WORLD NEWS
At least four people have been killed in separate firefights in Indian-administered Kashmir, highlighting the ongoing volatility in the region less than a week after a visit by India’s Interior Minister Amit Shah. The deadly clashes, which occurred in different areas of the disputed territory, reflect the persistent unrest and the ongoing conflict between Indian forces and rebel groups.
On Saturday, the Indian army reported that three suspected rebel fighters were killed in a gun battle that began on Wednesday in a remote forest area of Kishtwar, located in southern Kashmir. Brigadier JBS Rathi, a senior Indian army official, stated that the operation demonstrated “great tactical acumen,” leading to the neutralization of three fighters. The army recovered weapons and “war-like stores” from the site, a term often used to describe military supplies.
Separately, late on Friday, a soldier was killed during an incident along the Line of Control (LoC) in Sunderbani district. The army reported that troops had successfully thwarted an infiltration attempt at the de facto border dividing Indian-administered Kashmir from Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The region has remained a hotspot of tension for decades, with both India and Pakistan laying claim to the entire territory. Since their independence in 1947, the two nuclear-armed neighbors have fought several wars over Kashmir, and the territory remains divided. India has deployed a massive security presence, with an estimated 500,000 soldiers in the region, following an armed uprising in the late 1980s.
The conflict in Kashmir has left thousands dead, with most of the casualties being civilians. Rebel groups, many seeking independence for Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan, have clashed with Indian forces for years. Last year, the violence intensified, with multiple deadly attacks on Indian forces, resulting in the deployment of thousands of additional troops, including special forces, to quell the insurgency.
The United Nations has also raised concerns over human rights violations in Kashmir, with a 2019 report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights accusing India of abuses in the region. The report called for a commission of inquiry into the allegations, although the Indian government has dismissed these calls for an international investigation.
Tensions in Kashmir spiked further after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's controversial decision in 2019 to revoke the region's semi-autonomy, which included a crackdown on dissent, civil liberties, and media freedoms. Military operations have since increased, with thousands of additional soldiers deployed across southern Kashmir.
Last month, clashes between police officers and suspected rebels resulted in the deaths of four officers and two rebels. The region's unrest continues to simmer, fueled by a long history of political and territorial disputes.
India regularly accuses Pakistan of supporting insurgent groups and pushing fighters across the LoC, although Islamabad denies the allegations, stating that it supports Kashmir’s right to self-determination.
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