Urgent: Kashmir militants attack Indian police

BBC News ^ | 5.30.02

[mhking]

Kashmir militants attack Indian police

Attackers believed to be Islamic separatist militants have stormed a police base in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing at least three officers.

A gun battle broke out as two of the attackers took cover in the camp in the mountainous area of Doda, about 180 kilometres (110 miles) north-east of Jammu. Others fired rockets from a nearby hilltop.

Latest reports from Kashmir say Indian security forces have now ended the battle, killing the two gunmen.

The attack came as Pakistan began moving troops from the Afghan border in the west, where they were helping United States forces in the search for al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters, to the Indian border in the east.

Tension has been increasing since two weeks ago, when three men India says were Pakistani-based Islamic militants attacked an army camp in Kashmir killing 31 soldiers and their families.

Since that attack, the two countries' armies have been trading heavy fire along the Line of Control (LoC) separating Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

The Pakistani authorities say seven of their civilians were killed by Indian shelling on Wednesday evening.

'Lie low'

Observers in Pakistan say it is widely believed the government has told militant groups to lie low for the time being and not to attempt to cross the LoC.

The BBC's Susannah Price in Islamabad says it is thought the militants would find it difficult to go over in large groups if the Pakistani army wants to stop them.

However, the main problem for the Pakistani Government now is that some are already inside Indian-administered Kashmir and could still carry out attacks.

India and Pakistan have now amassed a million men between them along their border, backed by missile batteries, tanks and fighter planes.

The latest incident comes after the United States and Britain warned India and Pakistan of the dangers of war.

'Charged' climate

US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the Indian and Pakistani leaders could find themselves in a situation in which "irresponsible elements" could spark a conflict.

Mr Boucher warned that a conflict might start against the wishes of the national leaders in the two countries.

"The climate is very charged and a serious conflagration could ensue if events spiral out of control," he said.

He added that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf needed to take concrete steps to prevent Pakistani territory being used by terrorists for attacks.

A similar warning was sounded by British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw who ended his mission to the two countries by saying that Britain stood firmly behind India in its fight against terrorism - including cross-border terrorism.

Mr Straw said the international community expected "action, not just words" from the Pakistani leader.

Musharraf defiant

In a speech to Pakistani troops on Wednesday, General Musharraf said he would counter-attack if India started a conflict.

"The defence forces of the country are fully prepared... in case of any aggression from across the borders," General Musharraf told soldiers at an Pakistani air force base.

If war was thrust upon Pakistan, it will also be fought in the enemy's territory, he added.

"Any incursion by the Indian forces across the Line of Control even by an inch, will unleash a storm that will sweep the enemy," he said.

Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged more artillery fire across the LoC on Wednesday, with Poonch one of the areas being shelled.

India said the Pakistanis had switched from using mortars to high-calibre shells, so Indian troops had replied in kind.

[mhking]

Like that look over edge into the abyss, folks? Ready to jump?

[rintense]

More and more talking heads are saying that the tensions between Pakistan and India are being fueled by Bin Laden's boys, and that what is going on in Kashmir is more a case of terrorism than it is a territory dispute. I tend to agree.

[CatoRenasci]

True enough, but the situation is inherently unstable anyway. The nuclear war between India and Pakistan will be a great tragedy, but not the end of the world. I think India will win, Pakistan will be dismembered under complete world opprobrium (except the Islamics) for the first use of nukes since Nagasaki.

[Aaron_A]

" Observers in Pakistan say it is widely believed the government has told militant groups to lie low for the time being and not to attempt to cross the LoC. "

Is this the best our State Department can do? Have the Pakis ask the terrorists to 'lie low'? Or is this just another Paki lie?

[Dog Gone]

More and more talking heads are saying that the tensions between Pakistan and India are being fueled by Bin Laden's boys, and that what is going on in Kashmir is more a case of terrorism than it is a territory dispute.

I am hopeful that India realizes that, because it is quite obvious that al-Qaida or any other outlawed terrorist organization in Pakistan has everything to gain by provoking an Indian attack against Pakistan. Regardless of how badly Pakistan is defeated, they win.

The problem India has is determining whether an attack, such as this one, is cross-border terrorism which Pakistan permitted or even encouraged, or whether it's someone trying to start that war. It may not be obvious by looking at the corpse of the dead terrorist.

[cake_crumb]

"Attackers believed to be Islamic separatist militants have stormed a police base in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing at least three officers."

Non PC translation : "Muslim terrorists attacked a Indian police base in Kashmir, killing three officers." (The officers returned fire, killing two terrorists)

Binny and his psychotic buddies want Armageddon SOOOOO badly, they will not stop funding the terrorists and training terrorist reinforcements until they GET Armageddon.

[mhking]

Binny and his psychotic buddies want Armageddon SOOOOO badly

Years ago there was a stand-up routine from either Richard Pryor or Eddie Murphy (I can't remember which one, I think it was from Rich, though) where he talked about Muslims and "Double Muslims." The Muslims, as he described them, were your garden variety, Nation of Islam, bean pie-selling, Final Call-reading urban Muslims.

The Double Muslims, on the other hand, want to meet Allah so bad that they wanted to take you with them. Sound familiar?

[mikhailovich]

Look, Pakistan has allowed only minimal US access on the western front. As far as we can tell, that particular mission is over. Now, most reliable news sources state that Queda, or Al Queda is reassembling in western Pakistan, pretty much at will.

Meanwhile, Pakistani extremist Muslims are carrying out terrorist attacks to the east, on India.

So, my position on Pakistan is "you failed to respond to the international community's request to repress the terrorist networks within your borders." Folks, its no different than Afghanistan, the Taliban, etc.

Now, let the cookie crumble.

[AppyPappy]

I don't think they will go nuke. India will smash their military to tiny bits and declare victory.

[ZULU]

Its those "peaceful Muslims" - at work again.

SEE IT NOW!! The WORLD'S First Thermonucelear Exchange!! In Living color and panavision!! (Brought to you by the samae producers of the World Trade Tower tragedy, the child suicide bombers of Palestine and the slave-traders of the Sudan!! ISLAM!!)

[caa26]

But India crushing the Pak military is what would likely start a nuclear war. Pakistan does not have the manpower to compete with the Indian army, and to stop advancing Indian troops Pakistan would strongly consider nukes.

Also rogue elements of Pakistan ISI and Al Qaida could launch nuclear stikes if/when war breaks out becuase this is precisely what they want.

[Prodigal Son]

Jesus- they're just begging for it.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Is it too late to send Geraldo to cover it live? From say New Dehli or Islamabad?

[AppyPappy]

That's just it. The Indians shouldn't try to take Pakistan. Just knock them around and then ask for a truce.

[ZULU]

He will need more than a pistol to protect himself there!!

Who knows? His recent hair-raising experiences may change him into a conservative!!

[philosofy123]

What a guy! We are amusing ourselves thinking that any Moslem nation can be trusted! By definition, any nation that calls itself Moslem nation is systematically intolerant of others. Otherwise, why should they call themselves "Moslem Nation"? We don't call ourselves "Christian Nation" because we want others of different faiths to feel equal and welcomed.

[Dog Gone]

Here's an update:

NEW DELHI, India (AP) -- Police said they killed Islamic guerrillas holed up in a base in Indian-controlled Kashmir Thursday, ending a 15-hour standoff in which four officers were killed.

A police official reported the standoff was over but provided no details on how many militants were involved and how they were killed. Defense Minister George Fernandes, in an interview with The Associated Press, said four police officers had been killed in the attack.

The base was in a suspected stronghold of Islamic rebels in a mountainous area 110 miles northeast of Jammu, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

In a further sign of escalating tension, Pakistan announced Thursday that it was moving troops from the Afghan border, where they had been aiding U.S. forces in the search for al-Qaida and Taliban fighters.

The forces were being shifted to Pakistan's eastern border with India, said chief government spokesman Rashid Quereshi. Pakistan and India already have massed a million troops in the disputed Kashmir region.

The base was in a suspected stronghold of Islamic rebels in a mountainous area 110 miles northeast of Jammu, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

As the standoff dragged on, police evacuated the building and had considered blowing up parts of it in an attempt to drive out the militants, the police official said.

When police officers went to retrieve the bodies of two of their dead, the militants hurled grenades, wounding five officers, he said. Police had said earlier that three officers had been killed.

Fernandes also told The AP that Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf had sent a message to the Indian leadership promising ``within a certain period the cross-border terrorism would come to a halt.''

New Delhi has refused to join negotiations to cool the crisis until Musharraf ends attacks in India by Islamic militants based in Pakistan. India says Pakistan encourages the attacks; Pakistan insists it has done all it can to stop cross-border incursions by Islamic militants based in its territory.

The new violence followed a U.S. State Department warning on Wednesday that ``irresponsible elements'' could spark a conflict between the nuclear-armed adversaries against the wishes of both governments.

``The climate is very charged and a serious conflagration could ensue if events spiral out of control,'' spokesman Richard Boucher said.

Musharraf, who is also head of the armed forces, on Wednesday assured troops during his visit to border areas that the entire nation will support them if India makes aggressive moves.

At least 14 people -- three Indian army soldiers and 11 civilians -- were killed in overnight artillery shelling and mortar fire from the Pakistani side, said another Indian police official, also speaking on condition of anonymity.

About 20 people were also wounded from shrapnel and gunfire as small arms fire continued Thursday in the border areas of Punch and Naushahra, the official said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Television reported Thursday that 14 civilians were killed in Pakistan by Indian shelling overnight. That report could not immediately be confirmed.

The shelling in Kashmir resumed soon after British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw left the subcontinent after visiting Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to mediate one-on-one talks between the two leaders during an Asian summit in Kazakhstan next week. Pakistan has accepted, but India has ruled out any negotiations until the cross-border attacks stop.

Machine gun firing began across the border in the Machhu area of Kupwara, 80 miles north of Srinagar, the summer capital of India's Jammu-Kashmir state. The area had not witnessed any firing for about four days.

Elsewhere, two unidentified militants were killed Thursday in separate encounters with the Indian army, the army said. It gave no further details.

Jaswant Singh, India's foreign minister, said Wednesday that if Pakistan wants peace, it must act urgently to stop Islamic militants from infiltrating Indian territory to stage terror attacks in Kashmir.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947. Two of the wars were over Kashmir, which both claim in its entirety.

India accuses Pakistan of waging a proxy war for 12 years by funding, training and arming the militants and providing covering fire for them to cross the border. Pakistan insists it only provides moral and diplomatic support for the militants, who are fighting for Indian Kashmir's independence or merger with Pakistan.

At least 60,000 people have died in the insurgency.

On Wednesday, Pakistan's U.N. ambassador Munir Akram said Straw had proposed setting up a 300-member helicopter-borne monitoring force to monitor the Line of Control separating Indian- and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

Akram said Straw made the proposal during meetings this week in Islamabad.

``As far as Pakistan is concerned, if India was to accept that, we would also consider accepting that on both sides of the Line of Control to monitor the situation,'' Akram said.

[JohnMac]

The nuclear war between India and Pakistan will be a great tragedy, but not the end of the world. I think India will win, Pakistan will be dismembered under complete world opprobrium (except the Islamics) for the first use of nukes since Nagasaki.

Without addressing any potential outcome, I sure hope you're wrong about there being a nuclear war, because I doubt it would end in South Asia.

[JohnMac]

India will smash their military to tiny bits and declare victory.

That's when the Paks will launch the strike.

[AppyPappy]

I don't think so. I think the Paks will announce they repulsed the Indian invader and declare victory.