2019 Pulwama Attack

On 14 February 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on theJammu Srinagar National Highwaywas attacked by a vehicle-bornesuicide bomberatLethpora(nearAwantipora) in thePulwama district,Jammu and Kashmir, India. The attack resulted in the deaths of 40Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF)personnel and the attacker. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by thePakistan-basedIslamistmilitant groupJaish-e-Mohammed. The attacker was Adil Ahmad Dar, a local from Pulwama district, and a member of Jaish-e-Mohammed.India has blamed Pakistan for the attack. Pakistan condemned the attack and denied any connection to it.

Background

Kashmir is a disputed territory, claimed both by India and Pakistan with both countries administering part of the territory.Pakistan has sought to gain control of Indian-administered Kashmir.An insurgency began to proliferate in Indian-administered Kashmir in the late 1980s. One of the causes of the insurgency was India's rigging of the1987 elections,and Pakistan provided the insurgency with material support.Since 1989, about 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the Indian crackdown.According toTime,unrest in Kashmirgrew in 2016 after India killed a popular militant leader,Burhan Wani.A rising number of young locals fromIndian administered Kashmirhave joined the militancy.Many sources state that the majority of militants in Kashmir are now local, not foreign.In 2018 alone, the death toll included 260 militants, 160 civilians and 150 government forces.

Since 2015, Pakistan-based militants in Kashmir have increasingly taken to high-profile suicide attacks against the Indian security forces. In July 2015, three gunmenattackeda bus, and police station inGurdaspur. Early in 2016, four to six gunmenattackedthePathankot Air Force Station.^[17]In February and June 2016, the militantskillednine and eight security personnel respectively inPampore. In September 2016, four assailantsattackedanIndian Armybrigade headquarters inUrikilling 19 soldiers. On 31 December 2017, the Commando Training Centre at Lethpora was also attacked by militants killing five security personnel. These attacks took place in the vicinity of theJammu Srinagar National Highway.

^{Investigation}

TheNational Investigation Agencydispatched a 12-member team to probe the attack, working with theJammu and Kashmir Police.

Initial investigations suggested the car was carrying more than 300 kilograms (660lb) of explosives,including 80 kilograms (180lb) ofRDX, ahigh explosiveandammonium nitrate.Lt Gen Hoodasaid that the explosives might have been stolen from a construction site. He initially said that it was not possible that they were smuggled from across the border, but later said that he could not rule it out.

Legacy

The Indian cricket team paid tribute to the 40 soldiers killed in the Pulwama attack by wearing the camouflage caps instead of the usual sky blue team India cap, during the thirdOne Day Internationalmatch with Australia inRanchi.Pakistan objected to this gesture and Pakistani Information MinisterFawad Chaudhryand Foreign MinisterShah Mahmood Qureshicalled theInternational Cricket Council(ICC) to ban the Indian team for allegedly mixing cricket with politics.ThePakistani Cricket Boardformally raised the matter with the ICC.The ICC clarified that the Indian team had requested and was granted permission by the ICC to wear the camouflage caps as a part of fundraising drive and to pay tribute to the soldiers killed in the attack.