India and Pakistan have cancelled visas for each other’s citizens as tensions flare up following a deadly militant attack in Kashmir.
The two South Asian nuclear powers have exchanged tit-for-tat measures after the horrific assault in which gunmen killed 26 people.
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Most of the victims were Indian tourists visiting the mountainous region – which both counties claim and each partially controls.
India blamed Pakistan for Tuesday’s attack in Pahalgam and has downgraded diplomatic ties with its neighbour.
New Delhi also suspended a water-sharing treaty and closed a border crossing.
The country’s foreign ministry has revoked visas for all Pakistani nationals, effective from Sunday.
It has also advised Indians against travel to Pakistan.
Pakistan denies India‘s allegations and has closed its airspace to Indian-owned and operated airlines.
Air India has announced that some flights to the UK, North America, Europe and the Middle East will have to take alternate routes as a result.
The country is also suspending trade with its neighbour and cancelled visas for Indian nationals.
A militant group called Kashmir Resistance claims responsibility for the horror attack.
The moves are the latest escalation in bitter tensions between the two countries.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to pursue the attack’s perpetrators “to the ends of the Earth“.
“I say to the whole world, India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers,” he said.
Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir published notices today naming three suspected militants they allege were involved.
Two of them are claimed to be Pakistani nationals.
But Indian authorities have not yet provided any proof linking the attack to Pakistan.
Why are India and Pakistan enemies?
Disputes between India and Pakistan over the region of Kashmir date back decades.
The Muslim-majority territory was fought over in the aftermath of both countries’ independence following the partition of India in 1947.
War between India and Pakistan would break out again in 1965 – which ended in a ceasefire.
Kashmir’s control remains divided to this day, and tensions frequently flare up over the region.
India also fought Pakistan wars in 1971 and 1999 – with the conflict in the 70s resulting the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
Both nations are nuclear armed powers.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said any attempt to disrupt the Indus Waters Treaty would be met with “full force” from his country.
He also chaired a meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee.
“Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty… will be considered as an act of war,” a statement from Islamabad reads.
Protesters have hit the streets of both countries to urge their respective governments to push further.
Kashmir is a popular tourist domestic destination, and is claimed by both India and Pakistan.
India has frequently accused its neighbour of supporting militants in the region – a claim that Pakistan denies.
Each country controls part of Kashmir, and the dispute has escalated into violence several times.
India and Pakistan, both of which are nuclear powers, have fought each other several times since the partition in 1947.
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