Indian officials say troops exchanged fire with Pakistani soldiers in Kashmir

In a recent development, Indian officials reported a brief exchange of fire with Pakistani soldiers along the highly militarized frontier in Kashmir. This incident occurred as tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations escalated following a deadly attack on tourists in the disputed region.

The gunfight took place after gunmen killed 26 people near the resort town of Pahalgam in Kashmir. India labeled the incident a “terror attack” with alleged “cross border” links to Pakistan. However, Pakistan denied any involvement, and a new militant group called the Kashmir Resistance claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to Indian army officials, Pakistani soldiers initiated the conflict by firing at an Indian position, prompting Indian soldiers to retaliate. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the exchange.

Both India and Pakistan have engaged in diplomatic actions against each other following the attack. India suspended a water-sharing treaty, closed a land border crossing, and revoked visas for Pakistani nationals. In response, Pakistan canceled visas for Indian nationals, closed its airspace to Indian airlines, and suspended all trade with India.

The United Nations has urged both countries to exercise restraint and resolve their differences peacefully. The recent attack in Kashmir has reignited tensions in the region, where both countries claim sovereignty.

This incident serves as a reminder of the longstanding conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, a region that has been at the center of a decades-long rebellion against Indian rule. The two countries have differing perspectives on the issue, with India viewing all militancy in Kashmir as terrorism backed by Pakistan, while Pakistan maintains that the militants are part of a local freedom struggle.

This article was reported from New Delhi by Roy, with contributions from Munir Ahmed in Islamabad.