At least four Indian soldiers and a police officer were killed in a recent gunfight with suspected militants in the Doda region of Jammu, Indian-administered Kashmir. The Indian Army reported that the confrontation, part of a search operation, resulted in heavy firefighting late Monday night.
This incident marks the second major attack in a week in Jammu, a region that has largely avoided the intense separatist violence seen in the neighboring Kashmir valley. Earlier this month, five soldiers were killed and six injured in an ambush in Kathua district, following an attack on a Hindu pilgrim bus in Reasi that claimed ten lives.
Authorities suspect the militants involved are trained and armed by Pakistan, a claim Islamabad denies. The Indian government maintains that its 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status has been instrumental in reducing violence in the Kashmir valley, though attacks in Jammu have surged.
Since December 2021, at least 48 soldiers have died in gunfights in Jammu, highlighting the shifting focus of militant activities. Experts point to the involvement of local gangs, Pakistani support, and strained India-China relations as contributing factors to the unrest.
Despite efforts by Indian security forces to curb militancy, Lt Col JS Sodhi stresses the need for political dialogue to achieve lasting peace in the region. He notes the increased frequency of attacks in Jammu as militants adapt to heightened security measures in the Kashmir valley.