In the peaceful village of Gudder near Pahalgam in south Kashmir, what should have been a joyful day for tourists turned into a nightmare. On April 22, 2025, gunmen stormed a meadow full of holidaymakers. Survivors say the attackers asked people their names and shot those who were Hindus. At least 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives in this shocking and heartbreaking incident.
Now, tensions between India and Pakistan are rising quickly.
India’s Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that those who planned and carried out the attack must face justice. He said that not only the attackers, but also those who supported or funded them, must be punished.
In response, the U.S. has reached out to both countries. Secretary Rubio urged India and Pakistan to stay calm and avoid further conflict. He also said the U.S. supports India’s fight against terrorism and asked Pakistan to help investigate what happened.
But Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, had a different message. He asked the U.S. to pressure India to “act responsibly” and stop making harsh statements. Pakistan strongly denies any involvement in the attack and wants a fair and neutral investigation.
India, however, claims that two of the attackers were Pakistani nationals, and blames Pakistan for supporting militants in Kashmir a region both countries have fought over for decades.
To make matters worse, both countries have started taking serious actions:
India paused an important water-sharing agreement with Pakistan.
Both countries closed their airspace to each other’s planes.
Indian and Pakistani soldiers have exchanged gunfire along their border for seven nights in a row, though no injuries have been reported.
India’s navy is preparing for firing drills near the Arabian Sea.
Meanwhile, over in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, fears of an Indian military strike have led to strict safety steps. All Islamic schools (madrasas) have been shut down for 10 days, and tourists are being evacuated from border areas like Neelum Valley. Officials said they are worried that Indian airstrikes may hit these spots.
The head of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir is calling for help from the international community. He says his team is getting ready to offer food and shelter in case fighting gets worse.
Even the United Nations and China have stepped in, asking both countries to remain calm and not rush into war.
Back in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told military leaders they are free to choose how the country should respond to the deadly attack. Pakistan, in turn, says it believes Indian military action could happen any moment.
As the world watches, many hope that peace will win over violence.
Reference
Tension Grows Between India and Pakistan After Deadly Kashmir Attack