Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged gunfire for a second consecutive day on Saturday, as tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours intensified following a deadly attack on tourists in India’s Kashmir region that left 26 people dead.
According to the Indian Army, Pakistani troops initiated “unprovoked” small arms fire from multiple posts along the 740-kilometre (460-mile) Line of Control (LoC), beginning around midnight on Friday. The Indian side returned fire in response. A similar incident occurred on Thursday night, but no casualties were reported by Indian forces.
There has been no immediate response from the Pakistani military regarding the latest exchanges.
Kashmir police have named three suspects in connection with the April 22 attack, including two Pakistani nationals. While India blames Pakistani militants for the incident, Islamabad has denied any involvement and called for an international investigation.
In the wake of the attack, both countries have taken retaliatory measures: Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian aircraft, and India has suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which governs water-sharing between the two nations.
Despite a longstanding ceasefire agreement, India and Pakistan frequently engage in cross-border firing in the disputed region of Kashmir, over which they have fought two of their three wars.
Source: Reuters
