In recent months, small magnetic bombs, which have been creating mass destruction in Afghanistan, have been seized during raids in the disputed region of Kashmir. Security forces in the Indian-administered Kashmir are extremely alarmed by these “sticky bombs”. According to three senior officials, the explosive devices, which have been described as small but powerful, were seized during raids in the Jammu region and Kashmir.
The IEDs can be attached to vehicles and detonated remotely, which means they can be used at a high volume and in repetition, making them even more threatening. The explosive devices have caused widespread fear and uncertainty. Some attacks have occurred while people are sitting in traffic.
Kashmir is one of the most militarized regions in the world, in August 2019 the Indian government sent more troops into the disputed region when it divided the country’s only Muslim-majority state into two federally administered territories. New Delhi attempts to maintain a tight grip over the valley. After a suicide bomber drove an explosive-armed vehicle into a convoy in Jashmir’s Pulwama in February of 2019, the Indian government suspended high quality mobile internet for 18 months.
In a February raid, officials discovered 15 IEDs, which raised concerns that the tactics, which have been attributed to the Taliban fighters using the same devices in Afghanistan, could be spreading its use to the India-Pakistan conflict. Senior officials claimed the explosives are not being produced in Kashmir, and they are likely being smuggled from Pakistan through drone drops and tunnels.
The Himalayan region of Kashmir is a disputed region between the two nuclear-armed countries, both of which claim full administration of parts of the territory. India is accusing Pakistan of supporting a rebellion in Kashmir against the Indian government. The Kashmir people are fighting for self-determination. This effort has resulted in tens of thousands of lives being lost since the 1990s. Pakistan claims it is only providing moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people, it is not providing destructive weapons.
The disputed region acts as a buffer zone between the two conflicting countries. It is clear that India seeks to maintain its influence over the territory for national security purposes. Further, due to the destructive history between the territory and the Indian government, if granted autonomy, the region may not be open working with India. Kashmir is a Muslim majority region, as is its neighbor in the west, Pakistani. If Kashmir becomes an autonomous region, it would likely become an ally and asset for Pakistan.
An autonomous Kashmir would allow the Pakistani government to influence at India’s border, without threatening its own national security. However, if Pakistan is behind the recent attacks in Kashmir, it will lead to a rise in tensions in its already hostile relationship with India, and may threaten further conflict between the two states.