Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed on Thursday to pursue, track and punish terrorists and their backers in a strong reaction to a deadly attack on tourists in the Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
At a speech in India's eastern state of Bihar, Modi folded his hands in prayer in remembrance for the 26 men who were shot and killed in a meadow in the Pahalgam region of IIOJK, exhorting thousands gathered at the venue to do the same.
"We will pursue them to the ends of the earth," Modi said, referring to the attackers, without referring to their identities or naming Pakistan. His comments are, however, bound to further inflame ties between the nuclear-armed rivals after India downgraded ties with Pakistan late on Wednesday, suspending a six-decade old water treaty and closing the only land border crossing between the neighbours.
Police in IIOJK published notices on Thursday naming three suspected militants "involved in" the attack, and announced rewards for information leading to their arrest. Two of the three suspected militants are Pakistani nationals, the notices said. They did not say how the men were identified.
India has summoned the top diplomat at the Pakistan embassy in New Delhi, local media reported, to give notice that all defence advisers in the Pakistani mission were persona non grata and given a week to leave, one of the measures Misri announced.
Modi has also called for an all-party meeting with opposition parties to brief them on the government's response to the attack.
Protest at embassy
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Pakistan embassy in New Delhi's diplomatic enclave on Thursday, shouting slogans and pushing against police barricades.
A soldier was killed on Thursday in clashes with gunmen at Basantgarh in IIOJK, the Indian army said.
Srinagar appeared calm on Thursday, with residents expressing shock at the attack, which has hit the region's key tourist industry hard, and fear of what is to come.
"Everyone I have spoken to is heartbroken and shocked," said Siddhi Wahid, a Kashmiri historian and political commentator.
The attack has enraged Hindu nationalist groups, and students from Kashmir at institutions across India have reported experiencing harassment and intimidation.
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