At least four people, including two soldiers and two civilians, have died after militants ambushed an Indian army vehicle in the Jammu and Kashmir region near the Pakistan border. Three other soldiers were injured in this surprise attack, which took place close to Gulmarg, a popular resort town.
The militant group claiming responsibility for this attack is the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), which Indian officials believe is linked to the larger Pakistan-based group Jaish-E-Mohammed. This group has a dark history in the region; it was also behind a deadly suicide bombing in Pulwama in 2019 that killed 40 Indian soldiers and severely strained the already tense relationship between India and Pakistan.
Following the attack, the Indian army launched a large-scale search operation to track down the militants. According to an army spokesperson, additional soldiers were quickly sent to the area, and drones and helicopters were deployed to scan the region for any signs of the attackers.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of violence in Jammu and Kashmir, which has seen an increase in attacks in recent months. Just a few days ago, militants killed seven people and wounded five others working on a tunnel project near Sonamarg, another resort town. Omar Abdullah, the newly elected Chief Minister of the region, expressed his deep concern over the escalating violence, calling it a “serious issue” in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
These recent attacks come at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Not long ago, India’s Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, attended a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Pakistan. This was the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nine years. During his visit, Jaishankar did not hold back, openly criticizing Pakistan’s “cross-border terrorism policy” and claiming it will “never succeed.”
The issue of Kashmir has long been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming ownership of the area. India has often accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism in the Muslim-majority region, while Pakistan argues that India is violating the human rights of Kashmir’s residents. Since the Pulwama attack in 2019, relations have only worsened. Following that incident, India launched a “surgical strike” in Pakistan’s Balakot area, targeting militant camps. Later that year, India further escalated tensions by revoking special constitutional rights for Jammu and Kashmir, a move that led Pakistan to reduce its diplomatic ties with India.
The recent ambush has only added to the complex and dangerous landscape of Kashmir. As both nations navigate the ongoing crisis, the region remains a volatile zone where peace often feels just out of reach. The Indian army’s hunt for the attackers continues, while the border remains on high alert, with the specter of more violence looming.
