Saturday, July 27, 2024
Five Indian soldiers were killed on Thursday in a militant attack in the southern Rajouri sector of Indian-administered Kashmir, according to the Indian military.
The militants opened fire and threw grenades at an army truck, causing it to catch fire. Another soldier was also seriously injured in the attack and has been taken to a military hospital for treatment.
The area where the attack occurred is close to the Line of Control, a highly militarized border that divides the Himalayan territory between India and Pakistan. The Indian military has launched a search operation to locate the attackers.
#India - #Kashmir: Five Indian soldiers have been killed after a convoy was ambushed in the Poonch district of Kashmir. The attack has been claimed by the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a militant Islamist group that India considers an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba. pic.twitter.com/Uh6UOASMa4
— POPULAR FRONT (@PopularFront_) April 21, 2023
This incident is the latest in a series of attacks on Indian security forces by militants in the disputed region. Since 1989, rebels in the region have been fighting against Indian rule, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian, soldier and militant deaths.
The situation in Indian-administered Kashmir has intensified since 2019 when the Indian government canceled the partial autonomy of the region, which is the country’s only Muslim-majority area. The move was met with widespread protests and condemnation from both within and outside the country.
The Indian government has long accused Pakistan of supporting the militants operating in Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad denies the allegations and claims that it only provides diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris who are seeking self-determination.
Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande has briefed the country’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on the attack, according to a defense ministry source. The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing conflict in the disputed region and the need for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing issue. The international community has called on India and Pakistan to engage in a dialogue to resolve the conflict and ensure the safety and security of the people living in the region.