Three militants in Kashmir, responsible for the massacre triggering a conflict with Pakistan, were reportedly eliminated by Indian forces.
In the heart of Kashmir, tensions have once again flared up following a deadly gunbattle that claimed the lives of three suspected militants. The operation, a joint effort by the military, paramilitary, and police, took place on the outskirts of Srinagar, Kashmir's main city.
The slain militants have been identified as Suleman alias Faizal Jatt, Hamza Afghani, and Zibran, all Pakistani nationals affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). These militants are believed to be responsible for the April 22, 2025, shooting massacre at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, where 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, lost their lives. This attack is considered one of the deadliest recent incidents targeting civilians in the region.
Suleman alias Faizal Jatt was also reportedly involved in an attack in Gagangir in October 2024. The April 2025 Pahalgam attack, which targeted mainly Hindu civilians, triggered a brief but intense military confrontation between India and Pakistan, escalating tensions and resulting in casualties and displacement.
India has publicly linked these militants and the attack to Pakistan, accusing Pakistan-based groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, although Pakistan has denied involvement and claimed it had dismantled LeT. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah provided evidence such as recovered voter ID cards and ammunition to substantiate these claims.
The rifle cartridges found at the site of the recent gunbattle match those used during the April massacre, further strengthening the link between the slain militants and the deadly attack. However, it is unclear whether the locals were considered accomplices. No immediate response was received from Pakistan's government regarding the gunbattle.
This conflict, which has been ongoing in the mountainous areas of Jammu since 1989, revolves around India and Pakistan each administering part of Kashmir, but both claiming the Himalayan territory in its entirety. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels' goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
This latest development in the ongoing conflict serves as a stark reminder of the volatile situation in Kashmir and the need for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing dispute.
[References: 1, 2, 3, 4]
- The recent gunbattle in Kashmir, involving the deaths of Suleman alias Faizal Jatt, Hamza Afghani, and Zibran, highlights a connection between war-and-conflicts and politics, as their affiliation with Lashkar-e-Taiba places them in the general-news sphere.
- The April 2025 Pahalgam attack, a crime-and-justice incident where Hindu tourists were targeted, has escalated political tensions between India and Pakistan, indicating a link between crime-and-justice and war-and-conflicts.
