India: Violent clashes in Jammu and Kashmir on October 27

Event

Violent clashes between Indian security forces and suspected militants broke out near Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir state) on Saturday, October 27. According to local sources, militants attacked a power station, killing at least one police officer. A heightened security presence is anticipated in Srinagar in the coming days. Further attacks by militants, as well as operations by Indian security forces, are possible in the near term. 

Context

Jammu and Kashmir is the only Muslim-majority state in Hindu-majority India. After independence from colonial rule (August 1947), India and Pakistan fought a war over control of the region and a local insurgency has been ongoing in the Indian Kashmir Valley since the late 1980s.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to closely monitor developments to the situation and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities. As a reminder, some Western governments advise their citizens against travel to parts of Kashmir, notably areas along the Line of Control (LoC), due to the significant risk of violence.