A large effort with thousands of police officers and soldiers has been launched in the hunt for the perpetrators behind Tuesday's attack in the popular tourist resort of Pahalgam in Indian Kashmir, where 26 people were killed and 17 injured.
Two men, suspected of having been involved in the attack, were killed in a shootout with Indian security forces on Wednesday, according to the authorities. The military also claims to have seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition.
Increased tensions
The attack is described as the deadliest in the region in 25 years. No group has yet taken responsibility for the attack, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to hold the guilty accountable.
Meanwhile, tensions between India and Pakistan have increased. A number of Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi have been asked to leave the country, and Indian diplomats in Pakistan have been recalled, according to Foreign Minister Vikram Misri.
India is also closing the main border crossing, Attari-Wagah, to Pakistan, and a joint water distribution agreement has been paused – until "Pakistan credibly and irreversibly denies its support for cross-border terrorism", says Misri.
Security Council convened
Pakistan, on its part, has convened a meeting of the National Security Committee to discuss a response to the Indian measures. The committee, which is only convened in the event of external threats and major terrorist attacks, will meet on Thursday, according to the country's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
Nuclear powers India and Pakistan control their respective parts of the scenic mountain region of Kashmir, but both claim sovereignty over the entire area.
Since 1989, mainly Muslim rebel groups, seeking independence or merger with Pakistan, have been fighting against Indian rule.
India repeatedly accuses Pakistan of supporting the rebel groups.
