India has suspended the Indo Water Treaty with Pakistan after a deadly attack in Pahalgam, illegally occupied Indians Jammu and Kashmir (Iiojk), who killed 26 tourists and wounded another 17, according to media reports.
The attack marks the most fatal assault on civilians in the region since 2000. Armed men opened fire against a group of visitors on Tuesday, generating generalized panic and a strong military response. Pahalgam, located 90 km from Srinagar, is a scenic city that attracts thousands of tourists annually.
The deceased, mostly men from all over India and one from Nepal, included a Navy officer. The ambulances transported the bodies to Srinagar, while the military helicopters toured the wooded hills for the assailants.
Indian authorities have launched a massive search operation, deploy hundreds of security personnel and call alleged supporters to interrogate.
The army claimed to have killed two alleged combatants in a separate incident in the URI sector and declared that the search for attackers is still ongoing.
According to the Indian media, a previously unknown team called himself ‘The Resistance Front’, the responsibility of the attack has been attributed, according to the Indian media. However, no official group has been verified as responsible.
In response to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “atrocious act”, promising that those responsible “will hear our response aloud and clear.” Defense Minister Rajnath Singh echoed the threat, promising that the planners “in our land” would also be attacked.
The consequences extended to diplomatic and security levels. Modi convened a high -level security meeting with the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, S Jaishankar. The Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman, shortened a foreign tour, while Interior Minister Amit Shah traveled to the region to supervise the answer.
The suspension of the Indo Water Treaty, a decades water exchange agreement between India and Pakistan, marks a significant escalation. Although Indian media and social media accounts quickly blamed Pakistan, no official statement directly accused Islamabad.
