Armed Groups in Kashmir: India’s Accusations Against Pakistan Explained
The Heart of the Dispute: Groups Allegedly Backed by Pakistan
It's a story that's been playing out for decades: India blames Pakistan for backing violent armed groups, especially in Kashmir. This accusation flares up every time tensions spike, and they're at a high again after recent air strikes and military responses along the border.
So, who are these groups that keep making headlines? India's government often points to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) as the main players. Both groups have a history in Kashmir. Lashkar-e-Taiba was accused of orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which left more than 160 people dead. Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the 2019 Pulwama bombing, killing 40 Indian paramilitary police. While Pakistan’s officials publicly deny providing support, India says fighters and weapons routinely cross the border, fueling unrest.
There are others too—groups like Hizbul Mujahideen, seen as homegrown but accused of links to Pakistani backing. And the alphabet soup doesn’t end there: smaller factions and splinter cells often appear with new names, but India's security services put them all under the banner of Pakistan-sponsored activity.
Growing Tensions and the Human Cost
What sets this latest round of tension apart is the scale of military action. Recently, India launched air strikes on what it called terrorist training camps inside Pakistan’s Balakot region—a major escalation. Pakistan responded with air raids of its own. The pressure doesn’t just play out on battle maps; it affects villages on both sides of the Line of Control. Thousands are left caught in crossfire every time shots ring out, families are displaced, and everyday life grinds to a halt.
The cycle goes like this: India accuses, Pakistan denies, and global powers watch nervously. The United Nations and countries like the US urge restraint, but the mutual mistrust just gets stronger. Pakistan pushes back, calling India’s claims politically motivated while offering its own accusations about Indian actions in Kashmir.
- Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed are two groups that often feature in Indian indictments.
- Events like the Mumbai attacks and the Pulwama bombing put these groups in the spotlight globally.
- While government sources point to evidence like intercepted communications and surrendered fighters, confirming direct state backing remains tough.
At the heart of it all is Kashmir—a region both countries claim, and which has been at the center of armed conflict and competing narratives since 1947. Each new confrontation raises fresh questions about what’s really happening on the ground and who’s pulling the strings.