SRINAGAR, India: Suspected rebels killed five soldiers in disputed Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday when they opened fire and threw explosives at an army truck, a military statement said. Videos from the scene showed an army vehicle engulfed in flames on a highway in the mountainous area. Anger against Indian rule in Kashmir has simmered since 2019, when New Delhi canceled the region's partial autonomy. Since 1989, rebel groups have fought some 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the Indian-controlled territory, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan. Tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and rebels have been killed so far.

Source: Manila Times April 21, 2023 22:26 UTC