India Claims Response to ‘Unprovoked’ Small Arms Fire from Pakistan for Fourth Consecutive Night, Intensifies Search for Militants After Deadly Kashmir Attack
Following the April 22 assault that claimed 26 lives, India has identified two of the three suspected militants as Pakistani nationals, while Pakistan denies involvement and calls for an impartial investigation.
Militants Target Hindus in Pahalgam Attack, Security Forces Investigate as India and Pakistan Tensions Escalate
Survivors and security officials report that militants separated men, identified their names, and targeted Hindus before executing close-range shootings. The attack has sparked outrage in Hindu-majority India, fueling calls for action against Pakistan, which New Delhi accuses of supporting terrorism in Kashmir. Both nations, nuclear-armed and in dispute over the region, have taken retaliatory actions, including India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines.
China Urges Restraint as India and Pakistan Exchange Small Arms Fire Along Kashmir Border
China called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, expressing hope that all efforts would help de-escalate tensions. The Indian Army reported responding to ‘unprovoked’ small arms fire from multiple Pakistan Army posts along the 740-km de facto border in Kashmir, without casualties. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military confirmed the killing of 54 Islamist militants attempting to cross from Afghanistan. India has conducted several military exercises across the country in response, some of which are routine preparedness drills.”
500 Detained in Kashmir Amid Search for Militants After Deadliest Attack in Two Decades
Security forces in Indian Kashmir have detained approximately 500 people for questioning following searches of nearly 1,000 houses and forests in pursuit of militants, a local police official confirmed. At least nine houses have been demolished. In the wake of the deadly attack, political leaders urged caution to prevent harm to innocent civilians. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized the importance of public support in combating militancy, noting the shifting sentiment in the region. Meanwhile, The Resistance Front, initially claiming responsibility, has since denied involvement in the attack.
The Resistance Front Denies Involvement in Kashmir Attack, Blames ‘Cyber Intrusion’ for False Claim
The group, believed to be an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, clarified its stance by attributing the earlier social media post claiming responsibility for the attack to a ‘cyber intrusion,’ according to a Delhi-based think tank.
