JAMMU (IIOJK): On Saturday, two Indian soldiers were killed and two others injured by freedom fighters in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). This incident, occurring just days before the region’s local elections, underscores the persistent instability that has characterized Kashmir for decades. Kashmir is set to hold its first regional elections in a decade this week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has portrayed these elections as a transformation of the region from a “terrorist hotspot into a tourist spot.”
However, recent clashes suggest that the government’s claims of restoring peace might be overly optimistic. Since the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, both countries have claimed Kashmir, leading to three wars. The 1990s saw an insurgency in Kashmir, which was reportedly supported by Pakistan and attracted fighters from the Soviet-Afghan conflict. The ensuing Indian military crackdown was marred by allegations of human rights abuses. Despite extensive military and security measures, the insurgency has not been eradicated. Kashmir remains one of the world’s most heavily militarized regions.
Since 2019, Modi’s government has implemented a series of measures to tighten control, including revoking Kashmir’s partial autonomy, deploying additional troops, imposing communication blackouts, and restricting movement. India’s security forces acknowledge that the insurgency persists, with recent attacks being attributed to a more sophisticated wave of militants. Following the deaths of five soldiers last November, Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi suggested that the militants were highly trained, possibly receiving training in Pakistan or Afghanistan, and alleged that some were retired Pakistani soldiers.
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