India, Pakistan and the Kashmir attack – what we know

WHAT IS THE ISSUE IN KASHMIR?

Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in full.

Rebels in the Indian-run area have waged an insurgency since 1989, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan.

Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict.

New Delhi’s government revoked the region’s limited autonomy in 2019 and India has an estimated 500,000 soldiers deployed permanently in the territory.

WHO WERE THE ATTACKERS?

Indian police have identified two Pakistani nationals among the three fugitive alleged gunmen. The other is Indian.

Police say they are members of the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), designated a terrorist organisation by the United Nations.

A shadowy group called The Resistance Front (TRF)has purportedly claimed responsibility, according to an unverified claim quoted by some Indian media.

India designates TRF as a terrorist organisation and the India-based Observer Research Foundation calls it “a smokescreen and an offshoot of LeT”.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

New Delhi regularly blames Islamabad for backing gunmen in Kashmir.

Islamabad denies such charges, saying it only backs Kashmir’s struggle for self-determination.

New Delhi issued fresh claims after this attack, saying Islamabad supported “cross-border terrorism”.

Pakistan has denied any role in the attack.

HOW HAS INDIA RESPONDED?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to “punish every terrorist and their backer”.

New Delhi has also issued a raft of punitive diplomatic measures.

Those include suspending a water-sharing treaty, the closure of the main land border crossing with Pakistan and downgrading diplomatic ties.

India has ordered all Pakistani nationals to leave the country, with the exception of remaining diplomats, by Apr 29.