Four Indian soldiers lost their lives, and three others sustained injuries in an ambush by militants in the southern Poonch district of Indian-administered Kashmir. The attack occurred on Thursday, with militants firing at two army vehicles near the Line of Control (LoC), the highly militarized border dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
According to an Indian army spokesman, the soldiers retaliated, resulting in a fierce encounter where four were killed, and three were wounded. The incident follows a pattern of violence in the region, marked by insurgency against New Delhi’s rule since 1989.
India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed rivals, administer separate portions of Kashmir but assert territorial claims over the entire region. The conflict, fueled by militants seeking autonomy or integration with Pakistan, has led to tens of thousands of casualties over the years. While India attributes the unrest to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Kashmiris view it as a legitimate struggle for freedom.
Read More: Macron Urges EU Support for Ukraine Amidst Doubts
Since 2019, Kashmir has faced increased turmoil as India revoked the region’s semi-autonomous status, heightened security measures, and curtailed civil liberties. The revocation of Article 370, which granted autonomy to the region, and the subsequent division into two federally ruled territories, intensified tensions. The region witnessed a surge in rebel attacks against Indian soldiers, with 34 casualties since 2021, 19 occurring since April 2023.
The complex security landscape has prompted aggressive counterinsurgency operations, raising concerns about the suppression of dissent. Modi regime has suppressed media. The government uses illegal measures to stifle freedom of the press and the broader challenges faced by journalists in the region.