Barely three days after the devastating terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, hostilities have erupted along the Line of Control (LoC). On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, several Pakistani posts reportedly opened fire at Indian positions, prompting swift and targeted retaliation by the Indian Army. Though no casualties were reported on the Indian side, officials termed the scale of the firing as “unusual”, sparking fresh concerns amid an already volatile situation.
The LoC skirmishes follow the April 22 attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley — a picturesque tourist destination — where civilians and off-duty security personnel from the Navy, Air Force, and Intelligence Bureau were brutally gunned down while vacationing. The terror strike, which many believe was aimed at unsettling the fragile peace in the region, has triggered a cascade of diplomatic, political and military responses from New Delhi.
In his first public reaction since the massacre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to the perpetrators of the attack. Speaking at a rally in Bihar’s Madhubani, he declared:
“India will pursue the perpetrators to the end of the Earth.”
Reaffirming the government’s uncompromising stance on national security, he added that the country would not rest until justice was served.
Taking a bold diplomatic step, the Indian government on Thursday formally notified Pakistan of its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with immediate effect. Citing repeated violations of the treaty’s terms by Islamabad, the move signals a strategic recalibration in bilateral ties and serves as a strong message in the wake of the Pahalgam tragedy.
In parallel, an all-party meeting was convened in New Delhi to brief political leaders on the security situation. During the meeting, government officials reportedly stated that the Pahalgam attack was orchestrated to “vitiate the country’s atmosphere” ahead of key national developments. Reassuring the political leadership, the government said that national security apparatus was being fortified and counter-terrorism strategies were being ramped up.
With the Pakistani Army’s provocative action along the LoC and the Pahalgam attack still fresh in national memory, the Indian Armed Forces have been placed on high alert across all sensitive sectors.
The April 22 massacre, which left 26 dead — including holidaying personnel from critical national security agencies — has united the country in grief and outrage. There is a growing demand from citizens, veterans, and political leaders alike for “firm and irreversible” action against the perpetrators and their backers.
