Indian Soldiers Killed in Kashmir, Fear May Inflame Crisis

Srinagar, Indian-held Kashmir, 17 Dzulhijjah 1437/19 September 2016 (MINA) – The killing of 17 Indian soldiers at their barracks in Indian-held Kashmir on Sunday morning has raised fears it could intensify already heightened tensions in the disputed Himalayan region.

India’s Director General for Military Operations Lt. General Ranbir Singh told reporters in Delhi said the four militants who were killed during the operation, which also injured 30, were foreign fighters carrying equipment that had Pakistani markings.

According to sources in the army, who spoke to Anadolu Agency on the condition of anonymity as they were not cleared to speak to media, the death toll in the Army is likely to go up.

The attack has come two-and-a-half months into a wave of protests against Indian rule in the region which has seen at least 86 civilians shot dead by Indian security forces and around 9,000 injured according to the health department.

While today’s militant attack happened in north Kashmir’s Uri, a garrison town that had not seen any protests, police officials in the region said they feared the incident would impact the situation on the ground in coming days.

“The army is right now in charge of south Kashmir and in north Kashmir and we can expect more killings of civilian protesters after today’s attack. It is natural that they are angry at the attack and they see the people supporting the militants and will vent their anger on the people,” a senior police official, who spoke to Anadolu Agency on the condition of anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to media.

The ongoing tensions were initially sparked by the killing of a popular Kashmiri militant commander by Indian forces on July 8.

The Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also warned the attack could make the situation worse.

“Unfortunately, people in Jammu and Kashmir, who are already mired in an agonizing situation, shall have to bear the maximum brunt of the fresh attempts being made to step up violence and trigger fresh bloodshed in the State,” Mufti said.

The attack is considered the worst such militant assault on Indian forces in Kashmir over the past two decades. T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)