India must tread carefully to avoid alienating the Kashmiri population while targeting militants behind last week’s deadly attack that left 26 people dead, the region’s chief minister has cautioned.
Omar Abdullah stressed that this approach was critical, especially as the Muslim-majority Himalayan region had witnessed protests condemning the violence.
“We should not do anything to alienate the people after their spontaneous reaction [against the attack],” Abdullah, chief minister of the Indian federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir, told the local assembly house.
He added, “Guns can only control militancy, not finish it. It will only end when the people are with us. It seems people are now reaching that stage.”
In the aftermath of the attack, India banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, accusing them of spreading “provocative” content. The blocked accounts include major Pakistani media outlets such as Dawn, Samaa TV, and ARY News.
Users in India attempting to access the banned channels are met with a message citing an “order from the government related to national security or public order.”
The Kashmir attack, which targeted civilians, has been described as the deadliest in the contested region in recent times.
Meanwhile, Pakistani security forces reported killing 54 militants overnight in North Waziristan, a district near the Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The military stated that the militants were attempting to infiltrate into Pakistan, marking one of the deadliest encounters in recent years.
In a statement, the Pakistani military said intelligence indicated the slain militants were “Khwarij,” the term it uses to describe the Pakistani Taliban.
Another overnight operation on Monday led to the deaths of 17 more militants attempting to cross the border, bringing the total number killed over three days to 71.
In response to the growing tensions, India has threatened to suspend the Indus Water Treaty, an agreement crucial for managing water resources shared with Pakistan, a move that could severely impact Pakistan’s agriculture and economy.
Reacting to the tensions, China’s Foreign Ministry called for calm.
“China hopes that the two sides will exercise restraint, meet each other halfway, properly handle relevant differences through dialogue and consultation and jointly maintain regional peace and stability,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
Beijing had earlier expressed support for Pakistan’s demand for an independent investigation into the attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Addressing the deeper roots of the conflict, Natasha Raheja, a political anthropologist at Cornell University, told DW, “At the core of this dispute is an ongoing struggle and denial of Kashmiri self-determination. This is a region that has been besieged by a history of colonial borders that were drawn in haste as well as hasty princely state accessions,” she said, noting an increase in nationalist rhetoric.
Raheja further explained that both nations have historically used marginalized groups against one another, saying, “Kashmiri people are suffering and their voices are being overshadowed by the military showmanship at the border.”
As for resolving the conflict, she suggested, “People across borders must work together and they must question the work that these borders do.”
Meanwhile, the Indian Army reported ongoing skirmishes along the Line of Control, stating there had been gunfire exchanges for the fourth consecutive night.
“During the night of April 27-28… Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control. Indian troops responded swiftly and effectively,” the Indian army said.
Pakistan has yet to officially confirm the reported gunfire.
Kashmir remains a disputed territory claimed in full by India and Pakistan, and partially administered by China. The 1972 agreement between India and Pakistan established the LoC as the de facto border between their administered areas.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting militancy following the Pahalgam attack, allegations which Islamabad denies, instead calling for a neutral investigation.
The violent rampage in Kashmir, which sowed fear among residents and Indian tourists, has only added to the volatility.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed China’s stance during talks with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, reiterating support for a thorough investigation into the Pahalgam attack.
“China advocates for a swift and fair investigation and believes that conflict does not serve the fundamental interests of either India or Pakistan, nor does it benefit regional peace and stability,” Wang told Dar, according to China’s Xinhua news agency.
In conversations with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Wang also criticized what he described as “India’s false accusations, baseless propaganda and unilateral measures,” according to Pakistani outlet Dawn.
Wang reassured Lammy that Pakistan remains committed to fostering peace in the region.
The United States also weighed in, urging both nations to seek a responsible resolution.
“This is an evolving situation and we are monitoring developments closely. We have been in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan at multiple levels. The United States encourages all parties to work together towards a responsible resolution,” a US State Department spokesperson told Reuters.
While the US expressed solidarity with India over the attack, it also emphasized the importance of a measured approach, noting that both India and Pakistan are key strategic partners amid China’s growing global influence.
The attack near Pahalgam on April 22, where 26 people—most of them tourists—were gunned down near a resort, triggered a rapid diplomatic fallout.
New Delhi responded by downgrading ties with Islamabad, suspending a critical water-sharing treaty, closing the main land border crossing, and expelling diplomats.
Pakistan retaliated by shutting its airspace to Indian flights and imposing restrictions on Indian visas.
Since then, both sides have engaged in nightly cross-border firing, maintaining a tense standoff for the fourth straight day.
