India-Pakistan Tensions Grow After Kashmir Attack

Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India —(Map)

Tensions between India and Pakistan have been growing after a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir. The attack has led to a serious breakdown in relations between the two countries. The countries have a long history of fighting, and many people worry that the tensions could lead to increased violence.

Last Tuesday, gunmen attacked a group of tourists in Kashmir, killing 26 people. Most of the victims were from India. The attackers are believed to be members of a terrorist group fighting against India’s control of Kashmir. Not much is known about the group.

Kashmir is a beautiful area in the Himalayan mountains, but it has long been a source of serious problems between India and Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan control parts of Kashmir, but each country claims that all of Kashmir belongs to it.

There is a long history of tension between India and Pakistan. The two countries have fought three wars. In two of the wars, the fighting was focused on Kashmir.

In 2019, after a terrorist attack in Kashmir killed 40 Indian soldiers, India attacked a training camp inside Pakistan. Pakistan shot down an Indian plane and captured a pilot. The pilot was later returned, but tensions remained high.

Before the 2019 conflict, India treated its part of Kashmir as special. Following the conflict, India removed its special rules for Kashmir. This upset many people in Kashmir. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the changes helped keep Kashmir safe. The recent attack suggests that he may have been mistaken.

People in India are extremely upset over the shootings. India took several steps meant to punish Pakistan. India cut off all trade with Pakistan. It has closed its border and won’t allow any more visitors from Pakistan. Above, Indian soldiers stand guard at a border crossing into India last Thursday.

People in India are extremely upset over the shootings. Mr. Modi said India would chase the attackers “to the ends of the Earth.” India claims Pakistan encouraged the violence, but Pakistan says it isn’t involved.

After the attack on Tuesday, India took several steps meant to punish Pakistan. India cut off all trade with Pakistan. It has closed its border and won’t allow any more visitors from Pakistan. India also said that it would remove many of its diplomats from Pakistan.

Perhaps most importantly, India says it suspended a treaty which controls how the two countries share water from the Indus River. The treaty has been in place since 1960. Pakistan said India’s actions were “irresponsible”. Its government said any attempt by India to cut or limit water to Pakistan would be considered an “act of war”.

India says it suspended a treaty which controls how the two countries share water from the Indus River. Pakistan said any attempt by India to cut or limit water to Pakistan would be considered an “act of war”. Above, an important dam in Haripur, Pakistan.

Pakistan has also stopped doing business with India, and is not letting in any Indian visitors. The country says planes from India can’t fly over its territory. Pakistan has also threatened that it might end an important peace treaty reached in 1971.

The growing tension has led to more violence. On Thursday night, Indian soldiers reported that they had exchanged gunfire with Pakistan soldiers. The shooting stopped and no one was hurt.

The situation has many people worried that India and Pakistan might take actions that could lead to greater violence. Both countries have nuclear weapons, which raises concerns that the fighting could become much more serious.

The United Nations has encourage India and Pakistan to try to calm the situation down.