On Tuesday April 22, twenty-six people were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir, in Baisaran Valley. Twenty-four were Indian, one from Nepal, and one individual was a local tour guide. Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday that “no group has taken responsibility for the attack; however, Indian police are blam[ing] it on armed groups fighting against Indian rule.” Two senior police officers told AP News that there were at least four gunmen. There are over sixty injured from the attack—many in critical condition.

Several leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the attack. Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq took to X to condemn what he called a ‘cowardly attack on tourists.’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack on X during a visit to Saudi Arabia, stating: “I strongly condemn the terror attack…Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones…Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared!” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also condemned the attack, and U.S. President Trump expressed support for India, stating on TruthSocial, “The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism.”

Tensions in Kashmir have occurred since the Partition of India in 1947. The partition has caused conflict between India and Pakistan, as both countries claim the larger Kashmir region, called Jammu and Kashmir, as wholly theirs. The region is bordered by Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and India, and has historically been majority Muslim. In 1947, British colonial rule gave Maharajah rulers from India power over the Jammu and Kashmir region. Pakistan militias invaded the territory of Kashmir and there was a brief war between the new countries; the UN required Pakistan to demilitarize the zone, and they did not comply. Today, India administers Jammu and Kashmir, and Pakistan administers Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Pakistan-administered Kashmir). China controls the Aksai Chin region and the Trans-Karakoram Tract; the latter’s legality is disputed by India. 

The Kashmir Resistance, the Resistance Front (TRF), has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a Delhi-based think tank, TRF emerged in 2019 as an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). TRF was a previously unknown group. Lashkar-e-Taiba is a Pakistan Jihadist group whose cause is merging Kashmir with Pakistan. LeT is considered a terrorist organization in the United States because of plotted attacks on India and the West, including an attack on Mumbai in 2008. 

In response to the attack, India has halted the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. According to Newsweek, India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri stated, “Recognizing the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decided upon the following measures: The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry extended condolences to those murdered or injured in the attack in “Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”

The Indus Water Treaty guides cooperation on cross-border rivers. With the halt of the treaty, there are likely to be disputes between water distribution. Issues regarding drinking water, agriculture, and hydropower are likely to arise, causing more tension between the two countries. There needs to be diplomatic measures to ensure the future safety of both Indian and Pakistani civilians, instead of halting the Indus Water Treaty, which hurts both countries, especially urban Pakistanis. 

The problems of the Kashmir providence between India and Pakistan need continued discussion. There needs to be an outside mediator, not involving Britain, China, or the United States, for continued involvement in the region. Religious dialogues should occur as well, since there are heavy Muslim and Hindu populations between the states and the provinces. Continued religious dialogue may reduce extremism in the region. Overall, soft power and diplomacy are essential in future relations between the two countries.