Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan in Kashmir amid exchanges of gunfire.
A Pakistani official reported to Agence France-Presse that Pakistani and Indian forces fired at each other overnight along the Line of Control, which serves as the de facto border between the two countries in the disputed region of Kashmir. Pakistan has warned its neighbor against any “reckless adventure,” reaffirming its full readiness to respond to any aggression that threatens its sovereignty and security.
Mr. Ashfaq Gillani, a government official in the Jehlum Valley of Kashmir, stated, “An exchange of fire occurred between two positions in the Leepa Valley overnight, without targeting civilians. Life continues, and schools are open.”
Conversely, Indian military sources indicated that their forces retaliated to gunfire originating from the Pakistani side that targeted Indian positions, with no casualties reported.
This escalation comes amid rising tensions, particularly following an attack on Tuesday in the Indian-administered Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists. India has pointed fingers at a group it claims operates from Pakistani territory, accusations that Islamabad hastened to deny.
In response to the incident, the Indian government announced a series of diplomatic measures, including the suspension of a water-sharing treaty, closure of the main land border crossing, reduction of diplomatic personnel, and suspension of visa issuance for Pakistani citizens, urging those currently in India to leave.
Pakistan’s response was swift, with Islamabad announcing after an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee the expulsion of Indian diplomats, cancellation of their visas, closure of the border and airspace with India, and a halt to all forms of trade.
The Pakistani government asserted that any Indian attempt to stop water supplies from the Indus River, under the treaty mediated by the World Bank, would be considered “a blatant act of hostility,” suggesting the potential for the conflict to escalate into a broader confrontation involving water as a strategic element.
In a statement from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, it emphasized that the country “will not tolerate any infringement on its sovereignty and security,” reiterating its commitment to peace but underscoring the full readiness of the armed forces to respond to any threat.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry also stated that Indian defense advisors are now “unwelcome,” giving them 48 hours to leave the country, in a diplomatic escalation that reflects the growing tensions between the two nuclear neighbors.
