Amidst rising tensions in Kashmir, a Sunday gunbattle between Indian government forces and local rebels resulted in the death of an Indian soldier, an Indian police officer and 3 rebels. Since a recent suicide attack in Kashmir carried out by a member of Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 42 members of India’s Central Reserve Police Force, tensions between India and Pakistan have soared.
On Friday night, the Indian government launched a crackdown in Kashmir, leading to the arrest of at least 400 Kashmiri leaders and activists. Many of those arrested belong to Jama’at-e-Islami, the dominant political group in Kashmir that wants self-determination for the disputed region, which is divided between India and Pakistan although both countries claim the entire territory. The violence on Sunday prompted anti-India protests across the region, while local businesses closed out of protest against the crackdown.
Read more: 5 dead in Kashmir, shops stage boycott of crackdown by India
