India reported on Monday that it had retaliated to "unprovoked" gunfire from Pakistani forces along the Line of Control (LoC) for the fourth night running, intensifying its efforts to track down militants following last week's devastating attack on tourists in Kashmir.
The April 22 assault, which left 26 people dead, has reignited tensions between the two rivals. Indian authorities have identified two of the suspected attackers as Pakistani nationals—a claim Islamabad denies, instead calling for an impartial international investigation.
The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage across India, fueling demands for firm action against Pakistan, whom New Delhi accuses of backing insurgency in Kashmir—a region both countries claim in full and have fought multiple wars over.
In a tit-for-tat escalation, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a crucial water-sharing agreement, while Pakistan retaliated by closing its airspace to Indian flights.
On Sunday night, Indian forces responded to fresh small arms fire from multiple Pakistani military positions along the 740-kilometer (460-mile) de facto border. The Indian Army did not provide further specifics and reported no casualties.
Pakistan’s military has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.
Since the attack, India has ramped up military exercises nationwide, although some drills are part of routine defense preparedness, a senior official clarified.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing crackdown in Kashmir, Indian security forces have questioned about 500 individuals after combing through nearly 1,000 homes and forest areas, a police source told Reuters. At least nine homes have been demolished during the operations.
Political leaders within Jammu and Kashmir have voiced concerns over the sweeping nature of these actions, warning authorities to avoid harming innocent civilians.
“It’s crucial to ensure that justice is targeted only at the guilty. Misplaced actions that alienate the public could serve the terrorists' agenda," former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on X (formerly Twitter) over the weekend.
Another former leader echoed similar sentiments, urging New Delhi to ensure that innocent civilians are not unfairly punished, cautioning that alienation only strengthens militant movements.
Adding to the confusion, Kashmir Resistance—also known as The Resistance Front—issued a fresh statement denying involvement in the deadly attack. This came after an earlier message had claimed responsibility.
The group, which analysts believe is tied to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, blamed a "cyber intrusion" for the original post.