Kashmir: The fire continues to burn as Pakistan targets India

Terrorist events in J&K increased 47% to 305 in 2016, from 208 in 2015

As many as 71 Indian security personnel were killed this year by terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir as on November 27 – up 34 per cent since 2013, when 53 were killed, and the worst in four years, according to data tabled by the home ministry in the Lok Sabha. 

Terrorist events in J&K increased 47 per cent to 305 in 2016, from 208 in 2015.

Civilian deaths in terrorist strikes declined 18 per cent, while injuries are down 13 per cent from 2015. 

Terrorists are increasingly targeting security forces and their infrastructure, while keeping civilian casualties low. This possible strategy could be an effort not to antagonise local Kashmiris, but rather capitalise on the wider discord among them against the forces, in a year that has witnessed 100 days of curfew and overall deteriorating security. 

Violent protests erupted after security forces gunned down terrorist leader Burhan Wani on July 8. Around 90 people died in protests and hundreds were blinded by the pellet guns used by the police and paramilitary. 

As many as 216 ceasefire violations by Pakistan were reported along the portion of the defacto border, the Line of Control, overseen by the Army in J&K until November 26, a 42 per cent increase from 152 incidents last year, according to the home ministry data. 

Ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Border Security Force-controlled border in J&K declined 13 per cent, from 253 in 2015 to 221 as on November 30. 

Source: Lok Sabha and IndiaSpend