Kashmir Attack Prompts India to Suspend Water Treaty \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ India blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people, prompting it to cut diplomatic ties and suspend a long-standing water-sharing treaty. New Delhi claims the assault had cross-border links, while Pakistan denies involvement. A manhunt is underway for the assailants.
Quick Looks
- Fatal Attack: 26 civilians killed in Kashmir tourist shooting
- Injuries: 17 wounded, including non-locals and a guide
- India’s Response: Diplomatic downgrade, treaty suspension, border closures
- Water Treaty: Indus Water Treaty suspended after decades of cooperation
- Pakistan’s Reaction: Denies role, vows formal response
- Militant Claim: Group named Kashmir Resistance takes responsibility
- Manhunt Launched: Indian forces sweep region, erect checkpoints
- Political Fallout: Modi government faces pressure to respond forcefully
- Tourism Exodus: Panic forces tourists to flee Kashmir
- Human Rights Concerns: Heavy security and civilian unrest escalate
Deep Look
In a dramatic escalation of tensions between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan, the Indian government on Wednesday blamed Pakistan for a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people, including tourists. The assault has triggered a downgrading of diplomatic ties, closure of key border crossings, and a suspension of the Indus Water Treaty — a crucial agreement that has remained intact through multiple wars.
The shooting occurred on Tuesday in a picturesque, mountainous valley of Kashmir — one of the worst attacks targeting civilians in the region in recent years. Seventeen others were also wounded in what Indian authorities are calling a “terror attack.”
India Responds with Diplomatic Downgrade and Treaty Suspension
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the country’s response during a press conference late Wednesday in New Delhi. According to Misri, a special cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded that the attack had “cross-border” connections to Pakistan — a claim made without presenting public evidence.
As part of the response:
- India will suspend the Indus Water Treaty, a historic 1960 water-sharing pact brokered by the World Bank, which governs the use of waters from rivers that flow through both nations.
- The main land border crossing between India and Pakistan will be shut down.
- Diplomatic staff in both countries will be reduced from 55 to 30, effective May 1.
- Defense advisers in the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi have been asked to leave within a week, and Indian advisers will be withdrawn from Islamabad.
Misri emphasized that Pakistan must “credibly and irrevocably abjure” support for terrorism if it wants ties restored.
Pakistan Rejects Blame, Calls for Dialogue
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad criticized India’s actions, accusing it of exploiting the tragedy to abandon a treaty it has long wanted to escape. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Islamabad will issue a detailed response following a high-level security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In a rare moment of empathy amid the diplomatic rift, Pakistan did express condolences to the victims’ families, calling the deaths of tourists “deeply concerning.”
Militant Group Claims Responsibility
The attack was claimed by a previously unknown group called Kashmir Resistance, which posted on social media that those targeted were not “ordinary tourists,” but allegedly affiliated with Indian security forces. The claim, however, could not be independently verified.
Indian police and intelligence services launched a massive manhunt. Troops searched vehicles, used helicopters to scan mountainous terrain, and reportedly questioned former militants.
Humanitarian and Strategic Fallout
Among the 26 killed, 24 were Indian tourists, one was from Nepal, and one was a local tour guide. The attack shattered the sense of “normalcy” that Indian authorities have promoted since revoking Kashmir’s autonomy in 2019.
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah visited the region Wednesday, paid tribute to the victims, and vowed the “harshest consequences” for the perpetrators.
“We will not rest until every conspirator is brought to justice,” Shah said, after visiting the Baisaran meadow, where the massacre occurred.
The meadow, located near the resort town of Pahalgam, is typically a tourist haven, nestled in the Himalayan foothills and surrounded by snow-capped peaks and pine forests.
Political and Strategic Stakes Rise
The attack could have far-reaching geopolitical consequences. The Indus Water Treaty, for instance, has survived not only the 1965 and 1971 wars but also the near-war skirmish in Kargil in 1999. Its suspension could severely impact Pakistan’s agriculture, which relies heavily on river water flowing from India.
Observers fear the escalation may complicate U.S., Chinese, and UN efforts to maintain regional stability between two countries that collectively host over 1.5 billion people and maintain active nuclear arsenals.
Tourism Exodus
The massacre also ignited panic among thousands of tourists in Kashmir, many of whom fled the region in the aftermath.
“We don’t feel safe anymore,” said Monojit Debnath, a tourist from Kolkata, as he left Srinagar with his family.
Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, called the exodus tragic but understandable.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests after this tragic terror attack,” he posted online.
Tourism has been heavily promoted by New Delhi as a symbol of stability, with millions visiting the valley annually. But attacks on non-locals, especially since India revoked Kashmir’s special status in 2019, have repeatedly challenged that narrative.
Kashmir’s Complex History of Conflict
Kashmir, claimed by both India and Pakistan, has been a flashpoint since 1947. Armed insurgency against Indian rule began in 1989, with militants demanding either independence or merger with Pakistan.
Human rights organizations have long criticized India’s security approach, which includes mass arrests, use of torture, and restricted civil liberties in the name of counterterrorism.
Incidents like the Pulwama car bombing in 2019, which killed 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers, nearly led to outright war. The Indian response included airstrikes inside Pakistan, raising fears of nuclear conflict.
Though large-scale violence has shifted to remote areas in Jammu, particularly Rajouri, Poonch, and Kathua, Tuesday’s massacre demonstrates that the core Kashmir Valley remains vulnerable.
Kashmir Attack Prompts
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