India and Pakistan troops clash in disputed Kashmir
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Indian and Pakistani forces exchange fire for the fourth night in Kashmir, as tensions escalate along the Line of Control following the attack which left 26 dead.
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Indian paramilitary soldiers guard inside a Mughal garden on the outskirts of Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sunday, April. 27, 2025 (AP)
Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged gunfire in disputed Kashmir for a fourth consecutive night, according to New Delhi's army on Monday, marking the latest escalation in violence as tensions between the rival nuclear-armed neighbors continue to worsen.
"During the night of April 27-28... Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control", the Indian Army announced in a statement, referring to the de-facto border in Kashmir. "Indian troops responded swiftly and effectively," India added.
India has accused Pakistan of backing "cross-border terrorism" following an attack by gunmen that left 26 people dead last week, marking the deadliest assault on civilians in the disputed Muslim-majority region of Kashmir in 25 years.
Among the dead were 25 Indians and one Nepalese citizen. A group that identifies itself as the Kashmir Resistance group claimed responsibility, citing opposition to the demographic changes, namely the settlement of over 85,000 "outsiders" since India revoked Kashmir's special status in 2019.
In response, Indian security forces launched a major manhunt, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cut short a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to New Delhi on Wednesday. The attack has raised concerns over the safety of tourists, leading to flight surges from Srinagar and protests in the region. Kashmir's tourism, which had been growing due to a decline in insurgent violence, now faces new challenges amid ongoing conflict.
Islamabad has rejected any involvement, dismissing attempts to connect Pakistan to the attack as "frivolous" while pledging to retaliate against any Indian measures.
Following the April 22 attack, New Delhi took several retaliatory measures, including downgrading diplomatic relations, revoking visas for Pakistani nationals, suspending a key water-sharing agreement, and declaring the shutdown of the primary land border crossing with Pakistan.
Reacting to India's measures, Islamabad escalated tensions by ordering Indian diplomats and military advisors to leave the country, revoking visas for Indian citizens, and imposing a ban on Indian aircraft using Pakistani airspace.
