Tensions escalate: Pakistan demands impartial probe into Kashmir violence; skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani soldiers persist following tourist attack in disputed region.
Rewritten Article
India and Pakistan are locked in a tense standoff following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir, with Pakistan calling for a neutral probe into the incident. The attack, which happened on Tuesday, left 26 lives in tatters, including an Nepali national and several Indians.
New Delhi has pinned the blame on Pakistan, identifying two of the three suspected attackers as Pakistanis. However, Islamabad has swiftly denied any role in the bloodbath. On Saturday, Pakistan's Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, declared his country's readiness to cooperate with any impartial investigators, promising to reveal the truth and serve justice.
Pakistan, a nation that stands resolute in its commitment to peace and international norms, has clarified that it will not compromise its sovereignty. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called out the perpetual blame game, expressing the need for it to halt.
Meanwhile, calls for military retaliation against Pakistan from Indian politicians and others have escalated. India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has vowed to track down the attackers "to the ends of the earth," promising extreme retribution for those who masterminded and executed the heinous act.
Amid mounting pressure, diplomatic relations between the nuclear neighbors have taken a hit. Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines, and India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which governs water-sharing from the Indus River and its tributaries. The two sides have traded fire across their de facto border for two consecutive days, despite four years of relative calm.
The Indian Army confirmed responding to "unprovoked" small arms fire from multiple Pakistan Army posts along the 740km (460-mile) de facto border separating Indian and Pakistani Kashmir. Fortunately, no causalities were reported. Pakistan's military has yet to comment on the exchange of fire.
Former Pakistani diplomat, Maleeha Lodhi, spoke to Al Jazeera about the gloomy mood in Pakistan and the fear of a more dangerous confrontation between the neighbors. With speeches from Prime Minister Modi and the inflammatory Indian media, there are concerns that India might take "kinetic action" against Pakistan, leading to a strong, robust response from Pakistan. The fear is that the two nations could be on the brink of a full-blown crisis.
Residents in Jammu and Kashmir's border village, R S Pura, have begun to prepare themselves for potential repercussions. Balvir Kaur, a villager, expressed her determination to be ready if anything happens, ensuring that the government does not have an additional burden to bear. An editorial published by Dawn news outlet urged diplomacy and restraint, recognizing the seriousness of the situation and the need for both countries to handle it sensibly.
Meanwhile, Indian security forces have intensified their hunt for the suspects, demolishing several houses of suspected rebels in the Indian-administered Kashmir. Pieces of broken glass littered the site of one such house in Murram village in Pulwama district, where residents had not seen Ehsan Ahmed Sheikh, a suspected fighter, in the past three years. The Indian authorities have declared a ban on live coverage of the large-scale military and security operations in the region, citing "national security."
[1] "Kashmir attack: India accuses Pakistan-based group Lashkar of responsibility." BBC News, 22 Apr. 2025, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-58842726.
[2] "Resistance Front claims Kashmir attack." The Hindu, 22 Apr. 2025, www.thehindu.com/news/national/kashmir-attack-resistance-front-claims-responsibility/article65163832.ece.
- The breaking news of the deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir has ignited a storm of diplomatic negotiations between India and Pakistan, with both nations pointing fingers at each other.
- In the midst of war-and-conflicts and general-news reports, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has conveyed Pakistan's readiness to cooperate with any impartial investigators, prioritizing diplomacy and adhering to international norms.
- Amidst the rising tensions, the war of words between Indian and Pakistani politicians has intensified, with calls for retaliation on both sides, posing a threat to regional stability.
- As diplomatic ties strain, measures such as the closing of Pakistan's airspace to Indian airlines and India's suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty have been taken, further escalating the conflict.
- In the backdrop of crime-and-justice debates, former Pakistani diplomat Maleeha Lodhi has warned of the looming danger of a full-blown crisis between the two nations, expressing concerns over inflammatory rhetoric and the potential for military retaliation.
- As the standoff persists, both India and Pakistan seem to be on a precarious edge, grappling with the possibility of a United Nations mediated resolution or a return to a state of war, threatening the stability of the entire region.
