India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in the wake of a deadly attack in Pahalam, Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 tourists and wounded 17 others, according to media reports.
The attack marks the deadliest attack on civilians in the region since 2000. Weapons opened fire against a group of visitors on Tuesday and triggered widespread panic and a heavy military reaction. Pahaldam, 90 km from Srinagar, is a scenic city that draws thousands of tourists annually.
The deceased, mostly men from all over India and one from Nepal, included a naval officer. Ambulances transported the bodies to Srinagar, while military helicopters shed the wooded hills for the attackers.
Indian authorities have launched a massive search operation that implements hundreds of security staff and called suspects sympathizers for interrogation.
The army claimed to have killed two suspected warriors in a separate incident in the URI sector and stated that the search for attackers will remain in progress.
An earlier unknown clothing that allegedly calls itself ‘the front of the resistance’ has, according to Indian media, assumed responsibility for the attack. However, no official group has been verified as responsible.
In response to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “abominable act” who promised that those responsible “will hear our answers out loud and clearly.” Defense Minister Rajnath Singh repeated the threat and promised that planners “on our country” would also be targeted.
The fall is expanded to diplomatic and level of security. Modi convened a high -level security meeting with national security adviser Ajit Doval and Minister of External Affairs S Jaisankar. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman briefly cut a foreign tour, while minister AMIT Shah traveled to the region to oversee the answer.
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades old water sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, marks a significant escalation. Although Indian media and social media accounts were quick to blame Pakistan, no official statement accused direct Islamabad.
This story is updated.
