Tensions between Pakistan and India have escalated sharply following a deadly terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists. India has attributed the attack to Pakistan-linked militants, specifically The Resistance Front, believed to be associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba. In response, India has suspended Pakistani visas, trade, and the Indus Waters Treaty, and closed the Wagah-Atari land border. DIE WELT+6The Australian+6Al Jazeera+6The Washington Post+2news+2Latest news & breaking headlines+2
Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack and has called for a neutral investigation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned that any Indian military aggression would be met with a decisive response, while simultaneously advocating for de-escalation and emphasizing the country’s recent economic recovery. The Washington Post
Amid these developments, both nations have expelled each other’s diplomats, halted flights across each other’s airspace, and ordered citizens to return home. Exchanges of gunfire continue along the Line of Control (LoC), and Pakistani media claim their air force repelled Indian jets. The Australian
The situation remains volatile, with fears that any further escalation could lead to a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. International actors, including the United States and the United Nations, are urging both sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to prevent a catastrophic confrontation.
