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NEW DELHI: India took a raft of punitive diplomatic measures against arch-rival Pakistan on Wednesday (Apr 23), accusing Islamabad of supporting "cross-border terrorism" after a deadly attack on civilians in Kashmir.
The attack has plunged relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours to their worst levels for several years, and some fear New Delhi's diplomatic salvo may be only the first in a series of steps - with the potential risk still of military action.
India's measures, including the suspension of a key water-sharing treating and closure of the mainland border crossing, comes a day after gunmen opened fire at tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The gunmen killed 26 men - all Indian except one Nepali - in the deadliest attack on civilians in the Himalayan region for a quarter of a century.
The killings have shocked New Delhi, as they marked a dramatic shift targeting civilians and the area's vital tourism industry, rather than smaller scale attacks against Indian security forces, which are more common.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged that those responsible for the "heinous act" will be brought to justice.
"Their evil agenda will never succeed," Modi said in a statement shortly after the attack. "Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger."
"SERIOUS RISK"
The attack on Tuesday took place as tourists enjoyed tranquil mountain views at the popular site at Pahalgam, when gunmen burst out of forests and raked crowds with automatic weapons.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday vowed a swift response.
"Those responsible and behind such an act will very soon hear our response, loud and clear," Singh said in a speech in New Delhi.
"We won't just reach those people who carried out the attack. We will also reach out to those who planned this from behind the scenes on our land."
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack in the Muslim-majority region where rebels have waged an insurgency since 1989 - seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan.
On Wednesday evening, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri read out a series of actions against Pakistan.
That includes...
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