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Additional Deputy Commissioner Raj Kumar Thapa has been killed in shelling originating from Pakistan in Rajouri town of Indian-administered Kashmir, according to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. "Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Administration Services," Abdullah posted on X. "Today, the residence of the officer was hit by Pak [Pakistani] shelling as they targeted Rajouri town killing our Additional District Development Commissioner Sh [Shri] Raj Kumar Thappa. I’ve no words to express my shock and sadness at this terrible loss of life." Where have explosions been reported? Government officials informed the BBC that two more civilians were also killed in Jammu city. Source: BBC

India fired missiles across the border into Pakistani-controlled territory in at least three locations early Wednesday, killing at a child and wounding two other people, Pakistani security officials said. India said it was striking infrastructure used by militants. India also claims there are casualties from Pakistani fire in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. Tensions have soared between the nuclear-armed neighbors over last month’s militant attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled portion. India has blamed Pakistan for backing the militant attack, which Islamabad has denied. India has moved to punish Pakistan after accusing it of backing the attack in Pahalgam, which Islamabad denies. The region has been split between India and Pakistan since 1949 and is claimed by both in its entirety. Aircraft crashes on a school building in the outskirts of main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir An unknown aircraft has crashed on a school building in the outskirts of the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Police and residents said the aircraft fell in the early hours Wednesday, shortly after India launched missile strikes on Pakistan. “There was a huge fire in the sky. Then we heard several blasts also,” said Mohammed Yousuf Dar, a local resident in southern Wuyan village in Pampore area, where the incident occurred. Firefighters struggled for hours to extinguish the fires. Police and military officials sealed off the area immediately after the incident. India says Pakistani army shelling kills 3 India’s army says three civilians were killed in Pakistani shelling into Indian-controlled Kashmir. It says the Pakistani army “resorted to arbitrary firing” across the de facto border that divides disputed Kashmir between the two countries. Pakistan tells UN it reserves right to respond Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Islamabad has informed the U.N. Security Council about the Indian attacks and the threat it poses to international peace and security. The ministry says in a statement that the Security Council was told that “Pakistan reserves the right to respond appropriately to this aggression at a time and place of its choosing.” Officials say India used precision strike weapons systems Indian security officials say that army, navy and air force personnel used precision strike weapon systems, including drones, to carry out the strikes. The officials said that intelligence agencies provided coordinates for the strikes and that all operations were executed from Indian territory. The officials said the strikes targeted the headquarters of militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke. South Asia analyst says Pakistan's response will ‘pack a punch’ Geopolitical analyst Michael Kugelman said that “these are some of the most high-intensity Indian strikes in Pakistan in years, and Pakistan’s response will surely pack a punch as well.” “These are two strong militaries that, even with nuclear weapons as a deterrent, are not afraid to deploy sizeable levels of conventional military force against each other. The escalation risks are real. And they could well increase, and quickly,” Kugelman said in an interview with The Associated Press. Rubio says he hopes the latest conflict ends quickly The U.S. secretary of state says in a post on X that “I am monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan closely.” Rubio continued: “I echo @POTUS’s comments earlier today that this hopefully ends quickly and will continue to engage both Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful resolution.” Trump said earlier Tuesday that he hopes the fighting “ends very quickly” and called it “a shame.” Indian airlines cancel some flights SpiceJet says it cancelled flights to Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir’s main city, and to the cities of Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu and Amritsar in northern India after their airports were “closed until further notice.” Dhaka seeks peace, not conflict: Touhid tells his Pak counterpart There was no immediate comment from India’s civil aviation ministry. Two other Indian airlines also said they were cancelling their flights to the airports till possibly later Wednesday. Indian official says Prime Minister Modi monitored the operation An Indian official says Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitored the operation against Pakistan through the night. The government official says there were nine targets that were hit “successfully.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t authorized to disclose details. Pakistani official says eight killed and dozens injured Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, says India attacked six locations, killing eight people and injuring 38 others. He said in televised remarks that five civilians were killed in Ahmedpur East in Punjab province and that three people were killed at other locations. Sharig says that “retaliatory action is being taken in response to the enemy’s attacks.” Emergency declared in hospitals in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir Waqar Noor, the region’s interior minister, says authorities have declared an emergency in local hospitals. In Muzaffarabad, the main city of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, resident Abdul Sammad says he heard several explosions and that some people were wounded in the attack. He says people were running in panic and that authorities immediately cut the power, leading to a blackout. Indian police say a woman is killed and a girl is injured during border fight Police say a woman was killed and a girl was wounded in Indian-controlled Kashmir when Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged mortar and gunfire at several places along the highly militarized frontier. A local doctor says the woman was killed in the Mankote area of the Poonch district. The doctor spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media. India says official spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio India’s embassy in Washington says that Ajit Doval, the country’s national security adviser, has spoken U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shortly after the Indian strikes. The Embassy says in a statement that India’s actions “were measured, responsible and designed to be non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani civilian, economic or military targets have been hit. Only known terror camps were targeted.” Pakistan says a child was killed and two people injured in attack A Pakistani official says one missile struck a mosque in the city of Bahawalpur in Punjab, where a child was killed and a woman and man were injured. The official and others say Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes but didn’t provide any details. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Pakistan condemns what it calls Indian Air Force strikes on civilian areas The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned what it calls a “blatant and unprovoked act of aggression” on civilian areas by the Indian Air Force. It says Indian aircraft lunched strikes from Indian airspace, targeting civilian areas in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and in Punjab province. The ministry says in a statement that the attack reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, and posed a significant threat to commercial air traffic.UN secretary-general calls for restraint U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says in a statement that Secretary General Antonio Guterres is calling for restraint from both countries. “The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” the statement read. Pakistan’s defense minister condemns what he calls a ‘cowardly act’ Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif has strongly condemned what he calls a “cowardly act by India.” He told Pakistan’s Geo news channel that India had deliberately targeted civilian populations and a mosque. “This was a cowardly move by India,” Asif said. “We will also respond.” Indian army says Pakistan fired artillery along the border The Indian army says in a statement that Pakistan fired artillery along what’s known as the de facto border, or the Line of Control, in Bhimber Gali in India-controlled Kashmir. It said India’s armed forces were “responding appropriately in a calibrated manner.” Pakistan’s Sharif convenes national security committee Pakistan’s prime minister has convened a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday morning, according to a government announcement. Pakistan's prime minister calls Indian action an ‘act of war’ In a statement, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that “Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given.” Sharif said the entire nation stands with the Pakistan Armed Forces, and the morale and spirit of the Pakistani people are high. “The Pakistani nation and the Pakistan Armed Forces know very well how to deal with the enemy,” he said. “We will never let the enemy succeed in its nefarious objectives.” Trump says he hopes fighting ‘ends very quickly’ President Donald Trump was asked about the airstrikes India launched in Pakistani-controlled territory and said he’d just heard about it an said, “It’s a shame.” “I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They’ve been fighting for a long time. They’ve been fighting for many, many decades. And centuries, actually, if you really think about it,” Trump said. Fire along the frontier India and Pakistan accused each other of initiating the attacks. The incidents could not be independently verified. In the past, each side has accused the other of starting border skirmishes in the Himalayan region. Strikes follow a militant attack on Kashmir last month The strikes come amid soaring tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors over last month’s militant attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. India has blamed Pakistan for backing the militant attack, which Islamabad has denied. India fires missiles across the frontier with Pakistan, killing at least 1 child, officials say India fired missiles across the border into Pakistani-controlled territory in at least three locations early Wednesday, killing at a child and wounding two other people, Pakistani security officials said. India said it was striking infrastructure used by militants. The missiles early Wednesday struck locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and in the country’s eastern Punjab province, according to three Pakistani security officials. One of them struck a mosque in the city of Bahawalpur in Punjab, where a child was killed, and a woman and man were injured, one official said. The officials said Pakistan had launched retaliatory strikes, without providing any details. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media on the record. India says at least nine sites were targeted India’s Defense Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that at least nine sites were targeted “where terrorist attacks against India have been planned.” “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistan military facilities have been targeted,” the statement said, adding that “India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan on Monday in a diplomatic effort to mediate between Islamabad and New Delhi following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that has sharply raised tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Araghchi is the first foreign dignitary to visit the country since the April 22 assault in Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists, mostly Hindus. His visit follows Tehran’s recent offer to help deescalate the crisis. Upon arrival near Islamabad, Araghchi was received by senior Pakistani officials. During his trip, he is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. No further details were provided. Pakistan’s military remains on high alert after Minister Attaullah Tarar warned last week of “credible intelligence” suggesting a possible Indian retaliatory strike. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the Kashmir attack and has proposed an impartial international investigation — an offer India has yet to respond to. Israel to expand military campaign in Gaza, says official Global leaders, including U.S. officials, have urged both countries to act with restraint to prevent further escalation. Kashmir remains a deeply contentious issue, with both India and Pakistan claiming the region in full. The two nations have fought two wars over the Himalayan territory, and their relationship continues to be defined by hostility, mistrust, and disputes over Kashmir. The recent surge in hostilities has already led to tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and the closure of airspace between the two sides.      

The Indian military on Saturday accused Pakistani forces of firing on Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region for a second straight night, amid rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors following a deadly attack on Indian tourists. In a statement, the Indian army said soldiers at multiple Pakistani posts opened fire overnight across the LoC, prompting Indian troops to respond with small arms fire. The Indian military labeled the firing as “unprovoked” and reported no casualties. This follows a similar incident reported on Friday, when Indian forces claimed they were targeted with small arms fire in the Gurez sector the previous night. ICE is reversing the termination of legal status for international students around the US There was no immediate response from Pakistan, and the claims have not been independently verified. Both countries have a history of blaming each other for initiating border clashes in the contested Himalayan region. The escalation comes in the wake of Tuesday’s attack near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, where gunmen killed 26 people, mostly tourists. India labeled the incident a terrorist attack and blamed Pakistan for supporting it. Pakistan, however, denied involvement, and a little-known group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance claimed responsibility. The attack was the worst against civilians in the region in years and has triggered heightened tensions. India and Pakistan, who each claim Kashmir in full and have fought two wars over it, have since taken retaliatory measures. India suspended a longstanding water-sharing treaty on Wednesday, shut down the only operational land border crossing, and announced all Pakistani visas would be revoked by Sunday. In response, Pakistan canceled Indian visas, closed its airspace to Indian aircraft, and halted bilateral trade. Travelers from both countries began returning home through the Wagah border near Lahore on Friday. Iran to ink $4b oilfields deal with Russia Islamabad also issued a stern warning, saying any attempt by India to stop or divert river waters would be treated as an “act of war.” The move threatens to worsen water shortages in parts of Pakistan already facing drought conditions. India maintains that all militant activity in Kashmir is backed by Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies, asserting instead that the insurgency reflects a local struggle for independence among Kashmir’s Muslim-majority population.    

India has received "strong expressions of support and solidarity" from many governments around the world, including Bangladesh, which have unequivocally condemned the recent terror attack. The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met on Wednesday evening under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and recorded its appreciation for such sentiments, which reflect zero tolerance for terrorism. The CCS was briefed in detail on the terrorist attack on 22 April 2025 in Pahalgam, in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed. A number of others sustained injuries. The CCS condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the early recovery of the injured. Prof Yunus seeks greater Qatari investment, offers exclusive economic zone Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh separately strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in India, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives. “Bangladesh extends deepest condolence to the families of the victims and expresses heartfelt sympathy to all those affected by the mindless act of violence," said the MoFA on Wednesday. Bangladesh reiterated its "unwavering commitment" to the global fight against terrorism. In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development, said Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in a statement on the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Recognising the seriousness of this terrorist attack, he said, the CCS decided upon the following measures: (i) The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. (ii) The Integrated Check Post Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before 01 May 2025. (iii) Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India. (iv) The Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions. (v) The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by 01 May 2025. The CCS reviewed the overall security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigil, said the Indian Foreign Secretary. It resolved that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account, he said. "As with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror, or conspired to make them possible," Misri said.

Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan have strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead, including two foreign nationals. The actors expressed their grief and anger in heartfelt posts shared on social media platform X. The attack, described as a brutal act of violence, has drawn widespread outrage across the country. Both Shah Rukh and Salman used their platforms to denounce the incident and stand in solidarity with the victims' families. "Words fail to express the sadness and anger at the treachery and inhumane act of violence that has occurred in Pahalgam," Shah Rukh Khan wrote. "In times like these, one can only turn to God and say a prayer for the families that suffered and express my deepest condolences. May we as a Nation, stand united, strong and get justice against this heinous act." Salman Khan echoed similar sentiments, offering prayers and support to those affected. "Deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives in the Pahalgam attack. My thoughts and prayers are with the families. May peace prevail, and may justice be served," he posted. From Chittisinghpora to Pahalgam: Kashmir’s unending cycle of bloodshed The film fraternity, along with the wider public, has rallied in mourning and outrage following the attack. Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. The attack has once again highlighted the vulnerability of civilians in conflict-prone regions and reignited calls for stronger national security and communal unity. Source: With inputs from India Today

At least two dozen people have been killed after gunmen opened fire on a group of domestic tourists visiting a popular beauty spot in Indian-administered Kashmir. The attack took place in Pahalgam, a picturesque town in the Himalayas often described as the "Switzerland of India". The region's chief minister, Omar Abdullah, said the attack was "much larger than anything we've seen directed at civilians in recent years". Reports suggest that there are a large number of wounded, with some in critical condition, BBC reports. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the perpetrators would "be brought to justice". "Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakeable and it will get even stronger," Modi wrote in a statement on X. Modi added that Home Minister Amit Shah would travel to Srinagar, Kashmir's largest city, to hold an emergency security meeting. 13 killed as passenger truck falls into a ravine in southern Pakistan The region's Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, said the army and police had been deployed to the scene. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. There has been a long-running insurgency in the Muslim-majority region since 1989, although violence has waned in recent years. The attack took place in Baisaran, a mountain-top meadow three miles (5km) from Pahalgam. Vehicles are unable to reach the area where the shooting occurred, Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Vidi Kumar Birdi told BBC Hindi. A tourist from Gujarat, who was part of a group that was fired upon, said that chaos broke out after the sudden attack, and everybody started running, crying and shouting. Video footage shared by Indian media outlets appears to show Indian troops running towards the scene of the attack, while in other footage victims can be heard saying that the gunmen had singled out non-Muslims. Footage on social media, which has not been verified by the BBC, appears to show bodies lying on a meadow with people crying and asking for help. Police said multiple tourists had been taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. The area has been cordoned off with soldiers stopping vehicles at checkpoints while a search is underway to find the perpetrators. Since the 1990s, an armed separatist insurgency against Indian rule in the region has claimed tens of thousands of lives, including those of civilians and security forces. The Himalayan region was divided following India's independence from Britain, partition and the creation of Pakistan in 1947. The two nuclear-armed states both claim the region in its entirety and have fought two wars and a limited conflict over it in the decades since. Some 500,000 Indian soldiers are permanently deployed in the territory. While fighting has decreased since Modi revoked Kashmir's partial autonomy in 2019, there are still incidents of violence. The last major attack on civilians occurred in June 2024 when nine people were killed and 33 injured after militants opened fire on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims. In 2019, a suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir killed at least 46 soldiers and prompted Indian airstrikes on targets in Pakistan. Pahalgam is a popular tourist destination, both domestically and internationally, and in recent years the government has attempted to encourage further tourism to the region. Around 3.5 million tourists visited Kashmir in 2024, according to official figures.

A wave of forest fires has swept across Kashmir, with human activities and unregulated camping playing a more significant role than environmental factors this time. In the past week, multiple major fire incidents have been reported, particularly in South Kashmir. A devastating blaze erupted in the Lidder Forest Division on Tuesday evening, rapidly consuming large sections of the forest despite concerted efforts by the Forest Department and local volunteers, reports Greater Kashmir. Fires were simultaneously reported in several forest compartments, including Dachnipora in Pahalgam and Khuwripora in Aishmuqam, affecting compartments 17, 21, 22, 50, and 58. The flames also engulfed extensive forested areas in Budroo, Sallar, Kullar, Dehvatoo, Mawoora, Grendwan, Reshkobal, Hapatnad, Wajoora, and Pendobal. Division Forest Officer (DFO) Lidder, Shama Roohi, described the fires as catastrophic and linked them to human negligence. She suggested that people camping in the forests during Eid celebrations might have inadvertently triggered the fires by cooking and leaving behind flammable materials. “With the current dry conditions, even a small spark can escalate into a major blaze,” Roohi said. She noted that a coordinated team comprising the Forest Department, Forest Protection Force (FPF), Wildlife Department, Social Forestry, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local volunteers had been working tirelessly to contain the fires. “A case will be registered regarding these incidents,” she confirmed. Chief Conservator of Forests, Irfan Rasool, acknowledged the gravity of the situation and warned that strict action would be taken against those found responsible. He pointed out that unrestricted human movement within unfenced forest areas had made the forests highly vulnerable to fires. “Often, fires are sparked by miscreants who set dry grass, leaves, or bushes alight or carelessly discard lit cigarettes, causing devastating consequences,” Rasool explained. Indian parliament's Lower House passes controversial bill that would change Muslim endowments The Forest Department has already issued advisories urging people to minimise visits to forests and avoid carrying combustible substances. The advisory also recommends exercising extreme caution while moving livestock in forested areas and strictly refraining from discarding cigarette butts or domestic ash. “Violations will be dealt with under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927,” Rasool stated. He further emphasised the dangers of illegal coal and wood collection, which could inadvertently ignite fires, given the region’s dry conditions. “Forests are our natural wealth, and their protection is a collective responsibility,” he added. Kashmir has experienced repeated forest fires over recent months, with several blazes recorded in December last year and February this year, largely attributed to prolonged dry spells. The region has also witnessed a steady decline in forest cover over the years, exacerbated by deforestation and land conversion. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Kashmir lost 40.61 sq km of forest cover between 2021 and 2023, reducing from 21,387 sq km to 21,346 sq km. Jammu and Kashmir’s forests, spanning approximately 21,387 sq km with an additional tree cover of 2,867 sq km, make up around 10 percent of the region’s total geographical area. These forests, predominantly dry temperate, are home to valuable tree species such as Deodar, Kail, and Fir, which flourish at varying altitudes.

Gunmen fatally shot at least seven people working on a strategic tunnel project in Indian-controlled Kashmir and injured at least five others, officials said on Monday. Police blamed militants who have been fighting against Indian rule for decades for the “terror attack” at a camp for construction workers near the disputed region’s resort town of Sonamarg. No rebel group immediately claimed responsibility. Kashmir gets largely powerless government after 5 years Police said at least two gunmen fired “indiscriminately” at officials and workers associated with the construction, leaving two dead on the spot. At least 10 others were taken to hospital, where five more died. The attack came shortly after workers returned to their lodgings on Sunday night. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the attack. The dead included five non-local laborers and officials, one Kashmiri worker and a Kashmiri doctor. Reinforcements of police and soldiers launched search operations in the area to nab the attackers. Omar Abdullah, the region's top elected official, condemned the attack in a post on social media platform X, calling it “dastardly & cowardly.” A key Kashmiri resistance leader said he was “deeply saddened by the outrageous killings.” “Another grim reminder of the unending cycle of violence and uncertainty we are suffering for decades,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq wrote on X. Hundreds of people, mostly non-local laborers, are working on the ambitious tunnel project that aims to connect the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh, a cold desert region that is isolated for half the year because of massive snowfalls. Experts say the tunnel project is important to the military, which will gain significantly improved capabilities to operate in Ladakh. The strategically important region shares de facto borders with Pakistan and China, and Indian and Chinese soldiers have been engaged in a military standoff there since 2020. Both countries have stationed tens of thousands of soldiers there, backed by artillery, tanks and fighter jets. Sunday’s attack was the second attack on a non-local worker in the region since a largely powerless local government was sworn into office Wednesday, following the first local elections since India stripped the region of semi-autonomy five years ago. On Friday, body of a worker from eastern Bihar state, riddled with bullet wounds, was recovered from a maize field in southern Shopian district, police said. They blamed militants for the killing. Kashmir has witnessed a spate of killings, many targeting workers from other parts of India, since 2021. Police say the killings, which have also included local Muslim village councilors, police officials and civilians, have been carried out by anti-India rebels. India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two of their three wars over the territory since they gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi’s rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels’ goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India insists that Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.

Leaders of Kashmir’s biggest political party were sworn into office Wednesday to run a largely powerless government after the first local election since India stripped the disputed region of its special status five years ago. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah will be the region’s chief minister after his party won the most seats in the three-phased election. It has support from India's main opposition Congress party, although Congress decided not to be a part of the new government for now. The vote was Kashmir's first in a decade and the first since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government scrapped the Muslim-majority region’s long-held semi-autonomy in 2019. The National Conference staunchly opposed the move, and its victory is seen as a referendum against the Modi government's changes. Kashmir will remain under New Delhi's direct controlLt. Gov. Manoj Sinha, New Delhi’s top administrator in Kashmir, administered the oaths of office to Abdullah and the five members of his council of ministers in a ceremony under tight security at a lakeside venue in the region’s main city of Srinagar. Some of India’s top opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party, attended. However, there will be a limited transfer of power from New Delhi to the local government as Kashmir will remain a “union territory” — directly controlled by the federal government — with India’s Parliament as its main legislator. Kashmir’s statehood would have to be restored for the new government to have powers similar to other states of India. India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two of their three wars over the territory since they gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Modi congratulated Abdullah and promised to work closely with him and his team. Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, a parliamentarian from Kashmir and a National Conference leader, said the new setup in Kashmir “will act both as a government and as an opposition” as it will oppose policies of Modi's party while also strive to “reclaim” the region’s rights. “These policies have harmed the state, such as the revocation of Article 370, which stripped us of the rights we enjoyed. The government will deliver effective governance while fighting for the rights of the state,” he said. Tight restrictions on media and civil rightsKashmir’s last assembly election in 2014 brought to power Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, which for the first time ruled in a coalition with the local Peoples Democratic Party. T he government collapsed in 2018, after the BJP withdrew from the coalition and New Delhi took the region under its direct control. A year later, the federal government downgraded and divided the former state into two centrally governed union territories, Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir. The move — which largely resonated in India and among Modi supporters — was mostly opposed in Kashmir as an assault on its identity and autonomy amid fears that it would pave the way for demographic changes in the region. Indian-controlled Kashmir votes in final phase of polls to elect local government The region has since been on edge with civil liberties curbed and media freedoms restricted. Like on election days, authorities on Wednesday limited access of foreign media to the oath ceremony and denied press credentials to most journalists working with international media, including The Associated Press, without citing any reason. In the recently concluded election, the National Conference won 42 seats, mainly from the Kashmir Valley, the heartland of the anti-India rebellion, while the BJP secured 29 seats, all from the Hindu-dominated areas of Jammu. The Congress succeeded in six constituencies. Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhi’s rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels’ goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. Many in Indian-controlled Kashmir plan to vote this time to deny Modi total control India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict. Calls to restore Kashmir's statehoodExperts say the new government, stripped of all the essential powers, would face a daunting task to fulfil its election promises against huge public expectations to resist the 2019 changes and the federal government’s tight control. Praveen Donthi, senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the region’s political vacuum of the last few years will not vanish with the polls alone. “The Modi government should build on it by restoring full statehood and empowering the government,” said Donthi. “Otherwise, it will intensify disaffection and is a set up for failure.” Modi and his powerful home minister, Amit Shah, have repeatedly stated that the region’s statehood will be restored after the election, without specifying a timeline. However, they vowed to block any move aimed at undoing the 2019 changes but promised to help in the region’s economic development. For the new chief minister, meanwhile, it's going to be a tightrope walk. “As a pro-India politician at the helm of this powerless administration, Omar Abdullah knows his limitations,” Donthi said. “He would be looking at his job as a buffer to moderate the worst instincts of New Delhi, but he would be clutching at straws."