Pakistan has also alleged India of a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Kashmiri Muslims using state terrorism. It points to human rights figures which show that under the presence of the Indian military starting from the 80’s, 70,000 to 120,000 Kashmiris have been killed many that have documented involvement of the military in mass killings. India, however, blames these deaths on the militants or actions which some Indian writers such as J.N. Dixit have called “Internationally understandable in the wake of ground realities.”

Ethnic Cleansing

Indian security forces and some militant groups are accused of following a policy of ethnic cleansing against the Kashmiris. Many Kasmiri Muslims and Pandits have been killed in Kashmir over the years. Human rights organisations put the figure of the number killed since the late 80’s at 80,000 which includes those killed by Indian security forces.

According to official Indian government estimates, 8370 Hindus have also been killed. Kashmiri Pandits displaced due to the ongoing violence is debated; estimates of the number of Kashmiri Pandits displaced varies from 170,000 to 700,000. Local politicians have suffered the brunt of aggression. More than 120 local politicians have lost their lives, 15 of whom were members of Kashmir State Assembly.

India alleges that Kashmiri militants are also carrying out ethnic cleansing. Lashkar-e-Toiba emerged as one of the most prominent groups involved in militant activities in Kashmir. It is alleged to have gained more support because of its role in the 1999 Kargil conflict with India and later on by sending its members on missions to attack military cantonments in different parts of Indian-administered Kashmir.

Lashkar’s professed ideology went beyond merely challenging Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir. In a pamphlet entitled “Why Are We Waging Jihad?” the group defined its agenda as the restoration of Islamic rule over all parts of India. According to the pamphlet, the restoration of secularism in India after the collapse of the Islamic rule of the Mughal Emperor of Aurangzeb was a historic wrong they seek to set right. The violence in Kashmir, has now become more of a conflict between the Hindus and the Muslims, than a campaign for the cause of the Kashmiris.

In June 2005, the Indian Army claimed it had foiled at least 72 infiltration attempts along the Line of Control in Kashmir]. India alleges that despite the commitments made by Pervez Musharraf, Islamabad has done little to stop the separatist training camps on its soil. According to an Indian estimate in 2005 there were about 2,000 insurgents in the Kashmir valley alone; 1,200 of them allegedly belong to the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Violent Acts

Terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir

Attack on Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly - A car bomb exploded near the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly on October 1, 2001, killing 27 people on an attack that was blamed on Kashmiri separatists. It was one of the most prominent attacks against India apart from on the Indian Parliament in December 2001. No Kashmiri government official was killed or injured during the incident.

Wandhama Massacre - In January 1998, 24 Kashmiri Pandits living in the city Wandhama were killed by Kashmiri Militants. According to the testimony of one of the survivors, the militants dressed themselves as officers of the Indian Army, entered their houses and then started firing blindly. The incident was significant because it coincided with former US president Bill Clinton’s visit to India and New Delhi used the massacre to present a case against the alleged Pakistan-supported terrorism in Kashmir.

Sangrampora Killings - On March 22, 1997, 7 Kashmiri Pandits were killed in Sangrampora village in the Bulgam district.

Qasim Nagar Attack - On July 13 2003, armed militants believed to be a part of the Lashkar-e-Toiba threw hand grenades at the Qasim Nagar market in Srinagar and then fired on civilians standing nearby killing twenty-seven and injuring many more.

Assassination of Abdul Ghani Lone - Abdul Ghani Lone, a prominent All Party Hurriyat Conference leader, was assassinated by unidentified gunmen during a memorial rally in Srinagar. The assassination resulted in wide-scale demonstrations against the Indian forces for failing to provide enough security cover for Mr. Lone.

July 20, 2005 Srinagar Bombing - A car bomb exploded near an armoured Indian Army vehicle in the famous Church Lane area in Srinagar killing 4 Indian Army personnel, one civilian and the suicide bomber. Militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Budshah Chowk attack - A militant attack on July 29, 2005 at Srinigar’s city centre, Budshah Chowk, killed 2 and left more than 17 people injured. Most of those injured were media journalists.
Murder of Ghulam Nabi Lone - On October 18, 2005 suspected Kashmiri militants killed Jammu and Kashmir’s then education minister Ghulam Nabi Lone. Militant group Al Mansurin claimed responsibility for the attack.