More young Kashmiri men appear to be joining a guerrilla campaign for independence in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, according to Kashmiri political leaders and human rights groups. A rise in local involvement could be a new setback for India in Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only majority Muslim state and the scene of a 14-year insurgency that has been the cause of two wars between India and Pakistan. Indian officials have long pointed to the presence of foreign militants in Kashmir as proof that the struggle is being spurred not by Kashmiri popular sentiment but by Pakistan, India’s longtime rival. A year after a new state government was elected with a “healing touch” policy, Kashmiris say that human rights abuses by Indian security forces have continued, fueling a rise in young Kashmiris joining the insurgency, which has killed 40,000 to 80,000 people. Two recent attacks in Srinagar, the state capital, also featured Kashmiri militants working with men believed to be from Pakistan. Full Story
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