India dispatches its Army Chief to Kashmir as tensions with Pakistan reach a dangerous tipping point following a terror attack that targeted Hindu tourists and killed 26 people.
At a Glance
- Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, a four-star general, visited Kashmir to oversee security after terrorists killed 26 Hindu men in Pahalgam
- India accuses Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba of orchestrating the attack, which deliberately spared women and Muslims
- Diplomatic relations have collapsed with both nations withdrawing personnel, suspending trade, and exchanging gunfire along the Line of Control
- Prime Minister Modi vowed to pursue the attackers “to the ends of the earth” while Pakistan’s deputy PM referred to them as possible “freedom fighters”
- The United Nations has called for restraint as the nuclear-armed neighbors edge closer to serious conflict
Military Response and Border Tensions
General Upendra Dwivedi’s arrival in Kashmir marks a significant escalation in India’s response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The four-star general was dispatched specifically to evaluate security arrangements and coordinate military operations following the targeted killing of Hindu tourists. Indian security forces have already conducted raids on homes of three named Lashkar-e-Taiba suspects, only to find the residences rigged with explosives, suggesting the attackers had anticipated the government’s response and prepared accordingly.
The situation along the Line of Control (LoC) separating Indian and Pakistani forces has deteriorated rapidly. Reports confirm that Indian and Pakistani troops have exchanged small-arms fire in the Leepa valley for two consecutive days. While no casualties have been reported yet, the military confrontation represents the most serious escalation of border tensions between the nuclear powers in years. Both militaries remain on high alert as additional forces are positioned along the volatile boundary.
VIDEO | Pahalgam terror attack: All India Imam Association president Maulana Sajid Rashidi says, "Whatever happened in Pahalgam was a planned conspiracy. The attack took place a couple of days after (Pakistan Army chief) General Munir's statement. This is a heart-wrenching… pic.twitter.com/ovTyUgtLBJ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 25, 2025
Political Fallout and Diplomatic Crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a resolute stance, promising to pursue those responsible with unwavering determination. “We will hunt down the masterminds of this cowardly attack to the ends of the earth,” Modi declared, adding that the terrorists would “pay beyond their imagination” for targeting innocent Hindu pilgrims while deliberately sparing Muslims and women.
“We will hunt down the masterminds of this cowardly attack to the ends of the earth,” Modi declared, adding that the terrorists would “pay beyond their imagination” for targeting innocent Hindu pilgrims.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have completely collapsed. India has withdrawn its diplomatic staff from Pakistan, canceled all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, and suspended existing trade agreements. Pakistan has responded in kind, with both nations now operating without direct diplomatic channels for the first time in years. The breakdown in communication comes at a particularly dangerous moment, with military forces actively engaging across the border.
Standard and meaningless Pakistani defence.
What did Pakistan gain militarily, territorially, diplomatically or strategically in perpetrating the Mumbai terrorist massacre and a long list of other terrorist attacks in India?
Rana, the mastermind of the Mumbai attack has been… https://t.co/I2Svr2bK5E
— Kanwal Sibal (@KanwalSibal) April 25, 2025
Conflicting Narratives and International Response
While a Kashmiri militant group initially claimed responsibility for the attack, Indian intelligence firmly places blame on Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terrorist organization with a long history of attacks against India. Pakistan has denied any involvement, with Deputy Prime Minister Isaq Dar inflaming tensions by suggesting the attackers “might be freedom fighters” – a statement that provoked immediate outrage in India and undermined any possibility of de-escalation.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif has subsequently stated that his country is prepared to defend its sovereignty while also offering to participate in a “neutral” international investigation into the attack. The United Nations has urged both nations to exercise maximum restraint and pursue diplomatic solutions, but with communication channels severed and military exchanges already underway, the path to peaceful resolution appears increasingly narrow as the region braces for further escalation.
