In the Kashmir Valley, there was another exchange of fire between the armies of India and Pakistan
Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian border posts in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian army returned fire, saying the attack was unprovoked. Tensions have increased since the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. India accuses Pakistan of supporting terrorism.
Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian border posts along the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir. This is reported by the Times of India, citing data from the Indian Army. The shootings continue for the third night in a row.
The Indian side stated that the attack was unprovoked, and the fire was conducted from small arms in areas located opposite the Tutmari Gali and Rampur sectors. In response, the Indian military opened fire on Pakistani positions.
According to NDTV, Indian authorities are conducting searches in various areas, during which the houses of people suspected of terrorist activities are being demolished. Over the past 48 hours, the homes of six suspected terrorists and their associates have been destroyed.
The terrorist attack in Pahalgam and its consequences
The main factor that led to the escalation of violence on the border was the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, one of the most visited cities in the Jammu and Kashmir region. On April 22, an armed group operating in the region attacked a group of tourists, killing 26 people, including 25 Indian citizens and one Nepalese citizen. Many people were also injured.
The Resistance Front group, an offshoot of the radical terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (the organization is banned in Russia), which is based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. The Indian authorities immediately accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism on its territory.
After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Indian authorities took a number of harsh steps against Pakistan. One of the most significant steps was the suspension of the 1960 treaty on the waters of the Indus Rivers. This agreement regulates the distribution of waters of the six rivers of the Indus basin, which are of strategic importance to both countries. In addition, India has stepped up anti-terrorism measures in Jammu and Kashmir, initiating a series of raids in suspicious areas where, according to authorities, militants and their accomplices are hiding.
Pakistan, in turn, rejected India's accusations of involvement in the terrorist attack and claims that it does not support terrorist groups on its territory. In an interview with RIA Novosti, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan does not intend to launch military operations against India, but is ready to respond to any attack from the Indian side. In an interview with Sky News, he stressed that the conflict could escalate into a nuclear standoff.
Pakistan has also retaliated against India. In particular, the Pakistani authorities have closed its airspace to Indian airlines and suspended trade with India. In addition, Islamabad has suspended visa programs for Indian citizens. Pakistan also stated that it would consider any Indian attempts to block the flow of the Indus rivers as an act of war.
The problem of Jammu and Kashmir
The Jammu and Kashmir region is a disputed territory divided between India, Pakistan and partly China. After the partition of British India in 1947, both India and Pakistan claimed full control of the territory, which led to several wars and numerous clashes.
India controls most of the region, including the capital Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan controls parts of the territory known as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. China also controls part of the territory, including Aksai Chin, which India considers its own.
The conflict was initially caused by religious and ethnic differences: Jammu and Kashmir, despite having a majority Muslim population, chose India as its ally after partition in 1947. These circumstances have given rise to a long and bloody conflict, which continues to have a significant impact on the political and social situation in the region.
Since the annexation of Jammu and Kashmir to India, Pakistan has repeatedly declared the right of the region's inhabitants to self-determination and supported various armed groups fighting for independence or the region's annexation to Pakistan.
Gennady Svidrigailov
