India and Pakistan cancel each other’s visas as tensions rise after deadly Kashmir attack

India and Pakistan cancelled visas for their nationals to each other’s countries on Thursday amid rising tensions between the two nuclear armed neighbours after India blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack by gunmen that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in disputed Kashmir.

Indian authorities said all visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be revoked with effect from Sunday, adding that all Pakistanis currently in India must leave before their visas expire based on the revised timeline. The country also announced other measures, including cutting the number of diplomatic staff and closing the only functional land border crossing between the countries.

In return, Pakistan closed its airspace to all Indian owned or Indian operated airlines, and suspended all trade with India, including to and from any third country.

Tuesday’s attack was the worst assault in years targeting civilians in the restive region that has seen an anti-India rebellion for more than three decades.

The rare attack, which targeted mostly tourists who were visiting a popular scenic meadow, shocked and outraged India and prompted calls for action against their country’s arch-enemy, Pakistan. 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.

Pakistan’s National Security Committee condemned India’s “belligerent measures.” It said that while Pakistan remained committed to peace, it would never allow anyone to “transgress its sovereignty, security, dignity and inalienable rights.”