India took a raft of punitive diplomatic measures against Pakistan on Wednesday, accusing Islamabad of supporting “cross-border terrorism” after a deadly attack on civilians in Kashmir.
Pakistan has denied responsibility.
But the attack plunged relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours to their lowest level in years, and some fear New Delhi’s diplomatic moves may just be an opening salvo — with the potential risk still of military action.
India’s measures, including the suspension of a key water-sharing treaty and closure of the main land border crossingwith Pakistan, came a day after gunmen killed tourists in the Indian-administered part of disputed Kashmir.
Islamabad will make “a tit-for-tat response”, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said.
The gunmen killed 26 men — all Indian except one Nepali — in the deadliest attack on civilians in the Himalayan region for a quarter century.
Funerals of several of those killed have been held across the country by grieving relatives, while candle-lit vigils have also been held by the wider public.
The killings have shocked New Delhi, as they marked a dramatic shift towards targeting civilians and the area’s vital tourism industry, rather than smaller-scale attacks against Indian security forces, which are more common.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged that those responsible for the “heinous act” will be brought to justice.
Source: MSN
