NEW DELHI — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised on Thursday to hunt down the unidentified attackers who killed 26 people in Indian-controlled Kashmir two days prior.

"I say to the whole world: India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth," he said in a speech in Bihar state.

"India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished. Every effort will be made to ensure that justice will be done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us."

Modi has also called for an all-party meeting with opposition parties to brief them on the government’s response to the attack.

A little-known militant group calling itself The Resistance Front has claimed responsibility for the attack in the Himalayan tourist town of Pahalgam. In a Telegram message detailing its motives, it railed against "outsiders" whom it said were "attempting to settle illegally" in the region.

However, Modi's government and security forces have also pointed the finger at Pakistan, insisting that the Resistance Front is a front for the long-established Pakistan-based armed Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

On Wednesday night, New Delhi accused Islamabad of supporting “cross-border terrorism” and began downgrading diplomatic ties, suspending a key water-sharing treaty and closing the two countries' main land border crossing.

There are fears that India may move beyond diplomatic sanctions as the country's media and leaders from Modi’s Hindu nationalist ruling party call for military action.

Pakistan has denied the allegation of complicity in the attack, and said it would respond to India’s actions on Thursday and convene its National Security Committee, which is composed of senior civil and military officials.

“India has taken irresponsible steps and leveled allegations,” Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the local TV channel Dunya News, adding that “any kinetic step by India will see a tit-to-tat kinetic response” from Pakistan.

India tightened its control of Kashmir in 2019 in response to continued rebellions against its power there, and violence has since declined somewhat after decades of on-and-off conflict.

New Delhi hoped that the rise of a tourist industry and improved infrastructure would help strengthen its hold in the region, and the killing of a large number of tourists in an unexpected attack could deal a major blow. — Euronews