India’s top military official visits Kashmir following a deadly attack that killed 26 civilians, intensifying regional tensions.
General Manoj Pande, India’s Army Chief, arrived in Srinagar on Friday to assess security after the Pahalgam attack, the deadliest on civilians in nearly two decades.
On Tuesday, gunmen opened fire on tourists in Baisaran Valley, killing 26 men and injuring over 20 others. The Resistance Front, linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility.
India accuses Pakistan of supporting the attackers, a claim Islamabad denies. In response, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, with Water Resources Minister C.R. Paatil stating: “We will ensure that not a single drop of the Indus River’s water reaches Pakistan.”
Pakistan retaliated by closing its airspace to Indian flights and warning that any attempt to divert Indus waters would be considered an “act of war.”
Meanwhile, Indian security forces intensified operations in Kashmir, demolishing the home of a suspected attacker and conducting searches in the region.
The situation has raised fears of further escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
