BEIJING, CHINA — For the third consecutive night, troops from Pakistan and India have exchanged fire across the volatile Line of Control (LOC) in disputed Kashmir, officials reported on Sunday, further exacerbating already strained relations between the two nuclear-armed nations, which have now reached their lowest point in years.
India has accused Pakistan of actively supporting “cross-border terrorism” following a recent attack by gunmen on civilians in Muslim-majority Kashmir – the deadliest such incident in a quarter of a century.
Islamabad has vehemently denied any involvement in the attack, dismissing attempts to link Pakistan to the violence as “frivolous” and vowing to retaliate against any potential Indian action.
Indian security forces have initiated a large-scale manhunt to apprehend those responsible for the deaths of 26 individuals at a popular tourist destination in Pahalgam on April 22nd. Police have identified two Pakistani nationals among the suspected fugitive gunmen.
The Indian army stated on Sunday that there had been “unprovoked” firing of small arms, which they attributed to being “initiated by Pakistan” along the LOC, the de facto border separating the Indian and Pakistani-administered portions of Kashmir.
“(Our) own troops responded effectively with appropriate small arms fire,” the army added in its statement. As of this report, Pakistan has not yet confirmed the latest exchange of fire.
In the immediate aftermath of the deadly attack, New Delhi implemented a series of punitive measures, including the suspension of a long-standing water-sharing treaty, the closure of the primary land border crossing with Pakistan, the downgrading of diplomatic ties, and the withdrawal of visas for Pakistani citizens.
In a reciprocal move, Islamabad has ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelled visas for Indian nationals (with the exception of Sikh pilgrims), and closed the main border crossing from its side.
The United Nations has issued a strong appeal to both India and Pakistan, urging the arch-rivals to exercise “maximum restraint” to ensure that all outstanding issues can be “resolved peacefully through meaningful mutual engagement.”
