NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian Army convoy came under attack in the Himalayan territory of Jammu and Kashmir as a result of which at least five soldiers have been killed, India's defence minister said on Tuesday, the latest in a spate of strikes that has roiled the region.
Violence has marred the Kashmir Valley and nearby areas since the start of a movement for freedom in 1989 that killed tens of thousands, although strife has waned in recent years.
Gunmen fired at the convoy in Kathua district on Monday after attacking it with a grenade, media said, while return fire from the soldiers sent the gunmen fleeing into a nearby forest.
"Counter-terrorist operations are underway, and our soldiers are determined to usher in peace and order in the region," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a post on X, offering condolences to the bereaved families.
India and Pakistan both claim the Himalayan region of Kashmir but rule it in part, with India's territory comprising the Hindu-dominated Jammu region and the Muslim-dominated Kashmir valley.
Twelve people were killed and dozens injured in an attack in June. The fight against militancy in the region is in its decisive phase, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah told a security review meeting last month.