India's Military Readiness Heightened After Deadly Pahalgam Attack as Tensions With Pakistan Soar
Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a new high following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, primarily tourists. The attack, which occurred on April 22, has sparked widespread outrage in India and led to calls for retaliation against Pakistan, whom India accuses of harboring terrorist groups responsible for the violence. Pakistan, however, has denied involvement.
On Monday, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, with a specific focus on military readiness in the wake of the attack. The 40-minute meeting came shortly after the Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire for the fourth consecutive day by opening fire on several Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC). This violation escalates the already volatile situation along the border.
The meeting underscored India's military options in the context of rising tensions with Pakistan. India has already suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic ties, and closed the only operational land border crossing at Attari in retaliation for the attack. Modi has vowed to give the "harshest punishment" to those behind the attack, which he said aimed to derail development in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir assembly passed a resolution condemning the attack, expressing shock and sorrow over the incident. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, speaking emotionally during the assembly session, stated that he took full responsibility for the safety of the tourists but refused to use the tragedy to advance political agendas, including calls for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
The attack, attributed to Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba’s proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), took place when heavily armed terrorists ambushed tourists on the Baisaran grassland near Pahalgam, marking a return to the dark days of militancy in the region. The assault is being compared to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in terms of scale and impact.
Pakistan has strongly denied any involvement, calling for a neutral international investigation. However, India has claimed to have identified three Pakistani terrorists involved in the attack, using signal intelligence to trace their origin. The attack's timing, coinciding with the visit of US Vice President JD Vance to India, has further fueled suspicions of Pakistan's role.
As tensions rise, the situation along the LoC has worsened. On Monday, Pakistani forces launched a series of unprovoked attacks targeting Indian posts in both the northern and southern sectors of the Pir Panjal mountains. These violations, which have been ongoing since the Pahalgam attack, have broken the ceasefire agreement signed in February 2021, leading to increased fears of a broader military escalation.
In response to Pakistan's actions, Indian forces have retaliated effectively, especially in the Poonch and Kupwara sectors, where intense exchanges of fire have occurred. Military experts predict that the violations along the LoC may continue to intensify, particularly as the ceasefire agreement appears to be crumbling.
The situation has sparked protests across Jammu and Kashmir, with local residents showing strong condemnation of the attack. Abdullah noted that the widespread demonstrations prove that the region's population does not support terrorism, and he urged that no steps be taken to alienate the people of Kashmir further.
The diplomatic fallout has been severe, with Pakistan retaliating by expelling Indian diplomats, closing its airspace to Indian aircraft, and suspending trade relations with India. Both nations have hinted at further military measures, and there is growing concern that the conflict may spiral into a larger military confrontation.
In conclusion, the Pahalgam attack has once again brought the fraught relationship between India and Pakistan to the forefront, with both sides bracing for further escalation along the LoC. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with hopes for de-escalation amid rising hostilities.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)