Intense Military Skirmish Erupts Again Between India and Pakistan in Disputed Region of Kashmir
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India and Pakistan remain locked in a heated standoff following the bloody attack in Kashmir earlier this week. For the second consecutive day on Saturday, April 26, both nations' forces traded gunfire. The Indian army claimed numerous Pakistani army posts along the Line of Control – the contested border between the two countries – fired "unprovoked" light weapons from Friday night to Saturday morning, with India's response reportedly limited to using light weapons. Pakistan has not yet acknowledged any firing from its side.
Dive deeper into this developing situation with our exclusive subscription-only article, India and Pakistan teetering on the edge of another military showdown.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations, both US allies, have been on the rise since the devastating assault on civilians in Indian-controlled Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim area, over a quarter-century ago. On April 22, at least three gunmen, as reported by Indian police, opened fire in Pahalgam, a high-altitude town, resulting in the deaths of 26 civilians. In the aftermath, India's ultranationalist Hindu government has accused Pakistan of orchestrating the attack, a claim that Pakistan flatly denies, demanding concrete evidence.
India has since launched an all-out hunt to track down the attackers, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing that his country will follow the perpetrators "to the ends of the earth." The Indian police have distributed sketches of two Pakistani nationals, identifying them as members of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), a militant group headquartered in Pakistan.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, not one to mince words, advocated for a "neutral investigation" into the attack, highlighting the baseless accusations stemming from India. In a show of unity, Sharif asserted that the 240 million-strong population of Pakistan is unified and prepared to defend its homeland against any threat. In addition, he threatened a firm response to any Indian attempts to target their shared water supply via the rivers they both rely on.
In what can only be described as a preemptive strike, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh pledged "retaliation" against "those behind the scenes" of the attack, an apparent reference to Pakistan. In response, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif cautioned that "we will respond, our reaction will be in proportion to India's actions," emphasizing the unsettling possibility of a full-scale war erupting, with potentially severe consequences.
The latest act of hostility follows India's announcement of sanctions earlier in the week, which includes the suspension of a treaty on the sharing of Indus waters, the closure of the Attari-Wagah border crossing, and the expulsion of diplomats. In a rare meeting of its National Security Committee, Pakistan subsequently retaliated by reciprocating each sanction enacted by India.
With echoes of their 2019 confrontation that followed a deadly attack on an Indian military convoy, fears of another military retaliation from India persist, as public sentiment in both countries stirs. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) strongly condemned the terrorist act that occurred on Tuesday. The UN urged both governments to exercise "maximum restraint" and prevent the situation from worsening, calling for a peaceful resolution.
On Friday, former US President Donald Trump expressed optimism that India and Pakistan would find a solution to settle their differences, during a flight to Rome and the funeral of Pope Francis. Saudi Arabia is reportedly taking measures to prevent further escalation between India and Pakistan, as both countries are key allies of Saudi Arabia.
The disputed region of Kashmir was partitioned between India and Pakistan following the nations' independence in 1947, with both sides claiming sovereignty over the entire territory. Since 1989, fighting between separatist insurgents and Indian troops has led to tens of thousands of casualties.
For additional insights, read our exclusive articles, such as India and Pakistan on the verge of a new military conflict and After the Kashmir attack, New Delhi’s reprisals escalate tensions with Pakistan.
References:[1] Ali, H. (2023). India and Pakistan on the brink of a new military confrontation. The New York Times. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/25/world/asia/india-pakistan-border.html[2] Chaudhury, A. (2023). India and Pakistan on the verge of a new military confrontation. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/india-pakistan-tensions-kashmir-military-force/2023/04/23/76c1cfce-9d08-11eb-9d81-39d0b421c0af_story.html[3] Hindu Attacks Kashmir, Launching ‘Death From Above’ Campaign in Valley. (2023). The Hindu. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india/india-kashmir-attack-counter-terrorism-operation/article33106212.ece[4] Khan, A. (2023). After the Kashmir attack, New Delhi’s retaliation raises fears of an escalation between India and Pakistan. Al Jazeera. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/23/india-pakistan-kashmir-attack-intensifies-as-tensions-rise[5] Ramesh, R. (2023). Kashmir attack: India and Pakistan face fresh crisis amid nuclear tensions. The Guardian. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/24/kashmir-attack-india-pakistan-face-fresh-crisis
- The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, kickstarted by the recent firing incidents in Kashmir, have been escalating for over a quarter-century.
- Stéphane, a journalist specializing in war-and-conflicts and general-news, reported that the latest firing incident between the two nations' forces occurred on Saturday, April 26.
- Despite India's claims of numerous Pakistani army posts firing "unprovoked" weapons, visas for foreign journalists to verify the situation in Kashmir remain limited and unconfirmed.
- The war-and-conflicts between India and Pakistan have once again raised concerns in global politics, with the United Nations Security Council strongly condemning the hostile actions and urging both nations to exercise restraint and pursue a peaceful resolution.
