India Pledges Relentless Pursuit of Terrorists After Deadly Kashmir Attack Amid Soaring Tensions with Pakistan

India has declared it will hunt down terrorists "to the ends of the earth" after a brutal attack in Kashmir left 26 dead and 17 injured, ramping up already fiery tensions with neighboring Pakistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn’t mince words at a public rally, promising that India will "identify, track and punish every terrorist, their handlers and their backers." He added, "We will pursue them to the ends of the earth." If you were wondering how serious they are, that’s about as hardcore as it gets in political speeches.

The attack, which took place on Tuesday, targeted tourists visiting one of Kashmir’s scenic meadows. It’s the deadliest assault on civilians in the troubled region in years. Gunmen opened fire on the mostly tourist crowd, reminding everyone that the three-decade-long anti-India insurgency in Kashmir is far from over.

Though the Indian government hasn’t publicly shown evidence linking the incident directly to Pakistan, officials insist there are "cross-border" ties. Pakistan, for its part, has flatly denied involvement. The responsibility was claimed by a group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance, so the plot thickens — and not in a good way.

India responded by revoking all visas issued to Pakistani nationals effective Sunday. Any Pakistanis in India have been told to leave before their visas expire. On top of that, India is slashing diplomatic staff and closing the only operational land border crossing between the countries. It’s safe to say the diplomatic chill just went sub-Arctic.

Pakistan fired back by closing its airspace to all Indian-owned or operated airlines and suspending all trade with India, even via third countries. Pakistan’s National Security Committee called out India’s "belligerent measures," asserting that while Pakistan wants peace, it won’t stand for any threats to its sovereignty or security.

Even across the ocean, the attack rattled nerves. Former President Donald Trump shared his "deepest sympathies" with India, posting on TRUTH Social that "the United States stands strong with India against Terrorism." He added support for Prime Minister Modi and offered condolences to the victims and their families.