Tensions rise as India and Pakistan clash after Kashmir attack

India has accused Pakistan of backing "cross-border terrorism" following a deadly assault that left 26 civilians dead in Kashmir, marking the region's worst civilian attack in 25 years.

Islamabad denied involvement, dismissing any attempts to link Pakistan to the incident as "frivolous" and warned it would respond to any Indian actions.

On Sunday, India’s military showcased naval drills, releasing images of warships launching missiles, while security forces intensified their search for those responsible for the April 22 attack in the tourist hub of Pahalgam.

India’s military reported "unprovoked" gunfire from Pakistan along the Line of Control, to which Indian troops responded effectively. Pakistan has not commented on the latest clash.

Indian police issued wanted posters for three suspects  two Pakistanis and one Indian  allegedly linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based group designated as a terrorist organization by the UN.

The Indian federal home ministry assigned the investigation to the National Investigation Agency, which specializes in counter-terrorism. Officials are meticulously questioning witnesses to reconstruct the sequence of events behind the attack.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed willingness for Pakistan to take part in a neutral and credible investigation.

Meanwhile, India’s navy confirmed it conducted exercises to demonstrate its readiness for long-range precision strikes, without specifying the location. Reports suggest India is considering military retaliation.

Since their independence in 1947, India and Pakistan have both claimed Kashmir entirely but control different parts. Armed insurgency has persisted in Indian-administered Kashmir since 1989, with rebels demanding independence or union with Pakistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed justice for the victims, accusing terrorists and their supporters of conspiring to destroy Kashmir once again.

Indian forces have demolished homes of suspected militants, including the residence of a key suspect, Farooq Ahmad Tadwa, in Kupwara district. Nine houses have been destroyed since the Pahalgam attack.

Following the attack, India suspended a water treaty with Pakistan, closed a major land border crossing, downgraded diplomatic relations, and revoked visas for Pakistani nationals.

Pakistan responded by expelling Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelling Indian visas except for Sikh pilgrims, and shutting its side of the border crossing.

The United Nations has urged both nations to exercise "maximum restraint" and resolve issues through peaceful and meaningful dialogue.

The Pahalgam attack marks a significant shift from typical militant actions in Kashmir, which often target security forces. A similar escalation occurred in 2019 when a suicide bombing killed 41 Indian soldiers, bringing the two countries close to war.