India has killed three Pakistanis who claimed responsibility for an attack on tourists in the Kashmir border region. The attack killed 26 people.
“I would like to say to all our people that these were three terrorists who killed our citizens,” the Indian Minister of the Interior said to parliament on Tuesday. “Now all three are dead.”
According to the Indian army, the three were killed on Monday in a firefight in the forests of Kashmir.
The minister said that India has “much evidence” that the killed “terrorists” were members of the Pakistani security services. They allegedly carried Pakistani ballots and chocolates, he said.
Forensic research has allegedly shown that the weapons they carried were used in the attack in April. Pakistani authorities were not immediately available for comment, reports news agency Reuters.
Attack in Kashmir led to four-day war
India accuses the three of opening fire on a tourist location in Kashmir in April, after which they retreated into the forests. Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack.
Yet, India began a military operation that it said was aimed at “terrorist infrastructure” on Pakistani territory. That led to four days of heavy fighting back and forth, after which both countries came to a ceasefire.
Kashmir is central to a long-running conflict between India and Pakistan. Both countries claim the area, but in practice, they each control a part of the border region. The conflict regularly flares up due to outbreaks of violence.