Indian and Pakistani forces exchanged gunfire for a second consecutive day along the border, as a manhunt continues for the gunmen who killed 26 people earlier this week in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam region.

India has blamed Pakistan for the deadly attack, intensifying tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Security forces, including armed police and soldiers, are conducting sweeping search operations across homes and forests in Kashmir, while India's army chief has visited the region to review the security situation.

In a further escalation, Indian officials announced they are working to block Pakistan’s access to water resources by suspending cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty — a critical agreement governing water-sharing between the two countries.

Diplomatic relations have sharply deteriorated since the attack, with both sides imposing retaliatory measures including the closure of land borders, suspension of trade, and the expulsion of security personnel.

The flare-up marks a serious deterioration in already strained ties between India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars since gaining independence from British rule in 1947, two of them over Kashmir.

BDST: 1300 HRS, APR 26, 2025
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