After countries across the globe, including the US, Russia and France, condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with India, Pakistan recalibrated its tone.

India blamed Pakistan on Wednesday for a militant attack that killed 26 people in Indian-held Kashmir, downgrading diplomatic ties and suspending a crucial water-sharing treaty that has withstood two wars between the nuclear-armed rivals.

At least 20 people were feared dead after suspected militants opened fire on them in India's Himalayan territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, with officials saying it was one of the deadliest such attacks in recent times.