At Least 18 Indian Police Officers Killed In Blast In Kashmir - Reports

At least 18 officers of India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed on Thursday in a car bomb attack in Awantipora area of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, local media reported, citing sources

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th February, 2019) At least 18 officers of India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed on Thursday in a car bomb attack in Awantipora area of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, local media reported, citing sources.

According to NDTV broadcaster, terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the attack that also left over 40 people injured.

ANI news agency reported that the attack took place at around 03:15 p.m. local time (09:45 GMT), when a police convoy of about 70 vehicles with around 2,500 personnel was moving from Jammu to Srinagar. According to the media outlet, this might be the deadliest attack on security forces in the region since 2004, when 28 police officers were killed in an attack.

Jaish-e-Mohammed is a terrorist group that perpetrates frequent attacks in the Jammu and Kashmir state. The group, which is affiliated with Taliban movement and Al-Qaeda terrorist organization (banned in Russia), aims to separate Kashmir from India and to merge it into neighboring Pakistan.

Jammu and Kashmir is a region that has been disputed by India and Pakistan since 1947 when both countries gained independence from the British Empire. The two countries have gone through three wars over the region, but the conflict has not been resolved. The unstable situation in the region has led to the emergence of extremist groups.