India has closed its main border crossing with Pakistan, expelled its diplomats and suspended a landmark water-sharing treaty following an attack that killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack and will convene a national security meeting on Thursday to discuss a response to the measures taken by India.
Gunmen burst out of forests and opened fire on visitors with automatic weapons in the attack near the picturesque tourist town of Pahalgam.
More details have been emerging about those killed. They include a honeymooning groom and a businessman on holiday.
There’s been no official confirmation yet on who carried out the brutal attack but some media reports say a group linked to Pakistan-based organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba may have claimed responsibility.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short a foreign trip to return to Delhi to meet security chiefs. He’s pledged those responsible will not be spared.
Kashmir, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan, has seen a decades-long insurgency against Indian rule that has claimed tens of thousands of lives – but attacks on tourists are rare.
(BBC News)
