India pledges ‘heavy price’ after deadly Kashmir attack

India and Pakistan’s ties risked taking a dangerous new turn yesterday as New Delhi accused Islamabad of harbouring militants behind one of the deadliest attacks in three decades of bloodshed in Kashmir. At least 41 paramilitary troops were killed on Thursday as explosives packed in a van ripped through a convoy bringing 2,500 troopers back from leave not far from the main city Srinagar, police said. Local media reported that the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed Islamist group claimed responsibility, with the vehicle driven by a known local militant, Aadil Ahmad alias Waqas Commando.

Jaish-e-Mohammed is largely considered to be one of the most active Pakistan-based insurgent groups fighting in Kashmir. India’s foreign ministry said that Jaish-e-Mohammed head Masood Azhar “has been given full freedom by... Pakistan to operate and expand his terror infrastructure in territories under the control of Pakistan and to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere with impunity”. “I want to tell the terrorist groups and their masters that they have committed a big mistake. They have to pay a heavy price,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday after an emergency cabinet meeting.

“Security forces have been given a free hand to deal with terrorists,” Modi said, adding that the “blood of the people is boiling”. Arun Jaitley, finance minister, promised to isolate Pakistan in the international community. Islamabad, however, hit back at the suggestion it was involved. “We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian media and government that seek to link the attack to Pakistan without investigations,” the Pakistan foreign ministry said.

Body parts

The United States condemned the attack in “the strongest terms”, and called on “all countries...to deny safe haven and support for terrorists”. China urged “relevant regional countries” to work for peace. Two buses of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the 78-vehicle convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu highway bore the brunt of the blast, heard miles away. “No one from the first bus survived,” a senior police official said on condition of anonymity, predicting the death toll could rise. Blackened, mangled remains of at least one vehicle littered the highway.

Reports said bodies and body parts were strewn around, making victims’ identification difficult. Afterwards, hundreds of government forces cordoned off around 15 villages in the district the bomber came from and conducted house-to-house searches, a police officer and witnesses said. Authorities suspended or slowed internet services across the Kashmir region as thousands of security men patrolled the streets.

Protesters in many cities chanted slogans against Pakistan and burnt effigies of Azhar. On Friday India announced it was withdrawing its Most Favoured Nation Status -- covering trade links -- on Pakistan. India’s foreign ministry summoned Pakistan’s envoy to lodge a complaint. India also recalled its envoy from Islamabad for consultations, reports said.