During a recent campaign rally in Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that “terrorism is on its last legs” in Indian-administered Kashmir. His statement comes on the heels of a tragic incident where two soldiers were killed in a gunfight with suspected rebels.
As Kashmir gears up for its first local assembly elections in a decade, tensions have escalated between security forces and insurgents. Voting is set to commence next week, following a prolonged absence of elected local governance since 2019, when Modi’s government revoked the region’s semi-autonomous status.
Speaking to thousands of supporters in Doda, a town in the predominantly Hindu southern region of Jammu, Modi praised the progress he believes has been made. The changes in the region over the past decade are nothing short of a dream, Modi asserted. What were once stones used to attack police and army are now being employed to build a new Jammu and Kashmir. This marks a new era of development. Terrorism is on its last leg here.
Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contend that the 2019 administrative changes have ushered in an era of peace and economic growth. These changes were accompanied by a massive security crackdown, including mass arrests and a prolonged internet blackout to prevent unrest.
Despite these claims, many Kashmiris continue to resent the restrictions imposed on civil liberties. The BJP is focusing its electoral efforts on Hindu-majority areas, and Modi has promised to build a secure and prosperous Kashmir that is free of terrorism and a haven for tourists.
However, the upcoming local elections are overshadowed by a surge in violence. Recent clashes have resulted in over 50 soldiers being killed in the past two years, primarily in the Jammu area. The Indian Army reported the deaths of two more soldiers on Friday during a firefight in the Kishtwar region, honoring them as bravehearts in a social media tribute.
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, has been a point of contention between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947. Both countries claim the region in full, and insurgents in Kashmir have long fought Indian forces, seeking either independence or unification with Pakistan. With about 500,000 Indian soldiers stationed in the area, the conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths among civilians, soldiers, and rebels since 1989.
