Indian and Pakistani relations are once again in full crisis mode, and Sunday marks the third day of reports of sporadic border fire at army outposts between the nuclear-armed neighbors and historic enemies, following last Tuesday’s terror attack in India-administrated Kashmir, which killed 26 Indian tourists in the mountainous, remote region.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a new statement vowing that the terrorists widely being referred to as Pahalgam attackers “will be served with the harshest response” and that India will seek justice “to the ends of the earth”.
The Indian army over the weekend announced there has been “unprovoked” firing “initiated by Pakistan” along the Line of Control (LOC)_ which divides Kashmir into two. Pakistan in the aftermath of the accusation neither confirmed nor denied.
The New York Times described Saturday that “Pakistani solders fired at an Indian position first and India responded in kind, according to local news reports, which said that “the exchange was brief and that there were no casualties.” Precise locations of these live fire incidents have not been disclosed.
Days into the crisis and land borders have been shut, visas and military exchange programs mutually canceled, and a landmark water treaty has been suspended.
Pakistan’s PM Sharif meanwhile said his country is ready to defend its sovereignty but offered willingness to establish a “neutral” international investigation into the attack.
Sharif is further scrambling to get major global powers in Pakistan’s corner, as he calls for the independent investigation. He has welcomed China and Russia’s participation, as well as Iran.
