Suffered injuries
At least 40 people suffered from injuries in a grenade attack on a rally for Kashmir. On the day Pakistan marks as the first anniversary of India’s revocation of Kashmir’s semi-autonomy on Wednesday.
Delhi said the change was necessary to develop the revolt-torn region and integrate it with the rest of India. However the move but it infuriated many Kashmiris as well as neighboring Pakistan. Kashmir is claimed in full by India and Pakistan, which have gone to war twice over it, and both rule parts of it.
Indian authorities deployed troops and curbed public movement on Wednesday to stop potential protests in Kashmir.
SRA claims the attack
Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army claimed responsibility for the incident. This separatist outfit has become active in the past months. In June, four people were killed including two soldiers in three consecutive explosions by the SRA.
The group wants Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, to break from the Pakistani federation. It has also announced its alliance with the Balochistan Liberation Army. The BLA is a militant group fighting for greater autonomy for the Balochistan region in southwestern Pakistan.
Besides the attack on the rally, two other minor attacks were also by the SRA.
The recent surge of terrorism in Pakistan
The BLA also claimed a minor attack in Hub, Lasbela, yesterday. As well as the murder of an ex-deputy commissioner in an incident of target killing.
Moreover, SRA’s latest ally, the BLA is infamous for a multitude of attacks. They have previously targeted development projects, site workers, military installations, and LEA’s. The list doesn’t end here. Non-Baloch residents of the province including teachers have been attacked and killed by BLA.
The group also claimed an attack, a failed one nonetheless, on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Karachi, last month-the the economic hub of Pakistan. The group is a proxy for Kabul and Delhi, to destabilize Pakistan.
Islamabad\’s worries stemmed from all sides yesterday. Other than Karachi, TTP claimed attacks on eight checkpoints in Lower Dir. Moreover, heavy artillery and mortar shelling from Afghan security forces has been reported. Skirmishes along the LOC also took place. A total of twelve Pakistani security, military or paramilitary rankers suffered injuries and died yesterday.
Pakistan and the current geopolitical security situation of South Asia
Pakistan has been at war for over a decade on multiple fronts. Apart from the line of control with India, its Western front with neighboring Afghanistan remains hostile. Left-wing terrorism in Pakistan has been increasing steadily.
Moreover, Sino-Indian tensions continue to rise. Simultaneously, Tehran’s ties with Beijing begin to improve. Pakistan has hinted that it will make a move “with or without Saudi Arabia”. The US pullout from Afghanistan is on the cards. Furthermore, India’s stakes in the peace process are also pertinent. South Asia is nearing a potential final showdown for Kashmir.
