India: In Jammu and Kashmir, deadly jihad battles escalate amid demands India restore partial autonomy

Jihadists in Jammu and Kashmir have escalated their activities, staging a “series of ambushes,” and have “now begun to target Indian civilian infrastructure projects.” The latest round of violence was sparked when Kashmir’s newly elected regional assembly “passed a resolution demanding that New Delhi restore its partial autonomy, which was stripped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in 2019.” Modi has stated that “no power in the world” will restore Kashmir’s partial autonomy.

The fighting is linked to an ancient jihad in the region. In 1947, when India and Pakistan became two distinct countries, the region of Jammu and Kashmir became “disputed territory,” much like in Israel, where jihadists claim the land and target Israel for being a Jewish state in a vast region that Islam conquered. 

A large number of jihad groups are operating in Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamic State jihadists have also joined in.

“Terrorist killed in encounter with security forces in J&K’s Sopore: Sources,” by Ashraf Wani, India Today, November 10, 2024:

A terrorist was killed and two to three others were trapped in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore on Saturday evening.

According to sources, based on a tip-off, the security forces launched a search operation in Sopore’s Rampora area in Baramulla district when the terrorists fired at them.

In the retaliatory firing, one of the terrorists was killed by the teams of the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police.

“OP RAJPURA, Baramulla. On 09 Nov 24, based on specific intelligence regarding presence of terrorists, a joint Operation launched by the IndianArmy & Jammu and Kashmir Police in general area Rajpura, Sopore, Baramulla. Suspicious activity was observed by vigilant troops and on being challenged terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. Own troops effectively retaliated. One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces in the ongoing Operation in general area Rajpura, Sopore, Baramulla. Search Operation is in progress {sic},” Army’s Chinar Core said….