India has described the April 22 massacre as a terror attack and blamed Pakistan for backing it, an accusation denied by Islamabad. India swiftly announced diplomatic actions against its archrival Pakistan, which responded with its own tit-for-tat measures.

The offensive occurred amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors in the aftermath of an attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir.

India launched strikes on Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir on Wednesday, an assault its neighbour called a "blatant act of war" as tension spirals between the nuclear-armed rivals after a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir.