A deadly attack which left 26 tourists dead in Kashmir has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan again.
India accused Pakistan of supporting ‘cross-border terrorism’ on Wednesday night and imposed diplomatic measures, including downgrading diplomatic ties, suspending a key water-sharing treaty and shutting the predominant land border crossing with Pakistan.
Pakistan has denied the accusations from India, and a previously unknown militant group calling itself Kashmir Resistance has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In an announcement issued on Thursday, India’s foreign ministry said all visas issued to Pakistani nationals can be revoked with effect from Sunday. It also advised Indian residents to not travel to Pakistan.
In retaliation, Pakistan cancelled visas for Indian nationals, closed its airspace for all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines, and suspended all trade with India, including to and from any third country.
Here’s the whole lot you must know.
Why are tensions so high?
Diplomatic ties between the 2 countries were already weak, particularly after India revoked Kashmir’s semiautonomous status in 2019.
India and Pakistan are each in command of differing parts of Kashmir, but each claim the territory in its entirety.
The 2 sides have long accused one another of backing forces to destabilise each other, and Latest Delhi describes all militancy in Kashmir as Pakistan-backed terrorism.
Pakistan denies this, and lots of Muslim Kashmiris consider the militants to be a part of a home-grown freedom struggle.
What happened at Palagham?
On April 22, 26 people were shot dead after gunmen opened fire on visitors at a well-liked tourist spot in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Police have described the incident as a ‘terror attack’ and blamed militants fighting against Indian rule in Pahalgam, often known as India’s ‘Mini Switzerland’.
Two senior law enforcement officials said not less than 4 gunmen, whom they described as militants, fired at dozens of tourists from close range.
The officers said not less than three dozen people were wounded, lots of them reported to be in serious condition.
What’s the Indus Water Treaty?
The Indus Water Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allows for sharing the waters of a river system that could be a lifeline for each countries, particularly for Pakistan’s agriculture.
The treaty has survived two wars between the countries, in 1965 and 1971, and a significant border skirmish in 1999.
After the attack in Kashmir, India has suspended the treaty with Pakistan, but Pakistan has said India doesn’t have the facility to achieve this, since the World Bank has a stake in it.
Six rivers are involved within the treaty. India has control over the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers, whilst Pakistan has the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
What have politicians said?
India said a variety of Pakistani diplomats were asked to depart Latest Delhi, and Indian diplomats were recalled from Pakistan.
Diplomatic missions in each countries will reduce their staff from 55 to 30 as of May 1, India’s foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, announced Wednesday night.
Mr Misri also said the one functional land border crossing between the countries could be closed.
Some fear Latest Delhi may move beyond diplomatic sanctions because the country’s media and leaders from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist ruling party call for military motion.
What’s happened during other times of tension?
In 2019, when insurgents rammed a automobile filled with explosives right into a paramilitary convoy, killing 40 soldiers, India claimed to strike a militant training camp inside Pakistan.
Pakistan responded with air raids, downed an Indian military aircraft and captured an Indian pilot who was later released.
Two years later, in 2021, the 2 countries renewed a previous ceasefire agreement along their border, which has largely held despite attacks on Indian forces by insurgents in Kashmir.
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