"We Will Pursue Them to the Ends of the Earth"

 

"Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice."

"Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger." 

"India will identify, track and punish every terrorist, their handlers and their backers."

"We will pursue them to the ends of the earth."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Tensions escalate between India and Pakistan after Kashmir attack – video

"We will not only reach those who have perpetrated this incident but also those who, sitting behind the scenes, have conspired to commit such acts on the soil of India."

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

 

"We cannot get over the fact that such an incident has occurred, and that too in the place we call heaven on earth."

"Tourists have been coming to Kashmir since the last three or four decades and they have never been touched."

Akib Chaya, hotel owner, member, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce

Indian soldiers in Kashmir. The army confirmed there had been limited firing of small arms overnight. Photograph: Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

 

"[Attempts to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack are] frivolous [Islamabad will 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."

Pakistan statement

"Clear evidence of cross-border complicity" has been presented by Indian investigators in the wake of the gruesome attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir when gunmen opened fire in a deadly attack that saw 26 innocent people die. A group called the Resistance Front claimed responsibility for the attack. Indian officials identify it as a proxy for the Lashkar-e-Taiba based in Pakistan. For its part, Islamabad has vehemently denied any involvement, denying that India has in fact any proof of their accusations against Pakistan. 

The Kashmir attack represented the most deadly assault in years in the restive region, an attack that targeted civilians. The region has seen more than its share of anti-India attacks in the past thirty years. Indians are shocked and outraged at the deadly event, raising calls that their country take action against Pakistan. The initial claim for the attack was a terrorist group previously unheard of, that called itself the Kashmir Resistance. Pakistan's instant reaction was that there was no involvement on its part.

 

India's "belligerent measures" were condemned by Pakistan's National Security Committee. Claiming that while Pakistan remained committed to peace, it would never permit anyone to "transgress its sovereignty, security, dignity and inalienable rights". At a time when it was a Pakistani 'resistance' group that mounted the deadly attack, so in essence, Pakistan is condemning India for reacting to the transgression of ITS sovereignty, security, dignity and inalienable rights. How that makes sense is debatable. 

Indian security officers inspect the site in Pahalgam where militants opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam in Indian-controlled Kashmir, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.  Associated Press

The most immediate reaction was that of India, followed by Pakistan, cancelling visas for their nationals to enter the others' countries. New Delhi has been 'warned' by Islamabad for suspending a water-sharing treaty in the aftermath of the tragedy. All visas issued to Pakistani nationals were to be revoked effective Sunday; and all Pakistanis in India at the present time given notice they must leave before the expiration of their visas based on a revised timeline.

 

Other measures were also announced, including reducing the number of diplomatic staff, closing the sole land border crossing between the two nations, and suspending a crucial water-sharing agreement. Pakistan, in retaliation has closed its airspace for all Indian-owned or -operated airlines, as well as suspending all trade with India. Included in that suspension is trade to and from any third country. There were hints by government authorities representing both sides that matters could escalate militarily.

 

Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir as their territory entirely, even as each administers a part of the disputed Kashmir. Clashes between the two countries' military break out occasionally and then die down almost spontaneously. Kashmiri separatists out of Pakistan mount terrorist raids of much smaller dimensions from time to time in a never-ending commitment to bring terror to Indian Kashmir. These are Islamist death squads brewed in Pakistan in reflection of the culture of war and confrontation between the two competitors for Kashmiri exclusive entitlement.

 

For the present, a number of Pakistani diplomats were ordered to leave New Delhi, while Indian diplomats were summarily recalled from Pakistan leaving diplomatic missions in each of the countries with reduced staff from May 1 forward. Indian citizens were advised not to travel to Pakistan by India's foreign ministry, which has also urged those of its citizens currently in Pakistan to depart for India.

 

The landmark water-sharing treaty in place between the two countries despite two wars and a major border skirmish, has now been suspended indefinitely, with Pakistan angrily responding to warn that any Indian attempt to stop or divert the flow of water would be considered an "act of war", to be met with "full force across the complete spectrum" of Pakistan's national power.

 

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference members attend a protest after tourists were killed, in Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on Wednesday, April. 23, 2025.  Mukhtar Khan/AP

 

"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."

"Any issues between Pakistan and India, we believe, can be and should be resolved peacefully through meaningful mutual engagement."

UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric

 

"There are many imponderables Modi must deal with, including the significant capabilities of the Pakistan army."

"But given the horrific nature of the attack and the outrage that has convulsed the nation – the victims came from 15 states across India – the PM may have no option but to explore some major risks."

C Raja Mohan, veteran analyst, Indian Express

Supporters of the Indian Secular Front, along with others, stage a protest over the killing of more than 25 tourists at Pahalgam. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock