India, Pakistan trade fire for third day over Kashmir

Troops from India and Pakistan exchanged fire for the third consecutive night along the disputed Kashmir border, officials said on Sunday, as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours continued to escalate.

The flare-up follows a deadly attack on 22 April in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where gunmen killed 26 civilians — the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in 25 years. India has accused Pakistan of supporting "cross-border terrorism," a claim Islamabad has dismissed as "frivolous," warning that it would respond to any Indian measures.

The Indian military reported "unprovoked" small arms fire initiated by Pakistan along the Line of Control, saying Indian forces responded effectively. Pakistan has not yet commented on the latest exchange.

Indian authorities have released wanted posters for three suspects — two Pakistanis and one Indian — believed to be affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba group, designated a terrorist organisation by the United Nations. The National Investigation Agency, tasked with the inquiry, is questioning witnesses, examining entry and exit points, and gathering forensic evidence.

Following the Pahalgam attack, Indian security forces demolished the family home of one suspect, Farooq Ahmad Tadwa, in Kupwara district. Officials reported that nine homes belonging to alleged militants have been destroyed so far.

Diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have deteriorated sharply. India suspended a key water-sharing treaty, closed the main land border crossing, downgraded diplomatic relations, and revoked visas for Pakistani citizens. In response, Pakistan expelled Indian diplomats, cancelled visas for Indian nationals — except Sikh pilgrims — and sealed the border from its side.

The United Nations has called on both countries to exercise "maximum restraint" and to resolve disputes peacefully through meaningful dialogue.

Tensions remain high, with indications that an Indian military response could still be forthcoming. In a previous instance in 2019, a suicide bombing in Kashmir killed 41 Indian soldiers, leading to Indian airstrikes inside Pakistan and pushing the two countries to the brink of war.