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Malay Mail
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Troops exchange fire in Kashmir as relations between India and Pakistan deteriorate
SRINAGAR, April 27 — Troops from Pakistan and India exchanged fire in disputed Kashmir for a third night in a row, officials said today, as relations between the nuclear-armed rivals plunged to their lowest level in years. India has accused Pakistan of supporting 'cross-border terrorism' after gunmen carried out the worst attack on civilians in contested Muslim-majority Kashmir for a quarter of a century. Islamabad has denied any involvement, calling attempts to link Pakistan to the attack 'frivolous' and vowing to respond to any Indian action. Indian security forces have launched a massive manhunt for those responsible for killing 26 men at a tourist hotspot in Pahalgam on April 22. The Indian military said on Sunday there had been 'unprovoked' firing of small arms 'initiated by Pakistan' along the Line of Control that separates the two countries. '(Our) own troops responded effectively with appropriate small arms fire,' it added. Pakistan has not yet confirmed the latest exchange of fire. Indian police have issued wanted posters for three men — two Pakistanis and an Indian — who they say are members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, a UN-designated terrorist organisation. India's federal home ministry handed over the attack probe to the National Investigation Agency, which focuses on counter-terrorism. The agency was examining eyewitnesses, scrutinising entry and exit points, besides collecting forensic evidence. 'The eyewitnesses are being questioned in minute detail to piece together the sequence of events that led to one of the worst terror attacks in Kashmir,' it said in a statement. People look at a demolished house related to the family of Ahsan Ul Haq Sheikh, who is suspected of involvement in the Pahalgam tourist attack, in Murran village of Pulwama, south of Srinagar April 26, 2025. — AFP pic Houses bombed Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947. Both claim the territory in full but govern separate portions of it. Rebel groups have waged an insurgency in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan. Yesterday, soldiers in Indian-administered Kashmir bombed the family home of one of the Pahalgam suspects. The house of Farooq Ahmad Tadwa was destroyed by authorities in Kupwara district, one of a series of demolitions targeting houses of alleged militants. So far nine houses belonging to militants have been bombed since the Pahalgam attack, a police official told AFP today on condition of anonymity. In the aftermath of the Kashmir attack, New Delhi suspended a water-sharing treaty, announced the closure of the main land border crossing with Pakistan, downgraded diplomatic ties, and withdrew visas for Pakistanis. In response, Islamabad has ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelling visas for Indian nationals — with the exception of Sikh pilgrims — and closing the main border crossing from its side. The United Nations has urged the arch-rivals to show 'maximum restraint' so that issues can be 'resolved peacefully through meaningful mutual engagement'. Pahalgam marks a dramatic shift in recent Kashmiri rebel attacks, which typically target Indian security forces. Analysts say that an Indian military response may still be in the pipeline. 'There will be military retaliation and we are prepared. We are discussing the nature of the strike,' the Indian Express newspaper quoted a top government source as saying on Sunday. In 2019, a suicide attack killed 41 Indian troops in Kashmir and triggered Indian air strikes inside Pakistan, bringing the countries to the brink of all-out war. — AFP
Daily Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Pakistan is ready to defend, says PM
Published on: Sunday, April 27, 2025 Published on: Sun, Apr 27, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Neighbours gather near a demolished house related to the family of Ahsan Ul Haq Sheikh, who is suspected of involvement in the Pahalgam tourist attack. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's leader announced his readiness to defend the country on Saturday, after New Delhi blamed a deadly attack in Indian-run Kashmir on Islamabad, sending already fraught relations into a tailspin with soldiers exchanging gunfire across their contested frontier. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also called for a 'neutral investigation', with India accusing Pakistan of supporting 'cross-border terrorism' after gunmen carried out the worst attack on civilians in Kashmir for a quarter of a century. Islamabad denies involvement in the April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam, where a gang of gunmen killed 26 men. 'Our valiant armed forces remain fully capable and prepared to defend the country's sovereignty,' Sharif said at a military ceremony in Abbottabad. Both sides have imposed a slew of diplomatic measures, and exchanged gunfire in Kashmir two times in as many days. India's army said 'unprovoked' small arms firing was carried out by 'multiple' Pakistan army posts overnight. 'Indian troops responded appropriately with small arms,' it said in a statement, adding that no casualties were reported. There was no immediate confirmation from Pakistan, but both sides had confirmed gunfire between their respective forces the previous night. The United Nations has urged the neighbours, which have fought multiple wars, to show 'maximum restraint'. Iran's foreign ministry said Saturday that Tehran has offered to play mediator, a day after a senior Saudi official said Riyadh was trying to 'prevent an escalation'. US President Donald Trump has downplayed the tensions, saying that the dispute will get 'figured out, one way or another'. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947. Both claim the territory in full but govern separate portions of it. Rebel groups have waged an insurgency in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan. Indian security forces have launched a giant manhunt for those responsible for the attack in Pahalgam, with police naming two Pakistani nationals among the fugitives. Indian police say three of the gunmen are members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, a UN-designated terrorist organisation, and issued a bounty for their arrest. Indian troops blew up homes in Kashmir in their search and issued wanted posters with sketches of three men. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his country would 'track and punish every terrorist and their backer', vowing to 'pursue them to the ends of the Earth'. Pakistan's Sharif said the country was 'open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation' in the attack. A day after the attack, New Delhi suspended a water-sharing treaty, announced the closure of the main land border crossing with Pakistan, downgraded diplomatic ties, and withdrew visas for Pakistanis. Islamabad in response ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelling visas for Indian nationals — with the exception of Sikh pilgrims — and closing the main border crossing from its side. Pakistan also warned that any attempt by India to stop water supplies from the Indus River would be an 'act of war'. Experts say that an Indian military response may still be in the pipeline. In 2019, a suicide attack killed 41 Indian troops in Kashmir and triggered Indian air strikes inside Pakistan, bringing the countries to the brink of all-out war. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Jordan Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Pakistan says open to neutral probe into Kashmir attack after India threats
Neighbours gather near a demolished house related to the family of Ahsan Ul Haq Sheikh, who is suspected of involvement in the Pahalgam tourist attack, in Murran village of Pulwama, south of Srinagar, on April 26, 2025 (AFP photo) ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's leader said his nation was open to a neutral investigation on Saturday into a deadly attack in Indian-run Kashmir that New Delhi blames on Islamabad, and that has sent fraught relations into a tailspin with soldiers exchanging gunfire across their contested frontier. Islamabad denies involvement in the April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam, where a gang of gunmen killed 26 men in the worst attack on civilians in Kashmir for a quarter of a century. But India is adamant in it is accusation that Pakistan is supporting "cross-border terrorism". Indian police have issued wanted posters for three men -- two Pakistanis and an Indian -- who they say are members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, a UN-designated terrorist organisation. Rejecting Indian claims, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said the country was "open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation" into the attack. Indian security forces have launched a giant manhunt for those responsible for the attack in Pahalgam, blowing up homes in Kashmir of Indian citizens suspected to be linked to the attack. Both sides have imposed a slew of diplomatic measures, and exchanged gunfire in Kashmir two times in as many days. India's army said "unprovoked" small arms firing was carried out by "multiple" Pakistan army posts overnight. "Indian troops responded appropriately with small arms," it said in a statement, adding that no casualties were reported. There was no confirmation from Pakistan, but both sides had confirmed gunfire between their respective forces the previous night. "Our valiant armed forces remain fully capable and prepared to defend the country's sovereignty," Sharif said at a military ceremony in Abbottabad. Inda's information ministry on Saturday warned broadcasters to "refrain from showing live coverage of defence operations" in the "interest of national security", and referencing the 1999 Kargil conflict with Pakistan. The United Nations has urged the neighbours, which have fought multiple wars, to show "maximum restraint". Iran's foreign ministry said Saturday that Tehran has offered to play mediator, a day after a senior Saudi official said Riyadh was trying to "prevent an escalation". US President Donald Trump has downplayed the tensions, saying that the dispute will get "figured out, one way or another". Divided for decades Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947. Both claim the territory in full but govern separate portions of it. Rebel groups have waged an insurgency in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan. A day after the attack, New Delhi suspended a water-sharing treaty, announced the closure of the main land border crossing with Pakistan, downgraded diplomatic ties and withdrew visas for Pakistanis. Islamabad in response ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelled visas for Indian nationals -- with the exception of Sikh pilgrims -- and closed the main border crossing from its side. Pakistan also warned that any attempt by India to stop water supplies from the Indus River would be an "act of war". At the frontier, created at the end of British rule when the sub-continent was partitioned into Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan, distraught citizens crossed. The measures have abruptly ended rare visits to see relatives separated for generations by the border. In 2019, a suicide attack killed 41 Indian troops in Kashmir and triggered Indian air strikes inside Pakistan, bringing the countries to the brink of all-out war.
