<p>The government of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has closed all madrasas in the region for 10 days, officials said on Thursday, citing fears they would be targeted by Indian strikes following a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. </p><p>Islamabad says it has credible intelligence that India intends to launch military action soon, with New Delhi alleging that the attack on tourists was carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists.</p><p>The director of Pakistani occupied Kashmir's Department of Religious Affairs, Hafiz Nazir Ahmad, told <em>Reuters</em> that security officials feared Indian forces may target seminaries and label them as terrroist-training centres.</p><p>The notification seen by Reuters, dated April 30, only cited a heatwave as the reason for the closure.</p>.Gates shut completely at Attari-Wagah border after 911 Pakistanis depart India.<p>"Right now, we are facing two kinds of heat — one from the weather and the other from (Indian Prime Minister) Modi," Ahmad said of the notification, saying they did not mention the risk of attacks in a bid to avoid panic.</p><p>"We held a meeting yesterday in which it was unanimously decided not to put innocent children at risk," Ahmad said. </p><p>There are 445 registered madrasas with over 26,000 students enrolled in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to the religious affairs department.</p><p>Pakistan has said it will respond "assuredly and decisively" to any military action from India, raising the spectre of war between the two nuclear-armed countries.</p>.India should declare war against Pakistan if it refuses to hand over PoK: Athawale.<p>Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is claimed in full, but ruled in parts by both India and Pakistan, and has been the site of two wars and multiple skirmishes.</p><p>India accuses Pakistan of arming and training terrorists which Islamabad denies, saying it offers only moral and diplomatic support. Madrasas have been criticised for radicalising youth towards Islamist extremism. </p>
<p>The government of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has closed all madrasas in the region for 10 days, officials said on Thursday, citing fears they would be targeted by Indian strikes following a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. </p><p>Islamabad says it has credible intelligence that India intends to launch military action soon, with New Delhi alleging that the attack on tourists was carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists.</p><p>The director of Pakistani occupied Kashmir's Department of Religious Affairs, Hafiz Nazir Ahmad, told <em>Reuters</em> that security officials feared Indian forces may target seminaries and label them as terrroist-training centres.</p><p>The notification seen by Reuters, dated April 30, only cited a heatwave as the reason for the closure.</p>.Gates shut completely at Attari-Wagah border after 911 Pakistanis depart India.<p>"Right now, we are facing two kinds of heat — one from the weather and the other from (Indian Prime Minister) Modi," Ahmad said of the notification, saying they did not mention the risk of attacks in a bid to avoid panic.</p><p>"We held a meeting yesterday in which it was unanimously decided not to put innocent children at risk," Ahmad said. </p><p>There are 445 registered madrasas with over 26,000 students enrolled in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to the religious affairs department.</p><p>Pakistan has said it will respond "assuredly and decisively" to any military action from India, raising the spectre of war between the two nuclear-armed countries.</p>.India should declare war against Pakistan if it refuses to hand over PoK: Athawale.<p>Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is claimed in full, but ruled in parts by both India and Pakistan, and has been the site of two wars and multiple skirmishes.</p><p>India accuses Pakistan of arming and training terrorists which Islamabad denies, saying it offers only moral and diplomatic support. Madrasas have been criticised for radicalising youth towards Islamist extremism. </p>