India and Pakistan have yet to engage in open hostilities beyond some ineffectual small-arms fire exchanged by border guards, but each has imposed a raft of sanctions and penalties on the other following the deadly April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Himalayan tourist haven of Indian-controlled Kashmir. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to pursue the perpetrators of the terror attack “to the ends of the earth” and make them “pay beyond their imagination” for gunning down dozens of tourists in Pahalgam.
Many Indians believe the Pakistani government either turned a blind eye to the terrorists responsible or actively colluded in the attack. Pakistan has denied any involvement with the terrorists and criticized India for suggesting it might be responsible for the bloodshed. Pakistani officials have repeatedly said they believe India is hours or days away from launching some form of military action. On Monday, MHA instructed several Indian states to test civilian readiness for an attack by rehearsing evacuation plans, checking communication systems, testing their air raid warning sirens, teaching emergency procedures to civilian residents, and deploying camouflage around vital installations. (Read more)
