Several rebel groups have for decades fought Indian soldiers – now numbering around 500,000 – deployed in the territory, demanding independence for the region or its merger with Pakistan.
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“I spoke to Governor (N.N. Vohra) and Chief Minister (Mehbooba Mufti) of Jammu and Kashmir regarding the terror attack in Uri”.
“Deeply distressed at the terror incident in Uri and the loss of 17 fearless soldiers martyred”.
She said that the increased tension between the two states after this attack will vitiate the atmosphere in and around Jammu and Kashmir amid increasing Indo-Pak hostility.
Modi said he had talked to both Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
“They have apprised me of the security situation in the state”, he said.
Following the attack, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called an emergency meeting on Sunday afternoon.
During the protests, in addition to the death of more than 70 people, thousands of others have been wounded in daily clashes between security forces and protests who are now demanding freedom.
“All four killed were foreign terrorists and had carried with them items which had Pakistani markings”. A militant uprising and subsequent army crackdown since 1989 have killed more than 68,000 people.
Sunday’s attack was one of worst strikes on an army base in Kashmir since militant attacks began in 1989. Relations between India and Pakistan have been on edge since the New-Year attack on the Pathankot air force base in Punjab, near the border with Pakistan, that killed seven uniformed men.
Four rebels were killed as the soldiers returned gunfire after the surprise assault before dawn on the base close to the highly militarized Line of Control dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
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The two sides have frozen a tentative peace dialogue.
