Relations between India and Pakistan have become sour after a deadly attack on Tuesday killed at least 26 tourists in the Indian-controlled Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Both countries have engaged in a tit-for-tat escalation, downgrading diplomatic and trade ties, closing the main border crossing and revoking visas for each other’s nationals, reported the Associated Press (AP).
India Escalates
On Wednesday, India linked the Kashmir attack to Pakistan, without providing public evidence to support that claim. As a result, New Delhi announced a series of punitive measures against Islamabad.
India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan; suspended the Indus Water Treaty, a crucial water-sharing agreement; closed a key border crossing between the two countries; and revoked all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, notifying all Pakistanis in India to leave before the end of April.
On Thursday, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, vowed to pursue and punish the attackers, according to CNN. During a speech in the northeastern state of Bihar, Modi said: “From the soil of Bihar I say to the whole world, India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers.”
Pakistan Responds
In response, Pakistan called India’s actions “irresponsible,” denying any connection to the Kashmir attack, according to the AP. Islamabad retaliated with a string of measures. It closed its airspace for all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines, suspended all trade with India including via third countries, and cancelled visas for all Indian nationals.
Furthermore, Pakistan’s National Security Committee denounced India’s “belligerent measures.” It added that Pakistan is committed to peace; however it would never allow anyone to “transgress its sovereignty, security, dignity and inalienable rights.”
Kashmir Attack
On Tuesday, gunmen opened fire at a group of tourists at a resort in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, killing at least 26 people, including 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national. In response, the Indian security forces launched a massive manhunt for the perpetrators of what they described as a “terror attack.”
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, cut short his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to New Delhi on Wednesday morning.
Upon his arrival, he held an emergency meeting with his national security adviser, the foreign minister and other senior officials at the airport to address the situation. He also held a special security cabinet meeting later on Wednesday.
The Resistance Front (TRF), also known as Kashmir Resistance, claimed responsibility for the attack, citing dissatisfaction with “outsiders” settling in the region who caused a “demographic change,” CNN reported.
Military Escalation Threats
Both India and Pakistan seem edging closer to escalation, as ministers in both governments threatened military action. The two Asian countries possess hundreds of nuclear warheads, missile delivery systems, advanced fighter jets and modern weapons, raising concerns over a nuclear confrontation.
India and Pakistan both claim the region of Kashmir in its entirety, with each administering part of it. In 2019, the Modi-led government revoked the region’s semi-autonomous status, bringing it under the direct control of New Delhi. This has raised tensions in the region.
In response to suspending the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan warned Thursday that any Indian attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan would be considered an “act of war” and met with “full force across the complete spectrum” of Pakistan’s national power.
Moreover, the Pakistani Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, said that “any kinetic step by India will see a tit-for-tat kinetic response.”
On the other hand, the Indian Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, vowed to “not only trace those who perpetrated the attack but also trace those who conspired to commit this nefarious act on our soil,” hinting at the possibility of military strikes.
