India shuts border crossing with Pakistan after deadly Kashmir attack

India has closed its main land border crossing with Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that left at least 26 people dead.

The announcement came just one day after gunmen targeted a group of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Vikram Misri, India’s top career diplomat, told reporters in New Delhi that the Attari-Wagah border crossing would be shut “with immediate effect.” He noted that individuals holding valid travel documents would be allowed to return before May 1.

The closure follows India’s suspension of the decades-old Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. Speaking at a press conference after an emergency security cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Misri stated that the treaty would remain suspended until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.”

India has blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the attack, though Islamabad has strongly denied the allegations. In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended condolences to the victims' families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, expressing concern over the loss of civilian lives.

A militant group calling itself Kashmir Resistance, previously unknown to security agencies, claimed responsibility for the attack via social media. The group alleged that the victims were affiliated with Indian security forces, not ordinary tourists. These claims, however, could not be independently verified.

Authorities confirmed that 24 of those killed were Indian tourists, along with one person from Nepal and a local tour guide. At least 17 others were injured in the assault.

The attack comes amid rising tensions over demographic changes in Kashmir. Earlier this month, the local government revealed that more than 83,000 Indian citizens had been granted land and property rights in the region over the past two years—an issue that has fueled resentment among some residents.

Tourism, a key element of the Indian government’s strategy to project stability in Kashmir, has suffered a sharp blow in the wake of the attack. Tourists began leaving en masse, fearing further violence.

“Kashmir is beautiful, but we no longer feel safe,” said Monojit Debnath, a visitor from Kolkata, as he prepared to leave Srinagar with his family. “As tourists, we have to think about our safety.”

Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, acknowledged the trauma caused by the attack. “It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley,” he wrote on social media. “But at the same time, we totally understand why people would want to leave.”

Until this week, tourists in Kashmir had not been directly targeted, despite the region’s heavy security presence and a history of insurgency. The attack marks a troubling turn and threatens to derail efforts to promote normalcy in one of the world’s most militarized zones.

By Khagan Isayev