Pulwama Attack - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. On February 14, 2019, a suicide bombing attack took place in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
- 2. The attack targeted a convoy of Indian paramilitary personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, resulting in the deaths of 40 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel.
- 3. The attack was carried out by a member of the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed, who rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the convoy.
- 4. The attack was one of the deadliest in the region in recent years and led to a significant escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.
- 5. India blamed Pakistan for supporting and harboring terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, while Pakistan denied any involvement in the attack.
- 6. In response to the Pulwama attack, India conducted an airstrike on a militant training camp in Balakot, Pakistan, marking the first time since the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 that Indian jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistani territory.
- 7. The Balakot airstrike led to a brief aerial confrontation between Indian and Pakistani fighter jets, resulting in the downing of an Indian MiG-21 and the capture of its pilot by Pakistan.
- 8. The Pulwama attack and its aftermath sparked international concern and calls for de-escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
- 9. The United Nations Security Council issued a statement condemning the Pulwama attack and calling on all countries to cooperate in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
- 10. The Pulwama attack and its aftermath have had a lasting impact on India-Pakistan relations, with ongoing tensions and sporadic cross-border skirmishes continuing to pose a threat to regional stability.