Tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated following a deadly attack in the Indian-administered Kashmir region that left 26 people dead.
The assault occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Baisaran Valley, known as ‘mini Switzerland’. The Resistance Front, a militant group believed to be linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has reportedly claimed responsibility, prompting New Delhi to accuse Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism. Pakistan has denied any role in the attack, instead accusing New Delhi of oppressing the region and its majority-Muslim population.
Relations between Islamabad and New Delhi have been tense for decades. The two neighbors have fought four wars, including one undeclared, and have had numerous border skirmishes.
Since Tuesday’s attack, the two nations have taken sweeping steps to further downgrade diplomatic and trade ties. Relations were already in a deep freeze from 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government abrogated Article 370 of the constitution, which had granted a degree of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.
India moved first this week, expelling Pakistani diplomats, closing its land border, and suspending the key Indus Waters Treaty on Wednesday, saying the move would remain in effect “until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.”
Islamabad issued a reciprocal response on Thursday, suspending key bilateral agreements and cross-border routes, closing its airspace to all Indian-owned or operated airlines, and declaring India’s defense, naval, and air advisers in Islamabad persona non grata.
25 April 2025
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WATCH: The father of Indian Navy officer Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the terrorist attack in Kashmir, performed his son’s last rites by immersing his ashes in the Ganga. Vinay Narwal, 26, was married just six days before the incident and was on his honeymoon with his wife at the time of the attack.
Indian intelligence agencies have warned of new threats targeting non-locals, including tourists, police personnel, and railway employees, particularly in the Srinagar and Ganderbal districts of Jammu and Kashmir, according to CNN-News18, citing sources.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has offered Tehran’s support in promoting dialogue between Pakistan and India amid rising tensions. In a post on X, Araghchi stated that Iran “stands ready to use its good offices in Islamabad and New Delhi to forge greater understanding at this difficult time,” describing both countries as “brotherly neighbors” with deep cultural ties.
Director of US National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has expressed solidarity with India following the deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir. In a post on X, Gabbard offered prayers for the victims and pledged support to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian people in pursuing those responsible for the “heinous attack.”
A search operation to capture three escaped terrorists in the Udhampur forests has entered its second day, according to an unnamed security official, cited by The Times of India. Combing operations are underway in Udhampur district and nearby Kishtwar, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch.
The Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) special units have reinforced a multi-layered cordon around the Dudu-Basantgarh area to locate the suspects, the source told the outlet.
Protests have been held in several cities and towns in India against the attack in Kashmir that claimed 26 lives.
In a show of solidarity and condemnation, Muslims in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad wore black armbands to their Friday prayers as a protest against the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir, media reports said.
In the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, local tour operators, hoteliers and citizens held protests, according to a Hindustan Times report. Armed with placards, they chanted slogans and condemned the attackers.
On Thursday several protestors raised slogans outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. The demonstrators called for strong action against Pakistan, alleging that the country was supporting and sponsoring terrorist activities in India.
The Russian Embassy in Islamabad has warned citizens to not travel to Pakistan.
“Against the backdrop of a new round of escalation in Pakistan-India relations and bellicose rhetoric coming from a number of officials, we would recommend that Russian citizens temporarily refrain from visiting Pakistan until the situation stabilizes,” the embassy said in a social media post on Friday.
Pakistan’s Senate on Friday unanimously passed a resolution against India’s attempt to link it to the deadly attack in Kashmir.
The resolution, introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, stated that Pakistan was equipped and prepared to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to a report by The Dawn.
Former Indian Army Chief General Shankar Roychowdhury has claimed that the terror attack in Kashmir was the result of an “intelligence failure,” adding that someone must be held accountable, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.
Indian opposition parties have also called for accountability for the alleged security lapses that led to the attacks this week, but expressed full support to the Narendra Modi government for its future course of action.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on India and Pakistan to show “maximum restraint,” according to media reports.
Guterres has paid close attention to the tensions between the South Asian neighbors in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Kashmir and is appealing to both governments to refrain from taking any actions that could lead to further deterioration of the situation, The Hindu cited his spokesperson as saying.
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah has asked the chief ministers of all states in the country to help identify Pakistani nationals in their jurisdiction and inform the central government, so their visas could be revoked, according to local media reports.
On Thursday, India’s Foreign Ministry issued a press release, saying that all existing valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals would be revoked, effective from April 27. The ministry later clarified that long-term visas issued to Hindu Pakistanis remained valid.
The World Bank has not been notified of India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), according to a report in The Hindu. The multilateral financial institution has historically served as a mediator in resolving disputes between India and Pakistan over water sharing under the IWT.
A government source cited by The Hindu said that since Pakistan had been informed about India’s stance on the treaty, there was “no need” to notify the World Bank.
In response to the Kashmir terrorist attack this week, India announced that it would put the IWT, which has been in effect since 1960, “in abeyance.”
The houses of two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in Kashmir were destroyed on Thursday night, according to media reports.
The individuals, Adil Hussain Thoker and Asif Sheikh, are suspected to have been involved in the recent Kashmir terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
Thoker’s residence was reportedly destroyed using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), while Sheikh’s house was demolished using a bulldozer, according to reports.
The US Foreign Affairs committee has criticized the New York Times for not calling the recent attack in Kashmir a “terrorist incident,” claiming the language does not accurately describe the event.
The New York Times described the incident as a “militant” attack, stating that tourists were gunned down, while noting that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to it as a “terror attack.”
In a social media post, the committee said the report was “removed from reality” and stressed that the attack was indeed an act of terrorism.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told a British broadcaster that it was “convenient” for major powers to blame Pakistan for regional problems.
“When we were fighting the war on their side, way back in the ‘80s against the Soviet Union, all these terrorists of today, they were wining and dining in Washington. And then came the 9-11 attacks. Again, the same situation was repeated. I think our governments then made a mistake,” he told Sky News
When asked whether Pakistan was backing and supporting terrorist organizations, Asif pointed out that “they were being used as proxy by United States also.”
The Indian Army has responded to multiple instances of “small arms fire” allegedly initiated by Pakistani forces at several locations along the Line of Control (LoC) overnight.
“Small arms firing at some places on the Line of Control were initiated by the Pakistan Army. Effectively responded to by the Indian Army. No casualties. Further details are being ascertained,” the Indian Army said in a statement, without providing additional information.
Multiple Indian airlines, including SpiceJet, Air India, and IndiGo, have issued travel advisories after Pakistan imposed airspace restrictions on Indian carriers.
“In view of the ongoing situation and Pakistan airspace closure, a few international flight schedules may be impacted,” IndiGo said in a statement on X.
Air India, in an “important update,” stated: “Due to the announced restriction of Pakistan airspace for all Indian airlines, it is expected that some Air India flights to or from North America, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East will take an alternative extended route.”
Meanwhile, SpiceJet warned that it is “currently experiencing intermittent issues” with its customer care helpline numbers and apologized for the inconvenience.
The Indian embassy in Washington has defended New Delhi’s decision to freeze the 1960 Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of undermining the treaty’s spirit of goodwill and friendship.
“The Indus Water Treaty was concluded by India with Pakistan in a spirit of goodwill and friendship in 1960. Pakistan, through its well-documented, state-sponsored terrorism directed against India, has corroded this spirit. India cannot be expected to continue to cooperate with a country which is responsible for killing innocent civilians,” the embassy said in a statement on X.
One of the suspects in the Pahalgam attack, identified as Pakistani national Hashim Musa, was “likely involved in at least three attacks on security forces and non-locals” in Jammu and Kashmir over the past year, Hindustan Times reports, citing officials familiar with the probe.
24 April 2025
The Indian government has clarified that Hindu Pakistanis holding long-term visas will not be affected by the recent cancellations of visas for Pakistani nationals.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs earlier announced that “all existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals” would be revoked on Sunday, sparking concern among Hindu Pakistanis who had taken refuge in India, citing persecution and human rights abuses in Pakistan.
In a phone call with his Indian counterpart earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered “condolences, and those of the people of Israel, to the people of India following the Islamic terrorist attack in Kashmir.”
“Prime Minister Modi thanked me for sharing in India’s grief and emphasized that our two countries stand shoulder to shoulder in the critical fight against murderous terrorism,” Netanyahu wrote in a post on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “about the cowardly terrorist attack on Tuesday, which resulted in the tragic death of dozens of innocent civilians.”
“France stands firmly with India and its people in this hour of grief. Together with its allies, France will continue the fight against terrorism wherever necessary,” Macron wrote in a post on X.
The Indian Navy has announced a successful test of a medium-range surface-to-air missile fired from missile destroyer INS Surat, as tensions with neighboring Pakistan continue to spiral.
The terrorist attack that killed more than 20 people in India on Tuesday was a false-flag operation, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed.
“This is something orchestrated, you know. We suspect, very strongly suspect, that this was a false-flag operation,” Asif told Al Jazeera in an interview, without elaborating further.
Washington has condemned Tuesday’s deadly terrorist attack, but has noted that it is not taking a stance on the territorial dispute between Islamabad and New Delhi on the India-administered Jammu and Kashmir regions.
“It's a rapidly changing situation. And we are monitoring it closely, as you might imagine,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said during a press briefing. “We are not now taking a position on the status of Kashmir or of Jammu either.”
The UN has urged both India and Pakistan to show the utmost restraint as tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations run high.
“We very much appeal to both the governments of Pakistan and the government of India to exercise maximum restraint and to ensure that the situation and the developments do not deteriorate any further,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has told a press conference.
The issues between the two countries “can be and should be resolved peacefully,” he said.
New Delhi has no interest in pushing the escalation with Islamabad to a “nuclear showdown,” but needs to show Pakistan that it shouldn't “destabilize” and “promote violence” in India, former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has told RT.
“India has no interest in pushing things that far,” the diplomat said. “But, India would like to teach Pakistan a lesson so that it knows that it has a price to pay” for promoting violence and “killing innocent civilians and tourists,” Sibal added. “This is unacceptable.”
India’s suspension of visa services for Pakistani nationals will not extend to Long Term Visas held by Hindu Pakistani multinationals, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Those will remain valid.
Islamabad rejects the Indian “misinformation campaign against Pakistan” following the attack in Pahalgam, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch has said in a statement, warning of a risk to the stability of the region.
The top diplomat also “cautioned against Indian attempts to escalate tensions and reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to counter any misadventure,” according to the ministry statement.
The Indian Navy has paid tribute to Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, the officer who was killed during the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
His last rites were carried out with full military honors in his home city of Karnal.
New Delhi is getting ready for all-out war, and Islamabad is prepared to respond in kind, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif claimed during a National Security Committee meeting.
“India, according to our information, is preparing for an all-out war. It is fully preparing for terrorism in the cities of Pakistan,” he said. “We are fully prepared for this and this will be tit-for-tat.”
Indian lawmakers have shown overwhelming support for the actions taken so far by New Delhi against Pakistan, Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju told Asian News International (ANI) on Thursday, following an all-party government meeting.
”The meeting went very well, and in fact, all the political leaders unanimously supported the action taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security with regard to Pakistan,” he said.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s benchmark on the Karachi Stock Exchange 100 index fell by more than 2,200 points, wiping out 1.88% from its total worth on Thursday after India’s diplomatic and political response to the terror attack.
Pakistani Rangers have captured an Indian Border Security Force trooper in Punjab on Thursday, Indian media reports. The soldier, identified as Constable P.K. Singh of the 182nd BSF battalion, allegedly strayed into Pakistani territory near Ferozepur.
The RT India social media team has explained the importance of the now-suspended Indus Waters Treaty in a series of posts on X.
Air India has said some of its flights to North America, Europe, and the Middle East will take longer alternate routes due to Pakistan’s closure of its airspace for Indian carriers.
India has scaled down its display at the Retreat Ceremony held at Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki in Punjab, following the deadly terror attack in Kashmir and announcement of tit-for-tat diplomatic measures.
The gates from both sides remained closed during the iconic Beating Retreat ceremony on Thursday.
India has urged its citizens in Pakistan to return home “at the earliest” and advised those planning to travel there to reconsider.
India’s Foreign Ministry has also announced the suspension of visa services for Pakistani nationals. Earlier, it halted visas to Pakistani citizens under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) framework.
“Pakistan vehemently rejects the Indian announcement to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance… Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty… will be considered as an Act of War and responded with full force,” Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s office has said in a statement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a strong warning to those responsible for the deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir.
“I say to the whole world, India will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth,” he told a rally. “Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done.”