ISLAMABAD – Thousands of mourners across India attended funerals onSaturday for some of the 41 soldiers killed in a suicide bombing inIndian-administered Kashmir as a round-the-clock curfew remained in forcein part of the restive region.
The paramilitary troops were killed on Thursday as explosives packed in avan ripped through a convoy transporting 2,500 soldiers in the disputedHimalayan region, the deadliest attack in a 30-year-old armed conflict.
TV stations showed coffins wrapped in Indian flags being carried bythousands of people across their hometowns, after the bodies were flown toNew Delhi late Friday for a ceremony attended by Prime Minister NarendraModi.
India has accused Pakistan of harbouring the militants behind the attack,which has sparked nationwide outrage and some public calls for war againstthe nuclear-armed arch-rival to avenge the killings.
Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since independence fromBritain in 1947, with both the countries, which have fought three wars,claiming it in its entirety.
Two buses of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the 78-vehicleconvoy were targeted by the bomber on a key highway in the Pulwamadistrict, just outside the main city of Srinagar.
The Pakistan-based Islamist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimedresponsibility, and the vehicle was driven by a known local militant.
The powerful blast reduced one of the buses to a heap of mangled debris.Pictures showed bodies and body parts strewn all over the highway.
“I feel proud of the martyrdom of my son. I expect the government of Indiato avenge the killings,” Brish Soreng, father of one of the soldiers, toldreporters.
– Diplomatic support –
Modi on Saturday said that those behind the attack would be heldresponsible.
India is garnering diplomatic support after the attack and has vowed to”isolate” Pakistan diplomatically in the international community, saying ithas “incontrovertible evidence” of Islamabad’s role.
Pakistan has rejected the allegations.
Jaish-e-Mohammed is largely considered to be one of the most activePakistan-based insurgent groups fighting in Kashmir.
Islamabad was battling another crisis on its western border Saturday afterIran accused Pakistan-based militants of killing 27 Revolutionary Guards ina suicide car bomb attack in Isfahan city.
Tehran asked Pakistan to crack down on militants or face consequences for”housing” them.
The warnings to Islamabad came ahead of Sunday’s two-day visit by Saudicrown prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan. He is expected to visit Indiaa day later.
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– Protests continue –
Street protests continued Saturday across several Indian cities withdemonstrators burning effigies of Pakistani leaders and Muslim clericMaulana Masood Azhar, who founded Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The shock attack has caused widespread anger across India and a violentbacklash against Kashmiris elsewhere in the country.
Mob attacks on Kashmiri students and businessmen have been reported in thenorthern city of Dehradun, with some fleeing the city.
A curfew remained in place in Kashmir’s Hindu-majority Jammu city aftermobs on Friday attacked Kashmiri properties, set fire to vehicles andpelted housing complexes with stones, prompting counter-protests inSrinagar.
At least 12 people were injured in the city, local media reported, andinternet access in the area was suspended.
Angry Indian social media users furiously demanded retribution forThursday’s attack, while several hawkish TV channels called for all-out warwith Pakistan.
The attack has put Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) onthe back foot ahead of national elections due by May.
Modi’s government in recent years has adopted an aggressive posture inKashmir and shelved dialogue with Pakistan to boost its popularity afteraccusing the previous government of being soft on militants.
“Revenge is the only word that comes to my Mind,” Modi government ministerBabul Supriyo wrote on Twitter.
A meeting of political parties in New Delhi Saturday extended full supportto the government in “fighting terrorism, defending India’s unity andintegrity”.
India has stationed some 500,000 troops Kashmir, making it the mostmilitarised zone in the world, following an armed rebellion that began in1989.
Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict with most casualtiescivilians. Last year was the deadliest in a decade with almost 600 killed.
Many separatist rebel groups are fighting for the independence of all ofKashmir, while some want the territory to become a part of Pakistan. – AFP
