India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on Wednesday the immediate closure of a major border crossing with Pakistan, following a deadly militant attack on civilians in Kashmir, described as the worst in years.

Vikram Misri, Deputy Foreign Minister, told reporters in New Delhi that the Attari-Wagah border crossing will be closed immediately, adding that travelers with valid documents will be allowed to return before May 1, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The Attari-Wagah crossing is one of the few official border points between India and Pakistan, used for both civilian and limited commercial purposes. Its closure marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The decision comes amid a sharp increase in security tensions in Kashmir, a disputed region that has witnessed intermittent violence and attacks targeting both civilians and military personnel for decades.