Pahalgam Terrorist Attack: Unprecedented Tension Between India and Pakistan

During the assault, four gunmen entered the Baisaran Valley meadow, situated approximately 7 km from Pahalgam town. They killed 26 tourists, including one foreign national from Nepal, and wounded 12 others.

This attack is one of the rare instances of violence against Indian tourists and is the most significant terrorist incident in the state of Jammu and Kashmir since the bombing outside the state assembly in October 2001 which killed 35 people.

The attack was claimed by a group known as the Resistance Front (TRF), which India describes as a splinter group of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist organization and alleges is supported by Pakistan. The issue of “support for terrorism” is a significant point of contention between the two countries. This has been a recurring theme in the statements made by officials from both nations regarding militant groups operating in Pakistan’s Balochistan province and Jammu and Kashmir.

Following the armed attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi abruptly ended his trip to Saudi Arabia and returned to New Delhi. The Indian government convened a security meeting, and the Foreign Ministry issued a statement advising citizens to refrain from traveling to Pakistan while urging Indian nationals to leave the country as quickly as possible. Moreover, India has intensified tensions with Pakistan and announced the suspension of their longstanding water treaty, which has been in effect since 1960 and during prior conflicts, including the wars of 1965 and 1971.

The Indus Waters Treaty governs the use of water from the Indus River and its five main tributaries: the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. This agreement, mediated by the World Bank, is crucial for the water supply of both India and Pakistan, with Pakistan’s economy and agriculture heavily reliant on it.

In response to Indian accusations, Pakistani officials have denied any wrongdoing and have accused India of supporting attacks on Pakistani consulates in Afghanistan. They have threatened to respond appropriately to any actions taken by India.

As a result, Pakistan has suspended trade relations with India and has given Indian diplomats until the end of April to leave the country. Additionally, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian aircraft and declared that any violations of rights concerning the Indus River will be considered an act of war.

Kashmir is a region in Central Asia that has long been a point of contention among Pakistan, India, and China since World War II and the withdrawal of the British from India. In this context, India and Pakistan have fought several wars over control of the region, and both countries have bolstered their pro-independence movements to claim it.