Srinagar: An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora on Friday. A cordon and search operation had been launched by the security forces, after they got information about the presence of terrorists in the Kulnar Bazipora area.
As security forces were combing the area, the terrorists launched an attack on them and there was retaliatory firing, said officials. So far no casualties have been reported in the encounter. The encounter is still going on.
Attack on tourists in Pahalgam
The Bandipora encounter comes just days after 28 people, mostly tourists, were killed by armed terrorists in Pahalgam. The shooting reported on April 22, was reportedly carried out by terrorists affiliated to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Following the incident, the Indian government closed the Integrated check post at the Attari border, put a ban on Pakiistani’s travelling to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). They have also asked Pakistan nationals in India to leave at the earliest. Apart from these measures, India has also put in abeyance, the Indus Water Treaty. India has also declared defence advisers in the Pakistani Embassy as ‘Persona Non Grata’. They have been given a week’s time to leave the country.
As a retaliatory measure, Pakistan has suspended the 1972 Simla Agreement. This is a peace treaty which was signed between India and Pakistan after the 1971 war. Under this agreement both countries agreed on resolving their differences peacefully. Following this agreement there was a ceasefire line between the 2 countries. After this Simla Agreement, this line was transformed into the Line of Control (LoC) and none of the 2 countries would unilaterally try to alter this line. It was also after this agreement that Pakistan was forced to diplomatically recognise Bangladesh.
