India, Pakistan exchange fire as UN calls for 'maximum restraint'

Indian and Pakistani forces exchange fire along their border, prompting the UN to call on both nations to exercise "maximum restraint" following a significant surge in tensions.

Indian soldiers and Pakistani troops exchanged fire overnight along the line of control (LoC) in disputed Kashmir amid a downside spiral in relations following the deadly shooting at a tourist resort in Pahalgam. 

The Indian side said there had been limited firing of small arms on its troops along the LoC, accusing Pakistani soldiers of initiating it. 

The incident was “effectively responded to” by Indian troops, army officials said, adding that there were no casualties in the incident.

The UN urged both Pakistan and India to show restraint.

“We very much appeal to both the governments … to exercise maximum restraint, and to ensure that the situation and the developments we’ve seen do not deteriorate any further,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York City.

“Any issues between Pakistan and India, we believe, can be and should be resolved peacefully through meaningful mutual engagement,” he added.

Following the deadly shooting in Kashmir, relations between the neighboring countries have plunged to their lowest level in years.

Talking to envoys from 25 countries, India’s foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, said New Delhi had “clear evidence of cross-border complicity” in the deadly Kashmir attack. 

India, Pakistan escalate tit-for-tat moves with military threats

India and Pakistan have cancelled visas for their nationals to each other’s countries, with Islamabad calling New Delhi

Indian police claim they have identified two of the three fugitive assailants as Pakistani nationals.

Islamabad denies any involvement in the attack, accusing India of failing to provide proper evidence that the government bears any responsibility for the attack.

Islamabad said New Delhi's attempts to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack were “frivolous” and vowed to respond to any Indian action.

“Any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and to the security of its people will be met with firm reciprocal measures in all domains,” it said after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a rare national security committee meeting with top military chiefs.

New Delhi has suspended its water-sharing treaty with Pakistan, prompting Islamabad to issue a warning against any attempt by India to stop the supply of water from its side as an “act of war”.

New Delhi also downgraded its diplomatic relations with Islamabad, announcing the closure of the main land border crossing into Pakistan while cancelling the visas issued for Pakistanis.

In retaliation, Islamabad ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers on Thursday, cancelling visas for Indian nationals, with the exception of Sikh pilgrims, while closing the main border crossing from its side, as well.

Since the partition in 1947, Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan with both claiming full sovereignty over the Muslim-majority territory, also disputed with China.

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