Tensions soar after Kashmir attack as India and Pakistan diplomacy breaks down

India has revoked visas for Pakistani citizens and given them until Sunday to leave the country amid rising tensions between the neighbours, following Tuesday's deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir. Pakistan responded with a string of tit-for-tat diplomatic measures against India, including the cancellation of visas for Indians, closing its airspace to all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines and suspending all trade with its neighbour. As tensions climbed, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his country would pursue the culprits "to the ends of the earth" after an attack it blames on Pakistani militants. Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines and warned it would consider any diversion of water an "act of war". Hundreds of Pakistanis joined protests on Thursday against India's threats. In Kashmir, about 300 people brandishing anti-India placards marched through the main city of Muzaffarabad. The attack in a tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir on Tuesday killed 26 people. India alleged "cross-border linkages" and responded with a diplomatic offensive, closing a key border crossing, suspending a water treaty and expelling Pakistani diplomats. It went further on Thursday by announcing that India "has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect". "All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked" with effect from April 27, India's Foreign Ministry said. It added that medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only until April 29. The ministry also advised Indian citzens in Pakistan to return as soon as possible. Motorists were heading towards India on Wednesday via the Wagah-Attari border crossing , which is being closed with a grace period until May 1 for people who have already crossed to return. Pakistan's government hit back with what it called "firm reciprocal measures" to protect its sovereignty. It described India's moves as "unjust, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible and devoid of legal merit.” Indian defence, naval and air Advisers in Islamabad were declared unwelcome and "directed to leave Pakistan immediately," said a statement released by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office after he convened a rare national security committee meeting. He said visas issued to Indian citizens would be cancelled, with the exception of Sikh pilgrims, and that borders would shut, trade would be cancelled and airspace closed to Indian-owned or operated airlines. Pakistan also “vehemently” rejected India’s unprecedented move to suspend the water-sharing pact. “Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water" belonging to Pakistan "will be “considered as an act of war and responded with full force", the government said. A rare attack on civilians, mostly tourists who were visiting a popular scenic meadow, shocked and outraged India and prompted calls for action against Pakistan. Among the 26 people killed was Dubai resident Niraj Udhwani . The Indian government did not publicly produce any evidence connecting the attack to its neighbour, but said it had “cross-border” links to Pakistan. Pakistan denied any connection to the attack, which was claimed by a previously unknown militant group that called itself the Kashmir Resistance. India has vowed to punish those responsible. "I say to the whole world: India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backer," Mr Modi said in his first speech since the attack. "We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth". India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. New Delhi describes all militancy in Kashmir as being backed by Pakistan. Pakistan denies this and many Muslim Kashmiris consider the militants to be part of a home-grown freedom struggle. India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, announced on Wednesday night that a number of Pakistani diplomats were asked to leave New Delhi and Indian diplomats were recalled from Pakistan. Diplomatic missions in both countries will reduce their staff from 55 to 30 as of May 1, and the only functional land border crossing between the countries would be closed. India also suspended a landmark water-sharing treaty that has survived two wars between the countries, in 1965 and 1971, and a major border skirmish in 1999. The Indus Water Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allows for sharing the waters of a river system that is a lifeline for both countries, particularly for Pakistan’s agriculture.

Tensions soar after Kashmir attack as India and Pakistan diplomacy breaks down

Neighbours cancel visas of each other's citizens in major escalation as tit-for-tat measures are announced