• India and Pakistan have engaged in gunfire exchanges across Kashmir for five consecutive nights.
• The skirmishes follow a deadly attack on April 22 that killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
• India claims the attackers are linked to Pakistan and has launched extensive security operations in response.

Over the past week, India and Pakistan have exchanged gunfire along the de facto border in Kashmir, marking the fifth consecutive night of such incidents. These exchanges intensified following a tragic attack on tourists on April 22, which resulted in 26 deaths, prompting accusations from India against Pakistan for supporting terrorism. India has identified two of the three suspected militants as Pakistani, although Pakistan denies these allegations and is calling for a neutral investigation into the incident, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The Indian Army described the cross-border firing as "unprovoked" and has reported no casualties from either side as tensions escalate. A spokesperson noted that the escalating conflict includes multiple fire exchanges reported overnight, especially in the Kupwara and Baramulla districts. Pakistani officials have not commented on the latest exchanges, leading analysts to speculate about the potential for military escalation, as noted by South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.

Following the attacks, Indian authorities have conducted extensive searches, detaining approximately 500 individuals linked to security operations across Kashmir. This operation comes amidst widespread claims of "cross-border terrorism," which India attributes to Pakistan's alleged support for militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba. In a recent development, Indian police issued wanted posters for three individuals believed to be connected to these groups, with a bounty of 2 million rupees announced for each, as reported by TRT World and SCMP.

To prevent further escalation, international calls for restraint have been made, with the United Nations urging both nations to maintain peace. China and Saudi Arabia are reportedly coordinating efforts to mediate the situation, adding to the growing concerns about a potential military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, highlighted by TRT World and SCMP.