At least 17 Indian soldiers were killed in a militant attack on an army base in Uri, near the Line of Control with Pakistan, in Indian-administered Kashmir. The attackers, armed with guns and grenades, carried out a pre-dawn ambush. All four militants were killed during the assault. The attack marks the deadliest strike on security forces in the region in two decades.
Indian Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh condemned Pakistan, calling it a "terrorist state," and expressed disappointment over its continued support for terrorism. While Pakistan denied involvement, Indian officials pointed to evidence suggesting that the attackers were linked to an Islamist militant group in Pakistan.
The violence occurs amid ongoing protests against Indian rule in Kashmir, where over 80 anti-government protesters have died in the past two months. A strict curfew has been imposed in the region, and Kashmir remains a disputed territory between India and Pakistan.
The attack is likely to further strain relations between the two countries. While India attributes the assault to cross-border terrorism, analysts note that much of the recent violence in Kashmir has local roots, with protests sparked by the killing of a popular militant leader. The Indian government has called for dialogue with local leaders, but separatists demand that the issue of Kashmiri independence be part of the conversation.