A brief exchange of small arms fire between Indian and Pakistani troops erupted overnight across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, marking the first military confrontation since a ceasefire pledge in 2021. The firing took place during the night of 25–26 April, with the Indian Army confirming that "unprovoked small firing was carried out by various Pakistan Army posts all across the Line of Control in Kashmir. Indian troops responded appropriately with small arms. No casualties reported."
The incident follows closely on the heels of a militant assault on a tourist site in Pahalgam that left 26 men dead, the worst attack on civilians in the region in over two decades. The attack has sharpened tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals and triggered a wave of diplomatic and military posturing.
According to Indian authorities, soldiers on Friday conducted operations in north Kashmir in search of the attackers. The Indian Army confirmed via a post on X that it had also engaged in a separate encounter with militants in the region.
Additionally, Pakistan’s Senate passed a resolution on Friday condemning “a campaign by the Indian government to malign the Pakistan government.” Pakistani official Syed Ashfaq Gilani confirmed to AFP that there was an exchange of fire but said, “There was no firing on the civilian population.”
The Indian government also closed the border for trade, and airlines from Pakistan have been barred from Indian airspace. Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in the region on a two-day visit to assess the security situation and supervise operations.
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, said, “It will get figured out, one way or another,” in a bid to downplay fears of escalation.
Tuesday’s assault in Pahalgam was particularly brutal. Survivors told media outlets that the attackers emerged from the forest and fired indiscriminately. Reports also suggest that gunmen spared those who could recite the Islamic declaration of faith. Among the dead were mostly Hindu tourists, but also a Kashmiri Muslim guide who died trying to shield others.
The deadly events in Pahalgam and the retaliatory measures have also brought rare cross-border visits to a sudden halt, once again separating families divided by the conflict.
While Friday’s gunfire caused no injuries, it signalled the fragility of the ceasefire accord and the potential for further military confrontation. As analysts warn of possible escalations, both sides continue to exchange threats and accusations.
The U.N. Security Council condemned the Pahalgam attack as a “terrorist attack” and urged for justice. But on the ground, both militaries remain on high alert, and the path to de-escalation looks increasingly uncertain.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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Security forces hunt suspects linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba
Police have launched a massive manhunt across Jammu and Kashmir. Officials released wanted posters featuring sketches of three suspects. Two of them, police say, are Pakistani nationals associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned Pakistan-based militant group designated a terrorist organisation by both India and the United States.According to Indian authorities, soldiers on Friday conducted operations in north Kashmir in search of the attackers. The Indian Army confirmed via a post on X that it had also engaged in a separate encounter with militants in the region.
Pakistan rejects claims, accuses India of deflection
Islamabad has denied any involvement in the Pahalgam attack, which India labelled an act of terrorism. “Any threat to Pakistan's sovereignty and to the security of its people will be met with firm reciprocal measures in all domains,” said a government statement issued after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a rare National Security Committee meeting with top military leaders.Additionally, Pakistan’s Senate passed a resolution on Friday condemning “a campaign by the Indian government to malign the Pakistan government.” Pakistani official Syed Ashfaq Gilani confirmed to AFP that there was an exchange of fire but said, “There was no firing on the civilian population.”
India retaliates with sweeping measures
In response to the Pahalgam killings, the Indian government has launched a series of retaliatory steps. These include suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, halting diplomatic engagement, downgrading missions, cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, and closing the main land border crossing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, “We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.”The Indian government also closed the border for trade, and airlines from Pakistan have been barred from Indian airspace. Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in the region on a two-day visit to assess the security situation and supervise operations.
UN and US urge restraint amid crisis
Amid rising hostilities, the United Nations has called on both countries to step back from confrontation. “We are appealing to both countries to ensure that the situation and the developments we've seen do not deteriorate any further,” said U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, said, “It will get figured out, one way or another,” in a bid to downplay fears of escalation.
An already fraught relationship on edge
India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed, have a long and bloody history over Kashmir. The region has been disputed since Partition in 1947, with both nations claiming it in full and governing separate parts. In 2019, a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian soldiers led to retaliatory Indian airstrikes inside Pakistan — the closest the two came to full-scale war in recent history.Tuesday’s assault in Pahalgam was particularly brutal. Survivors told media outlets that the attackers emerged from the forest and fired indiscriminately. Reports also suggest that gunmen spared those who could recite the Islamic declaration of faith. Among the dead were mostly Hindu tourists, but also a Kashmiri Muslim guide who died trying to shield others.
The deadly events in Pahalgam and the retaliatory measures have also brought rare cross-border visits to a sudden halt, once again separating families divided by the conflict.
While Friday’s gunfire caused no injuries, it signalled the fragility of the ceasefire accord and the potential for further military confrontation. As analysts warn of possible escalations, both sides continue to exchange threats and accusations.
The U.N. Security Council condemned the Pahalgam attack as a “terrorist attack” and urged for justice. But on the ground, both militaries remain on high alert, and the path to de-escalation looks increasingly uncertain.
(With inputs from Agencies)
