Pahalgam Live: India, Pak fighting over Kashmir for 1,000 years, will figure it out: Trump
Pak Army chief evokes two-nation theory, says Muslims are distinct from Hindus in all aspects of life — religion, customs, traditions, thinking and aspirations
The US President Donald Trump has said there have been “tensions on [the Kashmir] border for 1,500 years” and that India and Pakistan will “get it figured out one way or the other”.
“I’m sure… I know both leaders. There is great tension between Pakistan and India. But there always has been,” he said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, blowing hot and cold over the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people on April 22, Pakistan has now offered to join any “neutral and transparent” probe into the massacre.
“The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt. Continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation,” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at an event on Saturday (April 26).
Sharif threatens to ‘use all options’
Talking about the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty by India, Sharif said any attempt to stop, reduce, or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan would be responded to with full force and might.
Sharif threatened to use all options if the water of its share was stopped by India. “Water is our lifeline and a vital national interest, and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs and under all circumstances,” he said.
He said the entire nation stood by the armed forces of Pakistan to safeguard every inch of the homeland. “Our valiant armed forces are capable and remain fully prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity against any misadventure,” he said.
Firing along LOC
On the other hand, Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir on Saturday highlighted the “two-nation theory”, stating that Muslims and Hindus are two different nations.
“The two-nation theory was based on the fundamental belief that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations, not one. Muslims are distinct from Hindus in all aspects of life – religion, customs, traditions, thinking and aspirations,” Munir said.
Earlier in the day, the Pakistani military resorted to unprovoked firing all across the Line of Control and Indian troops effectively responded to them, military sources said.
The exchange of fire for a second consecutive night came amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Follow more live updates below:
Live Updates
- 26 April 2025 10:42 AM GMT
Pakistani Hindu refugees apprehensive after India's visa revoking order
Gripped with uncertainty over whether they will be allowed to stay or asked to leave, Pakistani Hindu refugees staying at Delhi's Majnu Ka Tila fear for their future after India suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals.
India announced on Thursday that all visas issued to Pakistani nationals would be revoked from April 27 and asked these people to leave the country as tensions between the two countries escalated after the barbaric terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam left 26 people dead.
While the government later clarified that Long Term Visas (LTVs) already granted to Hindu Pakistani nationals will remain valid, many refugees are anxious about their status as their visas are renewed every two years and their applications for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 are still being processed.
Sona Das, president of the Hindu refugee community at Majnu Ka Tila, said several families have been living in Delhi for years, renewing their visas periodically after document verification by authorities.
"Also, many of these families crossed over from Pakistan just one or two months ago, some are living in camps near Majnu Ka Tila, while others have taken shelter under the Signature Bridge," Das told PTI.
Recently, the police asked the refugees to submit their documents for verification to check if anyone was staying illegally or using forged papers, he said.
"All relevant documents were collected, but people are nervous about what might happen next," he added.
- 26 April 2025 10:29 AM GMT
Uttar Pradesh police steps up vigil on Pakistani nationals
In the wake of the Centre's return order for Pakistani nationals in India, police in Uttar Pradesh have stepped up vigil on them. India directed Pakistani citizens residing here to return to their homeland before April 27 in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. The authorities in Uttar Pradesh are overseeing the departure of those on short-term visas, while monitoring the ones with long-term visas.
Prayagraj Police Commissioner Tarun Gaba said that four Pakistani nationals were on short-term visas in the Prayagraj district.
"One Pakistani woman left on Friday, while three Pakistani women will leave on Saturday," he said.
Gaba said that these individuals had come for a brief period, including one for medical treatment, and assured that the local intelligence unit (LIU) is closely monitoring the situation. Similarly, Muzaffarnagar authorities also said that there were four Pakistani nationals in the district, with Superintendent of Police (City) Satyanarain Prajapati confirming the report of their departure. While two, including a woman, reportedly left on Thursday, the remaining two exited India on Friday.
However, there are still 26 Pakistani nationals in Muzaffarnagar, but they are on long-term visas. The officer said that they are monitoring these individuals and are verifying their presence at their registered addresses while awaiting further directives from the government.
He also noted that most long-term visa holders have applied for Indian nationality.
- 26 April 2025 10:10 AM GMT
Hang terrorists, but spare the common people : Pakistani nationals in India
Punish the terrorists, but spare the common people. This was the appeal made by Pakistani nationals who were visiting India but are now rushing back because of the Indian government's order of revoking their visas from April 27. Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals are valid till April 29. Some came to attend their relative's wedding while others arrived, hoping for a healthier life, for treatment. But the Pahalgam terror attack has scarred lives on both sides of the border.
India has announced that all visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be revoked from April 27 and advised Indians residing in Pakistan to return home at the earliest, as tensions between the two countries escalated over the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
Most of the Pakistani nationals exiting through the told PTI that they had come to meet their kin in India. Some were here to attend weddings but now have to rush back home without participating.
"It was my niece's wedding today. I came after 10 years but still couldn't attend the ceremony," said a visibly upset Baskari, a Karachi resident who had come to Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur along with her husband.
Her husband Mohd Rasheed said that they arrived in India on April 10 on a 45-day visa. "My wife was born in India and my in-laws live here. The wedding was to take place in Saharanpur district today. Police came to our relative's home and asked us to leave immediately," he said.
His wife said, "It is saddening to leave on the day of the wedding. Peace should prevail between the two nations." "Whatever happened in Pahalgam is wrong. Those behind it should be severely punished, but the common people should not have to face the brunt. People carrying out such acts have nothing to do with religion. Common people on both sides love each other. A handful of terrorists spoil the atmosphere," Rasheed said.
Another Pakistani national heading back home said he was in India for his mother's treatment and was lucky enough that it was over just a couple of days ago.
Bali Ram from Ghotki in Pakistan's northern Sindh said he was visiting his three daughters in Raipur when the news of the attack broke. "I came on April 5 but now have to rush back. Those who carried out the act should be punished, but what in the fault of innocent tourists?" Daulat from Karachi was in Jodhpur on a 45-day visa for a wedding. "Whatever happened (in Pahalgam) is not good. This should not have happened," she said while dragging a few trolley suitcases towards the exit gate.
Muzammil strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack, saying that "they should be hanged". An elderly man from Rawalpindi said he had come to Lucknow for a kin's wedding but had to cut short the trip now.
On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called up the chief ministers of all the states and asked them to ensure that no Pakistani stays in India beyond the deadline set for leaving the country.
- 26 April 2025 9:53 AM GMT
Kanpur park to be named after Pahalgam victim
A park and square in Shyam Nagar will be named after Pahalgam terror attack victim Shubham Dwivedi, the city mayor Pramila Pandey said on Saturday.
Dwivedi, 31, had got married on February 12 this year and was killed in front of his wife, Ashanya.
"We have decided that Kanpur Municipal Corporation (KMC) will name a park and a square in Shyam Nagar after Shubham Dwivedi, who was shot dead by terrorists in Pahalgam," Pandey said.
She told reporters that Ashanya might be given an outsourcing job in the Kanpur Municipal Corporation, if she expresses interest.
- 26 April 2025 9:48 AM GMT
Pahalgam terror attack: Traders observe bandh in protest in Amritsar
Traders in Punjab's Amritsar shut their shops and other commercial establishments as 'bandh' was observed in the city on Saturday, with people taking out a march through the markets and even inside the old walled city area to protest the Pahalgam terror incident.
A bandh call was given by the Amritsar traders association and some other outfits.
Even private schools were also found shut due to the bandh call.
However, fuel stations, vegetable and milk vendors, medical and emergency services were exempted and they were working as per their routine.
