official.
The identity of the militants behind the Pahalgam attack remains contentious. A group calling itself The Resistance Front, also known as Kashmir Resistance, initially claimed responsibility via a social media post but later retracted the claim, stating their account had been hacked. Indian security analysts believe the group serves as a proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based, proscribed armed organisation that India has previously blamed for numerous attacks.
The attack has sparked widespread outrage across India, particularly among the Hindu majority population, where public sentiment has coalesced around calls for retaliation. Some survivors and security personnel reported that the attackers selectively targeted Hindu men by asking for names during the assault.
Political leaders within Jammu and Kashmir have responded to the crisis with messages emphasising unity and caution. Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, told the state legislature: “This is the first time in 26 years that I have seen people coming out in this way...to say we are not with this attack. It [militancy] will finish when people are with us, and today it seems like people are getting there.”
International actors have called for restraint amid the escalating situation. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed hope “India and Pakistan will exercise restraint” and welcomed "all measures that will help cool down the situation." Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the US State Department stated: “We have been in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan at multiple levels,” and “strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.” The US urged a “responsible resolution” to the crisis but has notably refrained from condemning Pakistan, reflecting nuanced geopolitical considerations due to shifting alliances and strategic interests in the region.
Hussain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the US and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, commented that the US appeared disinterested in intervening to defuse the current tensions. South Asia expert Michael Kugelman highlighted that Pakistan might be concerned that, should India retaliate militarily, the US may support India’s counter-terrorism efforts rather than attempting to mediate.
Domestically, India has moved to restrict content it regards as provocative. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, Indian authorities banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels with a combined following exceeding 63 million users. These included prominent news outlets such as Dawn, ARY News, Geo News, and Samaa TV, as well as channels run by well-known journalists and commentators. Visitors to these channels now see notices indicating their content is unavailable "due to government orders related to national security or public order."
The ongoing tensions and incidents reflect the fragile and volatile state of the Kashmir conflict, which has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan, leading to two wars and numerous military stand-offs since the partition of British India in 1947. Both countries continue to claim the Muslim-majority region in its entirety while administering parts separately, and the current round of hostilities is poised to further complicate efforts towards peace and stability in the area.
Source: Noah Wire Services