An improvised explosive device (IED) blast killed over forty members of the Central Reserve Police Force in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The attack was carried out by a Jaish suicide bomber, who has been identified as Adil Ahmad Dar by the authorities. The attack was claimed by terrorist group, Jaish-e-Mohammed
A terrorist attack that targeted seventy CRPF convoys killed over forty CRPF men on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway in Pulwama district on Thursday. The attack was carried out by a Jaish suicide bomber, identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, who drove an explosives-laden SUV straight into one of the CRPF buses. The attack was soon claimed by terrorist organisation, Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Soon after the incursion, JeM released a video of the Jaish suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar talking about the atrocities on Kashmiri Muslims. India has since condemned the attack and Pakistan for sheltering Jaish-e-Mohammed founder, Masood Azhar. In their statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that the Pakistan government had given “full freedom” to JeM and its founder Masood Azhar.
Pakistan was also quick to condemn the attack, the country issued an official statement that asserted, “Attack in Pulwama in the Indian Occupied Kashmir is a matter of grave concern. We have always condemned acts of violence anywhere in the world.” Rejecting the possibility of any involvement in the attack, the statement added, “We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian media and government that seek to link the attack to Pakistan without investigations.” A full-blown investigation by the National Investigation Agency, headed by G Mukesh Singh was initiated today.
The Pulwama attack was also condemned internationally. Israel’s ambassador to India released a statement that read, “Israel strongly condemns the terror attack in Pulwama and stands by our Indian friends during this difficult hour. We send our deepest condolences to CPRF and their families, people of India and the Indian government following the terrible #KashmirTerrorAttack”.
This was followed by the United States’ Department of State statement, which read, “US condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attack today on an Indian CRPF convoy in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and their families, and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.” The Department further added, “UN designated, Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Muhammad has claimed responsibility for this heinous act. We call on all countries to uphold their responsibilities pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions to deny safe haven and support for terrorists”. The United Nations has also condemned the terrorist attack, highlighting the need for strict measures.
Extending condolences for the CRPF martyrs, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, “Please accept the most sincere condolences. We strongly condemn this brutal crime. The perpetrators and sponsors of this attack, undoubtedly, should be duly punished”.
Indian Prime, Narendra Modi, chaired the Cabinet Committee on Securities (CCS) at his residence on Friday. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.