Pakistan PM says army is preparing to respond to anticipated Indian aggression in region

Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, has threatened to “teach Delhi a lesson” and vowed to fight until the end against any Indian violations in disputed Kashmir.

In some of his strongest words since Delhi revoked Indian-administered Kashmir’s special status last week, Khan said the army was preparing to respond to anticipated Indian aggression in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Exclusive: Special rapporteur speaks out as Indian-administered territory faces fourth day in lockdown

The unprecedented communications blackout imposed on Indian-administered Kashmir could signal a departure in the way democratic states clamp down on information in contentious areas, the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of expression has said.

“There’s something about this shutdown that is draconian in a way other shutdowns usually are not,” David Kaye told the Guardian.

Move to split disputed state follows security crackdown and detention of politicians

India is set to withdraw the special status of the disputed territory of Kashmir and split the state in two, in a move likely to face major resistance in the Muslim-majority state and escalate tensions with Pakistan.

The proposal, which has been advocated by Hindu nationalists for decades, is the most radical change any government has suggested for Kashmir’s status since the region was granted autonomy in exchange for joining the Indian union after independence in 1947.

India and Pakistan’s differing narratives are not unusual in the social media age, say experts

India struck Pakistan. Pakistan hit back, capturing an Indian pilot. Those are the established facts. Virtually everything else about the clashes between south Asia’s two arch-enemies last week is bitterly contested.

Did India hit a militant training camp in Pakistan? Did it cross the ceasefire line between the two countries in disputed Kashmir? How many people did the strikes kill? Was a Pakistani jet shot down while bombing Indian territory the next day?

At least six civilians and two Pakistani troops killed as clashes along frontier continue

Indian and Pakistani soldiers have targeted each other’s posts and villages along the volatile frontier in disputed Kashmir, killing at least six civilians and two Pakistani troops, officials said.

Tensions have been running high since Indian aircraft crossed into Pakistan on Tuesday, carrying out what India called a pre-emptive strike against militants blamed for a 14 February suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops. Pakistan retaliated, shooting down a fighter jet on Wednesday and detaining its pilot, who was returned to India on Friday in what Islamabad described as a peace gesture.

The Indian pilot who survived being shot down in Kashmir on Wednesday is returned by Pakistan in a 'peace gesture' it is hoped will de-escalate military tensions between the two nuclear states. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was involved in the worst military crisis in decades between the countries over the disputed territory of Kashmir

• Pakistan hands back Indian pilot shot down over Kashmir in 'peace gesture'