The long-standing Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan has taken on a new and dangerous dimension with the latest terrorist attack in the region. The attack by armed militants in the Kashmir town of Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, which killed 26 tourists, has put diplomatic, military and trade relations between the two nuclear powers on a knife-edge. Despite the United Nations’ call for “utmost restraint,” reports of clashes along the border suggest tensions are escalating.
Mutual Fire and Accusations on the Border
According to the French news agency AFP, fighting broke out along the Line of Control (LOC) that marks the border between Pakistan and India in Kashmir. Indian army sources told Al Jazeera on Friday, April 25, that the Pakistani side had started the fire. A government official from Pakistan-administered Kashmir confirmed to AFP that the soldiers had opened fire on each other, but did not specify who had fired. Pakistani official Syed Ashfaq Gilani said that no civilians were fired upon, and diplomatic and political confrontations between the two countries have intensified since the incident.
Pakistan Takes Retaliatory Steps and Closure of Airspace
With the rising tensions, Pakistan has taken a series of retaliatory steps against India. First, Pakistani airspace was closed to Indian airlines. Then, it took a tough stance against New Delhi’s possible suspension of the vital Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan’s official statement emphasized that as of April 30, India’s diplomatic staff in Islamabad will be restricted to a maximum of 30 people and Pakistani airspace will be closed to all flights belonging to or operated by India.
Trade Relations Suspended, Border Gate Closed
The harsh statements have brought relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, who have fought three wars, to their lowest level in years. Pakistan announced that all trade with India was suspended and that the Wagah Border Gate, a key crossing point between the two countries, would be closed immediately. This situation between India and Pakistan, who have not been able to share Kashmir since their independence in 1947 and claim the entire region, has been the basis for years of violence and tension.
Critical Standoff Over Indus Waters Treaty
In a statement made by the Pakistani Prime Minister's Office, the decisions taken by the National Security Council (NSC) convened under the leadership of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif were shared with the public. The statement emphasized that India's attempt to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty was definitely rejected and that the treaty was of vital importance for regional stability. While Pakistan's determination to protect its water rights was clearly expressed, it was stated that any attempt to change the flow of water in rivers considered to belong to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty was unacceptable. The most striking part of the statement was the stern warning that "Any obstruction or diversion of the flow of water owned by Pakistan will be considered a declaration of war." This statement clearly shows how dangerous the tension between the two countries has reached.
