At Least Six Killed as India Cracks Down on Kashmir Protests

Indian, Pakistani forces clash along line of control

Reports out of Kashmir suggest the region remains in near total lock-down since India revoked its legal autonomy and started carrying out a broad crackdown against pro-independence groups.

Protests have erupted as the Indian military tries to impose a full curfew. At least six people have been killed and over 100 others wounded in the crackdown on protests.

Military checkpoints are set up every 100 meters across the capital of Srinagar, and only people whose jobs are considered “essential” are allowed in the streets. Many seen as favoring independence have been preemptively detained.

In the meantime, tensions between India and Pakistan are rising, with Pakistan protesting the move. This has led to some exchanges of fire along the Line of Control that separates Indian and Pakistani-claimed parts of Kashmir. While exchanges of fire on that border are not unusual, there is growing concern this could lead to a full-scale war.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.