Pakistan Issues War Threat to India: On Tuesday, a shooting incident at a popular tourist site in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir resulted in the deaths of 26 people, making it one of the most lethal attacks on civilians in nearly two decades. All but one of the victims were Indian citizens.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, India has accused Pakistan of enabling cross-border terrorism. In retaliation, India has threatened to cut off its water supply to Pakistan.
Indian officials have linked the attack to the Pakistan-based terror organization Lashkar-e-Taiba and have offered a reward of 2,000,000 rupees (approximately £17,600) for information leading to the arrest of those involved.
On Wednesday, New Delhi announced the immediate suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, stating that it would remain in effect until Pakistan ceases its support for cross-border terrorism. This treaty, mediated by the World Bank, regulates the allocation of Indus River waters and its tributaries between the two countries, which rely on these Himalayan rivers for agricultural irrigation. The treaty has persisted even through conflicts between India and Pakistan.
In reaction to the suspension of the treaty, Islamabad expressed serious concern on Thursday. Following a national security meeting led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Pakistani government declared, “Any efforts to stop or redirect the water flow as stipulated by the Indus Waters Treaty will be considered an act of war and will provoke a full response utilizing all national resources.”
Furthermore, Pakistan announced its intention to reassess all bilateral agreements with India, including the Simla Agreement, which outlines diplomatic and military protocols between the two nations.
Relatives mourn the loss of Indian tourists killed in the terrorist attack in Kolkata.
India has begun the process of expelling Pakistani diplomats, closed a major border crossing, and ordered Pakistani nationals to leave the country within 48 hours.
Even before these recent events, diplomatic ties between the nuclear-armed neighbors were already tense, but the Kashmir attack has significantly heightened tensions, with provocative actions from both sides.
In a statement on Thursday, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Those responsible for such acts will face appropriate consequences, which will soon be apparent.”
Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defense minister, countered by accusing India of planning terrorist acts within Pakistan, warning, “If our citizens are not secure, then yours will not be either.”
On Thursday morning, an Indian soldier was killed during a confrontation between security forces and militants in Udhampur district, Kashmir.
Pakistani nationals have started leaving India in accordance with New Delhi’s expulsion order, with many cutting their family visits short. As they exited through the now-closed Attari-Wagah border crossing in Punjab, they condemned the attack on Indian civilians.
In Jammu, Indian-administered Kashmir, protesters burned tires in a demonstration on Wednesday.
The current escalation has brought back memories of the 2019 Balakot crisis, which was triggered by a suicide bombing in Pulwama, Kashmir, that killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel. India retaliated with airstrikes on Balakot, claiming to have killed hundreds of militants, a claim that has not been independently verified. Pakistan responded the next day by targeting Indian military sites, downing an Indian fighter jet and capturing its pilot, who was later released.
Since then, India has bolstered its military capabilities by acquiring French Rafale jets and Russia’s S-400 air defense systems.
Experts warn that the ongoing crisis could spiral out of control. “This government thrives on polarization,” noted Parveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group.
