17 Soldiers Killed in Attack on Indian Army in Kashmir
It is a general feeling that India’s PM Narendra Modi is deliberately trying to complicate the whole Kashmir issue to divert attention of Indians who are reeling under a complete socio-economic chaos in the country.
By Rakesh Raman
As the Indian government has completely failed to control the ongoing violence in the Kashmir region, 17 soldiers lost their lives Sunday in one of the deadliest attacks on the Indian army.
According to the reports, militants attacked an army camp in Uri in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Four militants were also killed in the exchange of fire near the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.
India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said Sunday that he has instructed the army officers to take firm action against those who were responsible for the attack.
Reviewed situation in Kashmir following Uri attack with Army Chief & Commanders. Instructed to take firm action against those responsible.
— Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) September 18, 2016
Moreover, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also has condemned the terror attack in Uri, J&K. “We strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Uri. I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,” Modi stated.
He also said that he has spoken to Home Minister and Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) on the situation. “Raksha Mantri will go to J&K himself to take stock of the situation”, the Prime Minister said.
[ Is India Planning for a War with Pakistan? ]
It is a general feeling that Modi is deliberately trying to complicate the whole Kashmir issue to divert attention of Indians who are reeling under a complete socio-economic chaos in the country. An Indian political leader Mayawati had stated that Modi may trigger a war with Pakistan to hide his failures.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is mobilizing international support in its favour and has recently sought United Nations’ (UN) intervention to get the Kashmir issue resolved, although India resists any external interference.
Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain has urged the United Nations (UN) and the world community to immediately play their due role in resolving the issue of Kashmir without which, according to him, the dream of peace in South Asia cannot be realized.
Trouble in Kashmir
Kashmir has been facing a series of violent incidents since the killing of a 22-year-old rebel leader Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces on July 8 in an encounter which many believe was avoidable.
[ Why Is Barack Obama Silent on Kashmir Issue? ]
Nearly 80 people have died and thousands injured in the conflicts between the supporters of Burhan Wani and the Indian security forces in Kashmir, which is a disputed territory between India, Pakistan, and China.
Although Burhan Wani was branded as a terrorist by the Indian rulers, he was a freedom fighter for the tens of thousands of local Kashmiris. They rallied behind Burhan Wani to face the excesses of security forces who have been given a free hand by the Indian government to deal with all those in Kashmir who demand freedom.
Kashmir has always been a conflict area between India and Pakistan since 1947 when both these countries got freedom from the British rule. In order to stake their claims over Kashmir, India and Pakistan have fought two bloody wars in 1965 and 1971, besides incessant skirmishes between the rival armies.
Last month, a group of non-resident Kashmiris submitted a letter to the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in which they expressed their disappointment over the U.S. silence on the atrocities in Kashmir.
Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau
