Recent terrorist attack incidents in the Indian-administered Kashmir region have completely "ignited" a new round of disputes between India and Pakistan.
According to reports from foreign media such as Reuters and AFP, after India accused Pakistan of "supporting cross-border terrorism" on the 23rd and announced a series of tough measures against Pakistan, including closing borders, suspending water supply, and expelling diplomats, Pakistan responded on the 24th, stating that it would "retaliate in kind." It declared that it would close its airspace to India, suspend all trade with India, and expel Indian defense, naval, and air attachés stationed in Pakistan, among other measures.
Modi: We Will Pursue the Killers "To the Ends of the Earth"
On April 22, suspected militants fired at tourists in the Indian-administered Kashmir region, resulting in at least 26 deaths and dozens of injuries. The town of Pahalgam, where the incident occurred, is a popular tourist destination. This event became the deadliest terrorist attack in the region since the Pulwama attack in 2019, raising concerns about the possibility of renewed military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
After the incident, Indian Prime Minister Modi urgently cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia, returned home early on the 23rd, and held an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security. The Indian government subsequently announced a series of tough measures against Pakistan, involving water resources, border control, tightened personnel exchanges, and expelling diplomats, accusing Pakistan of supporting "cross-border terrorism."
In specific terms, India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, halting water sharing cooperation "until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abandons support for cross-border terrorism." It is known that Pakistan heavily relies on the downstream water systems of rivers in the Indian-administered Kashmir region for its hydroelectric power and irrigation needs.
After the suspension of the treaty, Pakistan will be unable to use these waters. Analysts pointed out that this move will directly impact Pakistan's agricultural production and electricity supply, especially during the upcoming irrigation season, which may cause severe economic impacts on Pakistan. It is noted that agriculture accounts for a quarter of the country's GDP and provides employment for nearly 40% of the population, while about one-third of the country's electricity comes from hydropower.
In terms of economic and trade relations, India closed the Atari Integrated Checkpoint, an important border crossing for trade and personnel exchanges between India and Pakistan, and stated that those who crossed the border into India could return through this checkpoint before May 1, cutting off all transportation links between the two countries.
On the 24th, India further intensified its actions, announcing the revocation of all visas issued to Pakistani citizens and suspending visa services for Pakistanis, meaning Pakistani citizens will be unable to obtain documents to travel to India. The Indian Foreign Ministry also required all Pakistani citizens with visas to leave within 72 hours.
The police in the Indian-administered Kashmir region issued an arrest warrant on the morning of the 24th, identifying three radical armed individuals as having "participated" in the attack and offering rewards for any information provided. The police in the Indian-administered Kashmir region also revealed that two of the suspects are Pakistani citizens but did not provide more details.
"I pledge to the world: India will identify, track down, and punish every terrorist and their supporters," said Indian Prime Minister Modi during a speech in Bihar on the 24th. "We will pursue them relentlessly until the ends of the earth." At the end of his speech, Modi unusually spoke in English: "Terrorism will not go unpunished, and we will do everything in our power to ensure justice prevails."
Reuters analysis pointed out that although Modi did not name Pakistan in his speech and the Indian side did not reveal the specific identities of the suspects, Modi's remarks are bound to further escalate tensions between India and Pakistan, triggering international concerns over the potential escalation of the situation between the two countries.
On April 24, local time, in Srinagar, the capital of the Indian-administered Kashmir region, Indian soldiers strengthened patrols after the shooting incident. IC Photo
Pakistan "Retaliates in Kind"
Pakistani Defense Minister Asif rejected India's accusations on the 23rd, stating that Pakistan had no connection to this attack, and that the violence was a "domestic incident."
In response to India's relevant measures, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar expressed that Pakistan would "retaliate in kind."
On April 24, the Pakistani National Security Council held an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss how to respond to a series of measures taken by India regarding the attack in the Indian-administered Kashmir region. The committee unanimously denied all charges made by India against Pakistan and decided to take the issue of India violating the Indus Waters Treaty to international platforms to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
At the meeting, the committee approved strong responses to Pakistan's accusations and retaliatory measures following the attack, including closing its airspace to India starting immediately and suspending all trade with India.
In addition, Pakistan announced the immediate suspension and cancellation of all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) visa exemption scheme (SVES) visas issued to Indian citizens, except for some religious figures. Indian citizens currently holding such visas in Pakistan (except for some religious figures) must leave within 48 hours. The Pakistani side declared Indian defense, naval, and air attachés in Pakistan as "persona non grata" and demanded their immediate departure, no later than April 30. Furthermore, starting from April 30, the number of personnel at the Indian High Commission in Pakistan will be limited to 30 people (including diplomats and staff).
Currently, the Indian police attribute the attack to armed groups opposing India's rule. Previously, the "Resistance Front" (TRF) claimed responsibility for the attack under the name "Kashmir Resistance Army" on social media. The organization stated that this attack was retaliation for India's policy of "introducing outsiders" locally, with more than 85,000 settlers being brought in, causing changes in the local demographic structure. However, the authenticity of this statement has yet to be verified.
According to foreign media reviews, the "Resistance Front" is an obscure resistance organization that first announced its existence on social media in 2019, and there is very little information available about it. However, India has listed the "Resistance Front" as a terrorist organization and stated that it has ties with another large-scale and active anti-India terrorist organization, "Lashkar-e-Taiba," which is believed to be the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Since the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, the issue of the status of Kashmir has been a focal point of conflict between the two countries. Both countries manage parts of Kashmir and claim full sovereignty over the region. The aim of armed groups in the region is either independence or merger with Pakistan, while India accuses the activities of Kashmiri armed groups of being supported by Pakistan, which Pakistan denies.
Following the Pulwama attack in 2019, which killed 40 Indian soldiers, India and Pakistan once experienced severe military confrontations, including aerial combat and ground artillery exchanges, with the situation on the brink of full-scale war. Although the crisis ended with Pakistan releasing captured Indian pilots, it severely damaged mutual trust between the two countries. With the latest shooting incident unfolding, the international community is generally concerned that history may repeat itself.
This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496854835959759379/
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