Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has authorized the Indian armed forces to respond to last week’s deadly terror attack in Kashmir with complete operational freedom. During a high-level meeting on April 29, 2025, at his private residence with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the national security advisor, and senior military generals, Modi reportedly gave the military chiefs full discretion over the timing, targets, and methods of their response.
The deadly attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the killing of 26 Hindu tourists, has been blamed by India on Pakistan. New Delhi accuses Pakistan of funding and encouraging Islamist militancy in the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistan denies these allegations, stating it only provides moral and diplomatic support for Kashmir’s self-determination and has called for an independent investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, cross-border firing between Indian and Pakistani troops has continued for a fifth consecutive day. The Indian army reported responding to “unprovoked small arms fire” from multiple Pakistani positions overnight. Pakistan’s military has not confirmed the shooting but reported shooting down an Indian drone. Indian officials also claim to have detected attempts by Pakistan-based hackers to infiltrate Indian military websites.
The ongoing tensions have deeply affected local civilians in Kashmir. Residents are fortifying underground bunkers to protect themselves from cross-border shelling. Many tourist sites have been closed, with 48 out of 87 major destinations shuttered, impacting the local economy that heavily depends on tourism.
Beyond the region, the rising tensions have also raised concerns in the United Kingdom, home to large Indian and Pakistani diaspora communities. British lawmakers have urged calm to prevent the conflict from spilling over into communal tensions abroad. The UK government emphasizes its role in de-escalating the situation, calling on community leaders to promote peace during this fragile period.
This development marks a critical escalation in the long-standing conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, a region that has been a flashpoint for decades between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.