Border Shooting and Indus River Blockade: What’s Happening Between India and Pakistan
The incident occurred just hours before Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi was scheduled to visit Srinagar and Udhampur on Friday.
Indian border forces returned fire in response.
"There were several small arms fire incidents along the Line of Control, initiated by Pakistan. A strong and effective response was given," a source reported.
By Friday morning, the firing had ceased.
It remains unclear whether there were any casualties on either side. Neither country has officially confirmed any deaths or injuries. However, both Delhi and Islamabad have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.
Additionally, reports indicate that India has blocked the flow of the Indus River toward Pakistan by closing all four gates that control water through dams and canals. This marks the first such blockade since the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960, an agreement that has historically ensured shared use of the river despite political tensions.
Previously, Pakistan had stated that any attempt by India to halt or divert the Indus River’s flow would be considered an act of war.
Kashmir Attack and Escalation
Tensions between the two nations escalated following a recent armed attack in Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 27 people. Indian authorities labeled the incident a terrorist attack and blamed militants opposing Indian rule in the region. A group known as the "Resistance Front," affiliated with the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. Among the victims were 26 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen.
In response, India implemented several measures against Pakistan: suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, expulsion of defense advisors from Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi, and orders for all Pakistani nationals to leave India.
Pakistan retaliated by closing its airspace to Indian aircraft, halting all trade with India, and ordering Indian defense, naval, and air advisors to leave by April 30. These individuals were also declared persona non grata.
A Longstanding Conflict
This is not the first major conflict between India and Pakistan since their partition in 1947. The two countries have fought at least three full-scale wars: the First Kashmir War (1947–1949), the Second Kashmir War (1965), and the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971).
They have also engaged in several smaller conflicts, including the Siachen conflict (1984–2003), the Kargil War (1999), and the 2019 incident following a terrorist attack in Kashmir, when India launched airstrikes against militant camps in Pakistan, leading to aerial dogfights. During that clash, both countries lost one aircraft each — an Indian MiG-21 downed a Pakistani F-16, but was also shot down in return.
