India warns of ‘crushing response’ after Kashmir suicide bomb attack

Indian Muslims burn posters of Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, center, and Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar, during a protest against Thursday's attack on a paramilitary convoy in Kashmir that killed at least 40, in Mumbai, India, Friday.  (AP)

India's prime minister warned Friday of a "crushing response" after an attack by a Pakistan-based Islamist group killed 41 Indian police officers in Kashmir, according to reports.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi blamed Thursday's bombing on Pakistan, which India accuses of supporting rebels in Kashmir.

"Our neighboring country thinks such terror attacks can weaken us, but their plans will not materialize," he said, adding that government forces have been "given total freedom" to deal with the militants.

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"Security forces have been given permission to take decisions about the timing, place and nature of their response," he said.

Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol near the site of Thursday's suicide bombing attack in Pampore, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Friday.  (AP)

The attack was one of the deadliest ever in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

India Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will take all possible diplomatic steps to ensure the “complete isolation” of Pakistan in response to the attack, Reuters reported.

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Pakistan denied any role in the attack by militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, the BBC reported Friday.

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India and Pakistan each claim Kashmir as theirs amid decades of hostility.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.