Indian security forces kill 2 suspected terrorist masterminds behind the suicide bombing in Kashmir that killed 40 soldiers and caused tensions to reach tipping point between India and Pakistanhttps://t.co/Pv6qsegea9— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) February 18, 2019
Daily Sabah News, Turkey
written by Reuters staff
Monday February 18, 2019
SRINAGAR, India - Indian security forces on Monday killed two suspected organizers of a deadly suicide bombing in the disputed region of Kashmir that has fueled tension between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, police said.
The suicide bomb attack on a paramilitary police convoy in Indian-controlled Kashmir last Thursday killed at least 40 men, the deadliest single attack on Indian forces in 30 years of insurgency in the Muslim-majority region.
The Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed responsibility for the attack. India accuses Pakistan for harboring the group. Pakistan denies that.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, facing an election that must be held by May, has promised a strong response to the attack and says he has given the military a free hand to tackle cross-border militancy.
The two suspected masterminds of the bomb attack killed in a clash on Monday were both Pakistani nationals and members of JeM, police said in a statement.
"The encounter is still in progress and the security forces are on the job," police said.
Four Indian soldiers and a civilian were also killed during the fighting, police said. One police source told Reuters one of the dead militants had been identified as Abdul Rashid Gazi, who went by the alias Kamran Bhai.
Indian troops had earlier cordoned off Pinglan village in Kashmir's Pulwama district, where the attack took place on Thursday.
An indefinite curfew has been imposed and police have asked people to stay indoors.
Mohammad Yunis, a journalist in Pulwama, said troops were searching the village and civilians trapped in houses were being evacuated.
On Sunday, police said Indian forces had detained 23 men suspected of links to the militants who carried out the Thursday bombing.
Kashmir is at the heart of decades of hostility between India and Pakistan. They both claim it in full but rule it in part.
India has withdrawn trade privileges offered to Pakistan and has warned of further action.
With tension mounting, Pakistan withdrew its envoy to India for consultations, a spokesman for Pakistan's foreign ministry said on Twitter on Monday.
The Thursday bomb attack has sparked outrage in India with calls for revenge circulating on social media, and rising animosity towards Kashmiri Muslims in other parts of the Hindu-majority country.
The Confederation of All India Traders called for a nationwide strike to protest against the attack, and footage from Reuters partner ANI showed shuttered shops in several states on Monday.
Watch: PM @narendramodi delivered a sharp warning to Pakistan and terror groups after #PulwamaTerrorAttackhttps://t.co/srxd3HwEUF— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) February 15, 2019
The U.S. condemns yesterday’s horrific terror attack on Indian security forces. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We stand with #India as it confronts terrorism. Pakistan must not provide safe haven for terrorists to threaten international security.— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) February 15, 2019
JUST IN | China on #PulwamaAttack: "Condemn all forms of terrorism....JeM included in Security Council terrorism sanctions list. Will continue to handle relevant sanctions issue in a constructive and responsible manner."— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) February 15, 2019
India to remove trade privileges, ensure complete isolation of Pakistan: Arun Jaitley https://t.co/gWD3rtsXf3 #PulwamaAttack— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) February 15, 2019
Reuters News
written by Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani, writing by Alasdair Pal.; Editing by Martin Howell
Thursday February 14, 2019
NEW DELHI - India will take all possible diplomatic steps to ensure the “complete isolation” of Pakistan in response to an attack by an Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) that killed 44 Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir on Thursday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday.
This would include India removing most favoured nation privileges given to Pakistan under World Trade Organisation rules, he said.
Pakistan-based JeM claimed responsibility for a car bomb that killed the police in one of the deadliest attacks ever in the India-controlled Kashmir region.
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