Escalating Tensions in Kashmir and Yemen Conflict

Indian authorities are investigating the killing of 26 people in Kashmir last week and have demolished the houses of at least 10 alleged militants, detaining more people for questioning. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the militants, but Pakistan rejects the allegations. The attack, which targeted Hindu men, was the deadliest on civilians in Kashmir in two decades. Indian police have named three suspected attackers, two of whom are Pakistani nationals. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated, with both countries expelling diplomats, revoking visas, and exchanging fire along the border.

One week after a militant attack near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 people, tourists have begun trickling back to the town in small numbers. The attack, which targeted tourists visiting a mountain-top meadow, was one of the deadliest in recent years and sparked widespread anger in India. While some tourists have returned, others have cancelled their trips due to fears of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Local businesses are worried about their livelihoods, with many reporting a significant drop in sales. Indian authorities have launched combing operations in the region, detaining hundreds of people and destroying homes belonging to alleged militants. The attack has also raised concerns about the region's economy, with investments and tourism likely to be affected.

Pakistan's defense minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, has stated that an incursion by India is "imminent" amid heightened tensions following a militant attack in India's Kashmir region that killed 26 people. Asif said Pakistan has reinforced its forces and informed its allies in the Gulf, who have communicated with officials in China and the US. India has been aggressively hunting those involved in the attack, demolishing properties linked to suspects, detaining over 1,500 people, and exchanging cross-border fire with Pakistani troops. The feud between India and Pakistan over Kashmir dates back nearly 80 years, with the two countries having engaged in several wars and skirmishes.

At least 68 African migrants were killed and 47 injured in a US air strike on a detention centre in Houthi-controlled north-western Yemen, according to the Houthi-run TV channel Al Masirah. The centre in Saada province was holding 115 Africans when it was hit four times, with graphic footage showing multiple bodies among the rubble. The US defence official said the US military's Central Command was aware of the claims and was conducting a battle-damage assessment. The Houthi-run interior ministry condemned the strike as a "war crime". The detention centre was reportedly in an open area, not near any military base, and held migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia who were attempting to cross into Saudi Arabia. The strike came after US President Donald Trump ordered an intensification of the air campaign against the Houthis, and the US Central Command said it had hit over 800 targets, killing "hundreds of Houthi fighters". The incident has been condemned by the UN's International Organisation for Migration and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen claim that a US strike hit a migrant detention center in Saada on Sunday, killing at least 35 people. The center allegedly housed 115 African migrants. The US military has been conducting near-daily strikes against the Houthis since March 15 as part of "Operation Rough Rider," targeting their command-and-control facilities, air defense systems, and other infrastructure. The US has struck over 800 targets, killing hundreds of Houthi fighters, and says its operations have degraded the Houthis' ability to launch attacks, reducing ballistic missile launches by 69% and one-way attack drones by 55%. The Houthis have been backed by Iran and have been launching strikes against Israel and Western vessels in the Red Sea since late 2023.