ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) is “closely” monitoring the situation after an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, the State Department said on Thursday, as both India and Pakistan teeter on the brink of another conflict.
India and Pakistan have come close to a war as the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors downgraded diplomatic and trade relations, closed the main border crossing and revoked visas for each other’s nationals in tit-for-tat moves this week.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to pursue and punish the gunmen responsible for killing 26 civilians in the tourist hotspot of Pahalgam on Tuesday, accusing Pakistan of supporting “cross-border terrorism.” Pakistan has denied it was behind the attack, claimed by a previously unknown militant group.
“As we all know, it’s a rapidly changing situation and we are monitoring it closely,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said during a press briefing.
The statement came after Modi vowed to hunt down the gunmen responsible for killing 26 civilians in Pahalgam and the Indian police identified two of the three fugitive gunmen as Pakistani.
“I say to the whole world: India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backer,” Modi said, in his first speech since Tuesday’s attack in the Himalayan region. “We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.”
Islamabad has called the attempts to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack “frivolous” and vowed to respond to any Indian action.
“Any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and to the security of its people will be met with firm reciprocal measures in all domains,” a Pakistani government statement said.
Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947, with both claiming the territory in full but governing separate portions of it. The Muslim-majority region has been the cause of two of their three wars and also witnessed a bloody insurgency against Indian rule.
Bruce, however, declined to comment on the status of the disputed region.
“We, of course, are not now taking a position on the status of Kashmir or of Jammu either,” she said.
Also on Thursday, the United Nations urged both India and Pakistan to show “maximum restraint” as the nuclear-armed rivals imposed tit-for-tat diplomatic measures.
US says ‘closely’ monitoring situation after attack on tourists in Kashmir
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US says ‘closely’ monitoring situation after attack on tourists in Kashmir
- The attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, has once again brought India and Pakistan to the brink of another war
- The UN has urged both nations to show ‘maximum restraint’ as the nuclear-armed rivals announced tit-for-tat measures
Coach Gambhir under pressure as India aim for back-to-back T20 triumphs
- India’s home defeats in other formats have put Gautam Gambhir’s coaching job on the line
- Indian media suggests former batter, World Cup winner may lose his job if India fails in T20 tournament
NEW DELHI, India: Holders India will enter the T20 World Cup as firm favorites on home soil, but coach Gautam Gambhir faces intense scrutiny under the weight of expectation from a billion-plus fans.
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will begin their campaign against the United States at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
It will round off the opening day of the tournament’s 10th edition, which has been marred by a chaotic build-up.
Bangladesh last month refused to play in India, citing security concerns, and were kicked out to be replaced by Scotland.
This week the Pakistan government followed up by barring its team from playing against India in Group A on February 15 in Colombo as a protest at Bangladesh’s treatment.
The boycott has robbed the group stage of the biggest rivalry and money-spinning spectacle, but leaves India in pole position to top the group.
Pakistan should also progress to the Super Eights in second place, barring a slip-up against the Netherlands, Namibia or the USA, who make up the five-team group.
Top-ranked India reinforced their credentials as tournament favorites with a recent 4-1 win over New Zealand — their ninth successive T20 bilateral series triumph.
But home defeats in other formats have put Gambhir’s high-profile job on the line.
India were beaten 2-0 by South Africa in a Test series last year and New Zealand won an ODI series 2-1.
Gambhir, 44, replaced Rahul Dravid as coach after the T20 World Cup triumph in 2024 and has lost 10 out of 19 Tests.
SWASHBUCKLING SHARMA
Indian media suggested the former batsman and World Cup-winner may lose his job if India fail in the 20-team tournament.
“He should stay away from social media till the World Cup and focus on the team,” India batsman Ajinkya Rahane told website cricbuzz.
It will be India’s first T20 World Cup since the retirements of then captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli following the final victory in Barbados in 2024.
India first won the title under Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Johannesburg in 2007 but will have to defy history to win again, with no team having previously gone back-to-back.
Abhishek Sharma has replaced Rohit in the role of fearless opener, with the swashbuckling batsman scoring at a punishing strike rate of more than 194.
The 25-year-old left-hander is in form. He smashed India’s second fastest 50, off 14 balls, against New Zealand.
Captain Suryakumar ended a batting slump with three half-centuries in the same series while Ishan Kishan’s comeback has added muscle to the batting order.
Batting great Sunil Gavaskar told broadcaster JioStar that India were full of confidence.
“Even if there is a small stumble, this team knows it can recover, regroup, and continue marching toward victory,” said the former India captain.
The bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, has new talent in the shape of medium-pacer Harshit Rana.
Bumrah, Rana and Arshdeep Singh form the seam attack, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube as the all-rounders.
“It’s a luxury that we have a handful of bowlers that can bowl in every situation,” bowling coach Morne Morkel said.
“Part of the thinking ... was to look at different sorts of combinations. We don’t want teams to have set plans against us.”
Spinner Washington Sundar and batsman Tilak Varma are recovering from injury, but both are expected to be fit.
