India and Pakistan Clash: Troops Exchange Fire in Kashmir

For three consecutive nights, troops from Pakistan and India have been exchanging gunfire over the contested region of Kashmir, according to officials. This escalation has caused tensions between the two nuclear-powered adversaries to reach their lowest point in many years.

India has charged Pakistan with backing "cross-border terrorism" following an assault by militants that left 26 individuals dead, marking the most severe attack on civilians in predominantly Muslim Kashmir in over twenty-five years.

Islamabad has refuted all allegations of involvement, dismissing efforts to connect Pakistan with the incident as "trivial," and promising a response should India take any actions.

On Sunday, India conducted naval exercises during which pictures were released showing warships launching missiles. Meanwhile, the nation’s security personnel continued their search for individuals responsible for the assault that took place on April 22 at a popular tourist destination in Pahalgam.

The military held Pakistan responsible for the "unjustified" shooting with small arms across Kashmir's Line of Control, which divides the two nations.

"Their forces reacted appropriately with targeted small arms fire," it stated regarding the most recent event, which hasn’t been covered by Pakistani media.

The Indian police have released wanted posters for three individuals — two from Pakistan and one from India — whom they claim are part of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba organization, which has been designated as a terrorist group by the UN.

India's federal home ministry has transferred the investigation of the attack to the National Investigation Agency, which specializes in counter-terrorism.

An official release stated on Sunday, "Law enforcement officials are meticulously interrogating witnesses to reconstruct the series of incidents that culminated in one of the most devastating terrorist strikes in Kashmir."

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Saturday that his country is “willing to take part in any impartial, open, and trustworthy inquiry” regarding the incident.

- Naval drills conducted by India -

India's navy also announced that they conducted exercises aimed at "validating and showcasing the preparedness of vessels, systems, and personnel for executing extended-range precise offensive strikes," though they did not specify the location of these drills.

On Sunday, The Indian Express cited a high-ranking government official stating that "retaliatory military action is planned," and that officials are currently "deliberating on the specifics of the operation."

Since their independence in 1947, Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan. Despite both countries claiming the entire region, they each control different sections of it.

Insurgent forces have been engaged in a rebellion in Indian-administered Kashmir starting from 1989, seeking either freedom or annexation with Pakistan.

India's Hindu-nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed on Sunday his promise that the victims from Pahalgam will receive justice.

"Terrorists and those who support them desire for Kashmir to be devastated once more; therefore, this significant plot was orchestrated," he stated during his monthly radio broadcast to the country.

On Saturday, troops operating under Indian control carried out an attack on the family residence of one of the suspects in Pahalgam.

The residence of Farooq Ahmad Tadwa in the Kupwara district was demolished by officials as part of a sequence of such actions aimed at homes linked to suspected militants.

As reported by The News Pulse on Sunday under conditions of anonymity, a law enforcement officer stated that nine houses linked to militants had been targeted with airstrikes following the incident in Pahalgam.

Following the assault, New Delhi terminated a water-sharing agreement, shut down the principal land border point between India and Pakistan, reduced diplomatic relations, and revoked Pakistani citizens' visas.

As a result, Islamabad has directed the removal of Indian diplomats and military advisors, revoked visas for Indians—except for Sikh pilgrims—and shut down the principal border crossing point on their end.

The United Nations has called upon the long-time adversaries to exhibit "utmost restraint" with the aim of resolving matters "peacefully via significant reciprocal dialogue."

Pahalgam signifies a significant change in recent Kashmiri militant assaults, which usually focus on Indian security forces.

In 2019, a suicide attack killed 41 Indian troops in Kashmir and triggered Indian air strikes inside Pakistan, bringing the countries to the brink of all-out war.

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