Pakistan-based militant outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF), has claimed responsibility for the terror attack that killed seven people, including a local doctor, in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district on Sunday.
Five others were seriously injured in the assault, reportedly carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives under TRF's banner.
TRF chief Sheikh Sajjad Gul, a Pakistan native, is believed to have masterminded the attack.
According to reports, "On his instructions, the local TRF module became active and targeted both Kashmiri and non-Kashmiri individuals for the first time, who had gathered at the site."
Investigations have revealed that at least two to three TRF militants were involved in the attack, which primarily targeted non-local workers.
The militants had reportedly conducted surveillance at the Z-Morh tunnel area, where the attack occurred, for over a month prior to the incident.
The tunnel, located in a challenging terrain surrounded by dense forests, is a strategically important infrastructure project aimed at providing all-weather connectivity between Ladakh and Srinagar.
The TRF has carried out the most attacks in Jammu and Kashmir over the past year and a half, often targeting non-locals to spread fear among those working in the Kashmir Valley.
The Z-Morh tunnel, nearing completion, is crucial to India's defence efforts as it will facilitate the movement of security forces to Ladakh, particularly given the ongoing military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.
With the project's strategic significance, experts speculate that both Pakistan and China might have vested interests in disrupting its progress.
The attack could signal frustration from these nations, as the tunnel is expected to enhance India’s ability to respond to potential conflicts in the region. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has already begun gathering evidence at the crime scene.
This attack, with its potential geopolitical implications, highlights the growing concerns over Chinese influence in the region, especially in light of the four-year standoff between Indian and Chinese forces in Ladakh.
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