April 24 – Jammu & Kashmir: Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan flared again last night as troops from both sides exchanged gunfire along the volatile Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu Kashmir region. While no casualties were reported, the incident has heightened fears of escalating conflict in a region long marred by unrest and military standoffs.
According to foreign media reports, the exchange was initiated when Pakistani forces allegedly opened fire on Indian forward posts. The Indian Army reportedly retaliated swiftly, leading to a brief but intense episode of crossfire.
The incident comes amid a series of diplomatic and military actions by India following the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack, which New Delhi claims was orchestrated with the support of Pakistani-based groups. In response, India has launched a multifaceted countermeasure strategy targeting diplomatic, military, and civil linkages between the two countries.
In a dramatic move, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a landmark agreement in place since 1960 that governs the sharing of river water between the two nations. The symbolic and practical implications of this suspension mark a serious departure from decades of cooperation under international mediation.
India has also shut down the Attari-Wagah joint border post, effectively freezing overland movement between the countries. Diplomatic relations are rapidly deteriorating, with India expelling several officials from the Pakistani High Commission and declaring them “persona non grata.” They have been given one week to leave Indian soil.
Further tightening the screws, India has cancelled all visas issued under the SAARC Visa Waiver Scheme, demanding that all Pakistani nationals currently in India leave within 48 hours.
Analysts warn that while the skirmish at the LoC did not result in casualties, the broader trajectory of India-Pakistan relations is veering dangerously close to open confrontation. With diplomatic channels strained and military alert levels rising, the international community has called for restraint, fearing that any misstep could lead to a larger conflict with far-reaching consequences in South Asia and beyond.
