Following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists, India escalated its response by implementing a three-phase plan to stop Indus water flow to Pakistan. Home Minister Amit Shah directed all chief ministers to identify and deport Pakistani nationals residing in India.
Security forces demolished homes of two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists linked to the attack. Army Chief visited Kashmir to review operations as Pakistani forces conducted "speculative firing" across the Line of Control, with Indian retaliation. A significant search operation began in Kathua after a woman reported spotting four suspected terrorists.
The US intelligence chief pledged to help India hunt down those responsible, calling it an "Islamic terrorist attack." Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi visited Srinagar, stating "terrorists cannot divide society" and "India must stand united." Meanwhile, the Center plans to restrict access to over 60 tourist spots in Kashmir that were part of its "normalcy" narrative.