Indian and Pakistani soldiers recently engaged in a brief exchange of fire along the heavily fortified border in the disputed Kashmir region, as Indian authorities revealed on Friday. This confrontation occurred amidst escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors following a tragic attack on tourists.
The massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, predominantly Indian nationals, has been labeled a “terror attack” by India. They have accused Pakistan of supporting the perpetrators. On the other hand, Pakistan has vehemently denied any involvement in the attack, which occurred close to the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. Responsibility for the assault was claimed by a previously unheard of militant group known as the Kashmir Resistance.
Against this backdrop of heightened alertness, three sources within the Indian army disclosed that Pakistani troops fired upon an Indian position in Kashmir late on Thursday. The sources, speaking anonymously in accordance with protocols, reported that Indian forces responded to the aggression, with no casualties being reported as a result of the skirmish.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on the report.
Also Friday, hundreds of people rallied in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, to denounce the suspension of the water-sharing treaty.
The demonstrators chanted slogans against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and burned his effigy before dispersing peacefully. Similar small rallies were also held elsewhere.
Pakistan’s Senate condemned the attack, while passing a resolution denouncing New Delhi’s attempt to link Islamabad to it and the suspension of the water treaty.
Hundreds of demonstrators also took to streets in India’s capital of New Delhi, where most markets were shut in protest against the killings. They demanded action against Pakistan.
“Now our patience has run out,” protester Surekha Sharma said. “Now we want revenge for this.”
